Dehumanizing treatment is not respectful.

LET'S BE SECRET AGENTS!

Uh...we're talking about a specific set of situations in which people approach this issue in a dehumanizing way.

Ugh, the stupid, RACIST one-drop model. The fact that it isn't just as valid for her to say she's white (or whatever the rest of her background is) is so frustrating. It's literally based on viewing nonwhite populations as contamination. Also, for example in my case, in situations where I can't give a full explanation…

Yes, this gif is a gem! I am very pleased to have stumbled across it at some point.

It's from My Mad Fat Diary, which I highly recommend! So great!

For I believe the fourth time now:

Yes, I love this more who and less what strategy!

There's a difference between situation-appropriate curiosity and inappropriate dehumanization.

It's funny: while I do know some things, I really don't know others, and I really wish I did!

So I think the overall issue we've been talking about in this thread is more the tone, timing, situation, and words used for this curiosity.

I know that I would be much more receptive to this, and it seems to me that most people would be, although of course I don't speak for anyone but myself.

Uh...nope.

'S cool. :)

"Yes sir, my background has actually changed between every time you come here, so I now have a different answer to your weirdly personal question!"

:/

I guess it depends on the situation, a bit, but in general, just go ahead and politely inform/correct them.

YAY, GIFS!

I genuinely love that your analysis is part of this thread, but I was asking rhetorically, just to point out how stupid the whole thing is.

It's an extension of the same weird concepts of race and nationality, so I think it's totally relevant!

Well, that would be one thing, but this was absolutely NOT part of the donation process. This was this guy's idea of small talk, so it was really entirely ridiculous and annoying.