Oh, sorry, thought you were someone else
By megamatt
@megamatt (14292)
United States
May 21, 2012 7:54am CST
Talk about something that is embarrassing, when you see someone and you think that they are an old friend because they have an uncanny resemblance to them. But alas, no it is not them and you have egg on your face when you say hello and they look at you like you have grown an extra head. Awkward apologies are mumbled, as you go off for the rest of your day. Happened to me the other day. I'm sure I'm not the only one this has happened to.
7 people like this
16 responses
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
Yeah that seems to be the most diplomatic response to something like that. Where we have our apologizes. I'm sure that person might either have a story to tell, be kind of amused, at least some people might. "Hey this person thought I was this other person, what a day, huh". Of course it mind be a bit less kinder for some, but you get the picture.
Still in the end, there is really not much to do. It is just really something that will happen to even the best of us. And sometimes there are going to be something that is going to happen. Just apologize, move on, move off, and hopefully the other person is not laughing at you as you are out of the earshot. If so, such is life.
1 person likes this
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
21 May 12
Things like that happen, I don't think it's embarrassing at all. Can remember I was a little kid lost my mother at the marked thought I saw her.. recognized her coat.. clung to it.. wrong person.
1 person likes this
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
Oh, yeah, that would be something right there. Obviously when little kids get lost, they tend to cling onto right any kind of recognition that they can. Granted, an adult really can distinguish beyond characteristics beyond coats. Well most of the time anyway. Still, that is rather a bad situation(far worse in certain areas if it happened today, but that's another topic for discussion)
Still whether or not is an embarrassment, it is when it happens, until I am kind of amused by it later. If nothing else, it gives both parties a story to tell like I said. Somewhere, I'm sure this person is having an amusing tale, chances are, I'll never see them again. Once we're past that mortification, it becomes merely a tale.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
4 Jun 12
Nope, you're not the only one it's happened to. It's happened to me before...almost 31 years ago! 
It happened back in 1st grade. I thought a girl I sat next to was my friend from school. I hadn't seen her since the school year ended months before. So when I went up to her I said "Hi T" (obviously not her name LOL). Anyway, the girl said "my name isn't T". I remember quickly scanning the room and found T in the back. But I stayed where I was and the girl that wasn't T became my new best friend. 
Happy mylotting!
It happened back in 1st grade. I thought a girl I sat next to was my friend from school. I hadn't seen her since the school year ended months before. So when I went up to her I said "Hi T" (obviously not her name LOL). Anyway, the girl said "my name isn't T". I remember quickly scanning the room and found T in the back. But I stayed where I was and the girl that wasn't T became my new best friend.
Happy mylotting!
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
21 May 12
Yeah, this happens to my mom a lot of times. Me? rarely happens because I never start a conversation first, it's usually a friend noticing me first before I notice them. I don't know, I just don't have the gift to see friends quicker than they see me.
Anyway, my mom though, it's different. One incident that really made me laugh all the way was when we were doing some groceries. I was pushing the cart while she was picking out things to buy. I was behind her and she'd talk without end about the things we need to get and the things she plans to cook and all. Then she asks me to get something at the other lane, when I came back, there was a couple who was shocked because she kept on putting things on their cart! hahahaha.. She thought I was still behind her!! hahahaha.. We apologized persistently because of the mistake and thank goodness the couple was in a good mood. She had at least 5 items that she placed on their cart! hahahahah..
She indeed thought that I was behind her because the girl somehow looked similar, or perhaps she just didn't have a good look at her. But it was hilarious!
Have a great MyLot experience ahead!1 person likes this
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
See there are many times where I am not about to start the conversation. Oddly enough, a few people have made the same error that I did with me, trying to start a conversation with me because they thought I was someone else. Of course, when you really think about it, the fact that there is another person that looks like me kind of gives me the shivers.
Of course, on that day I was in a sociable mood. That will teach me to be friendly. :) In all seriousness, it is a half and half. Sometimes it is the mistaken identity and sometimes, it is really not so mistaken. Still it can be quite the story to tell. The story you told, nothing like that has ever happened, even though I was in the grocery store alone when I was younger(about eleven-twelve) and the checker thought that the couple behind me was my parents so started checking me out with the things they bought. A far more innocent time when an eleven or twelve year old could go into the grocery store, without worrying about any weirdo snatching them.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
21 May 12
Yes, this has happened to me, but it was more funny than embarrassing. I saw a guy and thought he was my friend. He was looking directly at me but didn't say anything, wave or in any way acknowledge me, so I walked right up to him and said "fine, don't say hi". He looked a little surprised but gave me a cute smile and said "hi". It was then that I realized he was not the person I thought he was.
Turns out he was related to the person I thought he was, though, which is probably why they looked so much alike. We started talking, and it turned out really well.
Turns out he was related to the person I thought he was, though, which is probably why they looked so much alike. We started talking, and it turned out really well.@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
A relation, yeah that's a far more excusable situation, because you can easily see how people who are related would look alike. Sometimes those situations do turn out better than expected. Some times but it is something that really is a real shot of the dark on whether or not it will work but you never really know what will happen until it happens.
I think that when it happens, it can be something that can really cause some manner of horror. Far more amusing after the fact, once we got over the mistake that we make. At least that is the fact that I really look at. Still appearance can be similar and quite frankly uncanny. It is almost fascinating in many ways. Then again, mistakes can be made.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
22 May 12
Megamatt - It was when I got closer and he said "hi" that I realized he was not who I thought he was. At that point, I had already started talking with him, so I didn't want to be even stranger than I probably already seemed and just walk away. Besides, he was pretty cute.
That is how I learned that he was related to my friend, because I apologized and said he looked an awful lot like my friend. He laughed and said that he got told that a lot, because they were related.
Top - So when people talk to you and you say "hi", do you ever get into a conversation with them and then have to admit that you don't really know who they are or maybe you realize who they are after talking with them for a while?
That is how I learned that he was related to my friend, because I apologized and said he looked an awful lot like my friend. He laughed and said that he got told that a lot, because they were related.
Top - So when people talk to you and you say "hi", do you ever get into a conversation with them and then have to admit that you don't really know who they are or maybe you realize who they are after talking with them for a while?
@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
22 May 12
hihih, i am very bad in memorizing so that if a person is not closed to me, i don't remember at all. I might meet him 1 time or 2 times in somewhere...but i really cant remember who is he...then i am confused if he say hi to me, i may have to ask him again about where did i met him..and then i can remember all...
@ryanong (9665)
• Vietnam
24 May 12
Ya, i understand. However, when i going out, i can't see people clearly if that guy didn't stand near me 1-2 metters because i didnt wear glasses while i am short sighted. So that people may say to me that he met me somewhere...i haven't done like that yet...
@JUNGLE (1157)
• South Africa
12 Jun 12
I was in a shop once to buy a printer and the first guy that I spoke to told me to wait as the salesman for this product would attend to me shortly. Lost in thought and forgetting about the salesman, I was suddenly approached by a guy whom I thought was an old friend from my old neighbourhood and had not seen for ages.Smiling he said "hello,how are you?' "Hi! said I, how are you, I have'nt seen you in years" The guy looked bewildered. He said that he was here to assist me with my purchase.Boy was my face red."Hey sorry man,I mistook you for a friend of mine" I stammered. Seeing my great embarrasment (and he also had some others with him) he said "dont worry,these things happen sometimes.He had tact in switching the subject by quickly discussing the features of the printer.I really felt stupid that even after paying for my printer,I said "hey I'm terribly sorry about that".Forget about it he said,it was just a mistake.I later related the incident to my younger brother who is a person who is totally unaffected by such things,and he simply said "Awww thats nothing, forget it" I Wish that I could be like him.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
26 Jun 12
Personally I think this has happened to even the Best of us, and there will always be someone out there that looks like someone we know, especially if it is a person we have not seen for a while. But there have been times people have even come up to me acting like they know me who I am sure I have never seen before, and it can be awkward. But at the same time if you get to talking, sometimes these could be people you might want to know as well.
@meapas (2436)
• India
21 May 12
Hi,
No, you are not the first one and definitely you wont be the last one either.
It happens to all of us that we find someone with such uncanny resemblance that we would bet our last cent on them and that is what makes us approach in the first place.
But that is not the reason I am writing this.
Once I was the victim of such a misadventure and someone thought me to be someone else. The person concerned was a little on the mature side, and his embarrassment as well as his disappointment was much too evident. I smiled at him warmly, slowly patted him on his shoulder to ask him who was the person he was so eager to meet.
My warmth made his day and he went on to give me a brief but very touching description of a part of his life he had thought lost and buried. After sharing a cup of tea with him I walked away, leaving him pleasantly smiling with a load off his mind. And I was thanking God for making my nondescript face the reason for someone to smile.
Take care and God bless.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
See that just proves that a situation really can turn off for the better at times. Then again, sometimes you just never know, it could be a mistake that somehow gets turned right back around. Then there are times where it doesn't. But if it does in any case, and really does make someone else's day in a round about way, then that is great.
That is the great thing about life, instances like that, where something that could be a horrifying embarrassment turned out for the better. That is just something that will bring a smile. It could have turned out in a different way, potentially for the worst, but it turned out for the better. That is really just something to put things in perspective.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
22 May 12
Hello megamatt, there's nothing wrong with looking some one by mistake though. it proves that in some cases that every one is kinda look alike. Some co-worker's used to mistook me for some one who is much taller though. besides, we can't afford to just know this earlier though.but it never hurts to ask some one if they are what you're looking for. Have a nice day
megamatt, there's nothing wrong with looking some one by mistake though. it proves that in some cases that every one is kinda look alike. Some co-worker's used to mistook me for some one who is much taller though. besides, we can't afford to just know this earlier though.but it never hurts to ask some one if they are what you're looking for. Have a nice day@megamatt (14292)
• United States
22 May 12
Indeed, mistakes really can happen far more often and for far more absurd reasons. When you are excited to see someone, perhaps you do want to see someone. Perhaps your mind is just playing a few tricks on you, really making you think that you are seeing someone that is really not really there. Or perhaps it is just an honest mistake.
Then again, you just never know, there are so many faces in this world, that some of them are bound to look rather similar. From a certain angle, many people do look oddly similar to those familiar faces. Still it could been them, you just never know. Half of the time it may be, half of the time it is not, it is a fifty, fifty shot.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
22 May 12
Yeah most of the time I don't either but as I think that I mentioned in another response, I was in a particularly friendly mood that day. That will teach me to be sociable. :) Of course often times when I'm out in public, chances are that I'm totally completely focused on what I am doing, that I won't recognize my closest friends or family if they had danced in front of me.
Of course, there are times that I did. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I am not so right, that is just the way the thing works. And once or twice, I did caught myself with my brain managing to work enough, with a "wait a minute, that isn't so and so". Crisis averted, well most of the way anyway, at least in theory anyway. It varies, believe me.
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
21 May 12
Well, I think your accident, or of having the wrong person, it is resolved successfully. That is the person to whom you have wrongly referred, has realized your mistake, and therefore you have apologized. That said, I think you're definitely not the only case who commits such a mistake. This can happen here on Mylot, as I any other site. To me personally, to this day, I never happened. And so I hope not to ever be wrong. You should however keep in mind that to err is human!
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
Yes I'm sure that for some people it has happened and to others it might never happen. And for others, it just has not really happened yet, but that doesn't mean that it will not. It can happen many times. In the actual world, the Internet, talking with someone. A slip of the tongue can really mean many things, a slip of the fingers, or perhaps the eyes showing you things that might not be there.
In the end, it happens, but it is a moment where time seems to really slow down to a crawl. It does make an interesting discussion. And if we were perfect, life can really be rather boring and who wants that, really. In the end, it happened before, it may happened again. But in the moment, it does seem worse than it really might be.
@Mayuko (1268)
• United States
26 Jun 12
It can be pretty awkward & the person you say hello to is probably trying to figure out if they even know you.
Once, I was in a store & there was a guy standing a couple of yards away from me He waved at me and I automatically waved back at him. Only as I was putting my hand down did I realize I had no idea who he was. There was no one behind me so he must have been waving at me. I guess he mistook me for someone else. I think I felt as awkward & uncomfortable as he did
I remember another time I was in walking down the hallway at school when out of no where, some girl jumps at my back, as though she were playfully pretending to jump on my back. I was so startled and confused, I was frowning as I turned. She realized I was the wrong person and she chuckled, apologized and walked back to her friend who was standing by. I could tell she was one of those outgoing, confident girls, and she didn't appear to be embarrassed at all. Meanwhile, shy, quiet me was feeling pretty self-conscious and discomfited.
Honestly, I got the feeling she did it on purpose; she wanted to do some crazy prank, simply to see how I would react. I don't know if she knew me before and wanted to do that, or if she just picked a random person, and it just happened to be me.
I remember another time I was in walking down the hallway at school when out of no where, some girl jumps at my back, as though she were playfully pretending to jump on my back. I was so startled and confused, I was frowning as I turned. She realized I was the wrong person and she chuckled, apologized and walked back to her friend who was standing by. I could tell she was one of those outgoing, confident girls, and she didn't appear to be embarrassed at all. Meanwhile, shy, quiet me was feeling pretty self-conscious and discomfited.
Honestly, I got the feeling she did it on purpose; she wanted to do some crazy prank, simply to see how I would react. I don't know if she knew me before and wanted to do that, or if she just picked a random person, and it just happened to be me.
@besweet (9862)
• Ireland
21 May 12
It hasn't happened to me for a long time, to confuse someone with one of my old familiar faces. But someone confused me for someone else last week and it was very funny! I was walking inside a coffee shop with my friend and we were looking for an empty table to sit and have a coffee. I passed next to a guy who was standing on the line for the orders and he started calling me with another girl's name. I didn't think that he was talking to me and I didn't stop, but he insisted and asked me why I am not talking to him. So I said "I am sorry but I think you have confused me with someone else, my name is not Jo". When he realised that he had done a mistake he was so embarassed and he said that he is so sorry and I look like a girl that he knew. Even I felt bad about the whole situation because he was really embarassed but I also found it funny and I explained that it was fine, this kind of things happen very often to people and he didn't have to apologise!
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
21 May 12
I have been on both sides of the fence as well, where I have mistaken others and have been mistaken. Again, it is really just something where it rather gives me the shivers to think that there is another person out there that looks like me. Then again, we do have a larger world out there then one might think. We just really need to roll with it.
It does happen even to the best of us, as there are just times that I think that we are excited because we think we see something. It is a story as always to tell to others after a while, no matter what side of the coin, whether you were the person who did mistake or the person that was mistaken for. Things can be deceiving right in the world.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
26 May 12
Hello meg. Oh yes I have had a similar situation only a bit different. I was talking to a woman that I had known for years and a we were talking I kept trying to remember her name. So embarrassing to not be able to say the name of the person you have know for years.
I really felt foolish yesterday when my granddaughter called. She told me she was going to call. We talk on the phone quit often so I should recognize her voice besides seeing her number on the ID window of the phone. She even told me her name and I still had to ask who it was. I just didn't recognize her voice. I think I hurt her feelings. I live with my daughter and she gets these 800 calls and I thought that was who was calling. I felt so foolish.
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
27 May 12
It's not happened to me much, maybe in High School was the last time it happened and that was years ago. If I see someone that I thought was a person I know, I hesitate to go up to them ever since then. Just the thought of being embarassed like that again is enough.
