Every African I Talk to is Weird.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

...It seems like that, anyway.

The first one asked me if I was a "gay boy". He didn't even say "hello".

The second one told me I was being rude when I was being as courteous as always.

The third one I had been talking to for no more than fifteen minutes until he decided he wanted to marry me. Oh, did I mention that he's joining the seminary?

Mountains

There are hundreds of millions of people in Africa, and it's a very big place with cultures as diverse as any on earth. I don't think lumping everybody on the continent into one group and putting a negative label on them is either skillful or helpful.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

There are hundreds of millions of people in Africa, and it's a very big place with cultures as diverse as any on earth. I don't think lumping everybody on the continent into one group and putting a negative label on them is either skillful or helpful.

I am certainly aware of this, and am also aware of the fact that this has been a coincidence, but I posted this topic in the hopes that someone could explain to me why I might be clashing with these people. These experiences have made me a bit subconsciously timid around natives of the continent, though.

:wtf:

MindGate

They make shrunken heads and run around naked; I think they're cool.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

They make shrunken heads and run around naked; I think they're cool.

Oh! Those qualities are good.

I've been thinking that perhaps the people I've spoken with think I'm strange as well. Oh, misunderstandings! They're the last things I'd ever wish for.

Mountains

They make shrunken heads and run around naked; I think they're cool.

Apparently your keyboard still doesn't have a "think" button on it, eh?

Dakini

Chiisai, it's hard for us to answer your question, because we don't know you. The Africans I've known (it's a huge continent, you know, lots of cultural diversity) are like anyone else: some are great. Some not so great. I could say that about any ethnicity or nationality. or continent.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

Chiisai, it's hard for us to answer your question, because we don't know you. The Africans I've known (it's a huge continent, you know, lots of cultural diversity) are like anyone else: some are great. Some not so great. I could say that about any ethnicity or nationality. or continent.

I understand. These people were from different countries, too. Sometimes, I watch television shows about Muslims from African countries. They are quite difficult for me to understand. It's silly to speak generally, I know, but I have more friends from Asian countries whom I understand than I do in the U.S. or in any other country.

I now realize that this topic is pointless...

LOL

But then, that's why it's in General Banter, eh?

Dakini

ha. Yeah. Where do you live? Are you in Asia, or the US?

robot

But then, that's why it's in General Banter, eh?

Gotta be Canadian, eh?

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

ha. Yeah. Where do you live? Are you in Asia, or the US?

U.S.

It helps that I know Japanese and everything, LOL

But then, that's why it's in General Banter, eh?

Gotta be Canadian, eh?

¯\(ºдಠ)/¯ What you say

Ada_B

You are aware that Africa is a continent, not a country, aren't you? Your statement is a bit like me saying "Everyone I've met from North America is weird". Which would clearly be a ridiculous statement.

I suggest you try to learn more about the world before condemning a seventh of it.

Dakini

Chiisai, maybe because you've studied Japanese, you're favorably predisposed toward Asians. Also, you probably understand the culture better, so you're able to interact more effectively. If you were to spend some time studying African culture or language, music, a new world would open up to you. That would make a difference in your interactions and your views.

Also, some people can be stand-offish. That happens everywhere. And somebody may have needed a residency visa in order to enter the seminary, who knows? There's no point in singling out one group (or continent), when humans are the same everywhere.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

You are aware that Africa is a continent, not a country, aren't you? Your statement is a bit like me saying "Everyone I've met from North America is weird". Which would clearly be a ridiculous statement.

I suggest you try to learn more about the world before condemning a seventh of it.

I am aware, ha ha.

It wouldn't be ridiculous. It would be truth. It is the truth that the people I've met from this continent have disturbed me. Besides these people, one thought he was God and another thought he was royalty. I have no idea.

taiyaki

They are probably "trolling" you.

Google the word.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

They are probably "trolling" you.

Google the word.

What?! I am attacked by African trolls! Perhaps this has been one person out to get me, pretending that he or she is a confused foreigner to Western culture...!
:bawl:

Dakini

It does kinda sound like they're trolling you.

But there are people in the US who think they're God. Most are in mental institutions, some are leading cults. And you'd be surprised how many tribal chiefs are around, or their relatives, seriously. So that one may have been royalty for real.

It sorta sounds like some of them think you're the weird one, Chiisai. I know Westerners can come across oddly to locals when Westerners are traveling abroad. Westerners can come across oddly even when they're on their home turf, lol ! Lighten up, Chiisai. There are odd people all around, but you're only noticing the African ones. And there are Africans all around, but you're somehow only noticing the odd ones.

Are we about done with this thread, now?

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

...And you'd be surprised how many tribal chiefs are around, or their relatives, seriously. So that one may have been royalty for real.

I considered that, but learned that he wasn't.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

Are we about done with this thread, now?

¯\(ºдಠ)/¯ No

taiyaki

many people like to pick on others for their "enjoyment".

may i ask how you know these people? do you attend school with them?

welcome to america! if you're different people will take notice of it!

MindGate

They make shrunken heads and run around naked; I think they're cool.

Apparently your keyboard still doesn't have a "think" button on it, eh?

Apparently neither does yours. What I said was satire, my friend. Lighten up. Don't be so negative.

MindGate

"Everyone I've met from North America is weird". Which would clearly be a ridiculous statement.

Right. That only applies to Canadians.

vinlyn

To the OP: I used to get similar weird statements/questions on occasion in the 1980s and 1990s in Thailand:

"Do you have AIDS?"
"No. Why would you ask that?"
"I thought all Americans have AIDS."

"Can I see your gun?"
"I don't have a gun."
"I thought all Americans had a gun."

And even, "Are the streets in America really paved in gold?"

When we would talk more about their questions, what would usually come out was something like, "I saw it in an American movie."

Ada_B

@vinlyn An American friend, who now lives in England, has also had various strange things said to her, including (on many occasions):

"You lived in a America? Weren't you scared with all the gangsters and shootings?"

"All Americans have massive houses"

"If you're American, why aren't you fat?"

And strangest of all, "I'd pretend I was Canadian if I were you".

OTOH, her relatives have done things like send her a food parcel because they heard that food was difficult to get hold of in the UK (not American food, just food - like rice and stuff).

They endlessly fret that she might get ill, because the National Health Service kills more patients than it cures (even her successful NHS treatment for cancer didn't reassure them).

And they assume that all our TV is quality stuff and not endless re-runs of CSI and Friends. And in that case, their imagination is significantly better than our reality (we do get endless re-runs of CSI and Friends).

As a British person who grew up abroad, I am endlessly amused and despairing at the mutual ignorance of people from different countries, about each other's cultures.

But thanks to our wonderful Prime Minister, I can at least report that Britain invented DNA. (and yes, I am joking - but he did say that).

Dakini

To believe US TV, one would be convinced that Russian men are all gangsters/mafia, and Russian women are all prostitutes. So sad!

vinlyn

...

"If you're American, why aren't you fat?"

...

Although it's much less true today, in my early years visiting Thailand, you rarely saw a Thai who was anything but of normal weight or even skinny. Sometimes when I would see that rare fat Thai (in those days) and point it out, my ethnic Thai friends would always say, "He (or she) is Chinese."

And it used to be funny. Some stranger would strike up a conversation with me in the street and say things like, "You are fat." O, "You are bald." No judgment to it, just a statement.

Jeffrey

"And they assume that all our TV is quality stuff and not endless re-runs of CSI and Friends. And in that case, their imagination is significantly better than our reality (we do get endless re-runs of CSI and Friends)."

Ada that clears things up for me