ancestry

1font00I don't believe it's rude to use the term "mixed blood," though some might find it so... it just depends on who you're talking to. Also, I believe "What are your origins?" is a little confusing (Perhaps it's just me, though.) "Where does your family originate?" is a bit clearer way to ask the same question.02font02br
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0I have to disagree with my sheep-loving friend.02br
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00"Mixed blood" sounds like "pure blood" would somehow be "better."02br
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00Mixed-race, and in the US, ask about this only if you have a need to know, not idle curiosity.02br
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00In the US, it's considered rude my many people to ask about things like that, perhaps because t

0GG, just want to make sure I get you, are you saying that mixed-race is better term than mixed-blood?0-

0*IF* it must be spoken of at all, then yes, mixed race. I would NEVER use "mixed blood" to describe a human.0-

1blockquote

01cite10Grammar Geek12cite10Americans have an unfortunate history of looking down at anyone who is "not like them"12blockquote

10Barbara,02br
00I couldn't resist a comment here. I dare say Americans aren't the only people to have this characteristic. In fact, the entire history of the human race is filled with pe

0Well, no doubt that is true, but it seems quite prominent in our history. "What is that? An Irish name? Oh...." voice trailing off in disgust. "She's gone and married one of them Eye-talians." etc., etc0-

0In some Asian countries, people who are mix-blood are often considered pretty and **** (this is supported by genetics). In this part of the world, the term is not associated with anything negative at all and we don't find it rude to ask someone's origin. 0-

0I guess it varies from country to country.02br
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00I think the phrase 'mixed blood' would be found very offensive in the majority (if not all) of European countries. 0-

0If Europeans or Americans travel to Asia, do you think they would be offended if an Asian ask them their origins? Asians may find it difficult to tell the nationality or ethnicity of Europeans/Americans just from the look. I think this may be true the other way round. Many Europeans/Americans can't tell if an Asian is Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. Sometimes, we may want to know from whic

0Some people are very proud to tell you that their grandparent immigrated from Poland, or their great-grandfather brought th family over from Italy, etc., but I would not bring it up. 02br
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00If you wanted to, you could say something like "I think I would have difficulty pronouncing this name if I hadn't met you first" -- with a smile -- and if the person wants to, he can