hello! loooong time lurker here (since thread 17), posted maybe twice but not really able to keep up with you all lovely and wise ladies (and man!)...
but anyway, just wanted to chip in for watch as i'm from a middle-eastern background but grew up here. although i get how it can be easier and sometimes you're just more attracted to someone from the same racial background, I generally skip past the middle eastern men on dating sites myself!
i guess that is based on a sweeping generalisation but i've never met someone who for example would be happy to admit they are atheist (i am - just don't do religion myself, have nothing against the idea for others though :)) and of course there's the inbred misogynistic view of the world ;). but then here i am, so it's possible we are few and far in between!
if you say this guy seems cool whilst chatting and has spent many years living here then it's quite possible that there won't be any cultural issues for you to put your foot in, so to speak - you would expect him to share your cultural values and norms which come would from someone who is well-adjusted in their life/community.
i have been out with guys who have moved over here for work/study and been here for 5-10 yrs, but it doesn't work out because we don't get each other. yet i've been out with guys who come from the same place originally but grew up here and we do get each other. i guess it's a more complicated way of saying what bantam said, that having the same background makes things easier, but a shared background is not limited by racial boundaries.
not sure where i'm going here tbh or if i'm making any sense, just saying that if he can get you, you get him etc then you should treat him as you would any other guy you'd like to talk to without worrying about if you'll put your foot in it...at least that's how i'd like to be treated by any potential chatter-uppers!
erm, yeah!