On 11/05/2018 12:01, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
whisky-dave presented the following explanation :
Other than childhood curiosity I'm not sure.

If it was obviuos perhaps you'd like to say why the child was asking ?

Kids can ask some really embarrassing questions, when they first meet an
unusual situation. When I was around six or seven, travelling on a bus
with just my mother, sat opposite us was a black man, the first I had
ever seen. I said something like 'mam that man's face is black'. I
remember my mother was very embarrassed and apologised to the man

I always thought it unreasonable when, as a kid, I was told off for
saying anything about anyone - called "passing remarks". Always said in
innocence/ignorance, whereas when adults say things about other adults
it's more knowing and malicious/gossipy.

--
Max Demian