Three terms I hate.

[BroomJockey]

"America" is basically a nickname.

<snip>

It's not literal.

<sarcasm> Why thank you, I don't think anyone'd realized that. Thank you for opening our eyes to this fact. </sarcasm>

The problem is, there's the international perception of the United States being arrogant, self-involved, etc. especially with the stepping in to regions without any sort of plan, and the whole "leader of the free world" schtick. It's just another facet of that perceived arrogance. Yeah, it's a nickname, but when your schoolchildren have issues finding other countries on maps, making it clear that you're not the only country on the continent can't hurt, for one, second, that whole "arrogant" thing I mentioned. By saying "we are America," and dismissing the rest of the land mass, it's only seen as promoting the US-first image. It all adds up. And it's still annoying.

[Greenday]

The problem is, there's the international perception of the United States being arrogant, self-involved, etc. especially with the stepping in to regions without any sort of plan, and the whole "leader of the free world" schtick.

You don't think the whole world looking to America every time some major happens these days contributes to action? There's always a lot of "When is America going to step in finally?" and then all of a sudden it's "Oh, look at that, America sticking its nose in other people's business." Pick one.

It's just another facet of that perceived arrogance. Yeah, it's a nickname, but when your schoolchildren have issues finding other countries on maps, making it clear that you're not the only country on the continent can't hurt, for one, second, that whole "arrogant" thing I mentioned. By saying "we are America," and dismissing the rest of the land mass, it's only seen as promoting the US-first image. It all adds up. And it's still annoying.

You know, I bet if you went to every country, you'll be able to find people who can't name all the other countries, oceans, etc. Just as you can go in America and also find tons of people who can name them. I mean, my school forced us to know every single country in the world back in middle school. So there are schools teaching them this.

[tropicsgoddess]

This is the first time I've heard of the term Mystical Negro. As for the Metrosexual term, I think it's pretty stupid. It sounds like you like screwing trains instead of humans to be honest.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

<sarcasm> Why thank you, I don't think anyone'd realized that. Thank you for opening our eyes to this fact. </sarcasm>

.

Well, you're welcome. As worked up as you seem to be getting over it, one might wonder.

Here's something else nobody seems to realize: the map thing? As Greenday has pointed out, that's not the majority. Every country has undereducated people in it. Just as every country has arrogant people in it.

You're welcome for that, too.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

The point I believe Greenday was making is that running about saying we're from "The United States" could be seen to be equally arrogant as the term America because "The United States" implies that ours is the only country that consists of united states.

Your problem with the term "American" isn't all that dissimilar to a possible problem people would find with the term "The United States". Saying anything short of the whole nine yards implies something if you dig for it.

The situation is simply that the word American has become the most common adjective applied to things or people who are from or of the USA. That this has smug presumptive beginnings or is used only out of a disdain for the rest of the continent is an assumption that people have applied all on their own.

All that aside, how is this really any different than a word with multiple definitions?
American means of or from the American continents
OR
Of or from the United States of America

With a little context analysis and common sense, it's perfectly easy to see what definition is being used. With a little more common sense you can figure out whether or not the person is a douche. If you're incapable of separating the things Americans say and do from your preconceptions about them, that's your problem.

P.S. I just thought of an alternative word! Statesider! ... but wouldn't that imply that we come from the only sovereign State?

P.P.S. I call people from Britain posh fucks or just fucks when they aren't around... I'm witty

[BroomJockey]

The point I believe Greenday was making is that running about saying we're from "The United States" could be seen to be equally arrogant as the term America because "The United States" implies that ours is the only country that consists of united states.

Again, I say that's a crap argument because "America" is the name of a place. A bunch of places. An entire continent. A PAIR of continents. Find me another country with "United States" in its name, and I'll grant you the argument has validity, because it's not about "oh, other places have states as well!" It's the "one-name famous" argument. Pele, Cher, Bono, Madonna. When you say those, there's only one person people think of, despite only having one name. That one name is tied to that person, and anyone else with those has to use two names. Like Sonny Bono. And he's damned near as famous. Hell, if you wanna get pissy about "United" implying something, how's about your former buddy the USSR?

To properly illustrate the issue, here's a hypothetical example. the players are a European with poor geographical knowledge, and me! Language unspecified.

Me: Hello there! I'm not from around here, so can you tell me how to get to *famous landmark?*

EWPGK: A tourist? Where are you from?

Me: Canada

EWPGK: Canada? Where is that?

Me: North America. Other side of the Atlantic.

EWPGK: Oh yes, America. I love your TV shows. How is your President?

Me: No. North America. Not the United States of America. Canada's a separate country, to the north of the USA.

EWPGK: I thought it was all one country, they are always calling it America!

Me: *facepalm*

/scene

Yes, overly contrived, and not likely to occur in specifically that manner, but see how many times YOU need to explain that "no, we're a separate country, with our own laws and everything" before you get pissed off. And yes, I've actually had to explain that in chat rooms.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

So you're pissed because people are stupid, and don't understand the proper application of context?

You missed my point in that you're complaining about the words as if they are the problem and not the ignorance on the part of those who are annoying you. But it's the misconception that you don't like. It's like saying 'This person doesn't understand that when I say fag I don't mean gay... goddamn those gay people for being called by the same word that I use for cigarette" if you were British talking to a person with no knowledge of the difference between fag the gay person and fag the shorthand cigarette. You're annoyed because some people don't know the difference between America the continents and America, the shorthand for USA. Either way, it's the fault of the ignorant fuck for not knowing the proper contextual definition, and not the term or it's users.

When you say German in German it sounds like you're saying Dutch in English. Who is responsible for the following misconceptions? the Dutch? or die Deutschen?

Neither, it's the fault of those who misconceive for not doing their homework or learning from past experience.

[joe hx]

Find me another country with "United States" in its name

Mexico calls itself "Estados Unidos Mexicanos" which translates directly to "States United Mexican" and more liberally to "The United States of Mexico" or "The United Mexican States."

I know, at least in French, the US is called "Etats Unis."

[AdminAssistant]

I know, at least in French, the US is called "Etats Unis."

Oui, les Etats-Unis which means "The United States". However, if I were in France (or a French-speaking place) and someone were to ask me my nationality, the proper response would be, "Je suis americaine". (If you're a guy, that would be, "Je suis americain").

[Arcade Man D]

Oui, les Etats-Unis which means "The United States". However, if I were in France (or a French-speaking place) and someone were to ask me my nationality, the proper response would be, "Je suis americaine". (If you're a guy, that would be, "Je suis americain").

Whereas in Spanish, I would say:

Yo soy estadounidense. (no difference for male/female)
And the name of the country in Spanish is los Estados Unidos.

[daleduke17]

I am American,

You're also British as Canada is still part of Britain.

[the_std]

You're also British as Canada is still part of Britain.

Uhm, no. Not at all. Canada is part of the Commonwealth. Completely different, thanks.

[gremcint]

*Looks around at what he started, and backs away slowly then turns and runs*

[Teysa]

When I went to Germany as an exchange student, I sat next to a girl from Quebec on the plane. We got to chatting and somehow the conversation came around to how annoying Canadians found that fact that people from the United States refer to themselves as Americans. After all, Canada is part of America too. I asked her what she thought we should call ourselves: 'United Statesers?' She laughed and said I had a point. The conversation then turned to more relevant topics such as whether Germany had any cute guys.

[Gravekeeper]

*Looks around at what he started, and backs away slowly then turns and runs*

Haha ;p

On a side note, isn't it typically Magical Negro, not mystical? I've never heard anyone use mystical before.

As for American, the US can keep that one. I prefer being Canadian, thanks. I've been lumped in with Americans before by people outside the country ( Mainly Australians for some reason. ). Europeans are typically much more aware of the distinction, as I'm sure they loath when someone lumps them all together with Britain. ;p Plus Canada has a more distinct historical identity in Europe due to WW1/2.

You don't think the whole world looking to America every time some major happens these days contributes to action? There's always a lot of "When is America going to step in finally?" and then all of a sudden it's "Oh, look at that, America sticking its nose in other people's business." Pick one.

No offense, but that strikes me as the exact same arrogance people complain about. I don't recall the world looking to the US wondering when they'll step in since World War 2. The world wasn't waiting on you to tag in to Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. You did that yourself. -.-

As for sticking in noses.....well yes, to be bluntly honest, the majority of the problems facing the US today are the result of the US doing exactly that in other countries.

Unfortunately, world opinion of the US is pretty piss poor these days. Only Obama is saving it on the PR front.

Bah, I'm derailing.

Right, how about those metrosexuals? >.>