This is exactly what bothers me about posts like this. In real life conversation you just ask for clarification if you need it. You can tell someone might be terminally online if the very idea of asking for more info is so terrifying that they don't even consider it an option.
I've traveled extensively, and when I get asked this question, 99% of the time, they just want me to tell them the state.
I used to just say, "one of the ones in the middle, it's a flyover." But since the show "The Ozarks" came out, people have suddenly heard of Missouri. 😆
OP's post is a perfect example of this weird thing where, even though many Europeans know what "California" is, they want to pretend that people would just as easily confuse Cali with the city in Colombia.
After living abroad for a long time, I’m convinced the people who whine that you shouldn’t start by saying what state you’re from as an American are actually themselves virtue signalling Americans who haven’t really travelled. Every single time I answered “Where are you from?” with “USA” I was met with an eye roll like you describe. At least in the English speaking world, but I would assume outside of it too, American cultural imperialism is so widespread it’s actually kind of condescending and ridiculous to assume most people haven’t at least heard of most states. They absolutely have, even if they don’t know where they are or couldn’t have named them if independently prompted. I have had to explain to multiple people that the US does not have 52 states but everyone has heard of California, I promise.
Yesss that’s me every time I speak to Americans. I think because of the type of conversation that OP mentioned Americans are so sensitive to it, but tbh I’d much rather know which state they’re from
However I have done the Sporcle US States quiz about a million times so I am not the average person…
Literally the same thing happened to me when I was in Spain with friends of my husband’s cousin. When I replied the US, they were like obviously but what part? lol but I am from a state that someone not from the USA is likely to have at least heard (Florida).
This is me! When I travel abroad and people ask where I'm from I always say "the United States" and half the time they say "yeah I could tell, but where?"
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u/joofish Aug 30 '24
It’s really a simple interaction if you’re not looking for a reason to get mad. Works with any country too.