The Off Topic Topic

[garbon]

Knowing that I'm half black and half white isn't likely to facilitate communication or a better understanding of one another.

How do any of the usual small talk questions like where are you from, what's your job, etc., etc., "facilitate communication or a better understanding of one another" any better than asking about ethnicity?

Because they actually tell you things about the person and lend themselves easily to follow-up related questions.  I don't think that really works with ethnicity.

[Jacob]

It think it's really awesome how derSpiess is facilitating discussions about cultural sensitivity.

[Admiral Yi]

They actually tell you things about the person?  But ethnicity doesn't? 

[garbon]

They actually tell you things about the person?  But ethnicity doesn't? 

Yes. I think that my affinity for Southern California and that I work in market research tells you a hell of a lot more than the fact that I'm half black.  I'm not even sure what the latter tells you unless you want to slot your thoughts along stereotypical racial lines.

Which I think is another point. When you are first meeting a person, generally you aren't seeking to offend them. Ethnicity questions are more likely to lead to potential offense and should be saved till you know the person a bit better.

[Eddie Teach]

I think those questions are frequently an indication that the person's accent is a bit stronger than they think it is.

[garbon]

I think those questions are frequently an indication that the person's accent is a bit stronger than they think it is.

No, I don't think that's right at all. I don't have an accent...though I do sometimes use terms that aren't common here on the East Coast.

[Malthus]

They actually tell you things about the person?  But ethnicity doesn't? 

Yes. I think that my affinity for Southern California and that I work in market research tells you a hell of a lot more than the fact that I'm half black.  I'm not even sure what the latter tells you unless you want to slot your thoughts along stereotypical racial lines.

Which I think is another point. When you are first meeting a person, generally you aren't seeking to offend them. Ethnicity questions are more likely to lead to potential offense and should be saved till you know the person a bit better.

This is an indication that you know us all really well? 

[Admiral Yi]

Yes. I think that my affinity for Southern California and that I work in market research tells you a hell of a lot more than the fact that I'm half black.  I'm not even sure what the latter tells you unless you want to slot your thoughts along stereotypical racial lines.

I think it's the other way.  Market research tells me nothing about you; being half black tells me a bit.

[Ideologue]

It's a failure of articulation.  What they mean is what is your ethnicity.

How is that relevant when you first meet someone?

And I know. Just like when they ask "what is your nationality".

My Jewish not-friend what's fucking Korea now got really annoyed by that, but claimed he never would have been offended if they asked his ethnicity.

I personally think it's a faux pas, because it has the propensity to offend, and why risk it over nothing?  Because it is irrelevant; on the other hand, 90% of conversations are irrelevant, and I understand that there's a natural curiosity for its own sake when you meet someone who doesn't look like you do to find out what their specific deal is, especially when more recent additions to our melting pot tend to have more discrete origins than "I hail from fucking Europe/Africa" that old Americans like you or I have.

[crazy canuck]

being half black tells me a bit.

What does it tell you?

[garbon]

Yes. I think that my affinity for Southern California and that I work in market research tells you a hell of a lot more than the fact that I'm half black.  I'm not even sure what the latter tells you unless you want to slot your thoughts along stereotypical racial lines.

I think it's the other way.  Market research tells me nothing about you; being half black tells me a bit.

What does the latter tell you?

I think the former gives you some indication of level of education, employment status, potentially mindset (analytical), etc. It also lends itself easily to questions like what did you study in school, where did you go to school, what got you interested in that, etc. The ethnicity question, well what follow-up does it leave you?

[Ideologue]

I think those questions are frequently an indication that the person's accent is a bit stronger than they think it is.

No, I don't think that's right at all. I don't have an accent...

Oh, but I do?  That's regionalist.

[garbon]

It's a failure of articulation.  What they mean is what is your ethnicity.

How is that relevant when you first meet someone?

And I know. Just like when they ask "what is your nationality".

My Jewish not-friend what's fucking Korea now got really annoyed by that, but claimed he never would have been offended if they asked his ethnicity.

I personally think it's a faux pas, because it has the propensity to offend, and why risk it over nothing?  Because it is irrelevant; on the other hand, 90% of conversations are irrelevant, and I understand that there's a natural curiosity for its own sake when you meet someone who doesn't look like you do to find out what their specific deal is, especially when more recent additions to our melting pot tend to have more discrete origins than "I hail from fucking Europe/Africa" that old Americans like you or I have.

I've never been offended. I usually make a game of it and make them guess my ethnicity (usually wrong, btw, unless my hair has grown out a bit).

I do generally answer straight faced if asked nationality though.

[Eddie Teach]

I think those questions are frequently an indication that the person's accent is a bit stronger than they think it is.

No, I don't think that's right at all. I don't have an accent...though I do sometimes use terms that aren't common here on the East Coast.

Speaking more in general.

Also, agree with Yi. Knowing you're not Indian tells us more than the market research bit. 

[garbon]

I think those questions are frequently an indication that the person's accent is a bit stronger than they think it is.

No, I don't think that's right at all. I don't have an accent...

Oh, but I do?  That's regionalist.

Have I suggested that I'm any other way?