Europeans, can you tell each other apart?

Undertoad · 05-22-2011, 09:47 PM

Well here's a fundamentally rude concept. Talking only about faces, and not styles, could you look at someone and say that there is a generations-long Frenchman or German or Portuguese or what have you?

Because us Americans, we can't tell where anybody's from, we move around so much and we're such a new country and all.

Examples. Having spent that formative time there, I think here is a very English looking guy, it's indie musician Robyn Hitchcock:

But if I didn't know, I might guess French:

What say you. And sorry, I just realized this is exactly the wrong time of day to ask. Hit us up in the morning.

bluecuracao · 05-22-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Because us Americans, we can't tell where anybody's from, we move around so much and we're such a new country and all.

If you talking American Caucasians...I think many people of Irish or Italian descent have distinctive features, even if they've lived in the U.S. for a few generations.

Aliantha · 05-22-2011, 10:35 PM

I think there are clear differences between Spanish and German people, and also Portugues and then there are the Norse and other northern Europeans.

At the same time though, people move around a lot these days, so historically understood features are tending to be watered down a bit for almost all races.

One day we'll all look the same.

Sundae · 05-23-2011, 01:58 AM

Europe is heavily blended, as the borders have switched around for centuries.
Even Brits are a mongrel race, having been invaded and completely overtaken in wave after wave - until 1066 of course.

There are certain "types" of course.
I can pictures archetypal Italians, Scots, Spaniards, Scandanavians. But then I bet you could too. I could even have a stab at a Dutch man - less so a Dutch woman.

Quote:

Because us Americans, we can't tell where anybody's from, we move around so much and we're such a new country and all.

I think it's more because you're all interbred (niot meant as a slur - couldn't think of a better way to put it).
I know many Americans claim to be half this and half that, but they are talking about the ethnicity of their family when they entered the country. Of course it's hard to recognise the features from one Irish woman and one Polish man in the family in 1850 or whatever.

Even over here, once someone marries (procreates) with someone not born and bred in the same area it lessens the chance of a "type". My own family is mixed - Grandad's generation do look Irish to me, Mum much less so. And I don't think you can see it in any of my generation at all, although I inherited the easily burned skin, that could have come from Nanny who was thoroughly English.

So I guess my answer is no.
As with all of the above, it is my personal answer and opinion. I couldn't dare assume I spoke for any other European on the Cellar!

skysidhe · 05-23-2011, 03:01 AM

One European, one American and one Frenchman. :P

ZenGum · 05-23-2011, 04:27 AM

I reckon I am *pretty good* at guessing country of origin. I have spent a lot of time in international (esp student) communities. Partly I pick accents and mannerisms, but also physical features. The tall, broad blonde? Swedish. The tall thin blonde? Lithuanian (and correctly guessing that might well have got me laid! Chick was crazy, tho, so I bailed). Looks Italian, sounds Slavic? Romanian. Smells like cheese and onions? French if it is their breath, English if it is their feet...

But yeah, there is so much mixing, both historically and especially presently, that these are never more than guesses.

Pete Zicato · 05-23-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Smells like cheese and onions? French if it is their breath, English if it is their feet...

Trilby · 05-23-2011, 07:39 AM

Those guys aren't European, American and French - they are all from the planet TooGorgeousToBeReal.

casimendocina · 05-23-2011, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Those guys aren't European, American and French - they are all from the planet TooGorgeousToBeReal.

I sense thread drift coming on...

skysidhe · 05-23-2011, 11:39 AM

The French thing was a joke. lolz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Those guys aren't European, American and French - they are all from the planet TooGorgeousToBeReal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

Me neither, but TinEye tells me they are Neil Gaiman and Chris Cornell.

monster · 05-23-2011, 07:56 AM

scuse me but french is european. just sayin.

infinite monkey · 05-23-2011, 10:37 AM

Johnny is from Owensboro KY. Don't knoe who the other two guys are.

glatt · 05-23-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Johnny is from Owensboro KY. Don't knoe who the other two guys are.

Me neither, but TinEye tells me they are Neil Gaiman and Chris Cornell.

infinite monkey · 05-24-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

Me neither, but TinEye tells me they are Neil Gaiman and Chris Cornell.

Who?

skysidhe · 05-23-2011, 12:06 PM

I think without clothes, mannerisms, and accent it would be too hard to tell.

Here is a good link of some famous people's ancestry.

http://starmixedrace.blogspot.com/20...1_archive.html

..and of the photos I posted, this is their ancestry.
Chris Cornell
Ethnicity
Irish and Jewish English, French Canadian and German

Johnny Depp
Ethnicity:
Cherokee, Irish, German

Neil Gaiman
Ethnicity:
Jewish Russian and Polish

05-22-2011, 09:47 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Europeans, can you tell each other apart? Well here's a fundamentally rude concept. Talking only about faces, and not styles, could you look at someone and say that there is a generations-long Frenchman or German or Portuguese or what have you? Because us Americans, we can't tell where anybody's from, we move around so much and we're such a new country and all. Examples. Having spent that formative time there, I think here is a very English looking guy, it's indie musician Robyn Hitchcock: But if I didn't know, I might guess French: What say you. And sorry, I just realized this is exactly the wrong time of day to ask. Hit us up in the morning.

05-22-2011, 10:35 PM	#3
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I think there are clear differences between Spanish and German people, and also Portugues and then there are the Norse and other northern Europeans. At the same time though, people move around a lot these days, so historically understood features are tending to be watered down a bit for almost all races. One day we'll all look the same. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

05-23-2011, 03:01 AM	#5
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	One European, one American and one Frenchman. :P Attached Images

05-23-2011, 04:27 AM	#6
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I reckon I am pretty good at guessing country of origin. I have spent a lot of time in international (esp student) communities. Partly I pick accents and mannerisms, but also physical features. The tall, broad blonde? Swedish. The tall thin blonde? Lithuanian (and correctly guessing that might well have got me laid! Chick was crazy, tho, so I bailed). Looks Italian, sounds Slavic? Romanian. Smells like cheese and onions? French if it is their breath, English if it is their feet... But yeah, there is so much mixing, both historically and especially presently, that these are never more than guesses. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

05-23-2011, 07:39 AM	#8
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Those guys aren't European, American and French - they are all from the planet TooGorgeousToBeReal. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

05-23-2011, 07:56 AM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	scuse me but french is european. just sayin. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

05-23-2011, 10:37 AM	#12
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Johnny is from Owensboro KY. Don't knoe who the other two guys are.

05-23-2011, 12:06 PM	#15
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I think without clothes, mannerisms, and accent it would be too hard to tell. Here is a good link of some famous people's ancestry. http://starmixedrace.blogspot.com/20...1_archive.html ..and of the photos I posted, this is their ancestry. Chris Cornell Ethnicity Irish and Jewish English, French Canadian and German Johnny Depp Ethnicity: Cherokee, Irish, German Neil Gaiman Ethnicity: Jewish Russian and Polish

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