# Wrong to Lie About Nationality When Abroad? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083 "2015-03-03T12:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/1 "2015-03-03T12:33:49Z")
In this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750628), the OP said that when he traveled abroad, foreigners often reacted badly when he said he was American and also claimed that he was considering saying he was Canadian. A few people responded: > [@Being an American in the UK on a visit stinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-an-american-in-the-uk-on-a-visit-stinks/713997/30): > > Yeah, don’t do that. To me, this would be akin to stolen valour. You’re not able to claim a respectable status falsely without seeming like a giant scum bag. > > I don’t want to get all teary-eyed and flag-wavey with some grand statement about our ancestors dying for the right for Canada to be recognized and appreciated internationally, but we’ve worked hard to be good to our neighbours on this Earth. > [@Being an American in the UK on a visit stinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-an-american-in-the-uk-on-a-visit-stinks/713997/42): > > Don’t. Just don’t. I was a little surprised. I don’t really equate Canadian with respectable status–or any status, to be honest. I wouldn’t think more highly of someone just because they’re from Canada, so I don’t think an individual who claims to be from there is really appropriating anything. Other thoughts? Does it make a difference which country they choose to lie about? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/2 "2015-03-03T12:44:10Z")
Oh brother, gimme a break. I don’t know what this “We” shit **Whiskey Dickens** is talking about but “we” has fuck all to do with it. It was Canada’s founding fathers and politicians that forged foreign relations. You don’t get a special gold star just by virtue of being born there. Technically, yes, it’s wrong to misrepresent yourself. But on the scale of “fucked-up-ness” this one barely registers. It would make a much bigger ping if you claimed to be from Canada and proceeded to act like a total ass. Now THAT would be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/3 "2015-03-03T12:53:07Z")
It’s a stupid affectation. Yes, travelers do sometimes catch flak from US foreign policy, mostly from young European backpackers on gap year. Who cares what they think? If that’s all it takes for you to feel like perpetuating a stupid, pointless lie-- well, that’s pretty weak sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/4 "2015-03-03T13:09:48Z")
People have been known to assume I’m Canadian when I’m abroad. I’m Minnesotan, so the accent is more Canadian than Texas, I’m fairly soft spoken. I make an effort to dress more “European” than American (no trainers, :)). I don’t tell, they don’t bug me, and I’ll only find out they thought I was Canadian if it comes up and they ask. In which case I simply say “Minneapolis.” And yes, I care what they think…it isn’t just backpackers who treat you better when you aren’t an “ugly American.” The woman at the tea shop, the clerk assigning you a room at a hotel. Its subtler than flak for U.S. foreign policy - its the assumption that you will be rude. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/5 "2015-03-03T13:19:31Z")
I have been advised to not disclose my American citizenship while traveling to visit Mrs Iggy in Colombia. She is scared I could be a target of kidnappers, something which is not entirely unfounded given where she lives. She prefers I tell people I am from Cayman, where I live, assuming most would not know enough about Cayman to assume that I am a rich gringo. Similarly I have been invited to visit a friend in his hometown outside Tehran, Iran. He advises not to advertise I am an American. Outside of such security concerns, I had no negative experience from declaring my citizenship while traveling extensively and living outside the States. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/6 "2015-03-03T13:30:58Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Oh brother, gimme a break. I don’t know what this “We” shit **Whiskey Dickens** is talking about but “we” has fuck all to do with it. > > It was Canada’s founding fathers and politicians that forged foreign relations. You don’t get a special gold star just by virtue of being born there. Yes, and it’s also not as though they make you take a test to decide if you’re a good person before you move there. An asshole American could just move to Canada–you don’t become a decent person by virtue of where you live. I wouldn’t lie about where I’m from, but it hardly seems comparable with “stolen valor.” You at least have to earn being in the military. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/7 "2015-03-03T13:36:34Z")
I voted “Other” - if they’re doing it to avoid being hassled, that’s great, I don’t have a problem with it. But if they’re doing it to score some benefit under false pretenses, not so great. I’ve only ever received nice treatment when I reveal my nationality overseas, up to and including free drinks and warm Scandi-hugs that could easily have turned to smooches if I was a single guy. I’d hate some freeloading American trying to milk that goodwill. Although evidence is that Yanks are crap at our accent, so risks are slim 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/8 "2015-03-03T13:56:05Z")
I always fess up about being USAsian, but I say I’m one of the good ones. I then get to share in the other person’s “ugly American” stories. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/9 "2015-03-03T13:58:45Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Oh brother, gimme a break. I don’t know what this “We” shit **Whiskey Dickens** is talking about but “we” has fuck all to do with it. Wyrd. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/10 "2015-03-03T14:02:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I voted “Other” - if they’re doing it to avoid being hassled, that’s great, I don’t have a problem with it. > > But if they’re doing it to score some benefit under false pretenses, not so great. > > I’ve only ever received nice treatment when I reveal my nationality overseas, up to and including free drinks and warm Scandi-hugs that could easily have turned to smooches if I was a single guy. I’d hate some freeloading American trying to milk that goodwill. Although evidence is that Yanks are crap at our accent, so risks are slim 🙂 I agree. The “risks” of anybody from the US pretending to be South African are very slim indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/11 "2015-03-03T14:11:14Z")
Maybe when we go visit abroad we could just, you know, enjoy our vacations, instead of being taken to task about being American. Just a thought! I don’t think it’s wrong to project yourself as Canadian, but then, you admit, the places you are visiting will never think they have met a “decent” or “nice” American. Granted, if they all have preconcieved notions, it’s moot anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/12 "2015-03-03T14:16:37Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I agree. The “risks” of anybody from the US pretending to be South African are very slim indeed. Hey, it worked for that Simon Templar guy… ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/13 "2015-03-03T14:19:45Z")
Anyone who tells me in Europe or frankly anywhere outside the Americas that s/he is Canadian, I automatically assume as a US Citizen. I can understand why someone would feel the need not too advertise themselves as not a US citizen, Americans do get a lot of flak and get picked upon a lot. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/14 "2015-03-03T14:40:07Z")
I’ve only gone to Europe once, and had no problems saying I was American. In France, most people thought I was French, especially after I got an [Ascot cap](https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos?pid=5397069837394749682&oid=103821257239054376365). People would come up with me and speak in French. (I was most amused when an American said “excusez-moi” to me as he passed.) ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/15 "2015-03-03T15:09:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Hey, it worked for that Simon Templar guy… He was a [limey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Templar). ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/16 "2015-03-03T15:13:59Z")
I think it’s fine if someone starts hassling you to claim you’re not an American. As a general rule, it’s bizarre to pre-emptively try to pass yourself off as another nationality, as in: “Bonjour! How much for a CANADIAN to buy a ticket to the Louvre? Mes amis in ALBERTA can’t wait to see my vacation photos, EH? Say, garcon, where’s the HOCKEY RINK that serves POUTINE?!? Watch your tetes, friends, while I waive this CANADIAN FLAG IN YOUR FACES!” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/17 "2015-03-03T15:21:43Z")
I’ve never lied about my nationality, nor would I, but I don’t see it as “wrong”. Similar to **Iggy** , my wife has warned me not to bring up my citizenship if/when we visit her family in Peru due to being targeted for actual kidnapping/robbery vs getting mean stares from Frenchmen. I’m not exactly a world traveler but I’ve been to London, Paris, Rome, Florance and Venice and the worst I’ve overtly gotten was in a pub in London. I was taking a leak and a big surly drunk guy came in to use the urinal next to me. He was bitching about Americans (“Fuckin’ Yanks, something something…”) and I just made non-committal “mmhmmm…” noises since I didn’t want to speak and give myself away. Made for an amusing story more than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/18 "2015-03-03T15:35:06Z")
I think people should just own up to their nationality. If others are going to paint you with a broad brush, that’s their stereotyping fault, not yours. In an extreme dire situation - like a Middle Eastern hostage crisis - I can understand someone denying being of a particularly risky nationality. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/19 "2015-03-03T16:04:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think it’s fine if someone starts hassling you to claim you’re not an American. As a general rule, it’s bizarre to pre-emptively try to pass yourself off as another nationality, as in: “Bonjour! How much for a CANADIAN to buy a ticket to the Louvre? Mes amis in ALBERTA can’t wait to see my vacation photos, EH? Say, garcon, where’s the HOCKEY RINK that serves POUTINE?!? Watch your tetes, friends, while I waive this CANADIAN FLAG IN YOUR FACES!” Its bizarre to announce your nationality at all. It really doesn’t tend to come up, unless someone asks “where are you from.” And 90% of the conversations you have don’t get that far because frankly, most people don’t give a damn about where the person they are serving lunch to is from - unless they have an accent bet going with the other waiter (German…no you are nuts, that’s some sort of Eastern European). Yet I’ve heard people do it, loudly announce their nationality to the hotel clerk like checking in an AMERICAN rather than a Dane or Chinese person makes a difference in how the transaction is handled. If someone asks, personally, I go local in the largest nearby city you might have heard of. Part of it is while I do identify as “American” I don’t think its particularly useful information - I don’t have that much in common with someone living in New York City or California or Texas or Florida. People who are Scottish tend to say they are Scottish, not British - because we tend to jump to everyone who is British is from London. The other part is that it does ring a little “USA! USA!” to me. And finally, I think it sounds patronizing and U.S. centric “oh, you only know four places in the U.S. so I’m going to give you the whole damn pair of continents.” So to me its strange when people are asked and respond “America.” ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/20 "2015-03-03T16:09:59Z")
In the past I’ve always admitted to being American but now that I know this “Canadian Gambit” I got plans on using it. It may save a bar fight or two. (I once replied to an especially silly and persistent “US basher” with the line “Didn’t my uncle fuck your mother in 43?”) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083.md?page=2)