not to tell strangers where I'm from?

[FishCanFly]

I speak with a pretty unfortunate accent and this always prompts random people to ask where i'm from. Thing is - I don't want to say. I don't mind a friendly conversation, but i don't like giving out personal info to people i don't know. AIBU?

YANBU, I’m British but my parents were born in Pakistan and I’m often asked where I’m from. I just say London but then inevitably get the ‘Where are you really from?’ question or a variation of it. When I say Pakistan you can see some people are taken aback. It does make me feel shit every time.

Agree with JoannaCuppa 1000%. How sad that we are at a stage where we can't open our mouths anymore for fear of offending someone!

How would you feel if you were asked ‘where are you REALLY from?’ when you are a minority citizen of a country, @WorriedSENMum ?

Id just answer. Im from ireland and the british have a long history of considering themselves superior to the irish but we reject that and define our own identity.

But i think this gets to the crux 9f the matter.
Some people feel their nationality is inferior. That is their issue to figure out and friendliness and curiosity have been stamped out because people feel so touchy about everything. It is sad.

Some people feel their nationality is inferior

Do I fuck... we're fucking awesome!

@31RueCambon

But my nationality is British? Thank you calling me a Pakistani national even though I was born here. I love Pakistan, I’m not ashamed of my Pakistani heritage, I love it and its people, but I have a British passport so why say I’m a Pakistani national? See what I mean, even as an Irish person you’re reinforcing stereotypes.

And your example is not a fair one. Irish people are white, you’re not likely to be called Paki just for walking down the street (or be asked if you’re a Paki as Shaz was up thread).

How sad that we are at a stage where we can't open our mouths anymore for fear of offending someone! 

How sad that mentioning one particular thing,in very specific situations makes you feel "you can't open your mouth anymore". I bet you still do though

I thought the thread was about accents. You"re putting yourself up on the cross now.

How snide your are @YourSarcasmIsDripping
You are right to be offended. Others are wrong to be interested. The end.

@31RueCambon

But you answered my post, which was about me. Now you’re just being deceitful. Why do you think a non-white person is asked ‘Where are you really from?’ It’s because of the colour of their skin.

So you’re not going to address calling me a Pakistani national? Funny that.

I’m british but living in another country and I actually feel like I like someone more if they don’t ask me where I’m from the first time we meet. I know it’s just small talk but to them it’s maybe the first time they’ve met a british person (I live pretty remotely) but it’s maybe the 3rd time in 3 days I’ve had this conversation.

I’m so used to it tho that someone asked me where I was from and when I answered Britain he said “no I mean where are you from round here”

@YourSarcasmIsDripping well if you feel it is awesome to be where you are being absolutely ridiculous not to just fucking answer a normal question. 🙄

Your mask is slipping @31Rue

Hoping to control the questions that strangers might ask you is pushing water uphill so good luck everybody.

Your argument is crumbling you mean!

Still not going to answer why someone of Pakistani heritage but born in UK is a Pakistani national to you?

Very telling that.

I dont like what you are insinuation. You erroneously believe that i said you are not british. I never said that. I told you already that i thought this thread was about east europeans not liking being asked where they are from. I did not assume you were specifically were not british. You want to muddy me insinuating that i dont think you can be british but if you read tge thread back you will see you made an assumption.

You attributed a negative assumption where there was no assumption at all directed at you. Please wind your neck in. I know what you are saying and you are wrong.

I literally NEVER said anything about pakistan. Geez1talk about getting the wrong end of the stick. What is very obvious is that you raced to think badly of me for no reason. You made the worst assumption possible based on nothing. Literally nothing because i didnt mention pakistan and hadnt even seen pakistan brought in to this discussion.

So thanks for that. Arent you lovely!
I wont hold my breath waiting for an apology but id respect you if you acknowledge you wrre wrong.

@31Rue

I posted that I’m a minority citizen of Pakistani heritage and I don’t like being asked ‘where are you really from’.

You responded:

‘I’d just answer...Some people feel their nationality is inferior. That is their issue to figure out and friendliness and curiosity have been stamped out because people feel so touchy about everything. It is sad.’

Seems pretty clear cut to me. My post said nothing about accents or Eastern Europeans so please stop paying dumb.

Still waiting for your apology, @31Rue

Omg i obviously thought you were east european with an accent like the op, like the subject of the whole thread. I made no comment at all about you or your britishness. Ffs are you nuts??

I should have read the post before mine more thoroughly. That is what im guilty of. And you KNOW that, given that i have clarified it endlessly.

But have fun muddying the waters.

And i apilogise for not reading your post properly.
I wont wait for your apology. Geez. It is not all about you. Memo to new posters!! Subject of thread has apparently changed.

As a side note, why is it that people are being blamed for being weary due to bigoted arseholes? Why not tackle the actual arseholes rather than making it harder for their victims?

I've posted this article before, but it struck a chord with me. As an immigrant, I don't have to 100% embrace all British customs, it's also ok for me not to like some aspects of British culture as long as I am generally respectful. This doesn't actually make me ungrateful and it doesn't mean I should go back either.

www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/dina-nayeri-ungrateful-refugee

I know what that feels like. I used to complain in an english accent!!

And on that note i will finally leave the thread as it is too upsetting when posters attribute a very negative interpretation to a post and instead of apologising just keep driving home their original misunderstanding. So pointless. Pointlessly creating bad feeling.

How snide your are

I know I'm a proper dick.

I won't really comment on your point because it just shows you don't get it.

I apologise for calling you snide. Frustration at there being only one view point.

Mind you, my frustration was in its infancy there compared to what came next. I won't even type it.

I will fuck off and leave you all to it now. As believe it or not, I have lovely friends and am keen to go out with them now and put the upsetting accusations behind me.

I apologised for not noticing th