Mostly I do it to make conversation. I am almost never asking the question of random strangers, and probably in most cases the social context tells me more abou

Mostly I do it to make conversation. I am almost never asking the question of random strangers, and probably in most cases the social context tells me more about the person than their growing up in Winnetka or Brookline would. It is true that fifty years ago many people in Denver (and no doubt not only Denver) regarded New York as the embodiment of The Other and were very quick to pick up on a New York accent. But this was silly.