I now live in Vancouver, bc Canada but grew up in Kansas. I am white, athletic, middle class. In Vancouver I have become a minority as the majority now are asians. I regularly ask people where they are from China, Japan, Korean, Hong Kong etc. It is how the question is asked that is the difference. We spoke about this at a company sponsored event about racism where I learned how offended some people are when asked as they felt they were being called out as being different. It made them scared and uncomfortable.

I don't mind it when they ask. I'm half black and half Samoan, and a lot of people in my area have never seen a Samoan person. I don't think it's rude to ask at all.

Not really, it doesn't bother me. Most people who ask about culture are honestly curious.

Learning about other cultures can be fascinating and helps me be a more rounded and an inclusive person.

Why be upset when someone asks you to educate them?

Eurpopean settlement has mostly destroyed the indigenous culture here (Oz).
Many 3rd and 4th Generation "white" Aussies would have some aboriginal ancestry. I have at least 12% and am very light skinned. We are trying to re discover and preserve the indigenous culture of our country. The circles I move in are very respectful of Aboriginal heritage so the question about culture is not impolite. All pre-industrial cultures are important and of interest to me.

It depends on the nature of the question. If it is legitimate curiosity, I welcome it. If it's a back handed insult, that is a different matter!

It depends on the nature of the question. If it is legitimate curiosity, I welcome it. If it's a back handed insult, that is a di

Great question! I’d love to hear more from the people you actually directed the question towards. There are so many methodical responses from white people below, it’s easy to miss the answers from your intended targets of the question. Is that a white thing? To offer your opinion when it wasn’t asked for? Or maybe that’s more of a male trait? I don’t know, I’m doing it right now...

So I'm mostly white-ish, but I have Cherokee in me, and a bit of my white is Jewish. ALL of my family, except my cousin who is half black, look strictly white, but then there's me...in the summer I look more native than my grandma, 4 some reason people especially say this when my hair is braided. So I'll try and answer from both perspectives. As a mixed heritage person, I welcome the opportunity 2 educate people about cultures outside their own, but I do think the way u approach it matters a great deal. If u ask " hey, what nationality are u?" Or " where is your family from?" I think that's great. But I have also heard "hey, u look like an Indian, didn't your people like 2 rape and scalp people?" I'll still try 2 have a civil conversation, who knows, maybe I can teach them something new. But I admit, it makes going in2 the conversation, a little difficult.

No, why should it. There is something to be learned from the comparison and contrast bet ween cultures.

My family is triracial, European, Native American, and African American. I've been asked if I was Cuban, Turkish, Armenian, or had a Chinese grandmother, depending upon where I was. I mostly ignore them.

People hardly ever ask me about my background. They see me and just think "white". Contrary to what some on here think, I am part Italian (Father and Mother), German (Mother), Irish (Mother), and Native American (Mother). They would say I'm just a white American.

I hate cultural appropriation being some negative term used wrongly these days. Just because someone who isn't Japanese wears a kimono, it doesn't mean they are bad people.

Most people point out my resemblance to a mythological guy who delivers toys right around the winter solstice. And whole I do serve that purpose for certain family members, I do not have a North Pole cultural background. Now southern Poland, that's a different story, but the beard doesn't even register as a Polish fashion choice. ?

There’s nothing wrong with people asking about your cultural background. It’s something I do when meeting people all the time. I find that it is an ice breaker, a way to start conversation. Because I am a world traveler and student of other cultures in particularly language and cuisine.

I used to be abroad overseas a "goodwill ambassador" of the USA, I always going to be a "goodwill ambassador" of my Culture and Heritage. My Final Answer.

Can't say I really ever get that as a middle-class, born and raised American, eighteen years into the new millennium. The only such scenario I could imagine would be that of a foreigner asking such a question. I only speak for myself. Others may have had a different experience.

Define White bread. I’m of ashkenaze Jewish heritage. I don’t consider myself part of mainstream white culture or whatever that means.

I think a lot depends upon their demeanor and apparent purpose. If they display a genuine interest, I'm happy to discuss it -- but I'm a Jew, so rarely is their approach negative. However, I think that no matter what you are, green, orange, or purple, if their approach is friendly and at least genuine, it would be wise to oblige. Hey, who knows, you could change the course of someones life or at least increase their understanding and reduce some prejudice.