# What do you take me for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2000, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546 "2000-08-16T07:48:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/1 "2000-08-16T07:48:42Z")
I have been mistaken for: -a Québécois, several times on this board. (I’m not a Québécois, i.e. a member of the francophone people inhabiting Québec, but rather an anglophone, albeit bilingual, Quebecer. _Quand même, si on parle français, les deux mots se traduisent de même façon, donc je suis québécois. Mais pas de souche._) Oh, there was also this one time that those Pennsylvanian women at Mont-Tremblant complimented me on my English. (“Hooked on Phonics worked for me!”) -an American, one time on this board. -a Jew, mostly due I suppose to my curly dark hair and my pentacle, which from a distance apparently resembles a magen David. Not to mention my habit of using Yiddish words, which I picked up from my mother, who was the only goy in her entire high school. Also my Woody Allen-esque sense of humour. -a FTM transsexual. Actually, this one was a bit of a goof, since an acquaintance of mine (Marlo) had told a delegate (Olivia) at a queer-theory seminar I went to that she had an FTM transsexual friend. Later on Olivia happened to come up to Marlo while I was talking with her, and presumed I was the friend in question. In what interesting ways have people mistaken your identity? ---
**Author:** ![Jimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@Jimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/2 "2000-08-16T08:10:53Z")
I worked at an Italian restaurant for years was was constantly mistaken for being Italian. Other than that I was, three times, by the same person, on AOL, mistaken for being an employee of Decipher, Inc. ---
**Author:** ![Anniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@Anniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anniz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/3 "2000-08-16T08:17:22Z")
A little while ago, I passed 3 teenaged and I thought they talked about me. You can feel that and I also saw that they looked a bit. Well, they come after me and one of them asked me if I was famous. I was like this, what??? And I said no, who did you think I was, but he couldn’t remember a name and only that it was from television. And then he was a bit embaressed and they left. I still don’t know who it was they ment… ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/4 "2000-08-16T08:47:53Z")
I’ve been spoken to in Cantonese, Mandarin, Filipino, and Japanese. I guess people don’t know what to make of me. I should reply in French just to mess with their minds. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/5 "2000-08-16T14:12:06Z")
Well, half the people here assumed I was a guy for over a year…does that count? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/6 "2000-08-16T14:39:55Z")
I have been asked if I was: Mexican, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern and just about any other nationality where the caucasian folk aren’t lily white. I am often addressed by foreign speakers (especially Spanish) in their native language. The real answer to my heritage is “Umpteenth generation North American whose ancestors were mostly American Indian/Irish/German.” Nobody ever guesses that. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/7 "2000-08-16T14:43:09Z")
Turns out my handle is pretty gender ambiguous. So I get a lot of requests for a little cyber action. I like to play the coy maiden for a send or two before dropping the bomb, that yes, I am in fact male. Otherwise I have been taken for English several times, but that’s about it. MR ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/8 "2000-08-16T14:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*I have been mistaken for: > -an American, one time on this board. > > In what interesting ways have people mistaken your identity? \*\* I think I was responsible for that wasn’t I? I’m so ashamed. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/9 "2000-08-16T14:47:59Z")
Oh yeah…people mistake me for a tit. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/10 "2000-08-16T15:03:24Z")
I am mistaken for male by ppl who only know my name and not much else. I am mistaken for a secretary routinely at work. (a curse on all those who assume female means secretary) I have been mistaken for a Japanese woman when I had short hair. I have been mistaken for a Sgt. Lee when i was just a summer hire at Hahn. ---
**Author:** ![inoci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@inoci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inoci)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/11 "2000-08-16T15:16:24Z")
what’s this? falcon isn’t a guy? i’ve not been mistaken for too many people, but for some reason it works opposite for me. i’ve had friends, family, and employers mistake other people for me in the strangest situations. usually pretty funny, but i never have seen how it could happen. maybe i’m normal looking after all. ---
**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beacher)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/12 "2000-08-16T15:38:09Z")
I’m not often mistaken for other people, but people are always telling me I _remind_ them of various TV personalities. This happens often enough that several of my friends have said things like: “Why are people always telling you you look like \_\_\_\_?” I must have some wierd kind of everyman face or something. Here are the most commom: When I was younger and skinnier, Billy Cyrstal. 5 or so years ago: Al Borland from Home Improvement. Especially if I’m wearing flannel. (Hey, I live in Wisconsin!) Now that my hair is turning noticeably grey: Richard Dryfus. What’s next is anybody’s guess. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/13 "2000-08-16T15:51:35Z")
I have been mistaken, in person, from both front and back, for a female. Those of you who’ve seen my picture ask : HOW THE HELL . . . ? I answer: I had my shirt on at the time. Remarkable how many people think you’re female when all they can see is a ponytail. A guy in the doctor’s office thought I was 23 some weeks ago. Some people on AIM a while back thought I resembled Brendan Frazer(sp?) ---
**Author:** ![writefetus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9de053/32.png) [@writefetus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/writefetus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/14 "2000-08-16T15:55:55Z")
Dr. Jackson, I know how ya’ feel, I too have been mistaken for just about every “almost white” ethnic group on the planet at one time or another.Greek, Palastinian,Arab,Jew, Japaneese, Pacific Islander…you name it! I grew up DAILY answering the question “what are you?” from friends and strangers alike. Of course when I got to Ga. (late ‘60s) “multiculturalism” wasn’t yet a blip on the radar ( not HERE anyway).You were either black or white and asians/lationos were accorded " honorary" white status…and any ambiguity made people very uncomfortable. Have you heard of the Melungeons? they are a southeastern “tri-racial isolate” ( to use the anthro’ term) who are a Native/African/European melange’ that grew from small outcast and maroon communities begun in the 17-18th century and from whom many prominant Americans can trace (partial) descent. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/15 "2000-08-16T16:09:03Z")
Everyone figured out I was male here, so that wasn’t a problem. In person, people have mistaken me for being Bob/Dave/Josh/Whatshisname from Michigan/Florida/Indiana/California… Gets ridiciulious. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/16 "2000-08-16T16:42:36Z")
No one’s ever mistaken me for anyone other than me as far as I know. There was this one time that a friend of mine thought he saw me out one night in the bar and he went up and pinched what he thought was _my_ ass when, in fact, he pinched another girl’s ass! She had hair about the same length and color as mine and I guess our asses looked similar. Does that count for mistaken identity… uh, reversed? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/17 "2000-08-16T16:49:53Z")
I don’t look like anyone famous, but I was breakfasting with a bunch of women I know from work and some old guy came over and made some comment about us “real estate saleswomen” not letting the guys hang with us. Nary a soul in the group had anything to do with real estate - or sales for that matter - and we just sorta stared at him as he toddled away. 'twas an odd moment. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/18 "2000-08-16T16:59:48Z")
Did you know that, especially when “speed scanning”, the word ‘breakfasting’ is easily read as ‘breastfeeding’? It gives the above post a whole new twist. ---
**Author:** ![Ragnarok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Ragnarok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragnarok)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/19 "2000-08-16T17:07:48Z")
I’m often mistaken for someone who gives a shit - but that’s just my sparkling personality coming through 😃 seriously - my sisters and mother and I are lucky enough to look very young - so even though I’m 30 I’ve been said to look 27, 25 as young as 22. it could be cuz I ACT like an 18 year old though… Ragnarok ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546/20 "2000-08-16T17:17:41Z")
A little kid at WalMart asked if I had been in “Jurassic Park.” Since I bear little resemblence to any other cast members, I had to assume she thought I was Wayne Knight. I’m **much** cuter than him, so the kid is lucky I didn’t slap her. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-take-me-for/29546.md?page=2)