Three terms I hate.

[gremcint]

There are three main terms that I think are wrong but are used quite a bit.

1. Mystical Negro: basically random black man shows up, imparts knowledge to protagonist and mentors him a little. The thing that bugs me is everyone always comments when this used but when a person of another race fulfills the same role noone says anything. I've seen plenty of examples of white, native american, asian and others fulfill this same role.

2. Metrosexual: It is not gay to care about your appearance. This term was created to describe guys who act gay about their appearance but aren't, well I'm sorry but someone grooming themselves even to an extreme has no bearing on your sexuality at all. The term is just dumb.

3. If you are not going to read the explanation then stop here, The third main term I hate is...



*seriously stop reading if you don't plan on finishing because anyone who doesn't read the whole thing and calls me racist (seriously, I know some of you will as a joke and that's fine) will go on my ignore list.

American. yes that's right I hate the term American. The reason I hate the term American is because it is inaccurate. I am American, I was born in Canada and have never left. Canada, is in North America so therefore we are part of America and so are all of the countries on this list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ican_countries and this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ican_countries

any language spoken in any of those countries is an American language. The reason I don't like the term is because people use it to only refer to the United States of America. See that little "of" in there, that means you are only part of America not the whole thing. Yes I realize it's easier to say I'm American than to say I'm a citizen of the United States, and honestly it's not too big of a deal. Where it really grinds my nerve is when people use it as we've seen in many cs stories (why don't you speak american?).

I have nothing against Citizens of the United States I just wish there was a more accurate term, same for African American, Native American and so on. Also anyone who disagrees should look up the term European.

I hope I explained myself well enough, mods if think this will cause trouble go ahead and do what you need.

[AdminAssistant]

I have heard of a movement that citizens of the United States should be referred to as "Us-ians".

Thing is, the official name of our country is the United States of America. So...that's just how it happened.

[gremcint]

Too be fair I can live with the term, it's when it's used to insult someone that pisses me off.

[BroomJockey]

1. Mystical Negro: basically random black man shows up, imparts knowledge to protagonist and mentors him a little. The thing that bugs me is everyone always comments when this used but when a person of another race fulfills the same role noone says anything. I've seen plenty of examples of white, native american, asian and others fulfill this same role.

Then you've obviously not haunted the same corners of the earth as me, but that's neither here nor there. what IS here is your inaccurate depiction of the term. It's not just "imparts knowledge and mentors him a little." The Mystical Negro has no earthly wants or desires besides serving his purpose as helper to the great Caucasian hero of the piece. For examples, see the Legend of Baggar Vance, or The Shawshank Redemption (I love the movie, but after it was pointed out to me, I honestly couldn't disagree with the assigning of Red to that category). It's done with other races, but pretty much never as often, or to the same degree of subservience. Also, many times the Mystical Negro was actually given special powers such as unearthly wisdom.

Sorry, but your main beef with the term seems to come from an inaccurate understanding of the connotation. Especially since it's used to refer to a specific character trope in literature.

[Greenday]

No one cares if a guy cares about his appearance. But we need a word or phrase for guys who are straight but pretend to be like a stereotypical gay guy. Thus metrosexual.

[smileyeagle1021]

No one cares if a guy cares about his appearance. But we need a word or phrase for guys who are straight but pretend to be like a stereotypical gay guy. Thus metrosexual.

or as actual gay guys call them... douchebags. Seriously, it's hard enough for us to break free of the gay man stereotype without straight people thinking it's cool to act like the stereotype.

[gremcint]

Then you've obviously not haunted the same corners of the earth as me, but that's neither here nor there. what IS here is your inaccurate depiction of the term. It's not just "imparts knowledge and mentors him a little." The Mystical Negro has no earthly wants or desires besides serving his purpose as helper to the great Caucasian hero of the piece. For examples, see the Legend of Baggar Vance, or The Shawshank Redemption (I love the movie, but after it was pointed out to me, I honestly couldn't disagree with the assigning of Red to that category). It's done with other races, but pretty much never as often, or to the same degree of subservience. Also, many times the Mystical Negro was actually given special powers such as unearthly wisdom.

Sorry, but your main beef with the term seems to come from an inaccurate understanding of the connotation. Especially since it's used to refer to a specific character trope in literature.

Actually I think I may have said this wrong, I should have done that phrase separately. You are correct, the term is not inaccurate. It's just I tend to see this term used to describe a cliche and people mock it for being one but when I see a character of another race fulfill the same role they don't comment at all, so basically I'm saying why is it so cliche when a black man does it but not when other races do it. I really should have said it better, I still don't think I'm saying it quite right.

[gremcint]

2. Metrosexual: It is not gay to care about your appearance. This term was created to describe gays who act gay about their appearance but aren't, well I'm sorry but someone grooming themselves even to an extreme has no bearing on your sexuality at all. The term is just dumb.

Oh my god, I'm sorry. this was a typo. It should say guys.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Delmar O'Donnell: You work for the railroad, Grampa?
Blind Seer: I work for no man.
Delmar O'Donnell: Got a name, do you?
Blind Seer: I have no name.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Well, that right there may be the reason you've had difficulty findin' gainful employment.

Actually, being ....well...American, the way "American" is used doesn't irritate me...but you're right about it.

As for the Mystic Negro(or native or whatever), well, yeah. I kind of make fun a bit of that, too.

[Greenday]

As for the American thing, people from Europe and Asia don't walk around and just say they are European or Asian. People base their nationality off their nation, not continent. That's why I feel it's perfectly fine for people from America (the short version of The United States of America) to call themselves American.

[BroomJockey]

America (the short version of The United States of America)

Personally, I feel "America" being the short form of the United States of America is one of the biggest examples of "American" rampant ethnocentrism. Personally, I refuse to use it whenever I can. I use "United States" or "the States." "US" if I'm pressed for space or feeling lazy. There's not only other countries on the North American continent, but there's an entire separate American continent. Called South America. And some then divide Central America in to a subcontinent. You are not the continent, don't co-opt it for yourselves.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Heheheheh...I usually use the term "Yank" when talking to people who aren't.

That pretty much pins it down to the US of A.

[Greenday]

You are not the continent, don't co-opt it for yourselves.

I'd agree, if I called myself a North American. But I don't refer to my nationality as the continent I'm from, I call it from the country I'm from.

Okay, you prefer the United States. That's not ethnocentrism? Are we saying that other countries with states aren't united? That we are the only one with states? Cause then were kind of saying that their states don't matter.

[BroomJockey]

Okay, you prefer the United States. That's not ethnocentrism?

No, it's not, and frankly, that's probably the worst argument I've seen. There aren't other countries with "United States" in their name. The closest is probably Mexico's "official" name of "United Mexican States." You're not saying crap about other countries. The rest of your country's name is "OF America." If you say "America" is the short form of your country's name, you're not "of America" any more, you ARE America. "Of" denotes being part of a larger whole. If you drop that, you're saying you ARE the whole.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I dont think it's worth getting bent out of shape over. "America" is basically a nickname. I think everyone in the world pretty much knows that it's a shortened slang of "The United States of America", which is a mouthfull. And everyone pretty much knows it does not encompass the entire continent.

Just like nobody automatically assumes someone who claims to be "American" is automatically a Native American, even though those are the only true "Americans" if you want to be literal.

It's not literal.