It's a reasonable question. I am white and get asked ALL the time where am I from because of my British accent. Not a problem at all and I never get offended, even when they make fun of my accent. And if my daughters bring home a boy friend - damn right I want to know what his cultural and ethnic background is. No way in hell would I want my daughter marrying a man from a certain religion "of peace". Practically anyone else would do just fine.
I would consider myself young just turned 24 a couple days ago and I cant lie when I read the title I was like “o brother” lol. I am latin american and probably don’t recieve the question nearly as much as other people but I defintely have and love how you started the video with “ or you just don’t have any social skills” because literally anywhere in the real word not on the internet you hear this genuine curiosity as just a regular part of meeting someone new, great video!!
I have lived in Indonesia for over 6 years. I get asked this question almost everyday. Just deal with it. If you don't look like the majority of people in a particular country then you'll probably get asked about where you're from. And also, in America, apart from the native Americans everybody is from somewhere else. They're all the children of migrants and so many Americans brag about being 2 thirds Irish or half German.
It’s just a matter of where you’re coming from and where you’re going. Your national identity is all about the direction you’re going down in life. The culture you voluntarily participate in and help to perpetuate. But your heritage is the place you started and where your life experience is rooted. The reference point for everything going forward.
The younger generation being so sensitive to such questions and so woke, sadly means that the generation of the parents failed to educate and shield their children against the super politically correct, woke mentality.
@@MsColdenhoff I agree, and I use my platform as a Gen X-er to attempt to educate those who are willing to consider a different point of view. I see so many young people who are deeply miserable due to these beliefs, but perception shapes reality
So actually the question Where are you from - actually means - Why are you different from my general expection (out of curiosity and to learn more about the world)? It is not meant as an offensive question. When in Hong Kong you say you're British and when you're in Britain you say you have a hk Chinese ancestry.
basically means where is your family from? what is your race or ethnicity not where you actually grow up from lol they are more trying to figure out your ethnic background not oh im american but (not white and is of an ethnic descent)
lol, i met other Asians here in Canada that are like this...most usually will tell you their background even if they were born here...but I find hilarious when they chuckle and try to dodge the question...but i also have to agree with the poster that express that you're asked continually questioning where you're from...i still get asked this and i've been in Canada for 42 years
Yeah as long as you are visibly Asian I think people will always be naturally curious, regardless of where you were born or how many generations your family has lived in the west
Another issue is that European-heritage ppl are usually aware of another European person nationality by their physiognomy. Clearly Eastern Europeans are distinct from Germans, as Italians are to Swedish. Also, surnames give a person an immediate awareness of British surnames versus, say, Swedish surname versus Dutch ancestry versus French versus Russian. This maybe another added consideration why perhaps one group might feel a bit sensitive about the question because it can be deduced by Europeans to each other and the question is not asked, "Where are you from?" but rather, "Hey, you're Italian, right?" just based on their appearance and surname. lt is immediate.
Hi! I enjoy your videos. UA-cam’s are nice and thorough, I do like your instagrams and TikTok, too. I found myself nodding and chuckling with this UA-cam. I’m one of those mixed breeds so to speak, Hapa or Hafu whatever sits comfortably with whomever. I’m good with all. Born and raised and live in Tokyo, mum full on Japanese, dad was American of German, English, Portuguese and native Hawaiian descent. For the first time in my life I went to California at the age of 18 (college) freaked out at the vastness of America. The thing is, no one on either side (Japan or USA) ever asks me where I’m from! 😂 like I’m itching to tell them right? LOL I figured tho, it’s like that simple question “Hi how are you?” That people ask then to get a sit down counseling session. Yeah, not everyone’s a therapist. haha but sometimes I’m bored and dying to have someone ask me so I’ll flip on the perfect Japanese to an American or the perfect English to a Japanese. Many get taken aback, they all do say then: Your English is so good (if they’re American) or Your Japanese is so good (if they’re Japanese). Makes my day (little bit of an ego rub I guess) Heheh
@@reinaozawa9171 ah I’m glad to hear you enjoy my videos. And I love that I can explore a subject in more depth here on UA-cam. I can totally relate to what you’re saying, and one of my best friends in high school was actually a half Japanese half German girl called Naomi! And I’m the sort of person who always asks with great curiosity because I love exploring everything about another person’s culture, and I love talking about mine too 🙌
@ so then it kinda boils down to racism at least with this sort of thing, it’s not skin color or physical appearance- which I guess I fall in between Caucasian and Asian being of both and even the Polynesian which is very dark with thick curly hair which my hair is unlike the other two- it’s language. Yeah. Not looks but speech? I fail however to think that all the racist problems would get resolved in our world if everyone could talk their ethnic backgrounds fluently. But it MIGHT help some. Language is culture, after all!
As a Mexican with strong ties to my heritage, I really don’t care when people question where I’m from. Most of the time they think I’m Native American, and I just find that funny and a bit flattering. If someone is interested in learning about my culture and history, I’m happy to educate.
@ it’s only funny because they’re mistaken, and I don’t fault them for their mistake. I only find their immediate assumptions curious. I use to find much more offense when people would question my sex and sexuality. I guess I use to be a very ambiguous teen growing up. I went through a lot of what many people today would consider misgendering, and it was very frustrating to feel that misunderstood. But I later realized, of course I’m misunderstood, no one else knows me or is me and therefore can’t understand. The you that exists in the eyes of others isn’t and can never fully be in your control because by nature it isn’t even you. It is only a retelling, a murky and low resolution reflection of you. Life is far too short and beautiful for you to allow negative assumptions to live in your thoughts.
The clip I’m reacting to was shared by Instagrammer Asians with Attitudes but unfortunately they didn’t tag the original creators, so if anyone knows who they are, do let me know so I can credit them
I don’t think people are necessarily trying to be white. It’s a matter of wanting to fit in and being accepted in a society that you’ve been a part of and contributed to, not only monetarily but in all aspects, all your life. You eat, live, speak the same, and share the same values. Yet with these type of questions and thinking, you are aware that you are forever an outsider. I don’t just mean this for Asians in America because it’s the same for other ethnicities in Asian countries etc as well. Wherever you are different from the majority, this will be the case. It’s life.
Im half Swiss half Greek. We have an inside joke when someone says is Swisz : " ... when you say Swiss... " and this because we re Swiss Germans, Swiss French, Swiss Italians. In Greece, they use to ask where is someone from and they always answer where they parents are from: Paros and Sifnos, Sparta and Mani , Athens etc. We all talking about diversity and multiculturalism but they re promoting UNIFORMISM
@@irsinium I agree, the youth are being raised with this uniform one world view, which aligns with WEF’s globalist agenda to erase cultural traditions and pride
I totally get your point but here's the thing, unlike Australia, there are many THIRD generation Asians in the US. Many third generation "ethnics" as you call immigrants, don't grow up speaking the language of their ancestors. They've assimilated into American culture. I totally get the whole argument of "you should be proud of your heritage" and I respect people who choose to do so, as long as they choose to respect my choice of being proud to be an American and not caring about "my heritage". We Don't Care We care about all cultures. We care about the sacrifices our ancestors made to get here. Also, many "white" immigrants anglacized their names. America was one of the first modern Nation-states (Google the world nation-state, it's a different word from "nation" or "country") that was built on the foundation of abstract ideas that strived to transcend ethnic identity. If you're black, no one asks the stupid question "where are you really from".
@@e.t.theextraterristrial837 in the UK most black people do actually speak very proudly of their African or Caribbean roots. And of course it’s fine if you don’t care about your ethnicity, but that doesn’t justify being rude to people with a natural human curiosity, who are often enamoured with other cultures, or calling them racist for asking.
@@DonnieWong72 I 100% agree with you. There are many people who are just genuinely curious, but there are others who are genuinely racist. People who ask questions like "what are you" are racist. There are normal people who ask politely like "what ethnicity are you?" "did your parents move to [enter country] from somewhere?" are not racist. Grandma in video, racist AF. She's mocking him. Unlike a lot of black British folks, most black people are descended from enslaved people who were brought to America 170-300 years. A black historian from New Orleans told me there are two types of African Americans 1) " Black" these folks can't trace it down to one particular location or tribes. 2) "African American" they can trace it down to a tribe. Bear in mind, he's from New Orleans. Completely different history. Also, a lot of Hispanic folks have been here even before White folks moved here. Tejanos are an example. A lot of Chinese and Japanese Americans came here during the Gold Rush . That's more than 5 generations. Many of their descendents have now assimilated into the US population. Many Northern European looking folks have ancestry from all over the place but no one can remember that far back and I don't think it really matters beyond your grandparents to great grandparents (4 direct ancestors). I guess thsts why in most countries you can't get citizenship by descent beyond the second generation (grandparents).
I'm two races and three cultures. "Where were you born?" answer, "I was born on the Exotic Island of Fresno."
It's a reasonable question. I am white and get asked ALL the time where am I from because of my British accent. Not a problem at all and I never get offended, even when they make fun of my accent. And if my daughters bring home a boy friend - damn right I want to know what his cultural and ethnic background is. No way in hell would I want my daughter marrying a man from a certain religion "of peace". Practically anyone else would do just fine.
I would consider myself young just turned 24 a couple days ago and I cant lie when I read the title I was like “o brother” lol. I am latin american and probably don’t recieve the question nearly as much as other people but I defintely have and love how you started the video with “ or you just don’t have any social skills” because literally anywhere in the real word not on the internet you hear this genuine curiosity as just a regular part of meeting someone new, great video!!
I have lived in Indonesia for over 6 years. I get asked this question almost everyday. Just deal with it. If you don't look like the majority of people in a particular country then you'll probably get asked about where you're from.
And also, in America, apart from the native Americans everybody is from somewhere else. They're all the children of migrants and so many Americans brag about being 2 thirds Irish or half German.
It’s just a matter of where you’re coming from and where you’re going.
Your national identity is all about the direction you’re going down in life. The culture you voluntarily participate in and help to perpetuate.
But your heritage is the place you started and where your life experience is rooted. The reference point for everything going forward.
The younger generation being so sensitive to such questions and so woke, sadly means that the generation of the parents failed to educate and shield their children against the super politically correct, woke mentality.
@@MsColdenhoff I agree, and I use my platform as a Gen X-er to attempt to educate those who are willing to consider a different point of view. I see so many young people who are deeply miserable due to these beliefs, but perception shapes reality
this is great donnie! Lovely set up and it's very relaxing to hear you talk.
@@ScottishKoreanCellist ah thank you Ryan! (Some of the people on Insta found it more triggering than relaxing though) 😭
@@DonnieWong72 well they can get themselves to where the sun don't shine
So actually the question Where are you from - actually means - Why are you different from my general expection (out of curiosity and to learn more about the world)?
It is not meant as an offensive question.
When in Hong Kong you say you're British and when you're in Britain you say you have a hk Chinese ancestry.
@@MsColdenhoff that is exactly it! People have a natural interest in difference, and what’s different is different in different settings 😂
basically means where is your family from? what is your race or ethnicity not where you actually grow up from lol they are more trying to figure out your ethnic background not oh im american but (not white and is of an ethnic descent)
lol, i met other Asians here in Canada that are like this...most usually will tell you their background even if they were born here...but I find hilarious when they chuckle and try to dodge the question...but i also have to agree with the poster that express that you're asked continually questioning where you're from...i still get asked this and i've been in Canada for 42 years
Yeah as long as you are visibly Asian I think people will always be naturally curious, regardless of where you were born or how many generations your family has lived in the west
Another issue is that European-heritage ppl are usually aware of another European person nationality by their physiognomy. Clearly Eastern Europeans are distinct from Germans, as Italians are to Swedish. Also, surnames give a person an immediate awareness of British surnames versus, say, Swedish surname versus Dutch ancestry versus French versus Russian. This maybe another added consideration why perhaps one group might feel a bit sensitive about the question because it can be deduced by Europeans to each other and the question is not asked, "Where are you from?" but rather, "Hey, you're Italian, right?" just based on their appearance and surname. lt is immediate.
If you don’t know where you are from …… How the hell are you gonna know where you are going ?!!!!
Hi! I enjoy your videos. UA-cam’s are nice and thorough, I do like your instagrams and TikTok, too. I found myself nodding and chuckling with this UA-cam. I’m one of those mixed breeds so to speak, Hapa or Hafu whatever sits comfortably with whomever. I’m good with all. Born and raised and live in Tokyo, mum full on Japanese, dad was American of German, English, Portuguese and native Hawaiian descent. For the first time in my life I went to California at the age of 18 (college) freaked out at the vastness of America. The thing is, no one on either side (Japan or USA) ever asks me where I’m from! 😂 like I’m itching to tell them right? LOL I figured tho, it’s like that simple question “Hi how are you?” That people ask then to get a sit down counseling session. Yeah, not everyone’s a therapist. haha but sometimes I’m bored and dying to have someone ask me so I’ll flip on the perfect Japanese to an American or the perfect English to a Japanese. Many get taken aback, they all do say then: Your English is so good (if they’re American) or Your Japanese is so good (if they’re Japanese). Makes my day (little bit of an ego rub I guess)
Heheh
@@reinaozawa9171 ah I’m glad to hear you enjoy my videos. And I love that I can explore a subject in more depth here on UA-cam.
I can totally relate to what you’re saying, and one of my best friends in high school was actually a half Japanese half German girl called Naomi! And I’m the sort of person who always asks with great curiosity because I love exploring everything about another person’s culture, and I love talking about mine too 🙌
@ so then it kinda boils down to racism at least with this sort of thing, it’s not skin color or physical appearance- which I guess I fall in between Caucasian and Asian being of both and even the Polynesian which is very dark with thick curly hair which my hair is unlike the other two- it’s language. Yeah. Not looks but speech? I fail however to think that all the racist problems would get resolved in our world if everyone could talk their ethnic backgrounds fluently. But it MIGHT help some. Language is culture, after all!
As a Mexican with strong ties to my heritage, I really don’t care when people question where I’m from.
Most of the time they think I’m Native American, and I just find that funny and a bit flattering.
If someone is interested in learning about my culture and history, I’m happy to educate.
How you find that funny?
@ it’s only funny because they’re mistaken, and I don’t fault them for their mistake. I only find their immediate assumptions curious.
I use to find much more offense when people would question my sex and sexuality. I guess I use to be a very ambiguous teen growing up. I went through a lot of what many people today would consider misgendering, and it was very frustrating to feel that misunderstood.
But I later realized, of course I’m misunderstood, no one else knows me or is me and therefore can’t understand.
The you that exists in the eyes of others isn’t and can never fully be in your control because by nature it isn’t even you. It is only a retelling, a murky and low resolution reflection of you.
Life is far too short and beautiful for you to allow negative assumptions to live in your thoughts.
The clip I’m reacting to was shared by Instagrammer Asians with Attitudes but unfortunately they didn’t tag the original creators, so if anyone knows who they are, do let me know so I can credit them
This is completely off topic but I love your cardigan ❤
@@richardstatham7748 thank you, it’s at least 30 years old!
@DonnieWong72 it looks really good on you
I don’t think people are necessarily trying to be white. It’s a matter of wanting to fit in and being accepted in a society that you’ve been a part of and contributed to, not only monetarily but in all aspects, all your life. You eat, live, speak the same, and share the same values. Yet with these type of questions and thinking, you are aware that you are forever an outsider. I don’t just mean this for Asians in America because it’s the same for other ethnicities in Asian countries etc as well. Wherever you are different from the majority, this will be the case. It’s life.
Im half Swiss half Greek. We have an inside joke when someone says is Swisz : " ... when you say Swiss... " and this because we re Swiss Germans, Swiss French, Swiss Italians. In Greece, they use to ask where is someone from and they always answer where they parents are from: Paros and Sifnos, Sparta and Mani , Athens etc. We all talking about diversity and multiculturalism but they re promoting UNIFORMISM
@@irsinium I agree, the youth are being raised with this uniform one world view, which aligns with WEF’s globalist agenda to erase cultural traditions and pride
such a weird thing
I totally get your point but here's the thing, unlike Australia, there are many THIRD generation Asians in the US.
Many third generation "ethnics" as you call immigrants, don't grow up speaking the language of their ancestors.
They've assimilated into American culture.
I totally get the whole argument of "you should be proud of your heritage" and I respect people who choose to do so, as long as they choose to respect my choice of being proud to be an American and not caring about "my heritage".
We
Don't
Care
We care about all cultures.
We care about the sacrifices our ancestors made to get here.
Also, many "white" immigrants anglacized their names.
America was one of the first modern Nation-states (Google the world nation-state, it's a different word from "nation" or "country") that was built on the foundation of abstract ideas that strived to transcend ethnic identity.
If you're black, no one asks the stupid question "where are you really from".
@@e.t.theextraterristrial837 in the UK most black people do actually speak very proudly of their African or Caribbean roots.
And of course it’s fine if you don’t care about your ethnicity, but that doesn’t justify being rude to people with a natural human curiosity, who are often enamoured with other cultures, or calling them racist for asking.
@@DonnieWong72 I 100% agree with you.
There are many people who are just genuinely curious, but there are others who are genuinely racist.
People who ask questions like "what are you" are racist.
There are normal people who ask politely like "what ethnicity are you?"
"did your parents move to [enter country] from somewhere?" are not racist.
Grandma in video, racist AF.
She's mocking him.
Unlike a lot of black British folks, most black people are descended from enslaved people who were brought to America 170-300 years.
A black historian from New Orleans told me there are two types of African Americans
1) " Black" these folks can't trace it down to one particular location or tribes.
2) "African American" they can trace it down to a tribe.
Bear in mind, he's from New Orleans.
Completely different history.
Also, a lot of Hispanic folks have been here even before White folks moved here.
Tejanos are an example.
A lot of Chinese and Japanese Americans came here during the Gold Rush .
That's more than 5 generations. Many of their descendents have now assimilated into the US population.
Many Northern European looking folks have ancestry from all over the place but no one can remember that far back and I don't think it really matters beyond your grandparents to great grandparents (4 direct ancestors).
I guess thsts why in most countries you can't get citizenship by descent beyond the second generation (grandparents).
If a black person has a foreign accent, I’ll ask about their background.
The last part is alot