NationStates Jolt Archive

Or Unofficial, or whatever. What nationalities have you been mistaken for? Are you Canadian, but mistaken for a Brit? What have you been mistaken for?

I have been mistaken for a Brit and an Aussie on the internets, and a Canadian IRL.

How about you guys?

I'm Canadian and I've been mistaken for European.

Nothing unusual yet. Though I guess our spelling of certain words here in the U.S. makes it a little more unlikely that I'd be mistaken for Australian, British, etc. ;)

Or Unofficial, or whatever. What nationalities have you been mistaken for? Are you Canadian, but mistaken for a Brit? What have you been mistaken for?

I have been mistaken for a Brit and an Aussie on the internets, and a Canadian IRL.

How about you guys?

People have mistakenly thought me to be English, Australian, French,and Armenian.

I'm a fairly dark Indian, and I was once asked if I was French. By a Turkish fellow in one of my classes. :confused: Are there brown French people?

A few.

I'm a fairly dark Indian, and I was once asked if I was French. By a Turkish fellow in one of my classes. :confused: Are there brown French people?

british,scottish and irish

I'm a fairly dark Indian, and I was once asked if I was French. By a Turkish fellow in one of my classes. :confused: Are there brown French people?

A bunch, I've heard recently - and fond of burning cars. :p

I'm a fairly dark Indian, and I was once asked if I was French. By a Turkish fellow in one of my classes. :confused: Are there brown French people?

Yes there are, one of the parents must be French the other guy can be colored and they can have a brown French child.

Not really, though if I wasn't so obvious about where I live I'm sure somebody would call me British.

Not really, though if I wasn't so obvious about where I live I'm sure somebody would call me British.

Limey.

South African a few times, and Dutch. Once French (WTF, my accent doesn't sound anything like French!).

Limey.

or Pom

Someone, from the USA of course, once complained in moderation how that "Swiss guy" was being mean to him. I advised him to purchase an atlas.

My first name is Connor, and my last name comes from a province in Ireland.

And I was mistaken for a Dane.

Just by looking at me, no one has ever guessed that I'm in any way partly East Asian. A lot of people think I'm Italian or Greek, some people have thought I'm Spanish.

A lot of people think I'm Spanish, and others have thought I was Saudi.

In real life, people have often asked me if I was Jewish or Ukrainian... very odd.

I had a guy on another forum convinced I was English. I'm not sure why.

Amusingly enough, most of the time people think I am a British woman of thirty-five or so, when I am in fact a twenty-year old male American.

I have, however, been called by just about every ideology in the American political landscape. :confused:

I have, however, been called by just about every ideology in the American political landscape. :confused:

Right-wing and Republican?

Amusingly enough, most of the time people think I am a British woman of thirty-five or so, when I am in fact a twenty-year old male American.

I have, however, been called by just about every ideology in the American political landscape.

I think I've had people online confused about my gender a few times, and I have rather amusingly been called a right-wing Republican, which is actually almost the complete opposite of what I actually consider myself.

I'm American. I've been mistaken online (and in real life) for a Canadian. People have also asked if I'm British or Irish. WTF.

In real life, people have often asked me if I was Jewish or Ukrainian... very odd.

When I broke my nose the first time, everyone started asking me if I was Jewish.

I think people thought I was Jewish when I started even getting local NS Nazi hate telegrams.

Australian actually :D

IRL, you'll won't work out I am Jeruselem if you bumped into me (as my on-line persona is different).

Right-wing and Republican?
:p

That, and other stuff. In reality I associate with no party and am quite left-winged. If I ever had a right wing it fell off long ago.

I think I've had people online confused about my gender a few times, and I have rather amusingly been called a right-wing Republican, which is actually almost the complete opposite of what I actually consider myself.
Yes...I was actually surprised to find out how many people thought I was a woman on here, with that odd "What gender do you think these people are" thread a couple months ago...not that I mind, because I switch between male and female mentally at will, but still...it was odd.

Jewish [If that counts, and it was by a Muslim. Ironically, I was defending Israel in some old ass debate...that made no sense either.]

Half Indian (Native American) [I am fairly dark...but I'm Italian, which would be why I hope...I think...I am 1/16th Cherokee...]

A Nazi, if that counts :-P [I'm also part German..]

Well I mean, I am part Quebecois...but I've been mistakened for a Canadian...

and...what else...

Oh umm...not sure...yea that's right, I apparently look Asian. :-P [In no way do I resemble any Asian though, apart from my cousin and that's because we're family and share a lot of features apparently]

Oh and Greek.

I'm PacNW American, but in Greece, people thought I was English or German or Canadian. I think it had something to do with actually learning to speak some Greek. Some people didn't believe me when I said I was an American.

Yes...I was actually surprised to find out how many people thought I was a woman on here, with that odd "What gender do you think these people are" thread a couple months ago...not that I mind, because I switch between male and female mentally at will, but still...it was odd.

I thought you were a female..just because you have an 'a' at the end of your name....
I have been proven wrong..

A Nazi, if that counts :-P [I'm also part German..]


I used to get called "Nazi Bitch" because I had blonde hair and blue eyes. Thankfully my eyes have reverted to their ever-changing hazel-ish state and I started coloring my hair. There's no German blood in me at all, amusingly enough.

I used to get called "Nazi Bitch" because I had blonde hair and blue eyes. Thankfully my eyes have reverted to their ever-changing hazel-ish state and I started coloring my hair. There's no German blood in me at all, amusingly enough.

I hope you didn't change your color for those bigots' sake, though. ;) That wouldn't be right.

I had a red-haired friend as a kid who used to be teased for being Irish, when he was in fact Polish/Russian, I believe. Red hair doesn't automoatically make you Irish, it seems. :p

People keep thinking I'm American, when I'm actually USian..

Someone, from the USA of course, once complained in moderation how that "Swiss guy" was being mean to him. I advised him to purchase an atlas.

One time when I lived in Germany I was going on a trip to Switzerland, and since my roommate was off work before the bank closed I asked him to get me some Swiss francs. Of course, when I got home he was standing there with handful of Swedish kroners. Oh, how I got screwed exchanging that in the train station.

For some reason, people tend to think I am Irish.

Guess they have never seen an Irishman before.

I had a red-haired friend as a kid who used to be teased for being Irish, when he was in fact Polish/Russian, I believe. Red hair doesn't automoatically make you Irish, it seems. :p

:eek:

Same here actually, but I am German/Swedish/Italian.
Somewhere down the line I must be related to Eric the Red.

I've been mistaken as a NZer when I went to the U.K.

I've been mistaken as a NZer when I went to the U.K.

Yeah, and vice-versa for us. Probably a more amusing story was the person that told my sister that her 'english was very well' when she said she was from New Zealand. This was in Florida. Out of english speaking countries, North Americans seem to bethe worst at picking New Zealand/Australian accents. Then again, unless it's heavily southern or they're saying 'aboot' a lot, I can't really pick US/Canadian accents..

Eh, pretty much every country in East Asia.

And British a few times, funnily enough.

I've been mistaken for Hawaiian, Puerto Rican, Jewish, Native American Indian, and Chinese...
..when I am 100% Italian-American.

I'm italian and have been mistaken for swiss, german, czech, french, scot and swede.

German/Ukrainian, mistaken for Anglo-Australian.

I've been mistaken for a Yankee before -- I'm a little bit miffed about that, having lived in Yankee territory for only a couple years of my Marine Corps career.

Some total idiots think I'm Irish. Pffft, noobs.

Some total idiots think I'm Irish. Pffft, noobs.

Gee, imagine that. :p

Out of english speaking countries, North Americans seem to bethe worst at picking New Zealand/Australian accents.

I have trouble distinguishing New Zealand and South African accents.

I'm a fairly dark Indian, and I was once asked if I was French. By a Turkish fellow in one of my classes. :confused: Are there brown French people?Yep, quite a lot. From northern Africa and other former French colonies

Gee, imagine that. :p

I suspect that it might have something to do with my living in Ireland.

I suspect that it might have something to do with my living in Ireland.

That would do it methinks.

For a while, when my hair was dyed bright red, I actually had a person beleiving I was Irish (although how any moron could mistake me for being Irish after they've heard me speak is beyond me). It wasn't even a realistic red.

Someone, from the USA of course, once complained in moderation how that "Swiss guy" was being mean to him. I advised him to purchase an atlas.

:p

that's hilarious.

I think people have questioned my ethnicity before IRL. People ask me if my family came from Sweden because I am pale........which is idiotic.......because I said it is.

Are all the people in Sweden pale? Are only people from Sweden pale?

I explained to them that my family came here from Ireland, to which they replied "oh, yeah, I can see that now"

:headbang:

I have naturally strawberry blonde hair and green eyes........are all the blondes with green eyes from Ireland? do all the people in Ireland have green eyes?

Sometimes I don't understand anyone.

For a while, when my hair was dyed bright red, I actually had a person beleiving I was Irish (although how any moron could mistake me for being Irish after they've heard me speak is beyond me). It wasn't even a realistic red.

Never understood that stereotype since Scotland has the most redheads I believe

I've been told repeatedly (by english people) that i'm from Pakistan or India. Just because I was working in a call centre at the time and didn't sound exactly like them. Although there was a nice senile old lady who told me all about her granddaughter who wanted to move to Glasgow (even though I had told her repeatedly I was from near Belfast)

I have naturally strawberry blonde hair and green eyes........are all the blondes with green eyes from Ireland? do all the people in Ireland have green eyes?

Sometimes I don't understand anyone.

I was told that the original colouring for Irish people is brown hair and brown eyes. Blonde was introduced by the Danes and Swedes if I remember correctly (which I probably don't)

My first name is Connor, and my last name comes from a province in Ireland.

And I was mistaken for a Dane.

Please be Connor Connaught. Pretty Please

I have trouble distinguishing New Zealand and South African accents.

Just ask them to say the letter B. That should solve your problems ;) .

Just ask them to say the letter B. That should solve your problems ;) .

OK, you've piqued my interest. What is the qualitative difference?

OK, you've piqued my interest. What is the qualitative difference?

To me at least the South Africans pronounce 'B' with a lot more emphasis on the start of it so the sharpness of 'Bee' is a lot softer than you'd expect. New Zealanders seem to have the 'ee' pronounced a bit sharper (start is left about as sharp) than Australians do.

SA: B(soft)ee
NZ: B(sharp)ee

I am prepared to be wrong though.

I hope you didn't change your color for those bigots' sake, though. ;) That wouldn't be right.

I had a red-haired friend as a kid who used to be teased for being Irish, when he was in fact Polish/Russian, I believe. Red hair doesn't automoatically make you Irish, it seems. :p

*snicker* I actually changed TO red...

And nah, I did the initial dyejob because of an asshole teacher I had in high school, long after the "Nazi" crap stopped. The moron kept making blonde jokes whenever I'd get a question wrong, so I just took away his ammo. After that, I just started using whatever color I wanted, and finally settled back into red.

People have thought at various times that I was:

Hawaiian (some Americans thought this)
Samoan (some Germans thought this)
Polish (some Russians thought this)
Russian (some Poles thought this, and some UKians)
Israeli (some Egyptians thought this)
Egyptian (some Israelis thought this)

It's been fun - and usually I play along with this as long as I can.

Eh, if unsure whether a person is South African or Kiwi, just ask them what comes after five. If they proposition you, they're probably from NZ...

Or I suppose you could just ask them where they're from, but I'm not sure what would be the fun in that.

Anyhoo, I spent half of Friday night trying to convince folk that, no, I'm not putting on this accent, I really am British, you drunken bastards. And the second half of the night was passed with accusations of lesbianism on my part, which was even more confusing given that I'm a bloke.

Bloody Aussies.

You do realise that there are much better things to do in St. Kilda on a friday night than argue with drunks don't you?

...I was in Carlton ;)

Ah, I see. Carry on arguing with drunks then :p

On here, people still think I'm British... after how many years?

*sigh*

Yes, but I'm unsure of where they believe I hail from...

I'm near 100% British, with one of my maternal, maternal great-grandparents being Irish and the other being Dutch. But I have been mistaken for being a Pole, and so has my sister too. Quite odd really.

I've been mistaken for British. I'm about as American as you can get - raised in Michigan, tho my grandmother is British and according to her, i swear like a Bath fishwife.

Standard white guy living in America. Doubt anyone could confuse me for what I am. :p

Jewish [If that counts, and it was by a Muslim. Ironically, I was defending Israel in some old ass debate...that made no sense either.]Hah! Defend Israel and even Jews will assume you're Jewish. I had that happen to me once. I'd known the guy a while too!

Standard white guy living in America. Doubt anyone could confuse me for what I am. :p

Wait...


you're american? :eek:

I learn something new every day! I thought you were greek!

Wait...


you're american? :eek:

I learn something new every day! I thought you were greek!

Sorry sir, you are mistaken. I am an epitome of an arrogant "liberal" American, born in Massachusetts and now unfortunately living in Cincinnati, a city with an awful baseball team.

*sighs*

Sorry sir, you are mistaken. I am an epitome of an arrogant "liberal" American, born in Massachusetts and now unfortunately living in Cincinnati, a city with an awful baseball team.

*sighs*

'cor, pull the other one, it's got bells on innit! :p

In a t-shirt shop in Athens last week:

"Where are you guys from?"
"America"
"No shit, tell me something I don't know!"
"New Jersey"
"Oh, The Boss, Springsteen!"
*groans*

I think people have thought that I'm american, but I do have citizenship and my parents are and I've picked up a bit of the midwestern accent to mix with the southern Ontario accent so that's somewhat understandable I suppose...

People have picked random ethnic backgrounds for me though... I've got hispanic, mix of asian and spanish, native american/first nations, armenian, middle eastern, italian, indian, pakistani... though I only get some of those in the late summer when I'm quite tan.

I am often mistaken for a Russian due to my first name.

My wife (Filipina) when she was born in Calif in the 70's they put "brown" on her birth certificate where it asks for race.

Someone on the forum mistook me for Irish once, because of my old name...

Hah! Defend Israel and even Jews will assume you're Jewish. I had that happen to me once. I'd known the guy a while too!
When I was working in Israel, I figured out how to dress -- no yarmulke -- in order to blend in. We were at the hotel one Saturday and someone made a comment about Christians. I elaborated and then some guy next to me started arguing with me in Hebrew about why the Bible was wrong.

That was too much and I had to leave.

oh yeah, one of my best friends in HS was Czecheslovakian and we looked a lot alike so people always assumed I was his brother.

Someone on the forum mistook me for Irish once, because of my old name...

Speakign of your old name, somebody told e that you had MSN. And I haven't spoken to you in a long time.

Speakign of your old name, somebody told e that you had MSN. And I haven't spoken to you in a long time.

Says someone who's never on aim. *sighs*

Speakign of your old name, somebody told me that you had MSN. And I haven't spoken to you in a long time.

Yeah, the MSN client doesn't work on my system for some reason. So... no, I don't have MSN. Sry. :(

But, yeah, I haven't gotten back on the forums 'til recently.

*waves*

Says someone who's never on aim. *sighs*
you get over it one day :p

Says someone who's never on aim. *sighs*

I don't use AIM anymore. It sucks.

I don't use AIM anymore. It sucks.

you have more fun on MSN

I don't use AIM anymore. It sucks.

Better than using something that is impossible to remove from your computer.

Or Unofficial, or whatever. What nationalities have you been mistaken for? Are you Canadian, but mistaken for a Brit? What have you been mistaken for?

I have been mistaken for a Brit and an Aussie on the internets, and a Canadian IRL.

How about you guys?

I've never been mistaken for anything, unless people telling me I'm not actually Asian counts.

you have more fun on MSN

Indeed.

I've been mistaken for Norwegian once or twice. And theres a guy on my course who is convinced I'm German (I guess the Mancunian accent and British passport count for nothing :/)

i've been mistaken for an aussie before by a spanish girl i used to work with (or she might have been czech, i forget who exactly it was, it wasn't one of the polish girls anyway).

i'm always mistaken for english because of my accent. my dad is english, but i've never lived in england. i was born in scotland and my passport says "British Islands, Bailiwick of Jersey". i was brought up as an 'ex-pat' scot so i've always identified as scottish but i sound english. kind of annoying really. now i live in scotland it's hard to really pull off being scottish.

some old woman who gave me a lift into town once when it was raining thought i was Irish because of my red hair, despite the fact that there are more gingers in scotland. silly lady.