-- Posted by Shadesome at 12:30 am on April 24, 2007 My mom doesn't know all that much of Spanish, and she has a crap  accent. She has a habit of speaking to people who look Mexican in Spanish. It's embarrassing. like today we were in the craft store Michaels. There was a little boy (who looked hispanic) in an Aisle way. he mom was probably justaround the corner. My mom marches up to him and says "something something tu madre?" and I was so embarrassed. I mean He might not even SPEAK spanish. I don't wnatto sound racist either(because my mom thought I was being when i said this next part) But most people in America Speak English. I mean it's not one of those countries where everyone knows a bunch of languages, and speaks them everywhere. So basically I would have gone up to the kid and said (not that i would have gone up to him) "wheres your mom?" not assumed he spoke Spanish and tried to speak it Crappily. Idf he didn't understand I would try spanish. I get the idea that Hispanic people might be offended by it from some of the hispanic people I know. I'm not trying to sound racist or anything, I hope it's not coming out like that... -- Posted by Scui at 12:31 am on April 24, 2007 You don't sound racist. Just explain it to your mum. -- Posted by Shadesome at 12:32 am on April 24, 2007 I did. She got very upset and accused me of being a critisizer. -- Posted by Rastafarian at 12:32 am on April 24, 2007 Your mother is being the kind of racist one. Regardless of not o whether it is considerate or not she based how she acted on someone elses skin colour. -- Posted by VinTaGeFaNatiC at 12:32 am on April 24, 2007 It doesnt sound racist at all instead it sounds funny..haha -- Posted by xoxo1234 at 12:40 am on April 24, 2007 You're not being racist at all, you're actually right. I live in a country where English isn't the primary language and get insulted and sometimes embarrassed when people see my American clothes or hear my accent and try to speak to me in English. Your mom is basically singling him out as an outsider, even though his family could have been in America for centuries. It doesn't matter whether he's a brand-new immigrant or full--blown American born citizen, when somebody comes to a new country their primary wish is to fit in. Try to explain this to your mom. Good Luck and hope she understands! -- Posted by jakelong at 2:44 pm on April 24, 2007 no man I get you you make good sense. I think your mom means well. She probably doesn't realize she's doing something wrong. Just tell your mom it's better to start with English than speak crappy spanish because I can tell you: she can say stuff she does not mean really easily in Spanish and that would NOT be good. Just tell her what you say and tell her to speak English first and ONLY if they don't get it THEN try something. It kinda piss me off when people just assume I don't speak English just because I look latino. It's like they talk to my litle sister instead because she looks more 'white" (we all from the same parenst and we're mixed) like I am some sort of idiot. But if it's really people who can only speak Spanish who do that I kinda shrug and say "No comprende" and then they have this puzzled look sometimes. Then they talk to my mom (if she's around) instead of me! -- Posted by Xinh at 9:04 pm on April 24, 2007 I actually kind of hate it when that happens... When people make assumptions. It's a bit insulting. I was at the Body World exhibit at the museum. And this Caucasian family was standing close to mine. The mother pointed at my brother and said to her son, "Look son! An oriental! Go see if he speaks Chinese!!" She said this loud enough for everyone to hear. And the little boy runs up to my brother said blurts out "Nihao xie xie!" I didn't know much Chinese, but even I knew that didn't make any fucking sense. My brother had to politely tell the mother and her son that we were Vietnamese. I knew the family didn't mean any harm. So I got over it pretty quickly. But it's still rather embarassing when people assume we don't know any English. -- Posted by SpRiNgS at 9:23 pm on April 24, 2007 Closest thing like that that happened to me, was when some dude picked me for basketball, cause i was black. what makes the stereotype worse is that I CAN ball, it's just that.......I hated the fact i got picked because i was black, not cause tehy KNEW i could play -- Posted by jakelong at 9:40 pm on April 24, 2007 Quote: from Xinh at 9:04 pm on April 24, 2007 But it's still rather embarassing when people assume we don't know any English. Yeah it's like come on give us a chance here. -- Posted by Aristocrat at 12:38 pm on April 25, 2007 Maybe her intention isn't trying to be a racist and want to improve her Spanish. -- Posted by jakelong at 1:26 pm on April 25, 2007 Quote: from Aristocrat at 12:38 pm on April 25, 2007 Maybe her intention isn't trying to be a racist and want to improve her Spanish. I didn't think of that! Maybe though she should ask if people spek Spanish first. -- Posted by strangerinznight at 8:45 pm on April 26, 2007 ahah like my dad. he will be like stopping everyone he sees in an isle and speak to them in the assumed language he thinks they are. godd. its ANNOYING.i know how u feel -- Posted by GoloSLB at 8:50 pm on April 26, 2007 Ahahahaha I have to say people do this to me all the time.  Its like I have an accent so I am Mexican all of a sudden.  I just got used to it or I just laugh it off.  People probably don't think that much of it really, but still you are right.  Its borderline racist.  The de facto language of the US (its not official) is English, so innocent until proven guilty.  If they are here speak English to them you know? -- Posted by Shaknbake at 12:49 am on April 28, 2007 Quote: from GoloSLB at 8:50 pm on April 26, 2007 If they are here speak English to them you know? Exceptions wherein foreign tourists (from countries in which your second language is spoken) are trying to communicate with you, and obviously having lots of trouble/becoming frustrated. -- Posted by GoloSLB at 9:08 am on April 28, 2007 Quote: from Shaknbake at 12:49 am on April 28, 2007 Quote: from GoloSLB at 8:50 pm on April 26, 2007 If they are here speak English to them you know? Exceptions wherein foreign tourists (from countries in which your second language is spoken) are trying to communicate with you, and obviously having lots of trouble/becoming frustrated. True I agree there but only if you have tried to communicate with them in English.