Using the Word "American"

[Phisi]

Well, it is the nationality of the person, nationality being the country of origin/citizenship and not the continent they live in (except for Australia because Australia). It also doesn't make any sense to call them United Statesians because you'll also have to call people from various historical countries that same thing e.g The United States of Belgium and would you call people from Australia Commonwealthians?.

 

[wottabout]

I have only recently begun to notice the use of "USian" on the internet. At first glance I thought it might be an odd misspelling of "Asian," but then I realized what it meant. I hadn't really thought about the political correct-ness reasons, though.
I can understand people from the Americas being bothered that the US is hogging the term "American," but I don't know if much can be done about it at this point. But if saying "USian" makes people feel better, then maybe I will use it, although it seems stupidly awkward.

 

[Dense_Electric]

What else are you going to call us? United Statesians of America? That's just obtuse to even try to say.

We're currently the only country on either American continent with the word "America" in our name (to the best of my knowledge), it makes sense to call us "Americans." Aren't people from the Commonwealth of Australia just "Australians," even though Papua New Guinea and part of Indonesia are on the Australian continent? (Incidentally, I don't see anyone complaining about that little discrepancy). That's the generally accepted usage anyway, so unless you're going out of your way to be pretentious you should know exactly which country someone is talking about when they refer to "America."

 

[DoPo]

LOVE it? Prove that. I'd go with the actual Mexican dude who said they mostly resent America instead of your view that seems to be based on...

Your counter point is "Trust me, I'm Mexican."?
You want to re-think that maybe?

Unless if you truely believe that you can speak on behalf of the other 112 million individuals in your country, of which 70% live in 'poverty', 50% barely making ~2$ an hour.

Perhapse you can speak on behalf of the people in Apodaca? I'm sure they feel totally Safe right now and have great confidence in their government and country.

You want to start thinking? I never said I was Mexican, I pointed out the actual Mexican who posted said the general feeling was one of resentment. I'm pretty sure he'd know Mexico better than you.

In the end, we have your word against his. Well let's see.. some guy who can't read apparently and doesn't live in Mexico versus one guy who does and IIRC he's mentioned moving around a lot...

Nah, leave him. He can speak better on behalf of the other 112 million people of "your country". After all he has shown such a deep and profound understanding of them. Why would the words of an actual Mexican affect his opinion on what their opinion is?

 

[Brutal Peanut]

When someone asks me where I am from I usually just say, 'The States' and then tell them which state if they ask.
Seems to be enough information for most people. They usually get it right away.

 

[StarCecil]

I think that the use of "Americans", and the use of "it", btw when designating the united states is just the state's attempt to legitimize itself as a nation. Plus it's easier to say. But i still tend to think that there is a hint of jingoism when you call yourself by the name of the entire goddamn continent. Chinese don't call themselves Asians. If there is an alternative when using another language, i use it. Because it does slightly get on my nerves.

Why do so many people on the internet get upset at that word? "American" has referred to the people living in the US since its formation. In fact, the word referred to those people for over a century before the country was founded. Why do people get so worked up over it?

Personally, I think everyone who lives either in South America or North America should be considered American. Yes, by that logic that means even Canadians are American. ;D

I think we should change it to US citizens or something.

I can see where you're coming from, but the fact is that "American" referring to my countryman and our ancestors was inherited. As I've said, the first recorded use of the word, referring then to the British colonists, was in 1648.

 

[samaugsch]

I think that the use of "Americans", and the use of "it", btw when designating the united states is just the state's attempt to legitimize itself as a nation. Plus it's easier to say. But i still tend to think that there is a hint of jingoism when you call yourself by the name of the entire goddamn continent. Chinese don't call themselves Asians. If there is an alternative when using another language, i use it. Because it does slightly get on my nerves.

Why do so many people on the internet get upset at that word? "American" has referred to the people living in the US since its formation. In fact, the word referred to those people for over a century before the country was founded. Why do people get so worked up over it?

Personally, I think everyone who lives either in South America or North America should be considered American. Yes, by that logic that means even Canadians are American. ;D

I think we should change it to US citizens or something.

I can see where you're coming from, but the fact is that "American" referring to my countryman and our ancestors was inherited. As I've said, the first recorded use of the word, referring then to the British colonists, was in 1648.

Oh. I never was good at history. :/

 

[DeltaEdge]

I do think that it is kind of stupid and self-centered that when we say someone is "American", we are referring to someone only from the United States. I'm guessing we just took the name because it's easier than being called a United Statian, but still, we should've come up with a more unique name identifiable solely to us so that it wouldn't sound weird if we were called unitedians or statians so that we wouldn't have to hog the name American and soil it for everyone in North and South America minus us.

 

[Goofguy]

I wouldn't say it upsets me but the country is called United States of America. The same principle could be applied to my country, as in Canada of America or how about Mexico of America? Does that mean Canadians and Mexicans should be called Americans? Technically, yes. However, that term has always been associated with citizens of the United States so that won't change any time.

I don't really call them Americans anyway, mostly Yanks or Yankees. Maybe they should be called United Staters instead, who knows.

 

[Jewrean]

Let's call you USAians instead. Or Yankians. Or Hoorahians. Or GreedyInvadians. Take your pick.

 

[Chunga the Great]

Argentine, here. And here it pisses us off because they took over our CONTINENT'S name for them, and we see it as a way of saying "Yes, there's the rest of the continent, but we're the important thing, that why you can refer to the continent as just our country"
The entire continent is Americo Vespucio's eponym, not just the USA.
Knock it off and get another word already. Michael Moore expressed my very same concern about it and suggested the word should be "Usamericans"
And start calling your country by IT'S name, not that of a friggin continent. The petulance of it is obnoxious. Problem is, me saying this will only make them go "Oh, noes! They wants tak or freedm and patrtsm, those annoing latin fags, minutemen kill them nao plzkthnxlol let's call ourselves that ever more often to piss dose fukks off"

How about no. Almost nobody would react like that. Seriously, it may be hard to believe, but being born on a certain stretch of land doesnt automatically make someone a complete fucking imbecile. Nobody in the U.S walks around talking about "killin dem commie bastards cuz they want to take our freedoms. We R 'murican YEAH." I dont know what got that image into the heads of people who dont live in the U.S but it's annoying as all hell. Anybody worth a damn will call people from the U.S Americans and will call people from Argentina Argentinians. If someone calls someone from Argentina American, they are an exception to the norm and are either very ignorant or unaware of the proper term.

 

[bmasta]

I think that the use of "Americans", and the use of "it", btw when designating the united states is just the state's attempt to legitimize itself as a nation. Plus it's easier to say. But i still tend to think that there is a hint of jingoism when you call yourself by the name of the entire goddamn continent. Chinese don't call themselves Asians. If there is an alternative when using another language, i use it. Because it does slightly get on my nerves.

Why do so many people on the internet get upset at that word? "American" has referred to the people living in the US since its formation. In fact, the word referred to those people for over a century before the country was founded. Why do people get so worked up over it?

Personally, I think everyone who lives either in South America or North America should be considered American. Yes, by that logic that means even Canadians are American. ;D

I think we should change it to US citizens or something.

I can see where you're coming from, but the fact is that "American" referring to my countryman and our ancestors was inherited. As I've said, the first recorded use of the word, referring then to the British colonists, was in 1648.

Yeah i see what you mean. But the US government pushed its use for political reasons. Just something you could identify with. Cossacks and Tatars are in Russian turf. We used to call them like that, but things evolved and Russia insisted they be called Russians because they had to be assimilated. The US case is the same thing, just getting a name people could visualize as a unified people. Same thing in a lot of countries. Algerians were never "one" people, But they're called Algerians because one of the traditional names for the area was that. Only north Africa was called Ifriqya (latin for africa). Had those Algerian dudes called themselves Africans a lot people would have been pissed, although they have had that name since way before the 17th century
And i am not from Denmark . I just did the mistake of moving there. Am running back home to sunshine as soon as i can. It isn't Algeria either

 

[CMDDarkblade]

Jesús Cristo... If Latin American countries are so peeved about it they can just apply for statehood and then due to drastic demographic changes we'll make both English and Spanish our official languages. It will solve all our illegal immigrant problems and Latin Americans can vote in our elections thus changing our national policy and we'll all be one happy American family.

 

[Exile714]

OK, so the alternatives are 1) American refers to US Citizens/Residents/Expats and 2) American refers to a citizen/resident/expat of any country in either of the American continents.

Can anyone give me an example of a time in a conversation when you would need to lump every person from Canada to Argentina into a single noun? How expedient does this need to be? Compare that to how often you need to refer to people from the US, how expedient should this be?

I personally need a short, easily flowing word for people from the US but I can't see a scenario when I need to lump together every person in the Western hemisphere. They're all so different that there's really no logical reason to refer to them with the same noun.

2 pesos for you to consider.

 

[Pyro Paul]

LOVE it? Prove that. I'd go with the actual Mexican dude who said they mostly resent America instead of your view that seems to be based on...

Your counter point is "Trust me, I'm Mexican."?
You want to re-think that maybe?

Unless if you truely believe that you can speak on behalf of the other 112 million individuals in your country, of which 70% live in 'poverty', 50% barely making ~2$ an hour.

Perhapse you can speak on behalf of the people in Apodaca? I'm sure they feel totally Safe right now and have great confidence in their government and country.

You want to start thinking? I never said I was Mexican, I pointed out the actual Mexican who posted said the general feeling was one of resentment. I'm pretty sure he'd know Mexico better than you.

In the end, we have your word against his. Well let's see.. some guy who can't read apparently and doesn't live in Mexico versus one guy who does and IIRC he's mentioned moving around a lot...

1. "I'd go with the actual Mexican dude who said they mostly resent America instead of your view..." Is read as a sarcastic remark made in the third person rather then an independent statement giving support to one side.

Perhapse you should learn to write more clearly to get your message across.

2. the 'Mexican Dude', or Kaleion, made a statement based on cultural background between Mexicans and Americans. As such, there are many times in the past where there has been conflict and even animosity held between the two countries.

After the Mexican-American war and Mexican Cession of 1848 nearly cutting the nations size in half there was a bit of distaste for each other. Tensions over this existed for decades after, infact the Zimmermann Note of 1917 tried to use this to its advantage, as it promised Mexico the territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if they entered World War 1 as their ally and Attacked the United States. Fortunatly this telegram was intercepted by the British and never made it to Mexico.

3. Making the statement "You do know that illegal immigrants don't come to America because they love it so much more than home..." Was directly countered by MY statement.

again, resorting to 'I'll believe the Mexican because he is Mexican' still remains a rather stupid stance on the subject.

A majority of the Mexican country is in a bad state because of Rampent corruption on state and local levels, very high violence with gangs and drug cartels running often un-opposed, and a very very large gap between lower class and upper class individuals. Many of these downtrodden and poor individuals enter the US by any means nessary just to escape these things.

To those individuals, the US is a much better place then Mexico.

 

[StarCecil]

I think that the use of "Americans", and the use of "it", btw when designating the united states is just the state's attempt to legitimize itself as a nation. Plus it's easier to say. But i still tend to think that there is a hint of jingoism when you call yourself by the name of the entire goddamn continent. Chinese don't call themselves Asians. If there is an alternative when using another language, i use it. Because it does slightly get on my nerves.

Why do so many people on the internet get upset at that word? "American" has referred to the people living in the US since its formation. In fact, the word referred to those people for over a century before the country was founded. Why do people get so worked up over it?

Personally, I think everyone who lives either in South America or North America should be considered American. Yes, by that logic that means even Canadians are American. ;D

I think we should change it to US citizens or something.

I can see where you're coming from, but the fact is that "American" referring to my countryman and our ancestors was inherited. As I've said, the first recorded use of the word, referring then to the British colonists, was in 1648.

Yeah i see what you mean. But the US government pushed its use for political reasons. Just something you could identify with. Cossacks and Tatars are in Russian turf. We used to call them like that, but things evolved and Russia insisted they be called Russians because they had to be assimilated. The US case is the same thing, just getting a name people could visualize as a unified people. Same thing in a lot of countries. Algerians were never "one" people, But they're called Algerians because one of the traditional names for the area was that. Only north Africa was called Ifriqya (latin for africa). Had those Algerian dudes called themselves Africans a lot people would have been pissed, although they have had that name since way before the 17th century
And i am not from Denmark . I just did the mistake of moving there. Am running back home to sunshine as soon as i can. It isn't Algeria either

I see your point, but again the word "American" as it's used now existed before the United States did, and was in common parlance even during the period immediately preceding the US' formation - perhaps especially so. Calling a US residents Americans has been common for just under 400 years.