r/Scotland • u/Blurt-Reynolds • 8d ago

Casual Stupidest question (about Scotland)you’ve ever been asked?

I’ve lived in the US for over 10 years and been asked some daft questions.

Yesterday the uber driver asked where I was from. When I said Scotland they were quiet for a couple of minutes then asked “Did you have to learn English when you moved to here?”.

Also had someone years ago ask me where I was from then accused me of making up the country as they had never heard of Scotland.

Anyway, just thought I’d ask ask while I remembered.

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u/jockmcfarty 7d ago

While on holiday - sorry, vacation - in Raleigh, NC, I was asked "If you're from Scotland, how come you speak English?"

In retrospect, not really a stupid question.

I explained a bit about the fact that speaking Gaelic was outlawed by King James VI, James I of England.

I should have said, "If you're from North Carolina, how come you don't speak Cherokee?" but I didn't think of that until the following week.

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u/screamqueenoriginal 7d ago

If James VI has no haters, I am dead.

The late comeback is always the way!

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u/baldnbad 7d ago

It's too late for James VI to come back. Get over it!

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u/1singhnee 7d ago

About half of North Carolina is of Scottish ancestry, ironically enough.

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u/Acrobatic-Shirt8540 Is toil leam càise gu mòr. 7d ago

I should have said, "If you're from North Carolina, how come you don't speak Cherokee?" but I didn't think of that until the following week.

Ah. Staircase wit. I've thought of hundreds of brilliant comebacks. It's just a shame it's usually ten minutes after the conversation has finished.

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u/anniespiced 7d ago

I live in that area and been asked that a million times, I may need to steal your answer 😭