I'm always worried about coming across as racist if you ask where they are from.
But it looks like that isn't the case.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:28, 4 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

'Tottenham, mate'

'Ah. Sorry'

Lusty's old flatmate was once asked whether she learned kung fu at school (she's of Chinese extraction). 'What, in Basingstoke? No we didn't'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:29, Reply)

I think the Basingstoke LEA tends to focus more on the teachings of Confucius

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:32, Reply)

Racist.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:33, Reply)

What you couldn't see
was me pulling the corners of my eyes up and sticking my top teeth out, whilst pronouncing Confucius with a comedy Chinese accent.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:37, Reply)

Ah. Solly.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:42, Reply)

Taoist surely?

(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Tue 8 May 2012, 9:34, Reply)

Why would that come across as racist?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:30, Reply)

Al's a middle-class hand-wringing liberal who sees racism wherever he goes.

I think that's why.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:31, Reply)

I'm not sure, but I think you are being racist here.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:32, Reply)

That's the spirit!
I demand dual-language road signs and translators to help with my dole applications please.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:33, Reply)

you're just assuming that because it's monty
like assuming that if i posted it, it's about tits or blowjobs. or both. or if gonz posted it, it's about food. or if al posted it, that DIY and/or running will be the subtext...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:43, Reply)

I went running and fixed my banister rail yesterday.

(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:44, Reply)

and yet i did absolutely nothing with either tits or blowjobs
my new meme might have to be the gym and blue cheese.

sign of incipient middle-age.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:49, Reply)

I only read the words 'tits and blowjobs' here
*checks gaz box*
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:45, Reply)

*cockgazzes*

( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:49, Reply)

Partly like Monty says,
partly because if they have a thick east end accent it seems a bit silly to ask where they are from, even though what I'm really interested in is which country did their parents/grandparents come from, and in asking such a silly question the implication could be that even though they sound English I could be inferring that they couldn't possibly be english because of their skin colour.
(Bazongaloid, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:35, Reply)

I think if they have a thick east end accent then it is clear that they come from the east end.
But as 'swipe says below, you could always pose the question to ask about their origins. People often like to talk about that sort of thing.
Just don't get my mother started on genealogy though, she can bore for England on the subject.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:43, Reply)

to be honest, it's a question i ask nearly every new person i meet regardless of accent/clothes/colour/job etc
i'm always interested to learn about people's backgrounds.

you know, just to check they are fit for me to associate with......
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:45, Reply)

She can also suck cock for England,
and indeed will be doing so this very summer at the 'twenty twelve' Olympics.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:51, Reply)

She is considering having her teeth removed specially for it.
But needs to check with the IOC to see if this is permitted under their rules.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:55, Reply)

Yeah', same here. I only ask because I'm interested in culture and its a good opener to start up some nice conversation.
Where you from?
How long have you been here?
I've never been there; what's it like?
I've heard of/tried [x] dish, it's pretty good, whats the rest of the food like?
You heard of the EDL or National Front? No surrender Noooo Surrender. NO SURRENDER to the ta-li-ban. SPORT ARE TROOPS.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:32, Reply)

i think it depends how you do it
"where you from then?" not great. "where are your family from originally?" shows you are interested in someone and in hearing about their background. and if you're not interested in them, fuck off!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:38, Reply)

I find if you say
'Very jolly good sir' in a 'comedy' 70s 'Indian' accent whilst wobbling your head from side to side, you get welcomed into their community and given free fags for life.

Particularly if they are Turkish.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:39, Reply)

You are Ashton Kutcher AICMFP

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:40, Reply)

Stupid who?

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:41, Reply)

Dirty what?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:42, Reply)

If you're blatently not turkish but order your kabab in turkish, it's like a secret code to get a free turkish tea or coffee.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:45, Reply)

Unfortunately I find Turkish coffee disgusting.
What do you have to do to get some of that yummy Efes pilsner?

Actually, I don't want to know.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:47, Reply)

If you go on holiday in Turkey with your blonde girlfriend
it's like a secret code to get her sold into slavery.
( Kroney, Tue 8 May 2012, 9:59, Reply)