# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/21 "2015-03-03T16:51:38Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > …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? (post shortened) No, I don’t believe it matters which country you choose to say you’re from. The only reason you would choose to be something other than American would be to avoid an unpleasant encounter with a belligerent person or some terrorist group. Your business associates and competitors would know you are American. It’s partially their intention to do business with you because you represent an American supplier or an American market for their products. As a tourist, you are there to enjoy the culture, art, food, activities, weather, leather bars, etc… Your choice, and the locals welcome the money. It’s a win-win. Your friends are your friends, even if you are American. Unfortunately, there are people who are looking for an argument, or a fight. You can leave, you can stand your ground, participate in the argument, or participate in a fight. What’s the point? I’ve managed to confuse anti-American individuals many times. I’ve passed as Irish or some-kind-of-English while in England, and as Canadian or English while in Germany. My phony accents were passable but wouldn’t pass inquiry by a truly knowledgeable person. Most truly knowledgeable persons aren’t the ones looking for a confrontation. IMHO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/22 "2015-03-03T17:32:50Z")
Wouldn’t you run the risk of then encountering someone very familiar with Canada and suddenly asking you some embarrassing questions? “Do you think Rob Nicholson will be better in the Foreign Affairs portfolio than John Baird?” “Will Justin Trudeau really be the next Prime Minister?” “When is the election anyway?” ---
**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, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/23 "2015-03-03T17:34:16Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I > > (I once replied to an especially silly and persistent “US basher” with the line “Didn’t my uncle fuck your mother in 43?”) Americans are pathetic at selling themselves. If I was one I would say “see that orb uo in the sky? We’ve been there”. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/24 "2015-03-03T17:41:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Wouldn’t you run the risk of then encountering someone very familiar with Canada and suddenly asking you some embarrassing questions? > > “Do you think Rob Nicholson will be better in the Foreign Affairs portfolio than John Baird?” > “Will Justin Trudeau really be the next Prime Minister?” > “When is the election anyway?” Or “What is Boxing Day?” Yes, there was always that possibility but a “friendly” and I would just laugh off my bad attempt to practice proper English. The object was to avoid someone looking for an argument or a fight. Those types were not what I would call “deep thinkers”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/25 "2015-03-03T17:52:39Z")
I’m happy to prove to people that there are kind, considerate US citizens. Anyone that doesn’t represent is a coward in my book. The exception is for “dangerous” countries, whatever those are deemed to be (but I probably wouldn’t visit any, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/26 "2015-03-03T17:55:03Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > 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.” It’s true I’d probably say California. The US is too giant to be a useful identifier, I guess, in my head. But then they’d say “Oh, what city?” and I’d have to say “Uh, north of Sacramento, in that part nobody remembers exists…” ---
**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, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/27 "2015-03-03T19:00:35Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I’m happy to prove to people that there are kind, considerate US citizens. Anyone that doesn’t represent is a coward in my book. The exception is for “dangerous” countries, whatever those are deemed to be (but I probably wouldn’t visit any, anyway). I don’t get why anyone who doesn’t choose to “represent” is a coward. Someone avoiding possible hassle. Someone choosing some amount of privacy. If asked, its really sort of an impertinent and ill mannered question - like “what do you do for a living” or “how old are you,” but I assume people don’t know that personal questions are not to be asked by strangers and answer - vaguely or specifically as I chose - politely. I have no reason to prove Americans are anything at all - my experience is that there are kind considerate U.S. citizens and ill mannered selfish ones - just like anywhere else in the world. I don’t really see it as my job to do anything but enjoy my travels and or complete my business when I travel. It isn’t my responsibility to clarify assumptions about Americans or where I am from. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/28 "2015-03-03T19:28:57Z")
I’ve never actively hidden my nationality abroad, but I confess that I’ve let people assume I’m American because of my accent. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/29 "2015-03-03T21:36:14Z")
I just say I’m from Cleveland. Everybody loves a Clevelander. No, seriously! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/30 "2015-03-03T21:41:30Z")
Put me in the camp that says it’s ethically wrong to lie. Period. Now, in the grand scheme of lies, this is a pretty minor one. Still… At the very least, what happens when you lie about being from Canada and someone says “Oh me too!” I was once vacationing in Las Vegas and met someone who lived about a mile from my house. We’ve been shopping at all the same stores for years and only met 1000 miles from home. These kinds of coincidences happen all the time and won’t you look like double the asshole when it turns out you’re American and lying about it? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/31 "2015-03-03T21:58:03Z")
I tend to think it’s a fairly sissified thing to pretend you’re from somewhere else when overseas, unless there’s a deliberate threat to life and limb, like several posters visiting S. America have mentioned. But pretending you’re Canadian because you’re worried that Europeans will disapprove? Screw that, and screw them. Really all you have to do is just not be a huge ugly American doofus, and you’ll get along fine. The only really obnoxious exchange I ever had in Europe was with some guy trying to sell my wife some shit to feed the pigeons, and who wouldn’t take no for an answer, …and this guy thought we were Germans! ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/32 "2015-03-03T21:59:23Z")
I don’t know if its “ethically” wrong for an American to say they are Canadian (other than to whatever extent any white lie is ethically wrong), but I tend to look down on Americans who do it, and would not do it myself.\* For one thing, though many Canadians are great, in my experience on the whole they tend to be disproportionately obnoxious and nationalistic, and I don’t know why people would want to associate with that. For another, you are what you are, and if you’re a decent person and you think the US has a bad reputation, you’re going to help that reputation by letting people know that you’re American if it happens to come up. I will admit, though, that it’s not always easy. I disagree with people who say it never comes up, because as an American in Europe you hear comments very frequently (though, it must be said, way less frequently than when I was over here ~10 years ago). \*Exception granted if you’re lying to protect your personal safety. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/33 "2015-03-03T22:15:55Z")
Ethically wrong? No. But trying to hide your nationality is pointless and stupid. ---
**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 4, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/34 "2015-03-04T01:20:29Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > I just say I’m from Cleveland. Everybody loves a Clevelander. No, seriously! 😃 Never visited Pittsburgh during football season, huh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/35 "2015-03-04T01:36:40Z")
I’m so confused. Next time someone asks, I think I’ll just show them documents. ½ American, ½ Canadian ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/36 "2015-03-04T02:08:45Z")
In 1998 while in Iran I said I was Canadian once, but mostly said I was American. In 2011 on another trip to Iran I always said I was American. ---
**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 4, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/37 "2015-03-04T06:00:33Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > He was a [limey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Templar). He was a [wooosh](http://asoco.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2012/03/20/l_1.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/38 "2015-03-04T06:15:26Z")
I hope a Yank who does this is immediately thrown in jail as a political hostage. Seriously, Canadians traveling abroad should be jailed for crimes against humanity, given that Canada repeatedly puts Steve Harper in power, and Steve Harper is deliberately trying to accelerate global climate change in the delusional belief that an open Northwest Passage will be a boon to Canada. If Canada doesn’t pay their ransom, send their corpses to the Seychelles to build up land height against rising sea levels. Since there are 10x as many Yanks as Canucks, that’s more landfill for the drowning island nations. So I strongly encourage Yanks to say they’re Canucks. From Tronna. Who voted for Rob Ford fnord. Yes, I am going to be \*at least this much a shit about this from now on, \*until it sinks in. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/39 "2015-03-04T06:22:35Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > I just say I’m from Cleveland. Everybody loves a Clevelander. No, seriously! 😃 OK, people from Cleveland don’t have to go to jail for crimes against humanity. I mean, not only did Cleveland give us Superman and Drew Carey, but they would just think they were back home anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083/40 "2015-03-04T10:39:49Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > He was a [wooosh](http://asoco.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2012/03/20/l_1.jpg)… It would be if that were the best known version of the character or the actor most closely associated with the role. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrong-to-lie-about-nationality-when-abroad/714083.md?page=3)