A Case of Mistaken Identity...
By kcoregon
@kcoregon (302)
United States
August 4, 2009 8:24pm CST
Have you ever been approached by someone who thought you were someone else? Or maybe they came up and started talking to you in a different language because they thought you were of a different ethnicity? Or maybe somebody thought you were a famous person? How about when you talk on the phone with someone and they think that you are a man instead of a woman or a woman instead of a man?
Back when my oldest was nearly two she went into a seizure and was unresponsive. My husband called 911 and because he was so panicked he sounded like a woman. I can still remember hearing him from my baby's room saying, "I'm not a maam I'm a sir." Of course at that moment it wasn't funny but after everything was alright (her seizure was from high fever) we couldn't help but laugh at it. Also once an older gentlemen whacked my husband with his cane on the back of legs and said "How have you been?" When my husband turned around the man realized he had the wrong person. Also he has been asked if he is related to Kevin Costner because they look a lot alike. (Luckily for me I think Kevin Costner is hot!)
As for me I will have people come up and talk to me in Chinese until I look at them like I don't understand. Then they ask and I tell them I am half Korean and they go "oh" and walk away. I also once had a lady, who I am assuming thought I was Mexican, ask me in the frozen foods section whether or not a certain brand of burritos was better than the other. When I was younger my grandma would mistaken me for my younger brother. I don't know which way that was meant though-if she thought I sounded like a boy or my brother sounded like a girl.
So what about you?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
22 Aug 09
Oh yes, I've been mistaken quite a few times before. LOL There were a couple of instances where Mexican men mistook me for being Mexican and asked me things in Spanish. I'd look at them a little confused without saying a word, so they would speak to me in English after that. LOL
Back in junior high one of my classmates mistook me for another girl all because we have the same first name. Apparently the other girl had ratted him out, but because he had a crush on her he thought it had been me. When he asked me if that was my first name I said yes and he grabbed my hair and pulled hard. I was stunned as well as angry. I never ratted him out (that just isn't my thing), but because he was blinded by puppy love he didn't think it could have possibly been the other girl with the same first name as mine.
Another time, back when I had one of my perms, I had gone to a fair that was held in town. Someone was yelling a girl's name from somewhere behind me (I had a feeling I knew who they were talking about because this girl was a classmate of mine and she and I both had dark curly hair). As the name wasn't anywhere close to mine I kept on walking. They got closer and said it again. This time I turned around, just in case they thought I was the girl they were looking for. Sure enough, they had mistaken me for her. Whoops! LOL
I've also been mistaken for my sister before, at least her voice anyway. Okay, so we looked a like enough when we were little for our mom to dress us up as twins even though we are over 2 years apart. But there was one incident that I'll never forget. Back when we were teenagers the phone rang and I picked it up. A boy was on the other end asking for my sister. I told him that she wasn't home, but he didn't believe me. He had thought I was her! Sure we sounded a like back then, but that didn't mean I was her! LOL He tried to argue the point and even said that she didn't have a sister! I think I tried to tell him different and told him I'd tell my sister that he called, but I don't think her ever believed me. Oh well! LOL
Last but not least was right after 911. I had been walking in a parking lot with one of my little ones back to my car one evening when I heard some people yell "go back where you came from!" As I didn't see anyone else in the parking lot I can only assume this remark was meant for me. Needless to say I was scared out of my mind and I got the hell out of there. I have to say though that I don't know where they wanted me to go back to as I was born and raised right here in the USA. But with so much anger going on at that point I didn't dare tell them that.
Oh, and before I forget some people have mistaken my husband for such celebrities as Mel Gibson, Troy Donahue, Ryan Seacrest, and Jude Law, though neither my husband or I see it. LOL
Happy mylotting!
@cwong77 (2010)
• Malaysia
7 Aug 09
Ok, I have got one to share here.. this happen when I was in my previous company assisting the sales team. In my Company, we have a few Chinese working there, and my Malay Language is perfectly good (I am very proud of this), and I was attending this Malay couple from Singapore. So, when we are about to finalise the sales, this couple blurted that they would not want to have a Chinese neighbour, due to the reason that they might afraid the neighbour rear dogs. I understand their concern, but it's not easy to find a Malay neighbour that area. I told them that I will try my very best to search for the unit that the neighbour are not rearing any dog.
So, when we finally complete all the necessary, and about to sign the offer letter, then only they realised that I am a Chinese when I gave them my name card. I can tell the change of face to slight embarrass and they felt sorry about the comment. They kept apologising to me, but I am all alright with it..
I just give a good laugh when they say, I look like Chinese, but the way I speak, it make them thought I am a Malay instead.. muahaha..
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
5 Aug 09
I've had lots of people come up to me and start talking like they know me and I have no clue who they are! I just try to be friendly and get away from them as soon as possible so that they don't feel bad about their mistake and I don't make them think their real friend has turned into some sort of idiot 
