Quote Originally Posted by Maciamo
MikeCash has remarked that it would be discriminatory to ask someone whether they can ask Japanese just because they do not "look" Japanese (but could have been naturalised, or born and raised in Japan, or just have stayed there for many years). I tend to agree with that.
Oh, I'm a Chinese, but I might have the same "discriminatory" behavior if I met a foreigner. And I never knew that would be "discriminatory", got a new recognition, thanks.

Quote Originally Posted by Maciamo
Indeed, in Western countries, people usually don't ask any foreign-looking person if they can speak the local language, and do not start making gesture assuming they don't because they look Asian or African, but just speak to them normally as with anybody else. This is also true in rural areas where there are only Caucasians, not just in cosmopolitan areas (I have tested it with my wife in several countries).
May be you westerner are too proud of yourself so you think foreigners went to your place should use your language? Hehe, just kidding! I hope someday everybody would learn Chinese then people here needn't be so crazy about English.