is it a geographical thing?
 

after reading so many posts and strong opinions about people taking offense to so called personal questions such as -

"how much did you pay for your dog"....to..."where do you live?"

i just have to wonder - is it JUST ME or is it a geographical thing? i personally wouldn't mind to answer either of those questions. most people i know wouldn't either. in fact, a lot of our conversations start off with, "i just bought a ______ and i got it for XXX amount of dollars! i bought it at _____"

someone even mentioned responding with "how much did you pay" with "how much do you make" which was witty, no doubt.

but honestly...um...i wouldn't care to answer that question either. afterall, most people know approximately how much a dog of a certain breed costs...much like they know what a person of a certain profession makes, lol.

when i meet someone, we usually know where each other lives, where each other works, how many kids, what ages, and what our spouses do for a living within the first ten minutes. maybe it's the southern hospitality thing...i don't know. some people think it's weird for a person to ask where they live, but i would think it was ultra weird for someone to not want to tell me.

just sayin....

:p we are the same way around here! Upon meeting someone I will usually learn within 10 minutes what they are having for supper! :D

and by the way..what part of TN??
we went to Nashville last summer..and loved it!:thumbup:

I have no problem saying where I am from or other things about me , but I was raised that it is rude to ask someone how much they paid for something * I guess a dog included * :p I don't know if that is included.
I guess you can hint and see what happens :D I think everyone is different , meaning : Some people will have a problem saying what they paid, others wont. For me ,I just would not ask, but I wouldn't hold anything against anyone who would . :D

I'm from Indiana and I don't mind when people ask me how much I paid for something. When I take my two to the dog park I get asked alot how much I paid for them. I am stationed in Japan so we have people from all over on base and I anwer everytime without even giving it a second thought that it was rude. ALTHOUGH, I do know that often times people were taught that it is rude to ask things such as that. If I am ever really curious about the cost of something and I just HAVE to know, like how much did it cost to get your hair done, how much were those shoes.. I always say, "If you don't mind telling me.." and then ask ... I try not to though... but I'm with you , I don't mind telling anyone what I spent on anything... :)

Perhaps it is.

Has anyone tried to break into your house? Or worse, succeeded?

I now live in a very safe community but I used to live in a place where if you went for a jog and a person said “hi”, you jogged faster.
Maybe were you are from is a safe place to live and you don’t need to worry about the same things that people in other areas do. There is a reason parents teach their children not to talk to strangers. I have had to place two restraining orders on people in my life and I am only 28yrs old. One was for a legit stalker who would write me "letters" leave presents for me on my doorstep.
I don’t want to know how much money anyone here makes. I only hope that you are comfortable. I never disclose what I have paid for anything I own that other people may not be able to afford. Perhaps its modesty.

I think a lot of this has to do with location. I grew up in a city that had a lot more crime and if was not easy to trust people. We had our house broke into several times. I was shocked when I moved to a smaller community and people leave there car running when they go into a store:eek:. I am trying really hard to trust people and make friends with people that I do not know, but I am still leary of someone wanting to know where I live. I think it is a safety issue for me. JMO

In my opinion it is more how you were raised versus where you were raised. In my home you never asked how much someone paid for something and it was never information offered. It was considered rude to ask someone how much they paid for something, how much they made, or to ask a lady how old she was.
I have no problems telling people that information but would not ask unless I knew them well and felt that it would not insult them.

With all the Yorkies stolen (often for reasons that I don't even want to think about) I do feel a bit worried if someone asks me where I live when I'm walking my four dogs. That's why I started that thread...I don't want to be rude but I don't want to put my pets in jeopardy either.

It's not always the person asking the question "where do you live?" that necessarily scares me but that person could, in all innocence, say to someone else "Did you ever see those four adorable Yorkies that that woman walks around here? They're so cute and I never even realized that they live over there on Main Street". Maybe I am paranoid, but I have lived through way too many Yorkies being stolen in these parts.

You asked if it was a geographical thing. I think that the "fear" part can be geographical in my case. I live very close to one of the worst cities in America. They have been known to have dog fighting rings there; drug abuse is rampant, etc. However, stealing Yorkies and other small breed dogs has become epidemic everywhere and is a serious problem.


PS. I am one of those people who will definitely spend time talking to people about my dogs and often let them hold my puppies, etc. I think that's good socialization for them if the people seem serious and "normal". I just couldn't imagine coming home and not finding four furry faces running toward me and I would do anything to avoid that.

Im with you...specially the age part :p

It's more a geographical thing. Being born and raised in California...then moving to Texas....definate difference.....People in California can be neighbors for years and not even so much as a good morning. Texas, everyone is your friend.

But, in both areas there are certain questions that are not considered polite to ask. Most having to do with money....how much did you pay for that or how much do you make, is considered rude....just the way I was brought up.

As for how much did I pay for my dogs.....I guess because I'm involved with the dog world. It's something I never reveal. Reasoning is, it's usually followed up with where did you get them, and can I have cntact information. So, the cost of what I paid for my dogs is between me and my breeder.

It may be that people in certain areas are just more comfortable with it. Through the grapevine, I have heard about some dognapping activity not far from me. IF somebody asks where I live while walking Ellie, I'd be very nervous. Not all towns are like Mayberry. lol

I don't know if its a geographical thing.... It maybe a factor, but I think its more about individual personalities. I tend to be very cautious despite living in a rural area my entire life. I just think its suspicious to ask a complete stranger questions about how much they make, how much they spend on things out of the blue.

This is how I was raised, in a very small southeastern Oklahoma town. I consider questions like these very rude. I have been asked about the price of my pups often, and I try to be polite in my replies, but I make it clear that it is none of their business. If I choose to tell a close friend what I've spent on something that is one thing, but to have a complete stranger ask me for that information is something else entirely.

I have a friend who insists on telling me how much she pays for everything. And I'm not talking about finding a good deal on a sale. What she paid for her car, her house, her breast implants, etc. is none of my business and it makes me very uncomfortable when she talks about how much she spends - that should be kept personal IMO.

I think it really is geographical, I live in WA and have spent alot of time in TN (Murfreesboro) there is a huge difference in overall attitudes and tone of people. We joke that the south warms people up :) There are things in both areas that are socially acceptable that wouldn't be in the other.

It's like here in New York , you could walk naked through the streets and very few would notice :p where as anywhere else you would be in jail.
I was just brought up that it is not nice to ask the price of things and also to always let older people go first and to give up your seat no matter where you are for an elderly or pregnant person. Never talk back to adults and always be respectful. :D