[zepto]

You are right that ‘why’ is rarely asked directly - it seems like a blunt interrogation.

But, it’s quite common for people to ask questions like ‘how did they get into that?’.

Also, why does it have to be a ‘stranger’ asking the question? Again I agree that would be odd, but it doesn’t seem odd for a friend to be curious.

Also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27817729

[watwut]

> But, it’s quite common for people to ask questions like ‘how did they get into that?’.

No, I never had that question asked about dancing nor swimming or any other sport. I think it can possibly come out if someone finds the sport to be odd, but at this point Karate is not an odd sport. It is extremely common sport.

[zepto]

> No, I never had that question asked about dancing nor swimming or any other sport.

Or it could be that your experience of disinterest is not universal.

I know plenty of people who express interest in what other people and their kids do, whether they are odd or not.