What is microaggression, and why does it exist?

Has this ever happened to you? Someone is paying you a compliment (they think) when in fact it is a thinly veiled (albeit unintentional) insult? How do you confront them when they don't understand why you're offended?

What about the times someone decides they are more versed than you about your cultural heritage and proceeds to argue with you or even lecture you on how much of a disappointment you are to your family because you are not an expert on everything cultural? I had someone, a total stranger, scold (yes, scold) me for not speaking Korean and demand to know why my parents didn't teach me Korean. He was genuinely indignant! Hint: I'm NOT Korean.

Even when you point out their error they still insist they are more knowledgeable and therefor more of an expert than you? "I've been reading" they say. "I study these things," they insist. Well, they haven't lived it, but they won't let that little technicality get in the way.

Someone I knew lectured me on how Chinese food should not be expensive because she learned that from her college roommate, who was from China. I had to remind her that China had a long history of emperors who probably were not eating egg foo yung and fried rice everyday and that her roommate was a product of communism, which for decades did not have a habit of eating out, and indeed eating out well.

Of course most of you will have heard that cringeworthy question: "Where are you from?" "No, where are you really from?" "What is your nationality?" Does it matter? Although, I get that question a lot from recent immigrants, too. Obviously the intentions are different, but I find it equally irritating.

So, reader, I am asking for your stories. Tell me about the times when you have experienced microaggression: How did you handle the situation?

As always, please keep it civil and relevant. I promise I will refrain from commenting on your experience, but I might be curious enough to ask questions to better understand your story.