So at the bridal shower for my brother's intended yesterday, the bride's stepmother asked me what drove the economy where I grew up. Then she asked me what my father did for a living. All within 60 seconds of meeting me. Does that sound odd to anyone else?
Also, my brother is 39 years old. My parents' financial standing has no bearing on his life. I wish I would have been quick on my feet - I'd have said that my dad owns a cotton plantation and 23 slaves.
Actually those two questions are excellent triagulation tools for class.
If you know the principal occupation in a given town, and how someone's fathers career relates (or does not relate) to it, you understand a lot about how they were likely brought up.
So one of the principal occupations in my original town was Higher Education. My father was a professor. Get it?
If it's mining, and your father owns a general store?
If it's a steel mill and your father drove a fork lift?
All of that to say, yep pretty forward - but she was trying to place you along a line of social strata.
All the more reason to torpedo it it with mythical and disturbing information!
I normally just say I come from a long line of Irish drunks from the Southside of Chicago. My great uncle was a rum runner in the Obanyon Mob, and missed the St. Valentines Day massacre by a few minutes. Then I refer to being related to General George Custer- After that, they normally just go away....
I can only remember being asked those questions or similar ones by people from the east coast. I did assume it was because they are more class-conscious.
Obviously, I live on the east coast, but I don't recall being asked that question before. The area in which I grew up was pretty diverse in terms of class (if you want to call it that). Pretty rural considering it's basically in the line of the megalopolis. My dad actually did scientific research for the government (the kind that if he told me, he'd have to kill me), but there were teachers, doctors, lawyers, and factory workers. The common thread is that they all enjoy having some open space and really don't want the Target being 10 minutes away. On the other hand, I moved to the city as soon as I could. My parents' house is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
I attended my brother's wedding when I was in my early 30's. His wife's grandmother asked me if I lived with my parents. I thought that was rather funny.
Eh, I'd give her a pass if she were a bit elderly. Or maybe she thought you were much younger.
Just heard from my mom. Apparently the stepmother is a jackass. This makes me happy because the bride is lovely, and I'd hate for that line of questioning come from someone she loves.
A few years back, a friend of mine was considering matching me up with one of her acquaintances. The first question she asked my friend was "What is his political affiliation?".
I thought that was a strange thing to ask as a FIRST question about someone.
Seems odd to be at the top of the list of "deal breakers".
My friend later decided not to pursue this matchmaking effort after a couple other odd questions were thrown out there during the same discussion. She decided this chick had way too many hangups to be worth the effort.
My brother's major criterion was that he wouldn't be serious with anyone who wasn't a vegetarian. I can sort of understand how someone wouldn't want to date a person with a much different political view than her own, but the older I get, the less that type of thing matters to me.
