If someone guesses your nationality or race wrong do you get offended?

[Anonymous]

Wondering. I don't think I look like a certain race but once in a while people mistake me for it.

[Anonymous]

So what?!

[Anonymous]

So if people once in a while mistake you for it, then you probably look a bit like it. Move on.

[Anonymous]

I'm mixed, and no one ever guesses my mixed backgrounds correctly.

I don't get offended - Their false assumptions actually make me laugh and I hope it helps challenge their thinking when I tell them my actual background.

[Anonymous]

Is this a dinner party game? How does it work?

Guess theirs wrong in return and you'll make your point. Oh, you're Norwegian? I could have sworn you were Danish. That'll get 'em.

[Anonymous]

I report them to HR

[Anonymous]

My married name is Hispanic but I'm an obvious Scandinavian. I actually enjoy watching people become obviously confused.

[Anonymous]

People speak Spanish to me all the time because they assume I'm Hispanic. If I got offended by that would that mean that I consider Hispanics less than me?

Anyway, of course I don't get offended. It is motivating me to want to learn Spanish though.

[Anonymous]

I did see a Filipino lady give a Hispanic woman the death stare when she spoke completely in Spanish to her

[Anonymous]

People used to always assume I was Jewish because my last name is one that in certain circles is nearly always Jewish but in my case is not. It didn't bother me, I just corrected them if I felt like it. Sometimes it was helpful...my first job out of college was at firm where all the top leadership was Jewish. Did their assumption help me in the recruiting process? No idea but it wouldn't have hurt. Also, when my non-Jewish friend married a Jewish man, his mother was pretty upset about the wedding. On the wedding day she asked me to be her MILs helper/handler for the day. I could tell MIL assumed I was Jewish and liked that her DIL at least had one Jewish friend. So, I did not correct that impression!

When I married I took my husband's name and moved my maiden name to the middle. I hadn't realized how often the Jewish question came up until people stopped making that assumption.

[Anonymous]

The fact they are verbally guessing your nationality/race is rude and offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did see a Filipino lady give a Hispanic woman the death stare when she spoke completely in Spanish to her

Ugh, I did this once (spoke in Spanish to someone probably from Southeast Asia). My wife was mortified and will never let me live it down. For context, we had literally just left the airport in Seattle after 10 days in Mexico. But still.

[Anonymous]

if they are trying to make a connection, then no. If they are trying to put me in a box then yes. It is of no business of anyone else. My job is not to satisfy your curiosity.

[Anonymous]

I’m a white person who gets a weird number of ethnicity questions. I don’t care if people ask or guess but sometimes I get weird push back like “oh are you sure you’re not xyz, I could have sworn you were, you look so whatever! Do you know your family background? Maybe someone was adopted?” Ahhhhhhh!

[Anonymous]

Of course not.