Droneklax

Okay, I have a slight accent that most people can't really place, but it is no excuse.

I can't say "rare" without triggering the question.

It's a loaded question. What does it mean? Where was I born? Where do I live now? Where do I consider home to be? What passports do I carry?

I never know what to answer, so I default to where I live now.

limbo

I, too speak with an accent, and get that question all the time. Sometimes, I just smile and answer "yes". That keeps most of them puzzled.

holtju2

I always ask in return:

Do you mean the country of my passport?
The country of my legal residence?
The country where I spend the most time?
The country where I am going to or coming from?
The country where I am planning to settle down at some point?

kaka

being an exchange student, some of my friends can already be my spokesperson. Usually I just give them confusing answers. (Note. my accent is slightly americanized from school and i've been i HK for 17 years. I was in London,UK for most of my degree)
When I say I'm from Canada they all have a ? on top of their head!

GUWonder

All indications are that I came from my mother.

FatManInNYC

I ask this question all the time - accents interest me and I like speaking with those from lands other than mine.

I suppose I could become more closed-minded and rather than welcome those with accents I could complain to homeland security, if you would prefer.

On a serious note, I didn't realize it was an annoying question.

Lurker1999

Maybe they're just being friendly and trying to strike up a conversation? You have to start somewhere after all and if it's a fellow traveller they may have some interest in finding out where other travellers are from..

Just saying there may not be some nefarious purpose about it.

FWAAA

I usually say "Antarctica."

bigguyinpasadena

Droneklax having met you in person and asked you that question(upon our second meeting-I tend to not ask such questions upon first meetings)I must admit that I found your accent hard to place-as I do many of your homeland natives.

Does it matter?-of course not.But it is a general set of questions that"polite"society deems a respectable topic of conversation.And while you might get bored/frustrated with the question It is fascinating to others,and while you might not wish to be part of other folks education(I know this not to be the case)You cannot deny you might hold some curiosity of other peoples background.

I often err on the side of politese when I am burning to talk to someone of a different background-and find myself poorer for this.

bigguyinpasadena

holtju2-International Man of Mystery

GUWonder

The question of "Where are you from?" doesn't necessarily have a straight answer, as implied above. And if the questioner's context isn't clear -- or if it is too clear -- then what's the best response?

A lot of the "traditional" questions to "place" people are increasingly outmoded.

Punki

I ask everybody (with or without an accent) where they are from, because I am genuinely interested in people and want to learn more about them.

It is simply a normal, polite question which can probably only be avoided by refusing to talk to people.

cptango

So Droneklax I have to ask...Where are you from?

Sorry

CPTANGO

brendog

Pick the most obscure place that you know and make that your new answer. I find it generally baffles people enough that I can get away prior to them recovering their senses to ask more probing questions.

the_traveler

I do have a slight speech impediment, so I get asked this many times.

A few weeks ago, I was in Home Depot with my friend. He was born in Poland, but has lived in the US for over 20 years, However, he still has an accent.

When the clerk asked him, he said "Poland". When he asked me, I said (truthfully) "10 miles from here"!