Using the Word "American"

[Legiondude]

No one ever says when referring to continent of North America as simply "America" as North America and South America are SO DISTINCT they always need their North/South qualifier to be any use, not just for the different hemispheres but the insignificant land bridge that has actually been bisected by the Panama Canal. If anyone is referring to BOTH continents then they say "the americas" with no ambiguity.

1. To the part I removed: THANK YOU for making SENSE
2. It's actually a part of Latin American education that it's taught as a single continent: America. Which is part of the issue here

For further enlightenment: See here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBcq1x7P34]

 

[chadachada123]

I'm from Canada, which makes me an American - God bless America.

People from the United States seem to get very prideful when you enforce the fact that they are not the ONLY Americans. They've stolen the name either because they are actually as egotistical as the internet makes them out to be (thinking they are the only ones in the world), which I doubt, OR their country name is very... sub-par, and therefore we can't call them anything other than "Yankees" or "United Statesians".

I had one person go completely nuts on me when I called him a Yankee, as he was from the United States, saying I was being a RACIST. Yes, a racist. Hint: we all came from different countries, and only the Native Americans can say anything like that is racist (or offensive, as "Yankee" is not racist in any way), as they are the NATIVES.

But in answer to your question, it's because everyone on the continent of America, North and South, are technically Americans, and NOT just the people living in the United States of America. Less-intelligent folk often get angry when they aren't special anymore.

Yankee is really more of a New English name than one for Americans in general. If you said it to someone from California, then, well, yeah, it'd say that it was a pretty dumb usage. It'd be like calling a French person a Jerry or something.

But, uh, you're kinda wrong about how the term started being used. We're called Americans because there is absolutely no other word that would work. That's it. Some idiots might get defensive, but this will happen with any country, like the people that get pissy about the difference between English and British.

Oh, and by the way, Yankee originated as an offensive term by the British. A language purist would argue that the word Yankee is racist (prejudice) against Americans. Your point about Native Americans is irrelevant because they aren't called Yankees. In short, don't call Americans Yankees. It's got the same historical use as Krauts/Jerries or Japs/Nips, so don't use it except in a joking or actually derogatory way unless you kinda know the person.

Saying that the name of our country is bad is fallacious at best, and dickassery at worst. Don't do it.

EDIT: I accidentally quoted two people. Fixed.

 

[Darkmantle]

EDIT2: Also, there is NO continent called "America" so using the word "American" does not refer to North American (North America being a continent) or South Americans (South America Being a continent) specifically. It only refers to people from the USA.

Yes there is. Depending on what country you live they teach you diferently. In most Latin countries America is one continent. South and North are just ways to say it more geographically correct, despite being the same continent.

than quite frankly they are wrong. It's two continents. Learn to teach geography, I guess

Nope, maybe you are wrong. Specially when you consider that it were Portugal and Spain the firsts do colonize America, so basically they have the right to decide what's the Continent.

Well hey, if you want to hold onto beliefs that make you cranky and upset so you can complain on the internet, then I guess that's your business.

 

[Varanfan9]

there is still a lot of hatred because in the USA Pancho Villa is recorded in history as a terrorist even though he is a hero here,

Wasn't that the guy who crossed the border and attacked citizens of the states to try and get the US involved in a war with Mexico so he could over throw the government? Cause that kinda sounds like terrorism. Now I'm sure he had noble goals has the Mexican government was kinda corrupt at that point. You can have heroic terrorists, look at the Boston Tea Party and the various other acts of rebellion members of the US did before formal revolution. Just saying.
Anyways on topic I think it is because American is the easiest thing to say and America is part of our countries name so thats why its used and Mexicans and Canadians probably feel like they are being forgotten about and just lumped in with the US.

 

[ATRAYA]

A lot of Yankees getting butt-hurt over my earlier post... Sheesh!
Alright, if you REALLY want to be technical, North and South America ARE different. Thank you for... getting upset? I guess? Well, whatever, you made your point, and I'll try to refrain from just generalizing North and South America as one America (people got pissed at me for mentioning that in a YouTube comment, as well. I never said I was a geography teacher, people).

But, I'm sorry, Canadians and Mexicans do count as Americans. Whether you defined the name for your own convenience, arrogance (let's face it, SOME Yankees are like that), or because you couldn't do anything else with the name "United States of America" is irrelevant.

For those asking who the United Statesians, "stole" - as I may have mistyped - the word America from, I was referring to everyone else on the continent. Even Canadians have a meltdown when you call them Americans - especially when they are making fun of Yankees at the time.

Oh, and if "Yankee" TRULY is SO offensive to you, then I'll be glad to hear another option. So far, it's the best one that's technically accurate.

And finally, Canadians to define people from Canada; Mexicans, to define people from Mexico. Both are used to describe people from COUNTRIES. AMERICANS is used to define people from America, a CONTINENT. It's the same reason why Indians are ALSO Asian (continent of Asia, just to clarify)... -_- Someone didn't seem to understand that this is what I meant.

 

[requisitename]

This is one of many things I had no idea was even an issue until I found places on the internet where the average age is fairly young. I'd been part of online communities with very diverse worldwide inhabitants for over ten years before I came across someone who took issue with people from the U.S. being called "Americans".

So, generally, online I say either "people from the U.S." or "U.S. citizens" or the like just to keep people from glomping onto one word of a post and ignoring everything I was trying to say. It hasn't affected (and won't affect) my RT speech patterns, though. *shrug* It's a total non-issue to me.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I'm from Canada, which makes me an American - God bless America.

People from the United States seem to get very prideful when you enforce the fact that they are not the ONLY Americans. They've stolen the name either because they are actually as egotistical as the internet makes them out to be (thinking they are the only ones in the world), which I doubt, OR their country name is very... sub-par, and therefore we can't call them anything other than "Yankees" or "United Statesians".

I had one person go completely nuts on me when I called him a Yankee, as he was from the United States, saying I was being a RACIST. Yes, a racist. Hint: we all came from different countries, and only the Native Americans can say anything like that is racist (or offensive, as "Yankee" is not racist in any way), as they are the NATIVES.

But in answer to your question, it's because everyone on the continent of America, North and South, are technically Americans, and NOT just the people living in the United States of America. Less-intelligent folk often get angry when they aren't special anymore.

To be honest I don't like being called a Yank or a Yankee. I always grew up with that word being used in a derogatory way that Europeans or US citizens below the Mason Dixie line would use against us "northerners".

This term might be outdated, but its like if a English guy called and Irish guy a West Brit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoneen].

In other words, there are quite a few of us US citizens that grew up hearing those words being used as exclusively as an insult.

 

[Warforger]

for the fact that about half of that country used to be México

That part is actually a little weird, because after the Americans conquered the SouthWest MORE Mexicans began immigrating there.

and there is still a lot of hatred because in the USA Pancho Villa is recorded in history as a terrorist even though he is a hero here, doesn't help that the name of that country doesn't allow for a unique way of calling the people living in it since it's called United States of America

Erm Pancho Villa isn't necessarily portrayed as a terrorist, for the most part he's actually pretty ignored (considering the whole thing ended when the US got into WWI), otherwise it's sort of like Pearl Harbor, whereas people from America consider it a national tragedy people from Japan celebrate it as the peak of their empire they shouldn't really get angry at each other and I doubt too many people still hold animosities towards Mexico due to Pancho Villa. Although I'd think the average American would agree their history in Latin America isn't very clean, although then I'm being too optimistic since living in a hugely diverse suburb in California would do that to you.

Is there any other reason? Because I'd understand how somebody from Cuba or Panama or Bolivia would hate the US and those are for more relevant modern reasons. I find it silly how just from history people would hate each other.

If Canada wants to change it's name back to British America, or even Canadian America then it can actually do that. I think it should stick with Canada. Just a single six-letter word, perfect. Unlike the "United States of America" or "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" which are the full official names that are on the front of every passport. Compared to:

Don't they still call that one province "British Columbia"? Also doesn't the queen still have power there?

Canada has reason to be smug, right now it is like America was in the best of its times and in many ways far superior (no Health Insurance malarkey).

No, it isn't. America at its best times was pretty much the sole healthy Industrial power in the world and its economy was booming while every else was having a hard time keeping up. Canada was never that and is too small and weak to ever do that.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

Oh, and if "Yankee" TRULY is SO offensive to you, then I'll be glad to hear another option. So far, it's the best one that's technically accurate.

I believe I just answered this.

And finally, Canadians to define people from Canada; Mexicans, to define people from Mexico. Both are used to describe people from COUNTRIES. AMERICANS is used to define people from America, a CONTINENT. It's the same reason why Indians are ALSO Asian (continent of Asia, just to clarify)... -_- Someone didn't seem to understand that this is what I meant.

Tell me, when you are describing Israel, do you say that its located in West Asia, or the Middle East? I mean you can go around calling Israeli's Asian, but I think most of them don't identify as being "Asian". Same thing for Canada and Mexico, they might be part of the region, but they might not identify as "American".

 

[Dense_Electric]

This is possibly the most ridiculous conversation I've ever had.

I think I'm going to start referring to anyone from the Commonwealth of Australia as a Commonwealth of Australian, and get all offended when anyone from the Commonwealth of Australia refers to themselves as "Australian," because they clearly think they own the continent and think they're better than someone from Papua New Guinea or Indonesia. Because they're Australians too, after all.

And finally, Canadians to define people from Canada; Mexicans, to define people from Mexico. Both are used to describe people from COUNTRIES. AMERICANS is used to define people from America, a CONTINENT. It's the same reason why Indians are ALSO Asian (continent of Asia, just to clarify)... -_- Someone didn't seem to understand that this is what I meant.

I agree - this is why you can't use the word "Australian" to describe someone from the Commonwealth of Australia (which is a COUNTRY), because "Australia" is a CONTINENT.

 

[claymoreguy18]

So much hate and racism going around on this thread. Does it really matter?

 

[Lalo Lomeli]

Being from Mexico, it's not like we hate the USA and don't like to be associated with it. It's more about, as said before, Mexico and Canada is part of North-America; South-america is part of America.

So, when you call yourselves "Americans" and leave out everything else is like we don't exist, or more like you are the only people that count.

I, for one, don't really care, it's how you call yourselves and there isn't a lot of other options, and even if it were other options you wouldn't change it to please other countries.

About the hatred to your country, yes the whole war have some effect in that, but that doesn't really is the main reason. We live in a country with a deep-rooted corruption in the system, our "leaders" nonchalantly steal from us and we can't do anything about it, the bad administration of out country leads to a dependency to YOUR country (In resources, loans, the fact that a lot of mexicans go to your country, to buy oil from us, etc... a lot of stuff that it really sin't a good economic long-term plan, but is what we have); seeing in how we depend on you, that gives you a lot of leverage in political negotiations, in other word my country is a scrap dog for yours and those scraps go the the politicians.

So, it isn't a self-righteous hatred nor a jealousy based anger, it's more of a bully/Bullied dynamic. the people in my country doesn't feel power within his own government and even if we could your country interest are a big obstacle (We couldn't legalize drugs in here because you wouldn't allow it). I'm not saying this is right, but is the common knowledge around here, and a lot of the discomfort is because of that.

Even then, it isn't really hate, if you come here as a tourist people actually going to treat you incredible, a lot of your culture is now our culture, we love the products and a lot of people risk their lives because they feel your country is the only option to have a good life (and in a lot of cases it is).

 

[infohippie]

I just call 'em Seppoes.

 

[astrav1]

I have no problem with it unless some stupid Canadian, Mexican, Brazilian what have you says that they aren't part of America. When referring to the people of the US specifically, I use Staters.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Because often it's used to denote a culture with numerous abilities assimilating other cultures abilities and broadcasting them as it's own?

Yes, the United States of America is like the Borg from Star Trek. All will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

Not really, the Borg do it with minimal casualties only both sides.

 

[Legiondude]

A lot of Yankees getting butt-hurt over my earlier post... Sheesh!
Alright, if you REALLY want to be technical, North and South America ARE different. Thank you for... getting upset? I guess? Well, whatever, you made your point, and I'll try to refrain from just generalizing North and South America as one America (people got pissed at me for mentioning that in a YouTube comment, as well. I never said I was a geography teacher, people).

As I've said repeatedly, this is because of how continents are defined in modern societies education systems. It's not all standard from one nation to another

But, I'm sorry, Canadians and Mexicans do count as Americans.

And in the modern context do they WANT this?

Whether you defined the name for your own convenience, arrogance (let's face it, SOME Yankees are like that), or because you couldn't do anything else with the name "United States of America" is irrelevant.

Oh really?

For those asking who the United Statesians, "stole" - as I may have mistyped - the word America from, I was referring to everyone else on the continent. Even Canadians have a meltdown when you call them Americans - especially when they are making fun of Yankees at the time.

MAY have mistyped? Get over yourself

And you're undermining your own point. If Canadians should be considered Americans of the same continent and they get pissed for being called the label due to modern context, why should the Canadians want the label at all?

And finally, Canadians to define people from Canada; Mexicans, to define people from Mexico. Both are used to describe people from COUNTRIES. AMERICANS is used to define people from America, a CONTINENT.

Who besides you talks like this?

It's the same reason why Indians are ALSO Asian (continent of Asia, just to clarify)... -_- Someone didn't seem to understand that this is what I meant.

No it's not. At least not the way you tie the native tribes to the people of India. I think I get what you're trying to convey but it seems you're taking it in from the wrong angle

 

[Kae]

Is there any other reason?

Of course there are, a lot actually and way more contemporary I just didn't want to say them because I overanalyzed the whole thing and tried to date it back to it's roots.

- A lot of people in México blame at least partly the USA for the whole drug mess we currently have, since most of the drugs are indeed for the USA and a lot of them are not even produced here but they have to pass through here to get there, for this there is a feeling that the USA doesn't help enough with this problem and there have been at least a few cases of the cartels having top of the line military weaponry that could only have been gotten from the US government [small](Most likely corrupt officials, I would assume)[/small], and I'm pretty sure you must have heard of that scandal of the FBI giving weapons to the cartels with the purpose to track those guns, that was a pretty damn big scandal here.

-The wall of shame, you know that wall of in the frontier, a lot of people here find it ridiculously offensive and insulting, and yes we call it wall of shame.

-There's a general feeling that the people of México are considered lesser to the people of the USA, this is sparked by situations where an American tourist dies or gets kidnapped here in México and then all of the police's resources are focused on that above all else, despite being a lot of people here getting killed, kidnapped and other horrible crimes, you know like we're less important than the Americans, this is not helped that whenever a crime or some seeming injustice is commited against a Mexican in US territory like getting shot by the border patrol despite being unarmed, the government not only doesn't help the Mexican but helps the USA gather evidence against him which is believe by most people to be planted, as you can see this is probably the more complicated one.

Do those make more sense?
Now I'd like to point out that these are not necessarily my opinions, but they are opinions that are present in México, also I forgot to say this on my first post, please do not generalise I obviously do not mean all people or even the majority, I'm just saying that I've met a lot of people that think like this.
I'd also would like to point out that I've never claimed to be a sage of wisdom and I do not believe that what I have said is absolute so if there's something that sounds like I'm an ignorant fool it's most likely because I am, and I am willing to hear any flaws pointed at whatever I have said.

I would like to apologize to all the people I didn't respond but seriously, in the time I wasan't here I got way more messages than I can handle, I know that it's very rude to not respond to anybody that was trying to make an argument with me (X_X)
[sub]If this is an overreaction it's most likely because I had never recieved so many quotes on the same day and have no idea how to handle it.[/sub]
[sub][sub]Yes now I'm going to read the whole thing, since I seem to have caused quite a fuss, sorry for that.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

we love the products and a lot of people risk their lives because they feel your country is the only option to have a good life (and in a lot of cases it is).

and we don't mind if you come here, as long as it's through legal means.

 

[Ieyke]

This really is one of the stupidest debates I've seen in a long time.

The USA is the United States Of America. They are states of the American continent that chose to unite. That is LITERALLY what it means. It's not just an arbitrary name.
It's the same exact deal as if people got butthurt about being called "Norwegian" instead of "European" because Norway's not a part of the EU. The EU is the European Union. A Union of European states. The common usage for the parlance isn't nearly the same for this to be a perfect example but, fundamentally, that's exactly how stupid this argument is.

Calling Americans "Statesians", "Staters" or any of the other names I've seen suggested in this thread are purely moronic. "Statesian" is a completely meaningless demonym. It could just as easily apply to ANY state ANYWHERE. It does nothing to narrow it down to meaning citizens of the United States.

If you call a Texan a Yankee, you better be prepared for the good possibility of finding yourself with a face full of knuckles. Same goes for using the term basically anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. A Yankee is a Northerner. Southerners (or, to use what would be the equivalent term for a Southerner, "Confederates") have a fair tendency to get pissed off at being called Yankees. It's sort of a matter of immortal Southern pride. Calling a Southerner a Yankee is basically like calling them a wuss.
For Texans it's a bit different. We're technically Southerners, but the whole Southern pride here is a peripheral issue to pure Texas pride. We used to be our own country. We're Texans first and second, Southerners/Americans third. Maybe it's not readily apparent to people elsewhere, but while the South has it's whole "The South Will Rise Again" notion of pride that the South could and should stand on its own separate from the USA, Texas goes beyond that since it is fully secure in the knowledge that Texas is the only State genuinely capable of surviving completely on its own. We've done it before and we can do it again. We're even the only state with our own military force, and the only state allowed to fly its State Flag at the same height as the American Flag. It's not hard to find Texans who will tell you they're from "The Republic Of Texas".
Honestly you're MORE likely to get punched in the mouth in Southern States other than Texas. They take it more as a direct insult to their primary point of patriotism.
Obviously, levels of patriotism vary wildly and a lot of people don't actually give a damn, but you DO run a fair risk of finding you've seriously pissed some people off.

And along this same basic train of logic, why the hell would Canadians or Mexicans WANT to be called "Americans" if they're supposedly so offended by the place? Shouldn't they, likewise, be proud to be called what they are (e.g. Canadians and Mexicans)?

And on yet ANOTHER level, "America" is a catch-all term for formerly independent political entities on the North American continent that opted to join the Union. Mexico did not. If they join they can be "Americans". Same goes for Canada and Canadians. Since they obviously have no interest in joining, they've obviously opted to have specific names for their countries that are not mostly generic to the continent on which the union of states in question is located.
Mexicans and Canadians don't have any NEED to be called "Americans".
Indeed, this entire thread is further frivolous in the fact that the continent IS NOT ACTUALLY CALLED "AMERICA". No, this continent is called "NORTH AMERICA", and no one, anywhere, debates that Mexicans and Canadians are "North Americans". That's just understood, because THAT is logical.


So yea, by all LOGICAL thought, the only relatively simple demonym that should be applied to the citizens of the United States Of America is "American". And if, for some stupid reason, you feel that this fact still offends you, your next best option is referring to them by their State-specific demonym (e.g. "Texan", "New Yorker", "Floridian", "Mississippian", "Hoosier", "Nutmegger", "Wisconsinite", etc, etc, etc), but good luck remembering them all.

 

[ATRAYA]

A lot of Yankees getting butt-hurt over my earlier post... Sheesh!
Alright, if you REALLY want to be technical, North and South America ARE different. Thank you for... getting upset? I guess? Well, whatever, you made your point, and I'll try to refrain from just generalizing North and South America as one America (people got pissed at me for mentioning that in a YouTube comment, as well. I never said I was a geography teacher, people).

As I've said repeatedly, this is because of how continents are defined in modern societies education systems. It's not all standard from one nation to another

But, I'm sorry, Canadians and Mexicans do count as Americans.

And in the modern context do they WANT this?

Whether you defined the name for your own convenience, arrogance (let's face it, SOME Yankees are like that), or because you couldn't do anything else with the name "United States of America" is irrelevant.

Oh really?

For those asking who the United Statesians, "stole" - as I may have mistyped - the word America from, I was referring to everyone else on the continent. Even Canadians have a meltdown when you call them Americans - especially when they are making fun of Yankees at the time.

MAY have mistyped? Get over yourself

And you're undermining your own point. If Canadians should be considered Americans of the same continent and they get pissed for being called the label due to modern context, why should the Canadians want the label at all?

And finally, Canadians to define people from Canada; Mexicans, to define people from Mexico. Both are used to describe people from COUNTRIES. AMERICANS is used to define people from America, a CONTINENT.

Who besides you talks like this?

It's the same reason why Indians are ALSO Asian (continent of Asia, just to clarify)... -_- Someone didn't seem to understand that this is what I meant.

No it's not. At least not the way you tie the native tribes to the people of India. I think I get what you're trying to convey but it seems you're taking it in from the wrong angle

Are... Are you a REAL person? Please don't talk to me anymore.