Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people really do this?

When people ask me where I'm from, usually in a casual setting, I tell them where I grew up. I don't go into an elaborate story about how I was born overseas and immigrated here as a preteen but then grew up in my hometown because I assume people are just making small talk and don't actually care.

A very small subset of people do it, and I find it fascinating. Sometimes I have had to ask a few times to figure out where someone actually grew up. It's strange

Why don’t you ask “Where did you grow up?” Instead of “where are you from?” It might clarify the question and get the answer you desire.

I think I will have to start doing this! It's the same question but it will prevent evasiveness, I think

Anonymous wrote:If I'm not in DC, and someone asks where I'm from, I say "DC," because that's where I live. If I'm in DC and the person I'm talking to already knows I live in DC, and asks where I'm from, I say the name of my town. If the person asking me is a tourist in DC or something else where they don't know I live in DC, I would say DC, because they probably want to know if I can give them directions or recommend a restaurant.

Exactly this. The question is situational, so my response will depend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people really do this?

When people ask me where I'm from, usually in a casual setting, I tell them where I grew up. I don't go into an elaborate story about how I was born overseas and immigrated here as a preteen but then grew up in my hometown because I assume people are just making small talk and don't actually care.

A very small subset of people do it, and I find it fascinating. Sometimes I have had to ask a few times to figure out where someone actually grew up. It's strange

Why don’t you ask “Where did you grow up?” Instead of “where are you from?” It might clarify the question and get the answer you desire.

Because they want to seem more sophisticated than they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? It’s not a lie, it’s a different way of answering the question.

It is a lie, ESPECIALLY if it's asked in that same city they're currently living. The obvious implication is "where did you grow up/ where are your roots". People trying to find out the town that truly raised and shaped you.

it's disingenuous at best, and I'm curious why anyone would engage in it.

Why are you so bothered by this? When we are traveling, people make small talk and ask where you're from. The answer is "we come from DC, nice weather you have here," not "Well, my wife is a DC native but I was born and raised in small town Ohio, but I spent several years living overseas before moving to DC where we have lived for 13 years."

If you care so much, you can ask people specifically where they were born. I can't imagine being so strident about this.

Who not just say "I'm from Ohio and she's from DC"? Pretty simple, actually. But more importantly, I'm asking about people who answer that to someone WHILE they're in DC.

If you met someone in DC and they asked where you're from, what would you say?

If I knew the person I met already knew I lived in DC, I'd tell them my hometown. But I've lived here for 15+ years, and I haven't lived in my hometown for over 25 years, so unless the person is specifically asking where I was born/grew up, I'm likely to answer "DC." I'm not ashamed of it, it's just rarely relevant information anymore.

And when travelling, if someone asks where I'm from, I say "DC," unless I'm in or near my hometown, in which case I will say, "DC, but I grew up near here."

Well you can rationalize your lies however you like, but you are lying. you're not "from" DC, you're from small town Ohio. But I guess you dont want to say it.

Don't be obtuse. "From" is vague. if you want people's hometown, then ask for their hometown but don't call them liars for interpreting "from" as their current residence. Nobody owes some random busybody their life story just because you asked.

So I guess that's what we'll have to ask, since so many people are trying to be shady and lie and obfuscate their history. Oh well. We can do that though!

OP is kind of crazy.

People name the place they feel allegiance to. I’m “from DC” in my opinion, though I was born and spent most of my childhood in California.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I've started asking people "where did you grow up?" Everyone wants to seem like a lifelong urban dweller, and they will do anything to maintain that illusion. It's kind of sad.

Seriously why do you care? Those who are fixated on this seem like the nosiest, most status-obsessed, people. And I'm someone who answers that I'm from Florida because I am. But I don't care how other people answer, I'm just making conversation.

Because I'm curious about other people and knowing where someone grew up gives you an important clue to their identity? I mean... duh?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? It’s not a lie, it’s a different way of answering the question.

It is a lie, ESPECIALLY if it's asked in that same city they're currently living. The obvious implication is "where did you grow up/ where are your roots". People trying to find out the town that truly raised and shaped you.

it's disingenuous at best, and I'm curious why anyone would engage in it.

Why are you so bothered by this? When we are traveling, people make small talk and ask where you're from. The answer is "we come from DC, nice weather you have here," not "Well, my wife is a DC native but I was born and raised in small town Ohio, but I spent several years living overseas before moving to DC where we have lived for 13 years."

If you care so much, you can ask people specifically where they were born. I can't imagine being so strident about this.

Lol

Anonymous wrote:This is why I've started asking people "where did you grow up?" Everyone wants to seem like a lifelong urban dweller, and they will do anything to maintain that illusion. It's kind of sad.

Seriously why do you care? Those who are fixated on this seem like the nosiest, most status-obsessed, people. And I'm someone who answers that I'm from Florida because I am. But I don't care how other people answer, I'm just making conversation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:? It’s not a lie, it’s a different way of answering the question.

It is a lie, ESPECIALLY if it's asked in that same city they're currently living. The obvious implication is "where did you grow up/ where are your roots". People trying to find out the town that truly raised and shaped you.

it's disingenuous at best, and I'm curious why anyone would engage in it.

Why are you so bothered by this? When we are traveling, people make small talk and ask where you're from. The answer is "we come from DC, nice weather you have here," not "Well, my wife is a DC native but I was born and raised in small town Ohio, but I spent several years living overseas before moving to DC where we have lived for 13 years."

If you care so much, you can ask people specifically where they were born. I can't imagine being so strident about this.

Who not just say "I'm from Ohio and she's from DC"? Pretty simple, actually. But more importantly, I'm asking about people who answer that to someone WHILE they're in DC.

If you met someone in DC and they asked where you're from, what would you say?

If I knew the person I met already knew I lived in DC, I'd tell them my hometown. But I've lived here for 15+ years, and I haven't lived in my hometown for over 25 years, so unless the person is specifically asking where I was born/grew up, I'm likely to answer "DC." I'm not ashamed of it, it's just rarely relevant information anymore.

And when travelling, if someone asks where I'm from, I say "DC," unless I'm in or near my hometown, in which case I will say, "DC, but I grew up near here."

Well you can rationalize your lies however you like, but you are lying. you're not "from" DC, you're from small town Ohio. But I guess you dont want to say it.

Don't be obtuse. "From" is vague. if you want people's hometown, then ask for their hometown but don't call them liars for interpreting "from" as their current residence. Nobody owes some random busybody their life story just because you asked.

Anonymous wrote:OP- I'd assume you are the one with the big issues. Why do you want to make people feel uncomfortable? If you get a sense that someone is uncomfortable answering a personal question- back off. it's rude to "dig in". Unless you are a private investigator, get your nosy self out of here!

This.

I usually give a general answer to where I am from because my hometown is unfortunately a cesspool of violence. My dh was an army brat, so where he is "from" is difficult.

I’ve lived half my life in DC now, but originally I’m from NC. The answer to “where are you from” is totally dependent on the context. To someone who already knows that I live in DC, it’s clear that they’re asking about original hometown, and the answer is Chapel Hill. I’ve been to parties that include lots of people visiting from other places. To them, the answer is DC, because they’re most likely asking about the here and now. If I travel and someone asks, it’s DC for the same reason, and to avoid the inevitable:

“Where are you from?”
“Chapel Hill.”
“Oh great! Can you recommend a good restaurant on Franklin Street?”
“I haven’t actually been within 100 miles of Franklin Street in 20 years.”
Blank stare, awkward changing of the subject.

The answer to “where are you from” isn’t always where you grew up. No lie. If you want to know where someone grew up, then be specific and don’t assume that people are trying to pull one over on you.

Anonymous wrote:OP- I'd assume you are the one with the big issues. Why do you want to make people feel uncomfortable? If you get a sense that someone is uncomfortable answering a personal question- back off. it's rude to "dig in". Unless you are a private investigator, get your nosy self out of here!

But why lie? Why be uncomfortable asking such a totally non-personal question?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My hometown (entire home state, really) is a national embarrassment full of backwards rednecks, and I got tired of the stereotypes. Much easier to say I've lived in DC longer than anywhere else than to grit-smile through ignorant comments about not having an accent or seeming well-educated.

Floridian, huh?

South Carolina?

Im guessing West Virginia or Arkansas

OP- I'd assume you are the one with the big issues. Why do you want to make people feel uncomfortable? If you get a sense that someone is uncomfortable answering a personal question- back off. it's rude to "dig in". Unless you are a private investigator, get your nosy self out of here!