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Super vanilla folks seem to have no shame at all about making assumptions about other people. It’s one of the reasons I don’t like to reveal much about myself.

Check out how ridiculous some people are about their ignorance.

American Tourist in England asked me if I spoke English.

I work in a major London museum. I’m Caucasian with brown hair, currently looking more like a ghost who’s done their Christmas shopping early.

I have bags under my eyes to show for it because of ongoing shoulder issues.

It’s already an irritating job. I would lose faith in humanity in this kind of role.

So I’m sitting down, doing my job as a museum attendant and getting ready to yell at the next person who thinks that they can touch stuff behind barriers because there isn’t a don’t touch sign that they wouldn’t read anyway.

An American lady comes up to me and asks if I speak English.

Due to my pain levels activating my neurodiversity, I decide to make her see exactly why that was a stupid question, so I answer “No.”

I admire her hilarious reaction. I wouldn’t have had the nerve!

So she asks me again, “You don’t speak English?” And I reply “no.” She stands there and looks confused. Maybe it’s my London accent.

I sigh and ask “How can I help you my love?” and she brightens up immediately, replying with “Oh! So you do speak English!!” Before asking me her question.

I’m not at all surprised. The racism I see on the internet in comment sections is deeply unsettling. Being like this in person is a choice.

The really sad thing is that when I repeated this story to my colleagues, all those from different countries or who have a skin colour other than white, all said they’ve been asked that question on more than one occasion.

But at least I got to mess with someone who was clearly seven shades of stupid and make my colleagues laugh.

Here is what folks are saying.

Simon Pegg is hilarious. I love British humor.

It’s hardly cruel. Come on… Unprofessional, though. I would be civil and roll my eyes after.

I wonder what language she thought English people spoke. I will ask ask my English relatives.

This requires too much thinking. I hate to stereotype, but Americans abroad seem to have a knack for embarrassing themselves.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a fast food employee who shuts down a customer angry about her change with a single word.

You think there is one dialect for all of England? (Laughs in English.) I find Northerners a bit hard to understand, but that’s it.

British worker gets asked ridiculous question, so she gives a ridiculous answer.