Is it racism to ask someone where they are from.

No, it’s called taking an interest.
How you followed up was the important question or comment though. “How interesting. Oh, whereabouts? Do you like it here? Do you have family back in Albania? “
I think any of these would be fine.
Not like that Lady in Waiting at Buckingham Palace!

Personally I see nothing wrong with that if she said England and you kept on like that old ‘lady in waiting’ did ‘ but where are you really from ‘ ‘no I mean really from’ that would be intrusive but to be interested I see no problem
I ve been asked it in different parts of the country as I have no particular accent……others might disagree but that’s my opinion

I don't think it's racist to ask someone where they're from. It's only if they give an answer you're not expecting, like naming somewhere local and you follow up with "but where are you really from?" that some people may find offensive.

A perfectly normal question. I was talking to a lady the other day and when it became obvious that she was a visitor I thought it only natural to ask where she was from. She said Nigeria and seemed pleased to have been asked.

BlueBelle

Personally I see nothing wrong with that if she said England and you kept on like that old ‘lady in waiting’ did ‘ but where are you really from ‘ ‘no I mean really from’ that would be intrusive but to be interested I see no problem
I ve been asked it in different parts of the country as I have no particular accent……others might disagree but that’s my opinion

This

littleflo - I wouldn’t worry at all - it can’t be any worse than me asking a young bank teller (many years ago) when the baby was due (she wasn’t pregnant) 😩

It was only racist because that old gal didn’t seem to be able to take it in that a black woman could be British Silly old moo

I don't think it is racist but asking can make people feel like they don't belong, especially if it is because a difference has been noticed about them...

I avoid it in situations where they obviously live close by. If I am making a friendship with someone online whose location I don't know then I might ask "where do you live".

According to Grampian Health Board it is racist to ask someone where they are from. They have big signs up in the corridors telling you what you can’t say to staff and that’s one of the them.

Someone where I live asked me if I was a holidaymaker last week! He looked astonished when I said no, I am local.

Thank you I feel better.. I would not ask the other questions as I knew they, like the majority of the people we see, are living in the refugee hotels. I think in future I will just concentrate on the clothes.

I used to have a kid in my class who did all the translating, liaised with various people for mum. Born in UK but obviously was bi-ligual. Mum had been in UK decades but was not confident with English, and she spent most of her time speaking her first language.
What if this little Albanian girl had a similar background? Maybe a better question (apologies for sounding pompous) would be 'That's a beautiful language, what was it?' Then ' Wow you're ten, and you speak Albanian and English. I'm very impressed'.

I see nothing wrong in what you said.

I think I was perhaps insensitive rather than racist. As others have said she might not have wanted to say. I have worked with refugees previously but the questions asked were a necessary part of their procession through our system.

The baby bank is only as big as a small bedroom, so you are physically very close to people.

I am glad I asked Gransnet Jury, as the replies are always honest and thoughtful.

Littleflow
You could say hellos to her in Albanian. Pershadenty.
We were only there for a week but I remember that word.

Foxygloves

No, it’s called taking an interest.
How you followed up was the important question or comment though. “How interesting. Oh, whereabouts? Do you like it here? Do you have family back in Albania? “
I think any of these would be fine.
Not like that Lady in Waiting at Buckingham Palace!

I asked someone something along the lines of "where are you from" only a week or two after that incident.
I realised "my mistake" almost immediately.
I think I got off with it. But not sure the man was best pleased.
So did think afterwards, perhaps I ought to try not to say it again.

I think the problem with the question is the implication of ‘otherness’ as VS mentioned.

I witnessed someone asking, “Where are you from?” to an Indigenous person. It was an interesting moment.

I often ask people, usually based on accent. If a checkout girl has an Eastern European accent I ask where they come from because DS's ex comes from Hungary and a previous partner came from the Ukraine so it gives us something to talk about. I think the only time I asked a person of colour where they came from was during the 2012 Olympics. I met an impressive looking chap sightseeing at Stonehenge and spoke to him and he told me he was an athlete from Micronesia which was really interesting.

When I moved to Liverpool I was asked by a Merseyrail guard where I came from because I 'sounded posh'. (I'm white Cornish, for what it's worth.)

This was discussed on here in depth some weeks ago but no it’s not racist.

I have been asked hundreds of times where I’m from and never felt like not answering. I have been asked what part of Australia I’m from but have never been there in my life.🤣

I have a Bulgarian dentist who loves telling me about his country. I have been on a course with some Lithuanian girls, I have worked with Ugandan Asians for many years, my best friend is from Tanzania, i went for a minor op recently and the Dr was Romanian and her nurse was from the Philippines. None of them minded me asking. I am interested in people and believe others are too.

I think that you need to ask a person from a minority to get a rounded view on this question, and if they feel it is racist, why they think so.

VioletSky, I think your suggestion of “Where do you live?” is a very sensible one and could avoid problems in a lot of situations, and in real life as well as online. It might be an easier way to find out a person’s background if you are interested but don’t want them to feel that you don’t think they belong - if that makes sense! Thank you.

Where do you live? could be pointless because I know our window cleaner lives not far away. However, he has an interesting name and accent so I asked him where he was from, he smiled and told me and we had an interesting chat about the country where he was born and brought up.

I have been asked hundreds of times where I’m from and never felt like not answering. I have been asked what part of Australia I’m from but have never been there in my life.🤣

Common question in Australia is: "Are you from England?" "No, I'm from Wales". "Well, that's in England isn't it?"

I moved to the north west from the black country. I always make a point of saying I'm not a Brummie. As I have had lot of people as me if I am. My accent is completely different from a Brummies. But Brummies don't like if they are call black country.

Sue Lawley is from the black country but had to lose her accent to read the news.