Excuse Me?! 9 Awkward Questions That Tend To Rub People The Wrong Way
1. So, What are you?
Whether it’s because of an accent, or because of the texture of your hair, some folks find people who have unique attributes to be “exotic.” Hate that word. But what they don’t realize is that people often get a little ticked off by those who can’t find a better way to form the question of “So, what are you?” My boss says she often gets this question from men more than anybody else (she’s lighter with wavy hair). However, I’ve seen people of all different backgrounds ask my father “What are you?” and “So, how long have you been in America, sir?” because of his Nigerian accent. Unless the conversation is surrounding people’s culture or someone decides to bring it up, I would find a much more subtle way to inquire about one’s background or just wait until they’re comfortable enough to bring it up on their own.
