Nobody else can tell you what you are. Nobody else can tell you what your favorite flavor of ice cream is; only your tongue knows the answer. Nobody else can tell you what your favorite flavor of sex is, either, so don't worry about what he said.

I've heard a lot of switches say that in the presence of a strong Dom, they tend to become subbish, and in the presence of someone very submissive they tend to become Domish. So from a Dom's point of view, you would appear to be a sub. Kind of like how indigo looks blue when it's next to purple but looks purple when it's next to blue, lol.

In all seriousness, I think a more important question is to ask yourself what you're looking for. Are you looking for just some fun bedroom play? Then try being both sub and Dom and see which one is more fun for you. Are you looking for a long-term relationship? Then in that case who you're with and how that person makes you feel would probably be more important than titles you want to be called.

I worry because I've had bad experiences with some individuals who have claimed to be Doms.
This is just a matter of meeting the wrong people. People can be jerks whether Dom or not. There are plenty of great Doms *winks*. Maybe it's just the case that you haven't yet met the right one.