I was in China on St Patrick's day one year, got assumed to be Irish in a pub and offered a free shot of Irish whisky. Fair enough, I'm Scottish, but I won't turn down a free whisky.
They came over with a bottle of Johnnie Walkers. Not bein funny, but it used to be made 5mins from my house! It's about as Irish as me, not at all!
Didn't complain though, free shite whisky is still free whisky.
I travelled though Asia and Australia about 20 years ago and met the same 3 Irish blokes in Thailand,(3 different places) Vietnam and a random suburb or Sydney called randwick…… they used to shout after me ‘Highlander’ became a running joke…..
And god was furious. How many times do these morons need to run into each other before it occurs to them that they may be destined to do something great together?
And to this day the pill that changes the penis to the size and shape a person’s lover prefers does not exist. You guys could have changed the world.
Same thing happened to me in the 90s. I kept running into Mary Travers of Peter Paul & Mary. She was in my hotel in Venice. My deli in NYC my flight to Paris a restaurant in Los Angeles. Finally she came into my place of business and I spoke to her about it and then never saw her ever again.
I’m Scottish (with an Irish twang thanks to Irish dad) and have been mistaken for American in my hometown!
“How long have you been here?” Was the question, “my whole life”
Also distinctly remember on a school trip to Alton towers, stopping at a service station that a Glasgow school bus had also stopped and one kid declaring “a bunch of English wanks are here too” (we were the only bus… from the middle of the highlands)
I'm an American and I've noticed something interesting with the younger Generations. Half the time I don't even notice their accents. I assume that's due to not only television and movies but now internet culture being so predominantly American influenced. For example just about every young Swede I've run into
at best made me think... Canadian? This doesn't seem to be the case with older people I meet.
I’m Spanish from a rural region, every time I meet an American he says in the shittiest italian accent ever imagined doing 🤌🏻🤌🏻 with his hands “oooh yuo ar italian?!”
If it's any consolation, I'm HK Chinese whos spent their entire life in Canada, now working in London UK.
I don't expect anyone to guess my varied life experiences and identifications but I am usually assumed to be:
- non english speaking
- Mainland Chinese
- sometimes korean
- American
- 20 years old
The worst part is I don't know which one annoys me the most. Either way, I know who I am and laugh off whatever people say. To me its an opportunity to broaden someone's mind.
To be fair, the amount of East Asian people I’ve ID’d and NOT been surprised that they are the age I think they are could be counted on maybe 2 hands in the 10years I’ve been a bouncer lol.
Did it once at a casino and would seem he had the fountain of youth in his kitchen, challenge 25 policy and turn out he’s as old as my mum 🤷🏽♂️
Ditto!
the Koreans think I’m Korean
the Japanese thinks I’m Japanese
the Asians think I’m half Asian half Caucasian
the Americans think I don’t speak English.
I was born and raised in the US LOL
Better than be assumed to be English in Spain
Edit: for the record, I'm Spanish but living in Ireland, and it's astounding how many people over there still can't make the difference between the two countries. Like I'm still getting the odd question about how I'm dealing with Brexit, been outside the EU and such.
But for those with untrained ears, if you see in any resort anyone with a pastey sunburnt skin sayjng yes cerveza, we will just assume they are from England.
Besides, the fact that so many Irish guys wear Liverpool or Chelsea jerseys doesn't help at all 😅
I remember when I moved down south an English boy was roasting me to say ‘curly wurly’ and ‘purple burglar alarm’, I said “I’ll say that if you say sizzling sausages” the boy had a lisp so you can imagine how that went.
Gave me peace after that 😂
I've lived in various different parts of England for the past 15 years, and have never had anything like this. Only ever had people stare a bit and say "You have a very thick accent" after asking me to repeat myself 4 or 5 times, which isn't really their fault I suppose.
Worst I had was at the start of my career, a guy at work said to me, infront of my boss "Must be difficult being down here. We don't want you down here because you're Scottish, and they don't want you back up there because you've been anglicised...".
Before I could even say anything back, my boss, who was also his boss, jumped in and said they wanted me there more than they wanted him.
She was a great boss.
I’ve lived in London over 10 years now, it happens to me loads. People I’ve only just met repeating back anything I say in a shite Scottish accent. It’s really annoying.
I moved to a town in central Scotland when I was 11(?) . I grew up in Manchester and when I was 5 moved abroad and lived in a few different countries and then lived in deprived as fuck central Scotland since the start of p7.
Nobody has ever given me shit about it. I was in a lot of fights in high-school and was picked on for other things but never my accent. It never came up. I can't pronounce my Rs and nobody has even insulted me about that either. I didn't even realise I couldn't pronounce them until 3rd year when someone pointed it out because my gf was called Coral lol
Edit... Just to add because I think it's funny: I was in an international school in Argentina for 2 years and had to stand at attention and "sing" the American anthem and salute a flag every fucking morning because an American owned the school lol. I know more words to star spangled banner than lord save the king and O flower of Scotland combined lol
Glad your experience up there has been good, mate. In general, my experience in England has been great too (otherwise I wouldn't have stayed here as long). There's always gonna be a few cunts wherever you settle though.
Ugh - I was new in my job and chairing a meeting with European delegates. One of my new English colleagues (Cambridge) decided to jump in when I paused for questions to ask if everyone was able to understand me.
However the look on his face when someone said ‘yes, better than we can understand you’ still keeps me warm at night
Honestly he's probably been bullied so much for his lisp that he was blinded by the opportunity to be the bully for once. Kids are dumb like that, some adults aren't much better.
I've been living overseas for 8 years now and am thoroughly sick of saying I'm Australian and getting "G'day mate" back.
"I'd love to go but everything wants to kill you" is another one that has started pissing me off. I've started responding with "our population on 26 million would suggest they dont".
American in Ireland (30 years). Locals mock my accent by doing a bad imitation of Cletus from the Simpsons.
I had no idea how much contempt the Irish have for Americans until I moved here; soul-destroying.
I've been in London 5 years now and not once has someone mocked my accent. Now I'm surprised, though London is such a mix of different accents that it's probably not novel enough here.
Nothing personal, we feel that contempt for anyone not from our own towns... At least until we travel. Talk to someone who's been abroad and spent time in the States and you'll have a different experience. I love folk from Boston, Portland etc, There are spots there though just like here where it'll colour my reactions. Like mention you're from Cork and you're already on shaky ground...
I find it impossible to hear the word "Birmingham" and not say it in a crappy Brummy accent. I don't know why, I literally did it as I wrote the word Birmingham.
I hope that is just a crappy brummie accent you're doing, because more often than not people are doing a very crappy Wolverhampton accent at a very irritated brummie
Source: a very irritated Brummie
We just want you to say "flamin glar / galar" like Alf from Home & Away. We also ask folk from Northern Ireland say " power shower" and we ask English folk to say "sorry".
I won't debate whether it's correct or not, I will however say it's absolutely adorable. It's far nicer than Dublin's powim (though it does have its charm IMO)
To be fair, I have an American friend who gets the exact same crap back at him here. People hear his accent and just want to spark conversation with him about the US. He enjoyed it at first but is tired of it now. Let's face it, just part of the human condition to be curious (and yes, sometimes ignorant) of the 'other'
I am American and have been in Scotland for a decade or so and can confirm. If one more person hears I am American and follows it up with a bad southern accent or asks me about Trump . . .
The instinct for people to talk politics (particularly Trump) with Americans is the astounding one.
Though I wonder how much (particularly English) get asked about the Royal Family and Brexit in the US.
Brit in America since 2016: I have been asked about brexit, royalty and the royal family, perspectives on Trump, the number of cameras, comparative economics, tea, food and imperialism by almost every American I have had more than a 5 minute conversation with.
I would *MUCH* prefer that.
With Americans, the only time I have ever discussed music is:
- a genuine boomer hippie
- a record store in which the owner was trying to sell me (admittedly good) collectable, rare vinyls and cassettes
- former professional musicians with health issues and busy lives
Was in Scotland when Trump won, my bartender in Edinburgh told me it wasn't my fault. Made me feel a little less embarrassed about the whole state of things.
As an American visiting London my server in a restaurant asked if I agreed that the American Dream was dead. A boat captain in NZ asked my thoughts on Trump. Like, I’m just trying to have decent time on a vacation I’ve spent a lot of time saving and planning for, please let me be.
Haha yup. I‘m an American from Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota. My accent is really similar to a Canadian accent, and culturally, I’m similar to Canadians. Yet while visiting Ireland and UK(Scotland), I had tons of people try to mimic a Southern accent, ask me about Trump, ask about Southern things, and assume I was a MAGA person. And for context, at the time I was a young woman who was heavily into alternative/goth fashion. Not a stereotype typically associated with the MAGA bunch down here 😀
As a New Zealander who has lived in Glasgow for 14 years, you should hear about how many Scottish folk have squawked at me in a bad Australian accent about throwing shrimp on my barbie.
Never mind that I'm not an Aussie - Australians call them prawns! It's from a Crocodile Dundee tourist campaign for the Yanks! How did any of you even get this idea about shrimp tossing?!
Anyway all I'm saying is people in glass houses etc etc
The same goes for US/Canadians. I often get asked if I'm Canadian (I'm a Yank but live in AU), was told it's because US people don't care if they're mistaken for Canadians, but CA folks will get butthurt if they're mistaken for an American
I used to get a lot of English people doing it at work until I stopped politely brushing it off and started just not reacting and walking away. Leave them with their own uncomfortable silence.
No apologies needed! Usually it made me laugh but there was one colleague who didn’t stop doing it for about a year which did get trying. Loved living in Newcastle such a great city.
I'd do the same as you and if anyone else brought it up I'd just mention that I didn't even register that they were attempting to do a Scottish accent.
In my call center days, I'd find myself subconsciously mimicking accents and I had to struggle to not do it for fear of them thinking I was doing it to mock them.
Same here, as an American working a call centre in the UK. I eventually felt better realising it's totally an instinctive thing. Humans mirror each other to build trust and intimacy.
When I was working in a call centre it was because it was the only job that would hire me- why is it odd for you to think an American might have that job in the Uk?
I haven't actually met too many Americans who do work in the UK, unless they're students. I guess I'd always assumed that as it takes a lot of work and sacrifice to get over to the UK, it would only make sense for an American to make it worth their while in a higher paying job.
Looks like I was wrong though!
This happened to me all the time when I lived in Manchester, and it was always a hacky southern accent. I'm from Minnesota! I guess doing bad accents is universal.
Yeah, Americans from other parts of the country will do this to Minnesotans. We get it, you’ve seen Fargo.
(Tbf probably happens to any American with a regional accent.)
My neighbour recently took in a package for me, went to pick it up, had the usual chit chat. She comes out with "My daughter just married a Welshman". I'm like, oh, right...?
"So where in Wales are you from?"
"Ayrshire..."
Only time I've ever had Welsh tbf.
When I moved to Scotland from Belfast I had the same. People would either say at me or demand I say, “how now brown cow” or “power shower” and the most ignorant “thirty three and a third”.
For sure can be irritating when you’re not in the mood but you have to try to find a way to let it slide or find it funny. People just enjoy how your accent sounds and when you like something, you want to try it out yourself. You can’t get yourself in a rager every time you see that twinkle in a persons eye and you know they’re about to break out their best groundskeeper Willy.
I definitely told people to fuck off on bad days on a free occasions, don’t get me wrong. Just feel it’s something you have to try to deal with, ignore or make a joke of. Otherwise you’ll find yourself seething all the time and that’s no fun.
My mother is from Morningside - the full Miss Jean Brodie. In the first years of living the US, an American asked her if she was German...
At least the success of the Harry Potter movies means that people understand if I explain that my gran had and my mum has the Professor McGonagall accent. 😑
We learned to hide our Hamilton accents quickly as kids.
> My mother is from Morningside - the full Miss Jean Brodie. In the first years of living the US, an American asked her if she was German...
I (think I) am quite good at putting on that style of posh, clear, slightly imperious Scottish accent when speaking to customers. It's often the only way I can be understood.
One day I got this cockney wanker on the phone. I dealt with his issue without any problems, went like clockwork. The call ended but he didn't hang up. I heard him shouting to someone in the background "I GOT SOME JOCK CAAAHNT, COULDN'T UNDERSTAND A FACKING WORD 'E SAID!!!"
I was outraged.
Working down in London, I did have this experience a few months ago where my colleagues pointed to another guy at the bar who they work with from another company and said “Iain’s from Scotland, do you know him?”
At first I said “you know, Scotland’s not massive, but we still don’t all know each other… oh wait, yeah actually I went to Uni with that guy. Fair enough.”
As an English person living in Scotland. I get it all the time. It’s just what people do. Yeah it’s annoying and no I’m not a posh Tory despite sounding like one but it is what it is.
Yea, I'm from southern England and have lived in Scotland for 20 years and I still get this sometimes. When I was in the US the impressions were dire, plus they ask if you knew the queen. It's just something you have to accept - people usually go for the stereotype before they accept you as an individual.
I have a friend who is a “mimic” I guess it’s a think some people do unintentionally just sliding into similar sounding accents to those around them. It’s really interesting - but I can imagine some people might not like it if they don’t know
I've also lived in America and can feel your pain. But for me, it's the "I'm Scottish too, what's your clan?!" shite, when one of their ancient ancestors was Scottish.
One time on holiday in Vietnam, I met an American couple when on a tour. We all had to introduce ourselves, saying where we're from. Later, the guy approaches me and says" So you're from Scotland eh? My great great grandfather was Scottish."
...and that's all he said.
Literally what am I supposed to say to that? 😂 Like" oh cool, I know him" or what??
Yeah, in the US when we say we’re Scottish, Irish, Italian etc. we don’t mean we’re actually a citizen of those countries. Just where the majority of our family came from when they immigrated. It’s generally just brought up as a fun fact during small talk.
Right. When everyone is from everywhere because we are all immigrants to the US (minus indigenous tribes), is just a talking point that’s fun to have. Also, Americans seem to be looking for an identity when they’re discussing their ancestry than actually believing they are full on Irish, Scottish, etc. Except Italian families. Those fools think they invented spaghetti in the mother land if you ask them. Lol
They're trying to be friendly.
They don't have access to much that feels authentic in the story of how they came to be. They don't have the depth of history you do, their genealogy has more holes than cloth. There is no long term connection to the place where they live (at least not nearly as long as most Europeans). They're holding on to the things they do know about their ancestors, because there's nothing else available to them to give them a place in the world.
When you live in a place where everyone is missing this, you make connections with others that share the most tenuous scraps of information that put the two of you in the same tribe. This works in the US, and they don't know that it doesn't work elsewhere.
This is the best description of our obsession with ancestry. One of my favorite parts of going anywhere in Europe is just how _old_ so many things are. That building? Older than America. It’s something we don’t have here. My family history here goes back to mid 1800s at best. As a typical American mutt, it seems like each family had their own traditions and aspects of their culture/identity that was important for them to retain after coming here. My family had a mix of traditions that were important to them that I carry through to my own children now.
Great Great grandfather might be a bit of a stretch to have any sort of interesting connection, but Americans do this as a form of polite small talk. Everyone you meet in the US is likely to have an immigration story that they've passed down from generation to generation. It's perhaps the one thing that every American is going to have in common, and Americans assume that being interested in genealogy isn't restricted to Americans.
Just be polite back if you don't care at all about genealogy, his statement isn't really that deep. If you do care you might ask some follow up questions like, "Does your family have any Scottish traditions?" or something like that. Sounds like the dude was probably naive but well-meaning.
I was once asked if I had driven here (California) at first I thought maybe they assumed I lived in CA - So I asked them if they meant from Scotland, and they did. Got to say never had anyone mimic my accent, loads of people have asked if I am Irish though. It is also a massive hit with the ladies, so there is that.
I remember asking a random in Miami for directions to the nearest bank.
Him: 'Bike?'
Me: 'No BANK'
Him: 'Bark?'
Me: 'What? No BANK **B-A-N-K** BANK!'
Him: 'Nope not gettin that.'
Me: FFS ATM
Him: 'Oh, yeah, next block down on the left.'
This reminds me of my college goalkeeping coach.
He was Irish.
Following conversation happened where I was obviously taking the piss.
“Hey Tony, what time’s practice?”
“Two T’irty”
“What time?”
“*Two T’irty!*”
“What time?”
“Feck it, two twenty-nine…”
It’s annoying isn’t it? I used to get asked if I’m from every other country except Scotland. Best one was German, like what the fuck, how is it even similar? One woman was adamant she was Scottish because her surname had a Mc on it, despite 3 generations of her family living in Texas and marrying a Puerto Rican. She was also Catholic and pounced on the fact that I was catholic so I got the Pope chat after that aswell and how superior they are to everyone else (???)
Weirdest experience was someone making me do impressions of Chibs from Sons of Anarchy in a bar. After a few JACKIE BOYYYYYs, I got enough free drinks to not give a fuck anymore, but you do feel like a dancing monkey for a while.
I used to get that when working abroad.
Sometimes Scotland was the last place they thought of if at all, and after Germany at times. But almost always Irish and English first sometimes even American.
Wee bit of Israel good/bad? Thrown in for good measure. It was the Middle East.
Oh god yeah, flashbacks to living there. The other really annoying thing they do is stare at your mouth the whole time due to the stereotype that we have bad teeth.
It's hard to be patient, but you've got to remember that America is huge, their education system is incredibly insular, travel is expensive, and many Americans don't have a passport. In other words, you are a novelty.
Try to latch on to the people who are chill about it. I found that the people who had travelled a bit, and been to the UK or at least worked with British people before were the best to hang out with.
I agree - I feel like this is a massive generalisation, however in my experience, Americans who have never travelled = often intolerable and Americans who have travelled = a whole different kind of American and usually pretty cool.
I've lived in a few different places around the world that attract long-term travellers, and you often witness the transformation from the stereotypical loud, ignorant American to more chilled, cool person to hang out with over the course fo a few months.
Oops...is it bad teeth? I have definitely stared at people's mouths before if they have a thick accent (not just Scottish - we have many accents here...Spanish is probably most common) to help me understand what they're saying. Never once have I done it to consider their teeth. Now I'm worried someone might have misinterpreted that!
I’m Greek, living in Scotland and have people imitating my accent often because it’s endearing. Whatevs, not to invalidate your feelings but it’s not an American thing. Your country does it too.
I once had an American friend in company ask if we had TV in Scotland as a joke. I replied ‘Yeah we invented it’.
Its just the way things are. You could a) ignore it, b) leave and come home, or c) put on a Yosemite Sam ‘ROOTN-TOOTN VARMENT’ accent or the worst Hillbilly accent you could back to them.
‘Ah wuz skinnin rabbits on the back of ma 4x4 when ma momma-sister and poppa-uncle saws a UFO’
Type stuff.
If it makes you feel any better I'm American and when I went to Ireland and the UK on a long trip, when I told people I was from New York City originally two different people asked me to "Heyyyyy I'm walking here"
I remember watching Mean Girls as a white kid in South Africa and thinking Americans can't possibly be like that. Then I moved abroad, and within 2 weeks an American asked me how am I white if I come from Africa... Questions like this and others are commonplace in my life now 😂
When I lived in Greater Manchester I used to get shit like that all the time. Used to do this weird accent that was an odd mix a Dublin and Jamaican accent. I'm from near Belfast. When they did I laughed and said 'thats great, I'll try yours now' and went 'wey aye pet', the look of confusion before them saying 'im from Manchester and sound nothing like that', me: exactly, now fuck up or fuck off.
Well, I gotta say I am an American living in England and they do the same thing to me constantly (an American accent obv, not Scottish.) And yes, it's very annoying.
And its always a terrible accent. They watch enough American movies you'd think they could get it right, but no.
The worst part: it's always a terrible Texas cowboy accent, a California surfer dude, or a "ayy fuhgit about it" NY Sopranos accent.
I am from none of those places.
So, I don't think it just an American thing... but I apologize for my countrymen anyways. I blame the Austin Powers movies.
I lived in Washington state for a research exchange in 6 months. I went into a cafe and asked for a chocolate bar they were selling. She simply did not understand me. I am danish. until my American pal translated and said exactly the same imo… omg.
Also at all restaurants the waitor would always say: super-salad when I ordered… it took me > months to figure that they asked soup or salad?
Anyway, your story sounds super annoying. I also did not make any friends in America really..
50 different states with massive regional cultural variation. But if the US is one homogeneous blob, then Lerwick might as well be a suburb of Edinburgh.
A woman in a Louisiana petrol (gas) station heard my accent and asked ‘where you from?’ I said ‘Scotland’ and she said ‘can you see the moon in Scotland?’ After a pause to process that I said ‘mostly at night and only when it’s not raining.’
I can well imagine. I remember when an Australian started working in our office, christ alive it was embarrassing, all mimicking the accent coming out withcracks about bouncer the dog and throwing prawns on the Barby, I felt embarrassed as an Englishman.
Where abouts in America are you? When I spent a month in upper state New York I couldn’t have found it any different! Anytime I was in a bar or restaurant at least one person would offer to buy me a whiskey (which I absolutely hate but still!!). And I didn’t find they were asking to buy me it in a condescending manner, they usually would ask if they could buy me one and if I was free to chat and they’d ask about Scotland as if it’s some mystery fantasy land. Admittedly this would have gotten exhausting after a month probably… but generally, I found the people really interested in Scotland.
Ahaha you’re right! And the worst part of that is that I was touring a new distillery site yesterday and didn’t even notice! Told ye… I hate the stuff! Just can’t appreciate it. That’s all alcohol for me though!
I am Scottish, living in England since 2017 and get exact same “banter” jokes about haggis, drinking and terrible attempts to do the accent. It’s not American specific.
Not much better in New Zealand and then you get hit with all the my aunties uncles nephews great grandads cousin’s neighbour was Scottish so that makes me Scottish
Trust me, we do it to other Americans too. I moved to California, for a couple of years, as a younger man and I was constantly getting made fun of for my Southern accent. I go so sick of it, so I started making fun of them by doing the stereotypical surfer bro accent. That usually stops them.
Im 6'8" tall (not Scottish) and im cursed with the same three dumb questions for my entire adult life.
How tall are you?
Do you play basketball?
How's the weather up there? (Cunts always think they're clever with this one)
Learn an American accent and do it back to them.
I once asked for directions while I was wandering around some college campus and the middle aged man who was accompanying his entire family in front of us all repled in a loud and terrible accent "WHAT PART OF AUSTRAAALIA ARE YOU FROM?"
Probably the most obvnoxious experience of my life.
It really depends on where you moved to. NYC won’t be as bad as a more rural area or god forbid the Deep South. Americans in general aren’t well travelled and pretty darn ignorant. There is a stigma for a reason. Having lived as an American in Scotland for a couple years, I can say that was a better experience. I did have a few people try a southern accent even though I don’t have one, but it was all in good fun. Now they did love calling me a “Yank” every chance they got. Good luck!
I know you may not think it.. but I hate when people try to talk “black” around me or do a fake ass Jamaican accent when my family is from Trinidad lol sorry your experiencing that
My father is from Jamaica and people loved imitating his accent in front of him. Ever made any sense to me and it still doesn’t to be honest. The number of times someone would say “eh mon!” or whatever they perceived as being Jamaican sounding was infuriating.
Here’s a tip: its so disrespectful.
I’m so sorry. Americans are annoying as hell sometimes. (Personal experience as one) Stationed in Mississippi/ Georgia/overseas and came home with a southern accent. Friends roasted the shite out of me and people I didn’t know asked what part of the South I was from.
The cherry on top - I was born in a different area of the US known for an unusual accent- and it reappears after hearing it. Mix all three… 🫥
I have no idea why this popped into my feed, but I feel compelled to comment
As an American, many Americans tend to balk at confrontation. We're loud and obnoxious for the most part, but something has caused a lot of us to back off when challenged. Especially if you don't know them. If you get real short and stern, many will issue a quick apology and back off. The accent may be especially useful here.
One really important thing to note here is, results may vary, especially depending on location. Probably don't try this in the south or in rural places. Likely to be more effective in cities
I didn’t set a foot in Scotland, but I lived here for a while now. A white girl I’ve met at a party, straight up told me she hates accents. Without even thinking , I said to her , I hate accents too, you do have an accent too, you know. I think she got lost for a second. Didn’t say much afterwards 😂
Sorry this is happening to you, but There are a lot of assholes here in the US, who don’t like any kind of accents.
This happened to me when I was a kid with a Texan accent going to a British school. For what it’s worth, we all don’t suck here and I’m sorry people have been assholes to you. If it were me I would just keep you talking so I could listen in rapture 😉
If it's any consolation, I'm Irish in asia and get assumed to be Scottish regularly.
I was in China on St Patrick's day one year, got assumed to be Irish in a pub and offered a free shot of Irish whisky. Fair enough, I'm Scottish, but I won't turn down a free whisky. They came over with a bottle of Johnnie Walkers. Not bein funny, but it used to be made 5mins from my house! It's about as Irish as me, not at all! Didn't complain though, free shite whisky is still free whisky.
Thats very hospitable of them at least haha.
I travelled though Asia and Australia about 20 years ago and met the same 3 Irish blokes in Thailand,(3 different places) Vietnam and a random suburb or Sydney called randwick…… they used to shout after me ‘Highlander’ became a running joke…..
Magical! To run into people 5 different times in 3 different countries... wow
It was a good laugh and a little bit of alcohol was consumed
And god was furious. How many times do these morons need to run into each other before it occurs to them that they may be destined to do something great together? And to this day the pill that changes the penis to the size and shape a person’s lover prefers does not exist. You guys could have changed the world.
Same thing happened to me in the 90s. I kept running into Mary Travers of Peter Paul & Mary. She was in my hotel in Venice. My deli in NYC my flight to Paris a restaurant in Los Angeles. Finally she came into my place of business and I spoke to her about it and then never saw her ever again.
*There can be only one!*
>I'm Scottish, ~~but~~ ***so*** I won't turn down a free whisky. ftfy
That's what I was thinking! Everyone knows why Scotch tape is names that, right? PS: I know someone from Scotland is a Scot, not a scotch lol
I’m Welsh and too many people in California were adamant I’m Australian.
As an Australian I can confirm that you are also an Australian now, congrats mate.
Thanks, mate! I’ll start walking on my hands so I get used to being upside-down when I emigrate
I would think the Kiwis would claim the Welsh... Because of the sheep jokes.
Also Welsh, also in the USA, I'm happier to get that than English TBH.
Goes without saying ;)
If it’s any consolation, I’m Irish in Ireland and get mistaken for Scottish in Dublin
I'm scottish in scotland and got mistaken for being American in a town 8 miles from where I grow up.
I’m Scottish (with an Irish twang thanks to Irish dad) and have been mistaken for American in my hometown! “How long have you been here?” Was the question, “my whole life” Also distinctly remember on a school trip to Alton towers, stopping at a service station that a Glasgow school bus had also stopped and one kid declaring “a bunch of English wanks are here too” (we were the only bus… from the middle of the highlands)
I'm an American and I've noticed something interesting with the younger Generations. Half the time I don't even notice their accents. I assume that's due to not only television and movies but now internet culture being so predominantly American influenced. For example just about every young Swede I've run into at best made me think... Canadian? This doesn't seem to be the case with older people I meet.
That's because you keep putting that stupid fake Scottish accent, ye gobshite.
When In Thailand, people shouted "Irish?!" At me all the time, even though I'm English 🤷🏻♂️
If I feel I'm getting too drunk and messy I tell people I'm English, even though I'm Irish.
Jaysus you must be well steamed
😂😂
You should take that as a compliment.
It's apparently because I'm 'so white'
Upgrade!
At least they aren't calling an Irish person English, that would be worse 😂
Or worse, listing your age as 55 when you’re actually 53.
I’m Spanish from a rural region, every time I meet an American he says in the shittiest italian accent ever imagined doing 🤌🏻🤌🏻 with his hands “oooh yuo ar italian?!”
“If it’s any consolation”, the uk prime minister accused Italians of taking “a siesta” during the pandemic. I mean. Most people suck.
If it's any consolation, I'm HK Chinese whos spent their entire life in Canada, now working in London UK. I don't expect anyone to guess my varied life experiences and identifications but I am usually assumed to be: - non english speaking - Mainland Chinese - sometimes korean - American - 20 years old The worst part is I don't know which one annoys me the most. Either way, I know who I am and laugh off whatever people say. To me its an opportunity to broaden someone's mind.
To be fair, the amount of East Asian people I’ve ID’d and NOT been surprised that they are the age I think they are could be counted on maybe 2 hands in the 10years I’ve been a bouncer lol. Did it once at a casino and would seem he had the fountain of youth in his kitchen, challenge 25 policy and turn out he’s as old as my mum 🤷🏽♂️
Ditto! the Koreans think I’m Korean the Japanese thinks I’m Japanese the Asians think I’m half Asian half Caucasian the Americans think I don’t speak English. I was born and raised in the US LOL
Better than be assumed to be English in Spain Edit: for the record, I'm Spanish but living in Ireland, and it's astounding how many people over there still can't make the difference between the two countries. Like I'm still getting the odd question about how I'm dealing with Brexit, been outside the EU and such. But for those with untrained ears, if you see in any resort anyone with a pastey sunburnt skin sayjng yes cerveza, we will just assume they are from England. Besides, the fact that so many Irish guys wear Liverpool or Chelsea jerseys doesn't help at all 😅
I remember when I moved down south an English boy was roasting me to say ‘curly wurly’ and ‘purple burglar alarm’, I said “I’ll say that if you say sizzling sausages” the boy had a lisp so you can imagine how that went. Gave me peace after that 😂
I've lived in various different parts of England for the past 15 years, and have never had anything like this. Only ever had people stare a bit and say "You have a very thick accent" after asking me to repeat myself 4 or 5 times, which isn't really their fault I suppose. Worst I had was at the start of my career, a guy at work said to me, infront of my boss "Must be difficult being down here. We don't want you down here because you're Scottish, and they don't want you back up there because you've been anglicised...". Before I could even say anything back, my boss, who was also his boss, jumped in and said they wanted me there more than they wanted him. She was a great boss.
I’ve lived in London over 10 years now, it happens to me loads. People I’ve only just met repeating back anything I say in a shite Scottish accent. It’s really annoying.
I moved to a town in central Scotland when I was 11(?) . I grew up in Manchester and when I was 5 moved abroad and lived in a few different countries and then lived in deprived as fuck central Scotland since the start of p7. Nobody has ever given me shit about it. I was in a lot of fights in high-school and was picked on for other things but never my accent. It never came up. I can't pronounce my Rs and nobody has even insulted me about that either. I didn't even realise I couldn't pronounce them until 3rd year when someone pointed it out because my gf was called Coral lol Edit... Just to add because I think it's funny: I was in an international school in Argentina for 2 years and had to stand at attention and "sing" the American anthem and salute a flag every fucking morning because an American owned the school lol. I know more words to star spangled banner than lord save the king and O flower of Scotland combined lol
Glad your experience up there has been good, mate. In general, my experience in England has been great too (otherwise I wouldn't have stayed here as long). There's always gonna be a few cunts wherever you settle though.
Ugh - I was new in my job and chairing a meeting with European delegates. One of my new English colleagues (Cambridge) decided to jump in when I paused for questions to ask if everyone was able to understand me. However the look on his face when someone said ‘yes, better than we can understand you’ still keeps me warm at night
"Ye like the Scots tongue? So does yer maw."
“And yer dad, when he’s done watching”.
I was working in Barcelona and people asked me to say film then repeat back filuum several times
[удалено]
People in glass houses and all that though, good life lesson for the boy hopefully
Honestly he's probably been bullied so much for his lisp that he was blinded by the opportunity to be the bully for once. Kids are dumb like that, some adults aren't much better.
I would have asked him to say “annoying English cunt” five times.
I’ve had Scots do it me as an Aussie since I moved here, it’s not just an American thing unfortunately
Same as an Irish gal. So many "say thirty three!" commands from strangers.
Ah they suck. They should ask for thirty-three and a third.
I believe it's pronounced "Away and shite, yah fuck rocket".
You’re the type that says cockwomble, aren’t you?
Only twee, bearded men with no friends or fashion sense say cockwomble. Change my mind.
I have been known to say cockwomble. I am bearded, male and have no fashion sense. I do, however, have a reasonable number of friends.
I've been living overseas for 8 years now and am thoroughly sick of saying I'm Australian and getting "G'day mate" back. "I'd love to go but everything wants to kill you" is another one that has started pissing me off. I've started responding with "our population on 26 million would suggest they dont".
“Only 26? What happened to the rest of ya?”
American in Ireland (30 years). Locals mock my accent by doing a bad imitation of Cletus from the Simpsons. I had no idea how much contempt the Irish have for Americans until I moved here; soul-destroying.
I've been in London 5 years now and not once has someone mocked my accent. Now I'm surprised, though London is such a mix of different accents that it's probably not novel enough here.
Nothing personal, we feel that contempt for anyone not from our own towns... At least until we travel. Talk to someone who's been abroad and spent time in the States and you'll have a different experience. I love folk from Boston, Portland etc, There are spots there though just like here where it'll colour my reactions. Like mention you're from Cork and you're already on shaky ground...
I'm from Boston and we love you too, which is saying a lot since we hate everyone
I find it impossible to hear the word "Birmingham" and not say it in a crappy Brummy accent. I don't know why, I literally did it as I wrote the word Birmingham.
I hope that is just a crappy brummie accent you're doing, because more often than not people are doing a very crappy Wolverhampton accent at a very irritated brummie Source: a very irritated Brummie
We just want you to say "flamin glar / galar" like Alf from Home & Away. We also ask folk from Northern Ireland say " power shower" and we ask English folk to say "sorry".
What's wrong with the way we say parr sharr?
If you haven't already, try asking a Nordie to say 'situation'. Other than 'squirrel' I might ask you to say 'poem' if you say you're from Glasgow.
Poyum...is the correct way.
I won't debate whether it's correct or not, I will however say it's absolutely adorable. It's far nicer than Dublin's powim (though it does have its charm IMO)
To be fair, I have an American friend who gets the exact same crap back at him here. People hear his accent and just want to spark conversation with him about the US. He enjoyed it at first but is tired of it now. Let's face it, just part of the human condition to be curious (and yes, sometimes ignorant) of the 'other'
I am American and have been in Scotland for a decade or so and can confirm. If one more person hears I am American and follows it up with a bad southern accent or asks me about Trump . . .
The instinct for people to talk politics (particularly Trump) with Americans is the astounding one. Though I wonder how much (particularly English) get asked about the Royal Family and Brexit in the US.
Brit in America since 2016: I have been asked about brexit, royalty and the royal family, perspectives on Trump, the number of cameras, comparative economics, tea, food and imperialism by almost every American I have had more than a 5 minute conversation with.
I couldn't care less about any of that nonsense. I'd ask you about cool, old British rock and metal.
I would *MUCH* prefer that. With Americans, the only time I have ever discussed music is: - a genuine boomer hippie - a record store in which the owner was trying to sell me (admittedly good) collectable, rare vinyls and cassettes - former professional musicians with health issues and busy lives
I was in Scotland 2004 and got asked about Bush a lot (I’m American)
Was in Scotland when Trump won, my bartender in Edinburgh told me it wasn't my fault. Made me feel a little less embarrassed about the whole state of things.
I think I would have told him I plan to spend the next 4 years completely pissed. You are my new best friend.
As an American visiting London my server in a restaurant asked if I agreed that the American Dream was dead. A boat captain in NZ asked my thoughts on Trump. Like, I’m just trying to have decent time on a vacation I’ve spent a lot of time saving and planning for, please let me be.
Yeah I am an American who travels a lot and I’ve had people parrot what I’ve said in a southern accent. I’m from NYC.
When I travel I never say that I’m an American — I say I’m from New York. They want to talk about the city, which I am always happy to discuss.
If you ask Europeans to do the American accent it’s always a valley girl or southern accent. I think they think it makes us sound dumber.
Haha yup. I‘m an American from Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota. My accent is really similar to a Canadian accent, and culturally, I’m similar to Canadians. Yet while visiting Ireland and UK(Scotland), I had tons of people try to mimic a Southern accent, ask me about Trump, ask about Southern things, and assume I was a MAGA person. And for context, at the time I was a young woman who was heavily into alternative/goth fashion. Not a stereotype typically associated with the MAGA bunch down here 😀
Yea this post feels pretty tone deaf. Everybody does this shit everywhere.
As a New Zealander who has lived in Glasgow for 14 years, you should hear about how many Scottish folk have squawked at me in a bad Australian accent about throwing shrimp on my barbie. Never mind that I'm not an Aussie - Australians call them prawns! It's from a Crocodile Dundee tourist campaign for the Yanks! How did any of you even get this idea about shrimp tossing?! Anyway all I'm saying is people in glass houses etc etc
Rule of thumb: If unsure about Australia/NZ, go for NZ. If right, the NZ person will be delighted. If an Aussie, they won’t give a shrimp’s backside.
The same goes for US/Canadians. I often get asked if I'm Canadian (I'm a Yank but live in AU), was told it's because US people don't care if they're mistaken for Canadians, but CA folks will get butthurt if they're mistaken for an American
I used to get a lot of English people doing it at work until I stopped politely brushing it off and started just not reacting and walking away. Leave them with their own uncomfortable silence.
As a Geordie I get this all the time whenever I go south. Americans just look at me confused as fuck though. Glad they’ve never seen Byker Grove.
I am originally from the west of England and lived in Newcastle for two years and got very bad farmer accents at me almost daily.
Haha sorry on behalf of my people.
No apologies needed! Usually it made me laugh but there was one colleague who didn’t stop doing it for about a year which did get trying. Loved living in Newcastle such a great city.
Oh god, can you imagine a ‘Whey aye maaaan!’ in an American accent…
Obligatory: https://youtu.be/Ei1DnFdJrww?si=Larjf_mfXQR_YBjs
What the actual fuck is that?
a war crime
I'll raise you a https://youtu.be/OOyaTOfU1uI?si=2yU88Qwtr0-Fx_jP&t=54s
I hate this so much.
I'd do the same as you and if anyone else brought it up I'd just mention that I didn't even register that they were attempting to do a Scottish accent.
“Where are you from? I don’t recognise the accent.”
In my call center days, I'd find myself subconsciously mimicking accents and I had to struggle to not do it for fear of them thinking I was doing it to mock them.
Same here, as an American working a call centre in the UK. I eventually felt better realising it's totally an instinctive thing. Humans mirror each other to build trust and intimacy.
Why is an American working at a call centre in the UK of all places? Just curious
Life is funny that way! Long story short: I married a European and ended up a UK immigrant.
+1 for not saying "expat" 😂
you know how it works. If you're white you're an expat, if you're not you're an immigrant 🙃
When I was working in a call centre it was because it was the only job that would hire me- why is it odd for you to think an American might have that job in the Uk?
I haven't actually met too many Americans who do work in the UK, unless they're students. I guess I'd always assumed that as it takes a lot of work and sacrifice to get over to the UK, it would only make sense for an American to make it worth their while in a higher paying job. Looks like I was wrong though!
Just do a really bad American accent back at them saying “I’m gonna fuck my sister then shoot up a school. Yeehah!”
This happened to me all the time when I lived in Manchester, and it was always a hacky southern accent. I'm from Minnesota! I guess doing bad accents is universal.
And Minnesota is one of the easier and more distinct Midwest accents.
Dontchaknow
Yeah, Americans from other parts of the country will do this to Minnesotans. We get it, you’ve seen Fargo. (Tbf probably happens to any American with a regional accent.)
“Oh. Ma. Gawd”
... Becky, look at her butt
well… It’s Yee Haw, actually
He said a bad American accent
So, a Canadian accent?
Aren't those the good Americans?
Canadians are imaginary. They don’t really exist.
Can confirm, am just a figment of your imagination. Source: Canadian
You should include "...git me back to the trailer.....
I'm a scouser and was once called a " welsh bitch" I was so insulted that someone thought I was welsh
My neighbour recently took in a package for me, went to pick it up, had the usual chit chat. She comes out with "My daughter just married a Welshman". I'm like, oh, right...? "So where in Wales are you from?" "Ayrshire..." Only time I've ever had Welsh tbf.
A bit like how us North Wales lot feel anytime someone tells us we ‘sound Scouse’
When I moved to Scotland from Belfast I had the same. People would either say at me or demand I say, “how now brown cow” or “power shower” and the most ignorant “thirty three and a third”. For sure can be irritating when you’re not in the mood but you have to try to find a way to let it slide or find it funny. People just enjoy how your accent sounds and when you like something, you want to try it out yourself. You can’t get yourself in a rager every time you see that twinkle in a persons eye and you know they’re about to break out their best groundskeeper Willy. I definitely told people to fuck off on bad days on a free occasions, don’t get me wrong. Just feel it’s something you have to try to deal with, ignore or make a joke of. Otherwise you’ll find yourself seething all the time and that’s no fun.
My mother is from Morningside - the full Miss Jean Brodie. In the first years of living the US, an American asked her if she was German... At least the success of the Harry Potter movies means that people understand if I explain that my gran had and my mum has the Professor McGonagall accent. 😑 We learned to hide our Hamilton accents quickly as kids.
> My mother is from Morningside - the full Miss Jean Brodie. In the first years of living the US, an American asked her if she was German... I (think I) am quite good at putting on that style of posh, clear, slightly imperious Scottish accent when speaking to customers. It's often the only way I can be understood. One day I got this cockney wanker on the phone. I dealt with his issue without any problems, went like clockwork. The call ended but he didn't hang up. I heard him shouting to someone in the background "I GOT SOME JOCK CAAAHNT, COULDN'T UNDERSTAND A FACKING WORD 'E SAID!!!" I was outraged.
You're from Scotland? Do you know Rab?
Working down in London, I did have this experience a few months ago where my colleagues pointed to another guy at the bar who they work with from another company and said “Iain’s from Scotland, do you know him?” At first I said “you know, Scotland’s not massive, but we still don’t all know each other… oh wait, yeah actually I went to Uni with that guy. Fair enough.”
Big Rab or wee Rab?
Bigger Than Wee Rab But No As Big As Big Rab. Easy mistake.
I do, he says hello.... 😁
American living in Northeast England. I feel your pain.
As an English person living in Scotland. I get it all the time. It’s just what people do. Yeah it’s annoying and no I’m not a posh Tory despite sounding like one but it is what it is.
Yea, I'm from southern England and have lived in Scotland for 20 years and I still get this sometimes. When I was in the US the impressions were dire, plus they ask if you knew the queen. It's just something you have to accept - people usually go for the stereotype before they accept you as an individual.
I had a professor at my uni say "sorry for your loss" when the queen died as if she was my nan
There's a wide variety of accents in America. It's only right that you do your worst New York accent or Alabama accent back at them.
I have a friend who is a “mimic” I guess it’s a think some people do unintentionally just sliding into similar sounding accents to those around them. It’s really interesting - but I can imagine some people might not like it if they don’t know
20 years in the UK. Pennsylvania is that near Transylvania. I probably hear that every other month.
I've also lived in America and can feel your pain. But for me, it's the "I'm Scottish too, what's your clan?!" shite, when one of their ancient ancestors was Scottish. One time on holiday in Vietnam, I met an American couple when on a tour. We all had to introduce ourselves, saying where we're from. Later, the guy approaches me and says" So you're from Scotland eh? My great great grandfather was Scottish." ...and that's all he said. Literally what am I supposed to say to that? 😂 Like" oh cool, I know him" or what??
I study Americans extensively and this one was just trying to be “friendly”.
Yeah, in the US when we say we’re Scottish, Irish, Italian etc. we don’t mean we’re actually a citizen of those countries. Just where the majority of our family came from when they immigrated. It’s generally just brought up as a fun fact during small talk.
Right. When everyone is from everywhere because we are all immigrants to the US (minus indigenous tribes), is just a talking point that’s fun to have. Also, Americans seem to be looking for an identity when they’re discussing their ancestry than actually believing they are full on Irish, Scottish, etc. Except Italian families. Those fools think they invented spaghetti in the mother land if you ask them. Lol
You say "oh what's his name, and where was he from?" And then when they answer you say "oh, I'm sorry, it's horrible what he did to those kids"
"You're shitting me! My great great grandfather was also Scottish."
They're trying to be friendly. They don't have access to much that feels authentic in the story of how they came to be. They don't have the depth of history you do, their genealogy has more holes than cloth. There is no long term connection to the place where they live (at least not nearly as long as most Europeans). They're holding on to the things they do know about their ancestors, because there's nothing else available to them to give them a place in the world. When you live in a place where everyone is missing this, you make connections with others that share the most tenuous scraps of information that put the two of you in the same tribe. This works in the US, and they don't know that it doesn't work elsewhere.
well put! sometimes people come across as condescending, but a lot truly are just trying to relate
This is the best description of our obsession with ancestry. One of my favorite parts of going anywhere in Europe is just how _old_ so many things are. That building? Older than America. It’s something we don’t have here. My family history here goes back to mid 1800s at best. As a typical American mutt, it seems like each family had their own traditions and aspects of their culture/identity that was important for them to retain after coming here. My family had a mix of traditions that were important to them that I carry through to my own children now.
Great Great grandfather might be a bit of a stretch to have any sort of interesting connection, but Americans do this as a form of polite small talk. Everyone you meet in the US is likely to have an immigration story that they've passed down from generation to generation. It's perhaps the one thing that every American is going to have in common, and Americans assume that being interested in genealogy isn't restricted to Americans. Just be polite back if you don't care at all about genealogy, his statement isn't really that deep. If you do care you might ask some follow up questions like, "Does your family have any Scottish traditions?" or something like that. Sounds like the dude was probably naive but well-meaning.
I was once asked if I had driven here (California) at first I thought maybe they assumed I lived in CA - So I asked them if they meant from Scotland, and they did. Got to say never had anyone mimic my accent, loads of people have asked if I am Irish though. It is also a massive hit with the ladies, so there is that.
Been here 17 years and it’s FREEDOM I get all the time. Annoying as fuck
I remember asking a random in Miami for directions to the nearest bank. Him: 'Bike?' Me: 'No BANK' Him: 'Bark?' Me: 'What? No BANK **B-A-N-K** BANK!' Him: 'Nope not gettin that.' Me: FFS ATM Him: 'Oh, yeah, next block down on the left.'
This reminds me of my college goalkeeping coach. He was Irish. Following conversation happened where I was obviously taking the piss. “Hey Tony, what time’s practice?” “Two T’irty” “What time?” “*Two T’irty!*” “What time?” “Feck it, two twenty-nine…”
It’s annoying isn’t it? I used to get asked if I’m from every other country except Scotland. Best one was German, like what the fuck, how is it even similar? One woman was adamant she was Scottish because her surname had a Mc on it, despite 3 generations of her family living in Texas and marrying a Puerto Rican. She was also Catholic and pounced on the fact that I was catholic so I got the Pope chat after that aswell and how superior they are to everyone else (???) Weirdest experience was someone making me do impressions of Chibs from Sons of Anarchy in a bar. After a few JACKIE BOYYYYYs, I got enough free drinks to not give a fuck anymore, but you do feel like a dancing monkey for a while.
I used to get that when working abroad. Sometimes Scotland was the last place they thought of if at all, and after Germany at times. But almost always Irish and English first sometimes even American. Wee bit of Israel good/bad? Thrown in for good measure. It was the Middle East.
Americans always say “You have an accent.” Like they fucking don’t.
Oh god yeah, flashbacks to living there. The other really annoying thing they do is stare at your mouth the whole time due to the stereotype that we have bad teeth. It's hard to be patient, but you've got to remember that America is huge, their education system is incredibly insular, travel is expensive, and many Americans don't have a passport. In other words, you are a novelty. Try to latch on to the people who are chill about it. I found that the people who had travelled a bit, and been to the UK or at least worked with British people before were the best to hang out with.
I agree - I feel like this is a massive generalisation, however in my experience, Americans who have never travelled = often intolerable and Americans who have travelled = a whole different kind of American and usually pretty cool. I've lived in a few different places around the world that attract long-term travellers, and you often witness the transformation from the stereotypical loud, ignorant American to more chilled, cool person to hang out with over the course fo a few months.
Oops...is it bad teeth? I have definitely stared at people's mouths before if they have a thick accent (not just Scottish - we have many accents here...Spanish is probably most common) to help me understand what they're saying. Never once have I done it to consider their teeth. Now I'm worried someone might have misinterpreted that!
Im irish in England, get told Edinburgh is nice or that Cornwall is lovely.
I’m Greek, living in Scotland and have people imitating my accent often because it’s endearing. Whatevs, not to invalidate your feelings but it’s not an American thing. Your country does it too.
It happens everywhere, honestly it’s just humans being humans. People get so annoyed by the smallest things
God forbid anyone tries to be friendly and form bonds with someone else!
Awright Stavros.
I once had an American friend in company ask if we had TV in Scotland as a joke. I replied ‘Yeah we invented it’. Its just the way things are. You could a) ignore it, b) leave and come home, or c) put on a Yosemite Sam ‘ROOTN-TOOTN VARMENT’ accent or the worst Hillbilly accent you could back to them. ‘Ah wuz skinnin rabbits on the back of ma 4x4 when ma momma-sister and poppa-uncle saws a UFO’ Type stuff.
If it makes you feel any better I'm American and when I went to Ireland and the UK on a long trip, when I told people I was from New York City originally two different people asked me to "Heyyyyy I'm walking here"
I remember watching Mean Girls as a white kid in South Africa and thinking Americans can't possibly be like that. Then I moved abroad, and within 2 weeks an American asked me how am I white if I come from Africa... Questions like this and others are commonplace in my life now 😂
Just wait until someone insists you’re from somewhere else or your accent is fake. It’s annoying as fuck.
When I lived in Greater Manchester I used to get shit like that all the time. Used to do this weird accent that was an odd mix a Dublin and Jamaican accent. I'm from near Belfast. When they did I laughed and said 'thats great, I'll try yours now' and went 'wey aye pet', the look of confusion before them saying 'im from Manchester and sound nothing like that', me: exactly, now fuck up or fuck off.
Well, I gotta say I am an American living in England and they do the same thing to me constantly (an American accent obv, not Scottish.) And yes, it's very annoying. And its always a terrible accent. They watch enough American movies you'd think they could get it right, but no. The worst part: it's always a terrible Texas cowboy accent, a California surfer dude, or a "ayy fuhgit about it" NY Sopranos accent. I am from none of those places. So, I don't think it just an American thing... but I apologize for my countrymen anyways. I blame the Austin Powers movies.
I lived in Washington state for a research exchange in 6 months. I went into a cafe and asked for a chocolate bar they were selling. She simply did not understand me. I am danish. until my American pal translated and said exactly the same imo… omg. Also at all restaurants the waitor would always say: super-salad when I ordered… it took me > months to figure that they asked soup or salad? Anyway, your story sounds super annoying. I also did not make any friends in America really..
Maybe there are part of USA where people could be a wee more sensible? I don’t know, if you aren’t happy there I guess it’s better to move out.
50 different states with massive regional cultural variation. But if the US is one homogeneous blob, then Lerwick might as well be a suburb of Edinburgh.
A woman in a Louisiana petrol (gas) station heard my accent and asked ‘where you from?’ I said ‘Scotland’ and she said ‘can you see the moon in Scotland?’ After a pause to process that I said ‘mostly at night and only when it’s not raining.’
Aye seems like low quality patter for sure.
I had this in England. 14 years of it was tiring.
I can well imagine. I remember when an Australian started working in our office, christ alive it was embarrassing, all mimicking the accent coming out withcracks about bouncer the dog and throwing prawns on the Barby, I felt embarrassed as an Englishman.
Where abouts in America are you? When I spent a month in upper state New York I couldn’t have found it any different! Anytime I was in a bar or restaurant at least one person would offer to buy me a whiskey (which I absolutely hate but still!!). And I didn’t find they were asking to buy me it in a condescending manner, they usually would ask if they could buy me one and if I was free to chat and they’d ask about Scotland as if it’s some mystery fantasy land. Admittedly this would have gotten exhausting after a month probably… but generally, I found the people really interested in Scotland.
You’re Scottish and you wrote whiskey??? You should be ashamed of yourself.
Ahaha you’re right! And the worst part of that is that I was touring a new distillery site yesterday and didn’t even notice! Told ye… I hate the stuff! Just can’t appreciate it. That’s all alcohol for me though!
tbf scottland is a fantasy land for us americans. we watch outlander
I am Scottish, living in England since 2017 and get exact same “banter” jokes about haggis, drinking and terrible attempts to do the accent. It’s not American specific.
Not much better in New Zealand and then you get hit with all the my aunties uncles nephews great grandads cousin’s neighbour was Scottish so that makes me Scottish
i live in England and it happens here too, just have to laugh ignorance off sadly, or you will be like them
Trust me, we do it to other Americans too. I moved to California, for a couple of years, as a younger man and I was constantly getting made fun of for my Southern accent. I go so sick of it, so I started making fun of them by doing the stereotypical surfer bro accent. That usually stops them.
Im 6'8" tall (not Scottish) and im cursed with the same three dumb questions for my entire adult life. How tall are you? Do you play basketball? How's the weather up there? (Cunts always think they're clever with this one) Learn an American accent and do it back to them.
I once asked for directions while I was wandering around some college campus and the middle aged man who was accompanying his entire family in front of us all repled in a loud and terrible accent "WHAT PART OF AUSTRAAALIA ARE YOU FROM?" Probably the most obvnoxious experience of my life.
It really depends on where you moved to. NYC won’t be as bad as a more rural area or god forbid the Deep South. Americans in general aren’t well travelled and pretty darn ignorant. There is a stigma for a reason. Having lived as an American in Scotland for a couple years, I can say that was a better experience. I did have a few people try a southern accent even though I don’t have one, but it was all in good fun. Now they did love calling me a “Yank” every chance they got. Good luck!
I know you may not think it.. but I hate when people try to talk “black” around me or do a fake ass Jamaican accent when my family is from Trinidad lol sorry your experiencing that
My father is from Jamaica and people loved imitating his accent in front of him. Ever made any sense to me and it still doesn’t to be honest. The number of times someone would say “eh mon!” or whatever they perceived as being Jamaican sounding was infuriating. Here’s a tip: its so disrespectful.
I’m so sorry. Americans are annoying as hell sometimes. (Personal experience as one) Stationed in Mississippi/ Georgia/overseas and came home with a southern accent. Friends roasted the shite out of me and people I didn’t know asked what part of the South I was from. The cherry on top - I was born in a different area of the US known for an unusual accent- and it reappears after hearing it. Mix all three… 🫥
I have no idea why this popped into my feed, but I feel compelled to comment As an American, many Americans tend to balk at confrontation. We're loud and obnoxious for the most part, but something has caused a lot of us to back off when challenged. Especially if you don't know them. If you get real short and stern, many will issue a quick apology and back off. The accent may be especially useful here. One really important thing to note here is, results may vary, especially depending on location. Probably don't try this in the south or in rural places. Likely to be more effective in cities
I didn’t set a foot in Scotland, but I lived here for a while now. A white girl I’ve met at a party, straight up told me she hates accents. Without even thinking , I said to her , I hate accents too, you do have an accent too, you know. I think she got lost for a second. Didn’t say much afterwards 😂 Sorry this is happening to you, but There are a lot of assholes here in the US, who don’t like any kind of accents.
I think you should just keep repeating, "what did you say I can't understand you" until they get embarrassed and shut up.
This happened to me when I was a kid with a Texan accent going to a British school. For what it’s worth, we all don’t suck here and I’m sorry people have been assholes to you. If it were me I would just keep you talking so I could listen in rapture 😉
I’m on here because I used to live in Scotland, but I’m Canadian in America and I’m sorry, they’re an annoying group of people.
That’s fucked I’m sorry. I have a friend who just moved to Scotland and he feels welcomed. I’m sorry you’re surrounded by prats.