I had someone ask me today

[RB TexLa]

what race I am.

I told them "someone would have had to have told me what race my biological parents were for me to know that. Since no one ever told me I can only assume it wasn't any of my business. Now, can I ask why the fuck you would think it's any of your business."

I was more than a little shocked that they would ask me that.

[Tx4obama]

1. We are all members of the HUMAN RACE

Although sometimes I wonder about some of the GOPers,
some of them seem more like aliens from outspace

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. And they walk among us

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11351853#post23

[jberryhill]

2. You don't have a membership card?

[Speck Tater]

3. My answer is simple...

I'm Irish, like everyone else in the world.

I'm sure I have at least one Irish ancestor somewhere in the distant past, or perhaps some Nordic ancestor whose people raped and pillaged along the coast of Ireland and left some offspring in Ireland, or maybe someone from Africa whose second cousin's great grandfather moved to Ireland in 1952 making me indirectly, through an eighth cousin thrice removed, Irish.

In any case, if I search the family tree deep enough, backwards, forwards, and sideways through time I'm sure I can find somebody Irish in there somewhere.

Therefore, I am Irish. Thanks for asking.

There's a good chance that everybody in the world can answer, with confidence, "I'm Irish." That being the case, let's just all make that our standard answer so that the question need never be asked again.

[progressivebydesign]

4. Wow.. kinda harsh response. Some people, albeit clumsy, ask for other reasons.

It's possible that they have adopted a child, and curious if they're the same race, etc.

Unless this person was already outwardly cruel or rude to me, I never respond that way to a question. It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder, to the person who asked the question. Some people are just awkward, but I'm shocked at how aggressive you came back at them.. unless there was more to the story before that.

Dear Abby usually says something like this: Why would you want to know that? before biting their heads off.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Perhaps they found you exotic and attractive?

I understand why this question may be of concern, but it may have been made in genuine interest.

Take it as a compliment.

[Javaman]

7. I have started using Rat as in Rat Race. nt

[morningfog]

8. Would it have changed if they asked you how you identify?

[treestar]

9. In what context?

What race were they?

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. "Ah, so you're a member of the dick race"

perfectly valid retort from them after that diatribe.

[RB TexLa]

11. So you think it is their business?

[GobBluth]

12. What was their tone?

I must have very common features that span the globe, as I often am asked "what nationality" are you. For the record, if my genealogy is to be trusted, I am English, Bohemian, Norwegian, and german, so VERY European! I know that is much different than race.........

But I have had a man from Mexico start speaking Spanish to me because he assumed I was also Mexican (which is strange, isn't Mexico pretty diverse?), Greeks think I am Greek (I live around many and married one, so this happens a lot) and when my Pakistani neighbor married, his new wife mistakenly thought my father was Pakistani, because my mom was too "white" to have produced me.

Shrugs. I've had some cool conversations with other white people who thought I was something else, based on their own stereotypes. None were trying to offend. Most were just interested in maybe getting to know someone outside their world. Felt bad disappointing them when I reply "I am a European mutt"

[RZM]

13. Somebody asked me that once over the phone

I really didn't care that they asked.