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Why I regret using 23andMe: I gave up my DNA just to find out I’m British | Technology | The Guardian
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2024
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Americans seem get really weird with the whole ancestry thing. There appears to be a desire to look into your family history and find something "exotic", which basically seems to mean non-English - I imagine because that's perceived as the 'default' ancestry, so-to-speak.
Honestly, who the fuck cares? What difference does it make? Nationalities aren't Skyrim races. You don't get special abilities. It makes no difference whether your ancestors were British/Irish/Spanish/French/whatever.
E: This is obviously not intended as a hateful statement, people. You have to understand that the rest of the world doesn't care about this, so we're confused when we look to the US and see them take it so seriously. We're especially puzzled when Americans say "I'm Irish" because their great great great uncle bought a pint of Guiness in the 1870s. It's an alien concept to the rest of the planet.
...English is not the "default" ancestry for Americans. I think I know one dude from Michigan who has English heritage. Most folks I'd know have blood from Poland, Ireland, Italy and Germany. It varies regionally.
As far as white/Caucasian Americans, I'd bet money it's Germanic ancestry.
I recall reading that at one point in the 19th century, 52% of American newspapers were printed in German. And, you still find towns with German names from coast to coast. Anaheim California, Hamburg Minnesota, Berlin New Hampshire.
If you're near Eastern Indiana, check out Oldenburg.
Im actually in Ireland, but I grew up in western PA. There is a Deutschestown in north Pittsburgh, and a few breweries have faux bierhalles like Penn Brewery for example. Max's Alleghenney Tavern in Pgh is a 'German Restaurant' as well, but they do "quirky german" things like serve beer in jars, which is not done in Germany at all..
anyway, genetically, Im half polish half irish, but there were shit tons of italians everywhere also. plenty of krauts in my schools though, now that im old enough to decipher their last names' ethnic origins. some scandanavians also
thank you for the actually