NationStates Jolt Archive

That does not compute.

What...you don't run around dressed like a huaso, drinking pisco and dancing the cueca, all while reciting Pablo Neruda and humming Violeta Parra songs?

¿¿¿Qué tipo de chileno ERES???

I used to!!! Really! But then...my poncho...it shrunk in the wash...and then I sat on my quena...and my futbol got run over by an SUV.:(

America has two meanings. The name of the contenent and the name of the contry. Get over it.
There's no country named "America". Get over it.

From the States.

If you don't like it so much, just become more powerful than the US and you can call yourself whatever. Until such time, live with it.

I used to!!! Really! But then...my poncho...it shrunk in the wash...and then I sat on my quena...and my futbol got run over by an SUV.:(
But you still drink pisco...don't you?

There's no country named "America". Get over it.
There's a country called the United States of America. It's often abbreviated America. Get over it.

So, I have a question:

I was born in Chile. I have Chilean citizenship, and speak spanish fluently.

I grew up in Canada. I have Canadian citizenship, and speak english fluently.

I live in Quebec. I have Quebec health insurance. If Quebec separated, I would be a Quebec citizen, and I speak french.

So if I have lived in several nations in the Americas, speak most of the major languages of the Americas, and have passports for several countries in the Americas, what am I?

Am I a chilean/canadian/quebecer/hispanophone/anglophone/francophone...or am I an american?
Chilean cause that is where you were born.
Because you also got Canadian citizenship afterward, you are also a "naturalized Canadian". Just like immigrants in the US who acquire US citizenship become "naturalized Americans".

We're going to keep using 'USian'.

Get over it.

From the States.

If you don't like it so much, just become more powerful than the US and you can call yourself whatever. Until such time, live with it.

USian has gained a lot of ground in International English. It seems like the USA are the ones who are going to have to live with it.

But you still drink pisco...don't you?

I am forunate enough to live in one of the few Canadian cities where it is easy to find. Thank god for the Quebecois and their guilt-free views on alcohol!

Chilean cause that is where you were born.
Because you also got Canadian citizenship afterward, you are also a "naturalized Canadian". Just like immigrants in the US who acquire US citizenship become "naturalized Americans".
Na. We don't bother with the 'naturalised'. He's just a Canuk, like the rest of us, who also happens to be a Chilean.

It was the latter, the poster concerned even apologised to Eut (when they became aware of the nature and cause of the alledged offendedness) and explained that no offence was intended- the question evidently remained unanswered last time I checked...
Hmm.

Here's the thing about Eut: he's not a jackass. I disagree with Eut more often than not, but he's not one of the random arseholes who come around internet forums to pick mindless fights. I don't think Eut would go completely bonkers for no reason.

I don't usually make excuses for people's bad behavior, but I think it's important to realize that it's a little tough to be a USAmerican these days. This forum, in particular, tends to have a lot of America-bashing threads (or America-fluffing threads that degenerate into a war between America-fluffers and America-bashers). This gets some people very very tense. Just as some people have a knee-jerk negative reaction to "American arrogance," some Americans have a knee-jerk reaction to what they perceive as yet more attacks on America. These reactions may be mistakes, in the long run, but I think they are often very understandable.

USian has gained a lot of ground in International English. It seems like the USA are the ones who are going to have to live with it.
MUAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

And still no one has provided a reason as to why it could possibly be considered insulting.

Hey, I'm of Sicilain descent as well. Can I claim to be African-American?
Can you jump?

There's a country called the United States of America. It's often abbreviated America. Get over it.
Exactly. Abbreviated. So you're an abbreviated American.

Oh what a gem! Sicilians are now black. You people are pretty naive if you believe that. Where'd you here that one...a movie?

I guess Egyptians were black too, huh? Unfortunately their pictures make a pretty definitive statement otherwise.

Try to understand that most North Africans were Semitic. They spread mostly from the Middle East and the Phoenicians completely dominated North Africa up until the Romans took over. I guess the Phoenicians were black too?

A little information is dangerous and you sure have that, a little information.

If you go back far enough, everyone is black. However, what you are talking about it just plain wrong.

America-fluffing
Ewwwww....is that keeping them ready so they can screw the world?

(I'm sorry, I just had to...fluffers...hehehehehe)

SILENCE, HEATHEN!!

By being a not-American, you are helping the terrorists!!! We've got like ten gajillion nukes sitting in the prairies of Middle America, and we're just looking for one of you evil outsiders to step out of line!!
Darn that Reagan. Sticking nukes in Central America. ;)

MUAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

And still no one has provided a reason as to why it could possibly be considered insulting.

The baby wants its bottle even if the mother is in the process of weaning it. I think it's dawning on them what a stupid name they chose for their country.

We're going to keep using 'USian'.

Get over it.I would prefer "United Statesian," but as it's a bit of a mouthful, USian is OK.

How come?
Because that isnt how things worked out I guess.

The categories you have made (white and black) reflect nothing other than one morphological trait, not genetic relatedness or geographical relatedness. Why on earth would such an arbitary categorisation be true given it doesnt correlate with anything other than its own criteria (aka skin colour), especially given the vagueness of the criteria (for instance the boundary between black and white skin is where exactly....?).

Exactly. Abbreviated. So you're an abbreviated American.

Thus, USian, which is an abbreviation. Fits so perfectly, since they seem to love abbreviating.

Hmm.

Here's the thing about Eut: he's not a jackass. I disagree with Eut more often than not, but he's not one of the random arseholes who come around internet forums to pick mindless fights. I don't think Eut would go completely bonkers for no reason.

Here's the thread:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=479670

Well I am glad we've established that we should call people what we want to call them. Not what they want to be called.

Well I am glad we've established that we should call people what we want to call them. Not what they want to be called.

You'll always be United Statesman to me!

can i have a ride in your flying rocket car?

Na. We don't bother with the 'naturalised'. He's just a Canuk, like the rest of us, who also happens to be a Chilean.
We don't use the "naturalized" part in everyday conversations either.

"How come?"

People in Lebanon are descended from those who lived there six thousand years ago. They are not European and they are not black.

Next.

You'll always be United Statesman to me!

can i have a ride in your flying rocket car?

Any time. Any time.

Exactly. Abbreviated. So you're an abbreviated American.
Whatever. My country's military can still beat up your country's military and our GNP is way bigger and we all know the ladies love a nice big, fat GNP.

Because that isnt how things worked out I guess.

The categories you have made (white and black) reflect nothing other than one morphological trait, not genetic relatedness or geographical relatedness. Why on earth would such an arbitary categorisation be true given it doesnt correlate with anything other than its own criteria (aka skin colour), especially given the vagueness of the criteria (for instance the boundary between black and white skin is where exactly....?).

I am not saying that there is any boundary. We are all humans in the end.

Spin off of a spin off.

Is the term USian insulting?

It appears that some members of that nation that is a union of states in the Americas (actually only one of many considering the number of federations in the Americas) that is commonly called the USA are objecting to being called USians. They find it insulting apparently (at least one does)

As a resident in another country in the Americas I have a problem describing citizens of the USA as Americans. There were, in 2000 some 831 million people living in the Americas. Why should the adjective American be reserved for only 282 million of these. That is wrong. It would be like claiming that the adjective European can only be used to describe Germans.

So what should the citizens of the USA be called if they do not like the term USian?

I know of no other country of the world where people outside of the country decide what the citizens of that country will be referred to. The creation of the term USian is meant to be irritating. That's the point. I would think people have better things to do than to cry about the fact that we refer to ourselves as Americans.

"How come?"

People in Lebanon are descended from those who lived there six thousand years ago. They are not European and they are not black.

Next.

Yeah, like Egyptians who are Arabs, but they clame that they are descedends of old Egyptians...

I don't find the term USAian insulting, and I am an American. However, I find it stupid, pointless, and overly-PC. To this point, I have never even really regarded the term "American" as referring to anything but the United States of America. We call ourselves that. Other languages call us that. As for referring to the entire American continents, I've always just referred to them by their entire name: North American and South American.



Don't people have more important things to complain about? :rolleyes:

I know of no other country of the world where people outside of the country decide what the citizens of that country will be referred to. The creation of the term USian is meant to be irritating. That's the point. I would think people have better things to do than to cry about the fact that we refer to ourselves as Americans.

And I would think that some people would have better things to do than cry about the fact that we call them USians.

I know of no other country of the world where people outside of the country decide what the citizens of that country will be referred to
Nihon. Called Japanese
Schweiz. Called Swiss.
Sweden. Called Swedes.
France. Called French.
Spain. Italy. Morocco. Korea....

I know of no other country of the world where people outside of the country decide what the citizens of that country will be referred to. The creation of the term USian is meant to be irritating. That's the point. I would think people have better things to do than to cry about the fact that we refer to ourselves as Americans.

How is it meant to be irritating? I use it to disambiguate from the people of the continent.
Various people in this thread have said it is irritating/offensive/insulting. I just want to know why you find it so.

And as to how people are named, that is always decided by the namer not the namee. How many Ukranians have been caled Soviets or Russians, just to give one example?

And I would think that some people would have better things to do than cry about the fact that we call them USians.

I'm not crying about it. I'm answering the OP. I don't care what you call us. At all. We call ourselves Americans.

We call ourselves that. Other languages call us that.

Other languages do not call you that. We call you "Förenta Staterna."

lol - what a crackup that someone could actually be insulted by such a term!!!

I'm from the US and use the term USian (to tell you the truth, I thought I was the one who made it up - that would be awesome if I am the one that started this controversy) and do not do it to be insulting or "P.C.". I do it because I don't like soundling like I belive only people from the US have the right to claim the name "American" as if there aren't people outside of the US that are also from the Americas. To me it's a matter of showing respect by being more precise. Language is fluid. Deal with it.

So what if it is an abbreviation? So what if thats what USians chose to call themselves?

Did anyone who is so insulted by not being called what they want ever respond to this:

Now, Etrusca, that really isnt true at all.

The germans have never said "lets be called germans." They dont call their country "germany."

"French" is not French for "French."

Japan isnt called Japan, its called Nihon.

China isnt called China, its called zhong guo.

The basques arent called "basques," they are called "euskera."

The Gypsies arent called gypsies, they are called "romani."

I assume you already knew all of these, and all the rest, and take careful note "that you call people by the name they have chosen and used for generations."


The problem with "USian" is that it isnt english, not that it is insulting or unprecedented.

It seems like a literal translation of "estadounidense" to me. Works in spanish, doesnt work in english.

But hey, I'm just a linguist.


Because it brings up a very valid point I think and I didn't see anyone take exception to it yet (although I didn't read every page because of lack of time)

Whatever. My country's military can still beat up your country's military and our GNP is way bigger and we all know the ladies love a nice big, fat GNP.


LOL :p

I'm not crying about it. I'm answering the OP. I don't care what you call us. At all. We call ourselves Americans.

Just as do many other people who live in the Americas. And we will choose what to refer to you as, just like you choose what to refer to us as.

Hungary - Magyarország
Croatia - Hrvatska
Albania - Shqiperi
Greece - Hellas

Nihon. Called Japanese
Schweiz. Called Swiss.
Sweden. Called Swedes.
France. Called French.
Spain. Italy. Morocco. Korea....

Do Swedes call themselves something else in English? Because none of the Swedes I know do. How about the French? What do they call themselves in English? It's common to have language translations of country and nationality names (though I've always found that a little odd). However, this isn't a language translation. This is an attempt to make up a new word in a language that already has a word for Americans.

Other languages do not call you that. We call you "Förenta Staterna."

And we call them Estadosunidenses.

Just as do many other people who live in the Americas. And we will choose what to refer to you as, just like you choose what to refer to us as.

What would you like for me to refer to you as?

And I've never met anyone from South America that said, when asked what nationality they are, American. They usually say, Venezuelan, Brazilian, etc.

MUAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

And still no one has provided a reason as to why it could possibly be considered insulting.

It's insulting to the intelligence, since it's basically l33tsp34k. It's insulting to whoever uses it. It's an insult to the English, excuse me UKian language. It's insulting because it's an attempt at creating NewSpeak as well - the clean, politically correct version that won't insult non-US Americans. (Because apparently it's insulting for a non-US American to have someone *else* be called "American?" Poor babies.)

And you know damn well that the anti-anything-US-does crowd on this board - like dear sweet Fass there - intends it to be annoying, and does it because it annoys those dastardly Americans.

Do Swedes call themselves something else in English? Because none of the Swedes I know do. How about the French? What do they call themselves in English? It's common to have language translations of country and nationality names (though I've always found that a little odd). However, this isn't a language translation. This is an attempt to make up a new word in a language that already has a word for Americans.

It has a word for Americans, i.e. people who live in the Americas. A new word to refer to citizens of the USA, solely, is needed, thus USians.

This is an attempt to make up a new word in a language that already has a word for Americans.
We know it has a word for Americans. We all agree on that. What we are looking for is a word to describe the citizens of the USA.

And we call them Estadosunidenses.

And I know of no one that objects to it. We are talking about USian in English. Again, if you don't like the English translation for your nationality, suggest another. I think you have that right. You would deny us the right I would give you.

We know it has a word for Americans. We all agree on that. What we are looking for is a word to describe the citizens of the USA.

Uh-huh. Because the majority of the world does NOT refer to us as Americans in English. Of course they do, by why let reality seep into your little rant?

Let's be clear, though, I'm not insulted by it. I think it's a silly attempt to get under our skin. It only works if we let. I'll continue calling myself an American and everyone else will continue realizing EXACTLY what I mean and small subsection of the population of NS will pretend like it's not the common usage of the term.

It's insulting to the intelligence, since it's basically l33tsp34k. It's insulting to whoever uses it. It's an insult to the English, excuse me UKian language. It's insulting because it's an attempt at creating NewSpeak as well - the clean, politically correct version that won't insult non-US Americans. (Because apparently it's insulting for a non-US American to have someone *else* be called "American?" Poor babies.)

And you know damn well that the anti-anything-US-does crowd on this board - like dear sweet Fass there - intends it to be annoying, and does it because it annoys those dastardly Americans.

I use the term. I do not use leetspeak, and I do not intend for it to be insulting. I don't even know what Newspeak is.

Please do not attempt to tell me what my motives are, and please refrain from being condescending.

What would you like for me to refer to you as?

It doesn't matter what I like, the French have words for us, the Germans have words for us, the Japanese have words for us. Just like we will have words for you. Your opinion of them is pretty much irrelevant.

And I've never met anyone from South America that said, when asked what nationality they are, American. They usually say, Venezuelan, Brazilian, etc.

That's because their nationality is not American - American is their continental identity. Just like my nationality is not European, but it is my continental identity.

It's insulting to the intelligence, since it's basically l33tsp34k. It's insulting to whoever uses it. It's an insult to the English, excuse me UKian language. It's insulting because it's an attempt at creating NewSpeak as well - the clean, politically correct version that won't insult non-US Americans. (Because apparently it's insulting for a non-US American to have someone *else* be called "American?" Poor babies.)

And you know damn well that the anti-anything-US-does crowd on this board - like dear sweet Fass there - intends it to be annoying, and does it because it annoys those dastardly Americans.

SB I use the term and I hope you realise that I am not anti-US. (I am anti Bush, but I do seperate the two). I am not using it as leetspeak at all. I am using it because I am an american but not one that lives in the US. As such I object to the term american being reserved just for those from the USA. This means that I need some other term for this. If you find it offensive then suggest something else (not american).

...excuse me UKian language...

Nope, it's EKian language

Uh-huh. Because the majority of the world does NOT refer to us as Americans. Of course they do, by why let reality seep into your little rant?
Just because you have bullied the world into calling you by a preposterous name, we should accept it?
Anyways, *all* people I know refer to Americans, when it doesn't matter if it's US-Americans, Canadians, Chileans, or whatever.
If they want to be concise, they *all* use "US-Americans" or another name specific to citizens of the USA.

It has a word for Americans, i.e. people who live in the Americas. A new word to refer to citizens of the USA, solely, is needed, thus USians.


You Swedians are so funny. :D

I use the term. I do not use leetspeak, and I do not intend for it to be insulting. I don't even know what Newspeak is.

Please do not attempt to tell me what my motives are, and please refrain from being condescending.

read 1984 and then you will understand what he is talking about and maybe realise that he has a point. The second bit is optional though.

I still say that people from the Americas should be called Americasian as american is derived from singular America. if you wish to differeniate more then you are either South or North American.

I use the term. I do not use leetspeak, and I do not intend for it to be insulting. I don't even know what Newspeak is.

Please do not attempt to tell me what my motives are, and please refrain from being condescending.

Okay. I'll refrain from being condescending if you do the same, and not use the idiotic term "USian."

Or at least use terms like EUian or UKian from now on, too. To be consistent.

SB I use the term and I hope you realise that I am not anti-US. (I am anti Bush, but I do seperate the two). I am not using it as leetspeak at all. I am using it because I am an american but not one that lives in the US. As such I object to the term american being reserved just for those from the USA. This means that I need some other term for this. If you find it offensive then suggest something else (not american).

"US American" then. But I find it odd that you consider it insulting to have *others* known as Americans, yet you have no clue why anyone would find your term "USian" to be insulting. You can see an offense when it offends you but not when you offend others.

It doesn't matter what I like, the French have words for us, the Germans have words for us, the Japanese have words for us. Just like we will have words for you. Your opinion of them is pretty much irrelevant.

That is true. People can call themselves Americans and your opinion of it is pretty much irrelevant.

You Swedians are so funny. :D

Svenskar, if you please. And if you don't, meh. Swedians makes more sense than "Swedes" anyway.

Originally Posted by Fass
It doesn't matter what I like, the French have words for us, the Germans have words for us, the Japanese have words for us. Just like we will have words for you. Your opinion of them is pretty much irrelevant.

And in all that names there is word America.

Svenskar, if you please. And if you don't, meh. Swedians makes more sense than "Swedes" anyway.


no no no... y'all are Svedos!
:D

Svenskar, if you please. And if you don't, meh. Swedians makes more sense than "Swedes" anyway.

I believe we refer to you as swedish, it sounds better than swedian to my ears.

That is true. People can call themselves Americans and your opinion of it is pretty much irrelevant.

I haven't tried to ban them from calling themselves that. I will not be calling USians that, unless I am referring to them as people who live in the Americas.

Svenskar, if you please. And if you don't, meh. Swedians makes more sense than "Swedes" anyway.
Oh, so you want us to say that you have the swedianish nationality?
(Swede -> swedish, Swedian -> swedianish)

Your are defined as a ______________ of whatever country you live in. The United States of America's citizens are know as Americans.Canada/Canadians if their is another "USA" name in any of the Americas then mybe this topic would be great to talk about.

You dont live in the U.S so what does it matter to you. You must be one of those "people" who like insulting the U.S for no good reason. So mybe it would be better if you shut up you Commi!

Maybe Sverige> Sverigians or Sverigish?

I believe we refer to you as swedish, it sounds better than swedian to my ears.

To be all grammatical, "Swedish" is the adjective, "Swede" the noun. The noun might as well be identical to the adjective, like it is in a lot of other cases "German/German, Norwegian/Norwegian, Dutch/Dutch, Belgian/Belgian" etcetera, it would simplify things.

no no no... y'all are Svedos!
:D

Which might necessitate calling us Svedonia, infered by English grammatical nonsense, and that actually sounds pretty cool.

I am an American, but I do not live in the USA. What gives you the right to steal this term? If you don't like the term USian then suggest a term that refers only to the citizens of the USA and not to the population of two entire continents (or three depending on how you divide continents).
No. You're Brazilian.

And what's "American" for referring to USians if not that? I'm American too, I live in Argentina.
No. You're Argentine.

The people of Canada are Canadians. The people of Mexico are Mexicans. The people of Cuba are Cubans. You get the picture by NOW, don't you?

If you really want to be called Americans, you can petition your government to join the United States. After all, the Europeans are doing similiar with their EU. :)

"US American" then. But I find it odd that you consider it insulting to have *others* known as Americans, yet you have no clue why anyone would find your term "USian" to be insulting. You can see an offense when it offends you but not when you offend others.

OK, and from now on you will describe all British people as UK European, all germans as German European etc? Can you really not see that American refers to the continent, not the country?

I have no objection to you calling yourself American, just that I too am an American and you have no right to deny that description to me, which, by using it to refer to your nationality rather than the continent as whole, you are doing. (Unintentionally in most cases.)

Maybe Sverige> Sverigians or Sverigish?

If one would wish to use a Swedish word, sure, but it would make more sense then to use the Swedish inflection, thus "Sverigebor," which is fun(ny) in Swedish, and quixotic in English. I like it.

No. You're Brazilian.


No. You're Argentine.

The people of Canada are Canadians. The people of Mexico are Mexicans. The people of Cuba are Cubans. You get the picture by NOW, don't you?
I was starting to understand the pattern, but I don't see how this relates to the United States of America.

No. You're Brazilian.


No. You're Argentine.

The people of Canada are Canadians. The people of Mexico are Mexicans. The people of Cuba are Cubans. You get the picture by NOW, don't you?

If you really want to be called Americans, you can petition your government to join the United States. After all, the Europeans are doing similiar with their EU. :)

I live here.
http://www.fbi.gov/contact/legat/images/americas.jpg
I am American. I am not a USA citizen, but I live in the Americas (Check the name of the map and the source OK)

[Citation]No. You're Brazilian.
[Citation]No. You're Argentine.
The people of Canada are Canadians. The people of Mexico are Mexicans. The people of Cuba are Cubans. You get the picture by NOW, don't you?

The picture one gets is that of some pathological arrogance.

If one would wish to use a Swedish word, sure, but it would make more sense then to use the Swedish inflection, thus "Sverigebor," which is fun(ny) in Swedish, and quixotic in English. I like it.

Jeg hater folk som later som de smaprater! (this is Danish, and i have no clue what it means) :)

It's insulting to the intelligence, since it's basically l33tsp34k. It's insulting to whoever uses it. It's an insult to the English, excuse me UKian language. It's insulting because it's an attempt at creating NewSpeak as well - the clean, politically correct version that won't insult non-US Americans. (Because apparently it's insulting for a non-US American to have someone *else* be called "American?" Poor babies.)
First of all, thank you for letting us know why some Americans (as in the US) feel it is offensive. At least, we can now work on these notions.

Now you gotta realize how calling yourself american is insulting to the other people living on this continent that feel offended by it. Then we can all sing kumbaya.

And you know damn well that the anti-anything-US-does crowd on this board - like dear sweet Fass there - intends it to be annoying, and does it because it annoys those dastardly Americans.
And you know damn well that USian is rarely used that way. The only ones that are insulted by it are the ones who usually post in a condescending way like Eutrusca. It can't possibly be a way to stick it to their posting attitudes and not meant as an offense to the rest of the US population.

OK, and from now on you will describe all British people as UK European, all germans as German European etc?

No, because out of the two of us, I am not anal about what others call themselves.

Can you really not see that American refers to the continent, not the country?

No, because common usage disagrees with you. It refers to either, depending on context.

I have no objection to you calling yourself American, just that I too am an American and you have no right to deny that description to me, which, by using it to refer to your nationality rather than the continent as whole, you are doing. (Unintentionally in most cases.)

You act as if a word having more than one meaning means that it's "denied" to you if the meaning you prefer is not used.

The language is big enough to have words that mean different things depending on context. Why can't you be?

Jeg hater folk som later som de smaprater! (this is Danish, and i have no clue what it means) :)

oh, I'm silly.

Jeg hater folk som later som de smaprater! (this is Danish, and i have no clue what it means) :)

"I hate people who sound like they chat." No, it doesn't make more sense to me. It's probably an idiom.

Let's go to the dictionary (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=American).

n.

1. A native or inhabitant of America.
2. A citizen of the United States.
3. American English.


Hey, how about that! a word with not just one, but three meanings! Apparently they're all valid!

If you really feel a compulsive need to "disambiguate," you better go through any and every word that has more than one meaning and invent a new term for each one.

You must have some idea, hater = heter (Swedish), folk = folk...

I now that, but what about other words? ???

You must have some idea, hater = heter (Swedish), folk = folk...

"Hater" = "hatar," i.e. the present indicative in all persons of the verb "hata" in Swedish, which is "hate" in English.

I never heard of USian. It doesn't sound bad to me.

Let's go to the dictionary (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=American).

Hey, how about that! a word with not just one, but three meanings! Apparently they're all valid!

If you really feel a compulsive need to "disambiguate," you better go through any and every word that has more than one meaning and invent a new term for each one.

There is a practical use for USian. It fills a void.

"Hater" = "hatar," i.e. the present indicative in all persons of the verb "hata" in Swedish, which is "hate" in English.

(I deleted that post, and replaced it with "oh, I'm silly". It doesn't even say edit :))

No, because out of the two of us, I am not anal about what others call themselves.



No, because common usage disagrees with you. It refers to either, depending on context.



You act as if a word having more than one meaning means that it's "denied" to you if the meaning you prefer is not used.

The language is big enough to have words that mean different things depending on context. Why can't you be?

I don't mind if USians call themselves Americans. I hope you don't mind if I call myself an American. I hope you don't mind if I use the term USian, or something similar, for the purposes of clarity. Good?

Ok, on the count of three...Kumbaya, my Lord, Kumbaya...

I don't mind if USians call themselves Americans. I hope you don't mind if I call myself an American. I hope you don't mind if I use the term USian, or something similar, for the purposes of clarity. Good?

Except "USian" is not an actual word. But yeah, freedom of speech, you are free to use whatever made-up bullshit you want. Call yourself "fucktarian" if you want for all I care.

No, because out of the two of us, I am not anal about what others call themselves.

No, because common usage disagrees with you. It refers to either, depending on context.
First, no need to start throwing out gratuitous insults.

The problem is exactly that of context. To me, if I say "Americans act in this or that way" I am referring to the peoples of the continent, not exclusively to the US citizens. Now how is this type of sentence contextualized. It is not normally in a context that would seperate the two concepts. As such, given that ther is no sensible alternative for the description of the peoples of the americas in total (without resorting to long and cumbersome phrases) I use American to mean this and USian to mean the citrizens of the USA.

Secondly, common usage does not actually disgree with me. It is undecided on the issue and is a source of confusion. In English, there may well be a clear preference for using American to mean of the USA, but in other languages this is not the case. As I tend to think in Portuguese most of the time now the common usage of American to me is to mean of the American continents. Yes I know this forum is in English, but as the confusion occurs in my mind, I choose to be clear. I am not insisting that everyone uses the term. I really don't care what others use. What I was trying to find out is why it is considered insulting when this made no sense to me (and to be honest it still does not.)


You act as if a word having more than one meaning means that it's "denied" to you if the meaning you prefer is not used.

The language is big enough to have words that mean different things depending on context. Why can't you be?
Just look at some of the other posts in this thread. Nuff said.

And if context disambiguated I would not have a problem. It does not in this case (unlike many others) so the problem exists.

I'll remember this the next time somebody from across the pond uses "English" incorrectly.
And rightly so, IMHO.

Jeg hater folk som later som de smaprater! (this is Danish, and i have no clue what it means) :)

Who said it?

Are European Union citizens Europeans?
No, they're EUians. LOL!

Well, thank you for replying to me.

The problem, for me, is this:

I choose to call myself American, though I am not a citizen of the USA. So, by your understanding of courtesy, you should call me American, and I should call you American. Can you see how this would be confusing? Therefore, I refer to US citizens as USians, for reasons of clarity, not as an insult.
An individual decision doth not a general consensus make.

But I do. I call you "US American".
You are aptly named.

No, they're EUians. LOL!

Yes they are.
There are many Europeans who are not EU citizens. (It is harder to say than USian though.)

An individual decision doth not a general consensus make.

Consensus is not the point. If it were then there would be no thread, as it is the consensus that USian is not insulting.

As has been pointed out, you yourself do not do others this common courtesy, else you would not refer to people as 'French, German, Japanese' etc.
Those are the terms by which they refer to themselves. Ergo, those are the terms which I use to refer to them.

... Yes I know this forum is in English, but as the confusion occurs in my mind, I choose to be clear. I am not insisting that everyone uses the term. I really don't care what others use. What I was trying to find out is why it is considered insulting when this made no sense to me (and to be honest it still does not.)...

Actually I have the same issue - when I hear the term American I hear "from the Americas" in my head. I am from the US, use the term USian to be clear about nationality, and find absolutely no insult in it whatsoever.

The problem is exactly that of context. To me, if I say "Americans act in this or that way" I am referring to the peoples of the continent, not exclusively to the US citizens.

You are also generalizing, and you'll be insulting no matter what term you use in that case...

Now how is this type of sentence contextualized. It is not normally in a context that would seperate the two concepts.

Context is more than a single sentence. I think you will find in conversations people have no trouble differentiating between the nation and the continent usage of the term.

As such, given that ther is no sensible alternative for the description of the peoples of the americas in total (without resorting to long and cumbersome phrases) I use American to mean this and USian to mean the citrizens of the USA.

You could just say "citizens of the USA" too, like you just did. But that's too long, too much work?

Secondly, common usage does not actually disgree with me. It is undecided on the issue and is a source of confusion. In English, there may well be a clear preference for using American to mean of the USA, but in other languages this is not the case. As I tend to think in Portuguese most of the time now the common usage of American to me is to mean of the American continents. Yes I know this forum is in English

I doubt "USian" is a word in Portuguese either...

I am not insisting that everyone uses the term. I really don't care what others use. What I was trying to find out is why it is considered insulting when this made no sense to me (and to be honest it still does not.)

It still makes no sense to me why you are offended by the term American when it refers to the nation.

Maybe I should start a thread and see how many people are offended by that word, and then criticize anyone who is...

I personally take the name of my country, the US of A, and add "n" to the end... I am a United States of American.

Except "USian" is not an actual word. But yeah, freedom of speech, you are free to use whatever made-up bullshit you want. Call yourself "fucktarian" if you want for all I care.

Thanks, I like your sig, by the way.

Ugh...What is this, 24 pages? Is the concept of a homonym that complex?

I still say that people from the Americas should be called Americasian as american is derived from singular America. if you wish to differeniate more then you are either South or North American.
I'm more partial towards Greater Americans, from Greater America, to differentiate the people of the continent. In that way people in the US can still call their country America, but use Greater America when talking about the continent. Thus the people are called Greater Americans.

You are also generalizing, and you'll be insulting no matter what term you use in that case...
Without generalising you can not talk, think or discuss. It is not necessarily insulting.



Context is more than a single sentence. I think you will find in conversations people have no trouble differentiating between the nation and the continent usage of the term.
Give me an example where the context makes it clear. There are a few that I can think of - for example "The Americans have a low approval of their current president." (I said I was anti Bush). However a more general sentence - "Americans go to the movies more frequently than the Europeans" - is thoroughly ambiguous.

You could just say "citizens of the USA" too, like you just did. But that's too long, too much work? I do most of the time. You too could say United States of American, but that is too much work as well. The point is that American to refer to a citizen of the USA is already an abbreviation, so why not use one that is less confusing instead.

I doubt "USian" is a word in Portuguese either...
The problem does not arise as the term for "of the USA" is estadounidense in Portuguese.



It still makes no sense to me why you are offended by the term American when it refers to the nation.
When did I say I was? I simply do not use it that way.

Maybe I should start a thread and see how many people are offended by that word, and then criticize anyone who is... Please do. As far as I am aware no one has claimed to be offended by it, unlike the term USian.

If you really want to be called Americans, you can petition your government to join the United States. After all, the Europeans are doing similiar with their EU. :)
What if you had a group of people, say for a football cup, and you have teams that come from Canada, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Colombia. How would you say "the cup is a tournament of _________ countries."

What if you had a group of people, say for a football cup, and you have teams that come from Canada, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Colombia. How would you say "the cup is a tournament of _________ countries."
Socialist :p

I'm more partial towards Greater Americans, from Greater America, to differentiate the people of the continent. In that way people in the US can still call their country America, but use Greater America when talking about the continent. Thus the people are called Greater Americans.

I am Greater American! The arch-nemesis of United Statesman! (cue villainous music)

I have no problem being called a USian so long as those people don't mind me calling them by the preliminary of their national name either, for example Dominions for people from the Dominion of Canada (which is (http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002344), apparently, still an official name), people from the República Federativa do Brasil as FRians, people from the Estados Unidos Mexicanos as ESians, and so fourth. However, if you do find that offensive than you'll understand why most "USians" don't like that term.

What if you had a group of people, say for a football cup, and you have teams that come from Canada, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Colombia. How would you say "the cup is a tournament of _________ countries."

American, and considering the word "countries", as in more than one country, is right after it, I could infer that the word American was refering to the continents in this case. If it said something like "American States", I'd infer it meant the United States of America.

I have no problem being called a USian so long as those people don't mind me calling them by the preliminary of their national name either, for example Dominions for people from the Dominion of Canada (which is (http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002344), apparently, still an official name), people from the República Federativa do Brasil as FRians, people from the Estados Unidos Mexicanos as ESians, and so fourth. However, if you do find that offensive than you'll understand why most "USians" don't like that term.

So why do they not object to the country being called the US then?

Without generalising you can not talk, think or discuss. It is not necessarily insulting.

Yeah, but on the internet, ten to one when someone is talking about how "all Americans act" it's going to be insulting.

Off the internet, more like five to one.

Give me an example where the context makes it clear. There are a few that I can think of - for example "The Americans have a low approval of their current president." (I said I was anti Bush). However a more general sentence - "Americans go to the movies more frequently than the Europeans" - is thoroughly ambiguous.

Yes, more generalized sentences are more ambiguous. That's their nature. You haven't differentiated whether you meant people of European descent, or people currently living in Europe, for example. This isn't a call for inventing new terms. It's a call for more context.

I do most of the time.

Well, there you go. Then continue doing so and don't add suffixes to acronyms. It looks stupid.


When did I say I was? I simply do not use it that way.

You implied you were offended because we were "denying" your being known as American. You act like your usage has been robbed, monopolized or usurped.

No, I see the lumber in your eye quite clearly. You think it is uncourteous of people not to call you "American," but don't think it's uncourteous of you not to call people that.


I do believe the word is discourteous, although maybe I have too much "lumber in my eye," and I didn't read it correctly. Who am I to say, though? ;)

And I would think that some people would have better things to do than cry about the fact that we call them USians.
Halleluah.

All this enthusiasm over nomenclature, yet the substance in the root purpose of this thread goes unanswered. Why are USAmericans loud and cocky in Australia.

Alas, a lost cause...:D
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10847650&postcount=1

Wouldn't it be cool if english had this thing where one word could have two different meanings?


<3 :)

Ugh...What is this, 24 pages? Is the concept of a homonym that complex?

Apparently so.

I'm still waiting for someone to pour through the entire dictionary and invent new words for anytime a word has more than one meaning...

Folks from other lands can call me what they choose, but the fact does remain, Im AMERICAN and PROUD!

No, I get that, but if I needed to refer to the citizens of your entire country, it would be cumbersome to name all the states. So. Citizens of the USA you shall be!
For a teacher, you sure don't listen very well. :rolleyes:

You could just sidestep the issue by using our state citizenship instead. Though that probably wouldn't work if you wanted to all lump everyone in the country together in some huge generalization.

But that's their favorite activity ever!!

;-)

Apparently so.

I'm still waiting for someone to pour through the entire dictionary and invent new words for anytime a word has more than one meaning...

And we should fix other languages too, like Spanish. Did you know 'nada' can mean 'nothing' AND 'he swims'! It's insane! How will they understand?

Except "USian" is not an actual word. But yeah, freedom of speech, you are free to use whatever made-up bullshit you want. Call yourself "fucktarian" if you want for all I care.
Sorry...was there a cut off date for when new English words could be invented? Is there some sort of Academy of Proper English? Use 'fucktarian' enough and you'll soon find it in the dictionary. Flip a bit further, and you'll see USian.

So why do they not object to the country being called the US then?
Not really sure and thats probably the best point I've seen on this thread so far. Off the top of my head I would guess that it is because it is an acronymn thats been around for awhile so people are use to it, while USian is a new term that many feel others are tying to impose on them. Still the term USian has its own problems as well does it refer to the United States of Mexico or the United States of America, and why does it apply to the one and not the other? Personally I think it sounds like a bit of the problem comes from the fact that people outside the US, consider North and South America as one continent, which I honestly don't get they are about as connected as Eurasia and Africa yet those are considered seperate continents, while in the US its North and South America. This means that in those nations there is a problem distinguishing the country nationality refered to and the continental, while in the US we say American for the country nationality and North or South American for the continent identities.

And you aren't also a citizen of the USA? Seems real enough to me. You'll be fine. I promise you won't lose your identity.
No, but we'll have to continue putting up with dolts who insist we're using the wrong name to refer to ourselves.

I doubt "USian" is a word in Portuguese either...
You've had the Portuguese and Spanish word for USian given to you how many times in this thread, and you still 'doubt' it exists?

There are continents in this world, and we have given these names. From those names we derive adjectives to describe the people that live there.

Western Europe = Europians
Eastern Europe = Europians
South East Asia = Asians
North Africa = Africans
West Africa = Africans

etc.

Hence
South America = Americans
North America = Americans
Central America = Americans

Now which takes priority. The continent ofd the nation. Well there is one other nation which sharews its name with a continent. The Republic of South Africa. What do we call the inhabitants of this country? Africans? No. (Except that they are inhabitants of the countinent) We cal then South Africans. Thus we should call the citizens of the United States of America, United States of Americans. Just because you decide to abbreviate the name of your nation does not give you the right to claim the continental adjective as referring only to citizens of your country.
Now I find United States of American to be a little cumbersome, so I chose to abbreviate this as USian. After all you do not object to the United States of America being abbreviated to the US. Suddenly, however, people who accept the nation being caled the US start to object to being described as a USian. So I am asking them what they would prefer that I use, but I will not use American as that is wrong.


Problem: North and South America are two different continents, with two different continental shields, so they get two different appellations.

However, continuing your analogy:

West coast of the United States of America: Americans
East coast of the United States of America: Americans
Northern states: Americans
Southern stats: Americans

Yep, it still works!

Folks from other lands can call me what they choose, but the fact does remain, Im AMERICAN and PROUD!
Me too!

Like Hawaii. I must remember that it's not actually really part of the USA.
Neither is California, although we avoid telling them so they don't get upset. :D

For a teacher, you sure don't listen very well. :rolleyes:
And for a condescending windbag, you sure carry on about nothing. Apparently the term 'citizen of the USA' now offends you too? Amazing how someone who heaps insults upon others on a regular basis, can be so utterly sensitive when it comes to anything he chooses to be sensitive about.

I was being anglocentric, you are correct. Hence forth, we shall be known as the Canadians/Canadiens, for clarity. You shall all refer to us in our two official languages!
Shorten it to CCians and I might consider it. :p

Problem: North and South America are two different continents, with two different continental shields, so they get two different appellations.
Therefore Eufrasia and Indo-Australia.

Problem: North and South America are two different continents, with two different continental shields, so they get two different appellations.

However, continuing your analogy:

West coast of the United States of America: Americans
East coast of the United States of America: Americans
Northern states: Americans
Southern stats: Americans

Yep, it still works!
See that seems to be the crux of this debate. I did a quick read on this debate on Wiki and one thing mentioned was that in South America, North and South America are considered one continent so they have a problem with the term refering to both continent and nationality that we don't.

No, but we'll have to continue putting up with dolts who insist we're using the wrong name to refer to ourselves.
You can call yourself whatever you want. Just don't insist I use the same name to refer to you.

So USian is just another shortened form of "the United States of America" and one that disambiguates from the continent. But Eutrusca finds it offensive. What I am still trying to find out is why.
Perhaps because so many of those who use it on here do so in a sinngering, deliberately insulting manner? Ya think??? :p

It doesn't matter what I like, the French have words for us, the Germans have words for us, the Japanese have words for us. Just like we will have words for you. Your opinion of them is pretty much irrelevant.

Not the point. I'm a polite person so if you have an English word that you would prefer I use for your nationality I'll use it. That's what polite people should do. What would you like to be called?

That's because their nationality is not American - American is their continental identity. Just like my nationality is not European, but it is my continental identity.
Their continental identity? Hmmmm... how useful? I don't know of any time when the 'Continental Americans' have ever needed to be referred to as a group. I mean, Europeans have attempted to form a group (the European Union) have acted as a group. But what use is there for a continental identity? Particularly in America where there is no grouped government, there is no common language, there is no commonality at all other than being about as close to one another as I am to people in Sweden.

You can call yourself whatever you want. Just don't insist I use the same name to refer to you.

I don't insist. I think it is polite, however.

So what should the citizens of the USA be called if they do not like the term USian?


I've never even heard it before, but if you ask me it sounds pretty gay.


mattr0cka

It generally comes up in the issue of solidarity, in particular among First Nations people, who span both our countries, but also quite often among the aboriginal people of all the Americas. I'm also familiar with the term because of Spanish, but for me, it's mostly about the relationship native people on this continent have with one another.

I always avoid the term 'American'. I'll use 'US citizen', or 'people from the USA', because the term American is used in a much broader sense in many fields, including education. If I were to write a course using the term 'American' to mean 'citizens of the USA', I'd have to change it. It's too imprecise.

As you are Canadian, I assume you're familiar with the French word for people from the United States of America. What is it? What was that? Oh yeah, right, américains. Furthermore, many French people call the country l'Amérique. But wait! It's too imprecise! You and I should start a crusade, going all over the world, changing the vocabulary of millions of people by ourselves! We'll need snacks, though... I'll bring the pop, and you can bring the chips.

Look, pardon me if I'm in a perverse mood, but I am, and I'm not reading through a huge list of other posts to see if anyone else said this.

Yes, I find "USian" insulting. There is huge historical precident for people from the USA being called "Americans"... GET OVER IT. That's how it's been since the country was started. What need is there to change it?

If you're from South America, you're a "South American". If you're from Central America, you're a "Central American" and if you're from North America, you can be "North American". You're never from all three, and using "American" to refer to someone not from the United States of America is ambiguous and frankly, idiotic, unless you're deliberately trying to decieve someone.

So get off my country, and get off my labels. Go find your own, and quit trying to steal the ones that have belonged to me since America began.

The thing is that the name of the nation takes priority over the name of the continent. In most circles, the USA is referred to simply as America. Hence American most of the time means someone is from the USA.
Everywhere indeed, except on NS General. :rolleyes:

Neither is California, although we avoid telling them so they don't get upset. :D

Ha! We give the rest of the nation 13% of it's GDP! You sure as hell acknowledge we're Americans come tax day. :cool:

Sorry...was there a cut off date for when new English words could be invented? Is there some sort of Academy of Proper English? Use 'fucktarian' enough and you'll soon find it in the dictionary. Flip a bit further, and you'll see USian.

No, no matter how many times *I* use "fucktarian" it's not going in the dictionary. The dictionary is about common usage, not individually frequent usage.

And the portugese word meaning "of the USA" is not a silly abbreviation+suffix like "USian." It's an actual word, hence it's not goofy and it's not incorrect.

Christ, "USian" is like those annoying people wHo tYpE lIkE tHiS.

Halleluah.

He was talking to me and I wasn't crying about it. I think it's appropriate for us to say what we would like to be called. I extend you the same courtesy. I'll call you American if you like, but since for about two hundred years that term has been used to refer to Americans people might get you confused with us.

What would you prefer from Canada be called?

Vive le Québec libre!
I almost don't blame them. :rolleyes:

Perhaps because so many of those who use it on here do so in a sinngering, deliberately insulting manner? Ya think??? :p
Perhaps because you react to any use of this word in a condescending, deliberately obtuse way, using it as an excuse to go off on a rant? Ya THINK???

For most of us, USian is a construction that increases clarity for those of us who are not citizens of the USA, and who are nonetheless a part of the Americas. That this term is late coming to English, the minority language on this continent, does not somehow make it a new term meant solely to insult you. Get over yourself.

Oh my. This is the thanks that USAmericans get for saving the World time and time again. Having non-USAmericans debate the legitimacy of their own name for hours.

And the protest is the loudest from their fellow Continental Americans! :D
They're in search of their own identity, I'm told. :D

So get off my country, and get off my labels. Go find your own, and quit trying to steal the ones that have belonged to me since America began.

You're that old. Wow.

I don't insist. I think it is polite, however.
Do you take issue with me calling you a citizen of the USA? Or a US citizen? I doubt it. USian is a useful term that means the same thing...a specific term for people who live in your country. Amongst yourselves, there is clearly no need for distinction. But the rest of us sometimes want to be more precise.

Their continental identity? Hmmmm... how useful? I don't know of any time when the 'Continental Americans' have ever needed to be referred to as a group. I mean, Europeans have attempted to form a group (the European Union) have acted as a group. But what use is there for a continental identity? Particularly in America where there is no grouped government, there is no common language, there is no commonality at all other than being about as close to one another as I am to people in Sweden.

Ever heard of NAFTA? You clearly have no concept of how numerous "North American" groups are. Mexico and Canada have Nascar, and American Football, and baseball, trade agreements, etc etc. Come on... just because we don't share a government which is trying to make it the United States and Counties of North America doesn't mean we don't share anything.

Edit: And you say we don't need a grouped identity partly because we don't have a grouped language? Whaaaat? How is this different from Europe, which has a lot more than three major languages in there...?

Perhaps because you react to any use of this word in a condescending, deliberately obtuse way, using it as an excuse to go off on a rant? Ya THINK???

For most of us, USian is a construction that increases clarity for those of us who are not citizens of the USA, and who are nonetheless a part of the Americas. That this term is late coming to English, the minority language on this continent, does not somehow make it a new term meant solely to insult you. Get over yourself.
I'm still confused on how North or South American isn't, of course I'm also confused as to how NA and SA are one continent and Eurasia and Africa aren't but one question at a time.

See that seems to be the crux of this debate. I did a quick read on this debate on Wiki and one thing mentioned was that in South America, North and South America are considered one continent so they have a problem with the term refering to both continent and nationality that we don't.

I see. Still, in the United Nations, they are considered to be two continents, and geologically they are; the defining characteristic of a continent is the continental shield. In South America, the shield is found in the Brazil and Guiana Highlands, and in North America, it's found in northeastern Canada.

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0861195.html, for reference.

Particularly in America where there is no grouped government, there is no common language, there is no commonality at all other than being about as close to one another as I am to people in Sweden.
But there are continental associations, organizations, and international cooperation groups. And it's a shame you don't feel affinity with the rest of the people in the continent.

So, I have a question:

I was born in Chile. I have Chilean citizenship, and speak spanish fluently.

I grew up in Canada. I have Canadian citizenship, and speak english fluently.

I live in Quebec. I have Quebec health insurance. If Quebec separated, I would be a Quebec citizen, and I speak french.

So if I have lived in several nations in the Americas, speak most of the major languages of the Americas, and have passports for several countries in the Americas, what am I?

Am I a chilean/canadian/quebecer/hispanophone/anglophone/francophone...or am I an american?

And the portugese word meaning "of the USA" is not a silly abbreviation+suffix like "USian." It's an actual word, hence it's not goofy and it's not incorrect.

Christ, "USian" is like those annoying people wHo tYpE lIkE tHiS.
The exact translation of estadosunidense is United Statesian. If you can be allowed to say US, instead of always typing out United States, then surely you can use USian.

Therefore Eufrasia and Indo-Australia.


Heaven help us, though, if we called the Swedes Eufrasians!

*Ducks as lutefisk is thrown at head*

Do you take issue with me calling you a citizen of the USA? Or a US citizen? I doubt it. USian is a useful term that means the same thing...a specific term for people who live in your country. Amongst yourselves, there is clearly no need for distinction. But the rest of us sometimes want to be more precise.

I don't have a problem with you using regular terms that you didn't make up. However there is already a single term for Americans. I think if you were polite you would use it. It's existed for 200 years and other than in threads like this one, I've never run into a single misunderstanding regarding it, despite your claims that it's so imprecise that people are having trouble figuring out what is meant.

If citizens of the United States of America would like to be called "Americans," why don't you just call them that? If you use "USian," and an American asks you to please refer to them as "American" instead, why not just do it? It's only polite.
Those using the bogus "USAian" misnomer are not exactly noted for being polite, sadly. :rolleyes:

So, I have a question:

I was born in Chile. I have Chilean citizenship, and speak spanish fluently.

I grew up in Canada. I have Canadian citizenship, and speak english fluently.

I live in Quebec. I have Quebec health insurance. If Quebec separated, I would be a Quebec citizen, and I speak french.

So if I have lived in several nations in the Americas, speak most of the major languages of the Americas, and have passports for several countries in the Americas, what am I?

Am I a chilean/canadian/quebecer/hispanophone/anglophone/francophone...or am I an american?

Whoa, déjà vu.

So, I have a question:

I was born in Chile. I have Chilean citizenship, and speak spanish fluently.

I grew up in Canada. I have Canadian citizenship, and speak english fluently.

I live in Quebec. I have Quebec health insurance. If Quebec separated, I would be a Quebec citizen, and I speak french.

So if I have lived in several nations in the Americas, speak most of the major languages of the Americas, and have passports for several countries in the Americas, what am I?

Am I a chilean/canadian/quebecer/hispanophone/anglophone/francophone...or am I an american?

Would calling yourself an American convey all of those things? No. So why argue as if it would?

So, I have a question:

I was born in Chile. I have Chilean citizenship, and speak spanish fluently.

I grew up in Canada. I have Canadian citizenship, and speak english fluently.

I live in Quebec. I have Quebec health insurance. If Quebec separated, I would be a Quebec citizen, and I speak french.

So if I have lived in several nations in the Americas, speak most of the major languages of the Americas, and have passports for several countries in the Americas, what am I?

Am I a chilean/canadian/quebecer/hispanophone/anglophone/francophone...or am I an american?
Didn't you post this already, anyway you would be a citizen of which ever one of those you have citizenship in.

I'm still confused on how North or South American isn't, of course I'm also confused as to how NA and SA are one continent and Eurasia and Africa aren't but one question at a time.
Depends on what you've been taught. There is no one 'rule' as to how many continents there are because different criteria are used.

I'm always amazed when 'North American' conveniently doesn't include the dusky, Spanish speaking people south of the USA...

I don't understand why anyone would call us "Usians" when the obvious term is American. I live in America, so I am an American. There's really no chance of confusing us with third-world countries on the same conitnent; after all, we are the most visible, have good moral values, the greatest military, and spread freedom everywhere. Besides, other countries hardly ever come up because the world's attention is always on America and whichever country we are currently blessing with the divine gift of freedom and spiritual salvation in the form of Jesus Christ. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down any of the dirt-poor third-world neighbors of ours, after all they provide important goods such as oil and below-minimum wage labor to our great country, AMERICA.

Yeah... if you are completely and totally unable to discern something from context.

"Americans are dumb." I've never seen this refer to Brazilians.

"America is a stupid nation with a stupid president." Gee, could they be referring to Guatamala?

"America should stay out of the Middle East." Damn that Mexico!

People who use "USian" are apparently unable to tell the difference between a continent and a nation. Apparently having one word with several meanings is too complex for you.


Beautiful... :-)

Whoa, déjà vu.

Yeah, well, no one answered it the first time, and it is topical, and...fuck it, I'm off to the hippo races.

sure, when you talk with them.

But when you are writing an article or a post, you don't go around asking what the prefer to be refered to. You use words that you understand and you are hoping that everyone will understand. Otherwise we'd have pretty fucked up posts where you refer to colombianos and americans and canadiens and français. No you say columbian, USAmerican/Whatever, candian and french because your post is written in english.

But this all stemmed for Eutrusca refusing to answer a question because he took offense to being called USian. Let me tell you, it'S a rather poor way of skirting the issue and debating.
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10847650&postcount=1

And you say we don't need a grouped identity partly because we don't have a grouped language? Whaaaat? How is this different from Europe, which has a lot more than three major languages in there...?


They don't care.

They do it to be condescending.

I'm going to start calling people who use the word USian, AWUMUWs.

It rolls of the tounge just as easy and it's far more clever.

I don't understand why anyone would call us "Usians" when the obvious term is American. I live in America, so I am an American. There's really no chance of confusing us with third-world countries on the same conitnent; after all, we are the most visible, have good moral values, the greatest military, and spread freedom everywhere. Besides, other countries hardly ever come up because the world's attention is always on America and whichever country we are currently blessing with the divine gift of freedom and spiritual salvation in the form of Jesus Christ. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down any of the dirt-poor third-world neighbors of ours, after all they provide important goods such as oil and below-minimum wage labor to our great country, AMERICA.
Good morals. *sneers*

Would calling yourself an American convey all of those things? No. So why argue as if it would?

yes, in my mind it does convey where I am from and who I am. 'American' can have two meanings.

Didn't you post this already, anyway you would be a citizen of which ever one of those you have citizenship in.

Right, so I'm a chilean/canadian/quebecer, except in quebec, it's common to identify yourself by language group, so....rather than typing 403 characters, I just say I'm an American.

Who said it?

Some Danish guy i who know in real life.

See, and I avoid that term because I believe it's offensive.

USian or yank?

USian is much nicer.


Do you prefer 'Canadian' or 'Canuk?'

But there are continental associations, organizations, and international cooperation groups. And it's a shame you don't feel affinity with the rest of the people in the continent.

It's a shame? Why? What should make me want to create such a grouping? I'm not even particularly a fan of nationalism but it's necessary since there are national governments.

What other groupings is it a shame I don't feel an affinity to? White people? If something as shallow as proximity is a factor for feeling an affinity, why not skin color? How about feeling an affinity to heterosexuals? How about men?

See, as an American, I vote with other Americans and I fall under a government that all other Americans do. But as a member of a continent what do I have in common with others of the continent other than being on land that is connected (which isn't even always true)? Is it proximity? If so, shouldn't those in Northern Canada have a closer affinity to Sweden and Norway than Peru?

So, I have a question:

I was born in Chile. I have Chilean citizenship, and speak spanish fluently.

I grew up in Canada. I have Canadian citizenship, and speak english fluently.

I live in Quebec. I have Quebec health insurance. If Quebec separated, I would be a Quebec citizen, and I speak french.

So if I have lived in several nations in the Americas, speak most of the major languages of the Americas, and have passports for several countries in the Americas, what am I?

Am I a chilean/canadian/quebecer/hispanophone/anglophone/francophone...or am I an american?
Neither. You're ... confused. Heh!

Depends on what you've been taught. There is no one 'rule' as to how many continents there are because different criteria are used.

I'm always amazed when 'North American' conveniently doesn't include the dusky, Spanish speaking people south of the USA...
Hows that? It goes down through Mexico and either cuts off at the SOuthern Mexican border or where Central America meets South America, with the later being more common. At least that how I've always seen it done here in the US on maps and such, if its diferent in Canada I'd say thats your guys problem.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down any of the dirt-poor third-world neighbors of ours, after all they provide important goods such as oil and below-minimum wage labor to our great country, AMERICA.
But your country is the United States OF America. That is relative or belonging to America. So, WE OWN you, biaaaatch!!!

The exact translation of estadosunidense is United Statesian. If you can be allowed to say US, instead of always typing out United States, then surely you can use USian.

No, because US is an acronym. USian is not. Acronyms are valid. USian is not.

"Estadosunidense" is not that awful hybrid of an acronym either. Note the lack of double capitalized letters in it? Good.

The way you are so rabidly defending this bullshit term makes me think it's more important to you personally and politically than just a convinient way to disambiguate without bothering with context.

Well, yanqui, in Spanish, is generally used to refer to imperialist people from the USA. It's meant to be insulting, and therefore, is insulting. While people may get annoyed with 'USian', it isn't meant to be insulting, and I can't see how anyone could actually get insulted about it. If they are insulted...oh well. I'm still not going to call them an American.
Then I shall call you neither Canadian nor by the name of your tribe ( which I can't pronounce anyway! ). Heh!

Good morals. *sneers*
Yes, all loyal patriotic Americans are good Christians who spread the word of Jesus to the less fortunate in the world. We have elected our brave and undaunted leader, President George W Bush, to do this in our name. He has exceeded all of our expectations in fighting the evil terrorists and converting Iraqis to the true faith of Christianity.

I don't have a problem with you using regular terms that you didn't make up.Well, as flattered as I am at the suggestion that I coined this term, I have to nonetheless refrain from taking the credit. Every word ever spoken is 'made up', and new words are created all the time. That is a fact of language, and something that will never change.


However there is already a single term for Americans.And there can not possible be two? Call yourself that name. There. It still exists in the sense you wish it to. Now I will refer to you by a different name. You are still what we have both described you as, in that particular context. Life moves on.

I think if you were polite you would use it. It's not about being polite, or appeasing your ego. I will not use that term to refer to a citizen of the USA. That you insist I do, simply because you have another term in mind, is unbelievably pushy. If you are so deeply offended by the term USian, I will call you 'a citizen of the USA'. If you are not offended by the term, why are we even having this discussion?

It's existed for 200 years and other than in threads like this one, I've never run into a single misunderstanding regarding it, despite your claims that it's so imprecise that people are having trouble figuring out what is meant.
That is because you are stuck in an anglophone sphere. I deal with this misunderstanding quite often in my field, as clarity is important when writing courses. Since the majority of our students have Spanish backgrounds, the term 'American' is too imprecise to use to refer to citizens of your nation. So we use the long form, 'citizens/people of the USA'. For brevity, some of us in informal situations have shortened that to USian. That you don't hear the term much in the US is not suprising. But your lack of experience with people who do not like this imprecise term 'American' is not evidence that such people do not exist.

Neither. You're ... confused. Heh!

And with this post, you seem dismissive and prone to belittling people rather than debating.

Do you take issue with me calling you a citizen of the USA? Or a US citizen? I doubt it. USian is a useful term that means the same thing...a specific term for people who live in your country. Amongst yourselves, there is clearly no need for distinction. But the rest of us sometimes want to be more precise.

Nah, you can call me a citizen of the USA, or a US citizen... you can say I'm from "the states" even... but USian is a very politically correct term which replaces an equally specific term becuase some bunch of idiots who made it up could not differentiate between other countries and areas properly.

We don't refer to someone from Germany as a "eurasian" do we? we don't refer to someone from Brazil as an "american" either. If you don't understand this, go learn the language properly. "American" refers exclusively to someone from the United States of America. Any other classification requires other terms. If you need to refer, for some lunatic reason, to someone who could be from either of the continents over here, give it the whole hemisphere and don't leave out the islands, lest they be insulted too...

But the people living on greenland are not americans are they?

Greenland is on the North American continent, although it has always had strong cultural ties with Europe.

Yes, all loyal patriotic Americans are good Christians who spread the word of Jesus to the less fortunate in the world. We have elected our brave and undaunted leader, President George W Bush, to do this in our name. He has exceeded all of our expectations in fighting the evil terrorists and converting Iraqis to the true faith of Christianity.

I didn't pick up the sarcasm. :(

Do you prefer 'Canadian' or 'Canuk?'
Canadian in a formal setting, Canuk is pretty good informally. Neither are insulting.

Hey! It's Santa Barbara! When did you come back?

And with this post, you seem dismissive and prone to belittling people rather than debating.

I think it was obvious he was joking.

We don't refer to someone from Germany as a "eurasian" do we?

Bundes Republik Deutchland - so it would be BRian, not Euroasian.

Is it proximity? If so, shouldn't those in Northern Canada have a closer affinity to Sweden and Norway than Peru?
While you scoff at a continental identity, you fail to realise that such an identity outside of Canada and the USA is a reality.

We're going to keep using 'USian'.

Get over it.
No.

But as a member of a continent what do I have in common with others of the continent other than being on land that is connected (which isn't even always true)?
History, young nations in the process of being built, the liberal idealism under which they were born, and some common problems.

Canadian in a formal setting, Canuk is pretty good informally. Neither are insulting.

Well, then, in which setting do you prefer 'American?' Only on forums where you're trying to piss people off?

Depends on what you've been taught. There is no one 'rule' as to how many continents there are because different criteria are used.

I'm always amazed when 'North American' conveniently doesn't include the dusky, Spanish speaking people south of the USA...

Whatdyou mean? Mexico is part of North America. All the lil mini-countries south of Mexico are Central America. Go a bit farther down, and you've switched contients and find South America. We may not want them in our country illegally, but I see nothing wrong with sharing a continent with them.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but Japan is Nippon.

Hey! It's Santa Barbara! When did you come back?

I never left, not really.

Being Canadian, I'll just stick with the word 'Yank'.

Canadian in a formal setting, Canuk is pretty good informally. Neither are insulting.
Huh, here Canuk is considered an insulting term for Canadians, like Polocks(sp) or such.

Hows that? It goes down through Mexico and either cuts off at the SOuthern Mexican border or where Central America meets South America, with the later being more common. At least that how I've always seen it done here in the US on maps and such, if its diferent in Canada I'd say thats your guys problem.
Yes, well when people talk about 'North Americans', it usually refers to USians and possibly Canadians. It obviously refers to more than that, but the connotation is generally of white, blonde, English speaking people...just listen the next time a politicans says, "North Americans". You'll see what I mean.

Bundes Republik Deutchland - so it would be BRian, not Euroasian.

No space!

Sorry...was there a cut off date for when new English words could be invented? Is there some sort of Academy of Proper English? Use 'fucktarian' enough and you'll soon find it in the dictionary. Flip a bit further, and you'll see USian.

And right after that you'll find NUSANPians. We do consider you guys Americans. In our minds, you're just the Norther USA National Park. Many, the US national parks are great for their fishing and mountians. I particularly like Quebec National Park. NUSANPians, it is. Or, of course, we could realize that courtesy is a much better tactic than deciding we don't have to give a crap about what the people we are referring to think about how we refer to them.

Why don't you just refer to us by our state/commonwealth? That would make me a New Yorker. Really, it doesn't matter to me. Columbians could call themselves Americans if they wanted to. We NAMED our country America when it was founded, now that isn't our fault, because no one on this board was alive at the time. If we were the United States of Peopltopia, you all would be up in arms that we called ourselves People. Is it really that big of a deal to call us Americans? I don't think it's MY fault that my forefather's didn't have the foresight to give a little meat to our countries name.

They don't care.

They do it to be condescending.

I'm going to start calling people who use the word USian, AWUMUWs.

It rolls of the tounge just as easy and it's far more clever.

Someone's gotta ask... what's AWUMUWs?

And for you people from the Brittish Isles, can we start calling you UKians?

No, because US is an acronym. USian is not. Acronyms are valid. USian is not. Then don't use it.

"Estadosunidense" is not that awful hybrid of an acronym either. Note the lack of double capitalized letters in it? Good. National identities are not capitalised in Spanish. Your point is....?

The way you are so rabidly defending this bullshit term makes me think it's more important to you personally and politically than just a convinient way to disambiguate without bothering with context.
The way your are rabidly foaming at the mouth about this word, for no other reason than 'it sounds stupid', makes me think that you are reading much too much into the term. You've yet to give me a valid reason to NOT use it (again other than, "It sounds stupid")...so what...I should just stop because you're having delusions about how it's part of a grande political conspiracy? Again...get over yourself.

Being Canadian, I'll just stick with the word 'Yank'.
See thats also inproper since a Yank would be someone from the New England area, not to mention it would probaly piss some southerners off.

This thread is funny.
It never ceases to amaze me how worked up people can get over such pointless things.

Then I shall call you neither Canadian nor by the name of your tribe ( which I can't pronounce anyway! ). Heh!
Go hard...

While you scoff at a continental identity, you fail to realise that such an identity outside of Canada and the USA is a reality.

I scoff at all such groupings. I think that nationalism does enough damage without create another form of it. I understand why some like the EU would do such things in order to compete with the unfortunate economic force exerted by the US. I can see why South America might do such a thing for the same reason. I think these are unfortunate side-effects of nationalism gone afoul in the US. Why would I want to make it worse?

Hmm.

Here's the thing about Eut: he's not a jackass. I disagree with Eut more often than not, but he's not one of the random arseholes who come around internet forums to pick mindless fights. I don't think Eut would go completely bonkers for no reason.

I don't usually make excuses for people's bad behavior, but I think it's important to realize that it's a little tough to be a USAmerican these days. This forum, in particular, tends to have a lot of America-bashing threads (or America-fluffing threads that degenerate into a war between America-fluffers and America-bashers). This gets some people very very tense. Just as some people have a knee-jerk negative reaction to "American arrogance," some Americans have a knee-jerk reaction to what they perceive as yet more attacks on America. These reactions may be mistakes, in the long run, but I think they are often very understandable.
Thank you.

However, I don't see myself as having "bad behavior," or as having gone "completely bonkers." All I see is my having reacted negatively to what I percieve as very thinly veiled insult, as opposed to most of the insults against America made on here, which are not "veiled" in any way whatsoever.

Let's face it: most of those using the totally bogus and highly inaccurate "USAian" term for Americans do so purely because they seek to insult anything and everything having to do with America. It's definitely not intended to endear them to us.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it but Japan is Nippon.

Yeah, and China is zhong guo

Hey! It's Santa Barbara! When did you come back?
We all come back...don't we...though SB's vacation was longer than some...

Their continental identity? Hmmmm... how useful? I don't know of any time when the 'Continental Americans' have ever needed to be referred to as a group. I mean, Europeans have attempted to form a group (the European Union) have acted as a group. But what use is there for a continental identity? Particularly in America where there is no grouped government, there is no common language, there is no commonality at all other than being about as close to one another as I am to people in Sweden.

There is no common language in Europe either, no one speaks a language called "European". In the Americas there are multinational organisations such as the OAS, NAFTA, Mercosur etc.

Well, then, in which setting do you prefer 'American?' Only on forums where you're trying to piss people off?
I use American when referring to something from the Americas.

And for you people from the Brittish Isles, can we start calling you UKians?Yes.

I don't care whether people refer to me as Irish, Northern Irish, British, European, or some other coined term that they find more appropriate. And this comes from someone from a country where nationality can be taken (sadly) very seriously in some quarters. It's only a label to me to denote my broad location, so I fail to see why I should care.

Personally, I call people from the USA 'Americans' and I can see why 'USian' could be awkward in conversation, but I still don't see why it's offensive as such, in and of itself.

MUAHAHHAAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

And still no one has provided a reason as to why it could possibly be considered insulting.
I have ... repeatedly. Yet you either choose to not read, or to simply ignore my reasons. ( shrug ) About what I've come to expect of those few Canadians who try to make themselves feel better by sneering at their neighbor to the South. Fortunately, most Canadians seem to have more sense and common courtesy.

Whatdyou mean? Mexico is part of North America. All the lil mini-countries south of Mexico are Central America. Go a bit farther down, and you've switched contients and find South America. We may not want them in our country illegally, but I see nothing wrong with sharing a continent with them.
No, sorry...I didn't mean 'North American', I meant A North American. As in, when many people use the term, "North American", they are referring to a person from the US and possibly Canada...but quite often not from Mexico, or what you call Central America (which others consider a part of North America, or just part of the Americas).

i voted for the chocolate hobnobs option because i love chocolate hobnobs. if it hadn't been there i would have voted no. how could it possibly be offensive? it's not derogatory in any way it's just a couple of letters taken from an abbreviation of the full name of the country followed by -ian. what's the problem?!!?

I don't understand why anyone would call us "Usians" when the obvious term is American. I live in America, so I am an American.

I too live in America, so I too am an American. Shame I don't live in the USA though.

Thank you.

However, I don't see myself as having "bad behavior," or as having gone "completely bonkers." All I see is my having reacted negatively to what I percieve as very thinly veiled insult, as opposed to most of the insults against America made on here, which are not "veiled" in any way whatsoever.

Let's face it: most of those using the totally bogus and highly inaccurate "USAian" term for Americans do so purely because they seek to insult anything and everything having to do with America. It's definitely not intended to endear them to us.
I use it to conserve my valuable time. It's shorter than any other term.

And way to get worked up over nothing. Grow a thicker hide.

Ewwwww....is that keeping them ready so they can screw the world?

(I'm sorry, I just had to...fluffers...hehehehehe)
I rest my case.

Huh, here Canuk is considered an insulting term for Canadians, like Polocks(sp) or such.
Well, I guess it's like the term yank...some of you might not find it offensive, but we mean it to be, and you may mean Canuk to be offensive, but we don't find it such.

Yes.

I don't care whether people refer to me as Irish, Northern Irish, British, European, or some other coined term that they find more appropriate. And this comes from someone from a country where nationality can be taken (sadly) very seriously in some quarters. It's only a label to me to denote my broad location, so I fail to see why I should care.

Personally, I call people from the USA Americans and I can see why 'USian' could be awkward in conversation, but I still don't see why it's offensive as such, in and of itself.

Maybe you shuld be called Irish Protestants (Anglicans)? IPians (IAians)

I have ... repeatedly. Yet you either choose to not read, or to simply ignore my reasons. ( shrug ) About what I've come to expect of those few Canadians who try to make themselves feel better by sneering at their neighbor to the South. Fortunately, most Canadians seem to have more sense and common courtesy.

Nice insults and flamming. (Flap vulture flap)
Now please post links to the posts where you gave your reasons, or if like me, you cannot find these posts, repost your reasons.

The baby wants its bottle even if the mother is in the process of weaning it. I think it's dawning on them what a stupid name they chose for their country.
The only thing that's "dawning" on us is that few of our former "friends" can be trusted. No wonder America is finally beginning to act in her own self-interest. :rolleyes:

Maybe you shuld be called Irish Protestants (Anglikans)? IPians (IAians)It would certainly offend some (well, the 'Irish Protestant' bit), but that's their problem. I personally don't care; how other people choose to term me is not an important part of my existence.

I scoff at all such groupings. I think that nationalism does enough damage without create another form of it. I understand why some like the EU would do such things in order to compete with the unfortunate economic force exerted by the US. I can see why South America might do such a thing for the same reason. I think these are unfortunate side-effects of nationalism gone afoul in the US. Why would I want to make it worse?
Actually, the feeling of American unity (not referring to the USA) is something meant to overcome petty nationalism, and help people relate to one another as just people sharing space. It's the complete opposite of nationalism, and rather discouraged in certain states.

Then don't use it.

Thanks. And I'll continue to rightfully criticize anyone who insists on using it, too.

The way your are rabidly foaming at the mouth about this word, for no other reason than 'it sounds stupid', makes me think that you are reading much too much into the term. You've yet to give me a valid reason to NOT use it (again other than, "It sounds stupid")

I've given, and others have, plenty of valid reasons. For example, it's not an actual word. There is already a word for it, that's another example.

As for sounding stupid, it IS stupid. UKian, EUian, USSRian, LBJian, FBIian, notice what these "words" all have in common? They're all absolutely balls-out fucking stupid.

...so what...I should just stop because you're having delusions about how it's part of a grande political conspiracy? Again...get over yourself.

Grande? No. Conspiracy? No. Just a little jab at "arrogant" Americans.

The only thing that's "dawning" on us is that few of our former "friends" can be trusted. No wonder America is finally beginning to act in her own self-interest. :rolleyes:
You mean by electing Chavez and Evo Morales?

Let's face it: most of those using the totally bogus and highly inaccurate "USAian" term for Americans do so purely because they seek to insult anything and everything having to do with America. It's definitely not intended to endear them to us.
Let's face it: anything you do not agree with will be seen as an insult by you, regardless of the actual motivation. It's not about kissing your ass, or booting you in it. But when that's all you want to see, that's the picture that shall appear before you...

Take a look at every single one of my posts, over the past two years, and you'll find perhaps a handful of instance where I've used the word, "American" to refer to people from the US. I've been pretty consistent with other terms. USian is not one I use a lot, compared to the longer 'citizen of the US, or person from the US' etc...but I've never consistantly used these terms in anti-US postings. Some have been positive, or neutral, or negative, but never totally negative. I don't switch back and forth, using 'USian' for the negative posts and 'American' for the positive or neutral posts.

The only thing that's "dawning" on us is that few of our former "friends" can be trusted. No wonder America is finally beginning to act in her own self-interest. :rolleyes:
Lol!
Maturity isn't about age I guess.

It would certainly offend some (well, the 'Irish Protestant' bit), but that's their problem. I personally don't care; how other people choose to term me is not an important part of my existence.

That's right - keep it cool!

You mean by electing Chavez and Evo Morales?

Good one!

Well I am glad we've established that we should call people what we want to call them. Not what they want to be called.
Wonderful. :rolleyes:

Well, as flattered as I am at the suggestion that I coined this term, I have to nonetheless refrain from taking the credit. Every word ever spoken is 'made up', and new words are created all the time. That is a fact of language, and something that will never change.

My point is that we already have an English word that we use to refer to ourselves that you've used for 200 years. You are making a new term for something that already works. It's not done out of necessity and you know it. You argue it to get under the skin of people like Eut because you know that it does and you don't like him. Come on, don't act like I don't have you pegged. This isn't innocent and that's why it's championed by people who enjoyed stirring the pot like you and Fass.

And there can not possible be two? Call yourself that name. There. It still exists in the sense you wish it to. Now I will refer to you by a different name. You are still what we have both described you as, in that particular context. Life moves on.

I say have fun. But since the majority of the world uses Americans and the majority of the world is more courteous than you're being, I don't really suspect you'll have too much success.

It's not about being polite, or appeasing your ego. I will not use that term o refer to a citizen of the USA. That you insist I do, simply because you have another term in mind, is unbelievably pushy. If you are so deeply offended by the term USian, I will call you 'a citizen of the USA'. If you are not offended by the term, why are we even having this discussion?

I see. So I guess I can call you Jocabia's woman. It apparently doesn't matter what you call yourself or whether you find my name for you offensive or annoying. All that matters is what I want to call you. Otherwise, I'm appeasing your ego.

I don't insist you do anything. I believe it's polite. If you choose not to be polite that is your choice, Sinuhue.

That is because you are stuck in an anglophone sphere. I deal with this misunderstanding quite often in my field, as clarity is important when writing courses. Since the majority of our students have Spanish backgrounds, the term 'American' is too imprecise to use to refer to citizens of your nation. So we use the long form, 'citizens/people of the USA'. For brevity, some of us in informal situations have shortened that to USian. That you don't hear the term much in the US is not suprising. But your lack of experience with people who do not like this imprecise term 'American' is not evidence that such people do not exist.
Interesting, when I learned Spanish from a Spaniard, we were referred to as Americanos. Then I learn from a Chilean. Hmmm... American. The hispanics I've worked with over the years. Americano. My Salsa teacher. Americano. I never heard the term Estadounidense until, well, you told me. I guess they deal too much in the anglophone sphere too.

How about calling them Humans?

While we're at it, why not call everyone that?

I know of no other country of the world where people outside of the country decide what the citizens of that country will be referred to. The creation of the term USian is meant to be irritating. That's the point. I would think people have better things to do than to cry about the fact that we refer to ourselves as Americans.
Precisely!

And I would think that some people would have better things to do than cry about the fact that we call them USians.
Until today, I never would have thought you could be so small-minded. :(

I have ... repeatedly. Yet you either choose to not read, or to simply ignore my reasons. ( shrug ) About what I've come to expect of those few Canadians who try to make themselves feel better by sneering at their neighbor to the South. Fortunately, most Canadians seem to have more sense and common courtesy.
Your reasons given are false. You claim that it is used solely to piss you off. I know this is not true. So? What else do you have?

Actually, the feeling of American unity (not referring to the USA) is something meant to overcome petty nationalism, and help people relate to one another as just people sharing space. It's the complete opposite of nationalism, and rather discouraged in certain states.

Nationalism is a necessity because there is actually an important commonality in a nation, a government. It's a necessary evil. It's not petty. There is nothing petty about encouraging people to take responsibility for their government and vote and become active. There is nothing petty about encouraging people to become involved in that government locally and broadly. It's not a petty action. However, much like when all the states of the US came together and formed a federal government and the nationalism moved to that level (and still remained at the other levels as well) this will just be another layer on which to base corruption and discrimination.

I rest my case.
It's a pun. Get over yourself.

Well, I guess it's like the term yank...some of you might not find it offensive, but we mean it to be, and you may mean Canuk to be offensive, but we don't find it such.

Yes, well "Yank" (aka "Yankee") is a huge insult in the south, but can be viewed as a compliment in the north. That's all about the civil war.

I grew up near Philadelphia, so if you prefer, you can call me a native philadelphian if you prefer. Or alternately, a Pennsylvanian. Currently I live in Delaware, so I could be a delawarean by marriage. By location, I probably would fall into Northern territory, so "yankee" wouldn't be an insult. My siblings have moved to Tennesee, Georgia, Virginia, Canada (nearish Toronto) and who knows where else. They've become southerners at heart, and would consider "yankee" as a huge insult. *shrug* They'd also side with the southerners in the civil war debate. Additionally, my brother has a dual Brittish (and hence, EU) citizenship, due to having been born in Scotland. He'd not take "european" as an insult either.

ALL of us would consider "USian" as an insult.

Originally Posted by Eutrusca
The only thing that's "dawning" on us is that few of our former "friends" can be trusted. No wonder America is finally beginning to act in her own self-interest.

What? You think US entered WWI cuz they acted in someone else's interest? Or WWII or Korea or Vietnam or Kuwait or Bosnia & Kosovo or Iraq?

BUHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Hows that? It goes down through Mexico and either cuts off at the SOuthern Mexican border or where Central America meets South America, with the later being more common. At least that how I've always seen it done here in the US on maps and such, if its diferent in Canada I'd say thats your guys problem.
so, let me get this straight...

The US does it one way. The rest of the world does it another way and it's the rest of the world's problem?

Geez... tlak about ego.

Nationalism is a necessity because there is actually an important commonality in a nation, a government. It's a necessary evil. It's not petty.
I never said that nationalism was petty. I used petty as an adjective, to describe a kind of nationalism, the kind that uses borders as an excuse to hate people who are similar to you in almost everyway. But that is a discussion better left for another thread...entitled "American unity (not including the US or Canada)".

Your reasons given are false. You claim that it is used solely to piss you off. I know this is not true. So? What else do you have?

If it's not soley to piss us off, the only other valid reason is because you're too stupid to be able to differentiate nationalities properly. Somehow, I doubt that, since you don't seem stupid. Is there some other reason other than to be insulting that you'd be so stupid?

ALL of us would consider "USian" as an insult.
Really? So unanimous? Because a number of your brethren have posted stating they don't find it insulting at all.

How about calling them Humans?

While we're at it, why not call everyone that?

I do that when appropriate.

Perhaps because so many of those who use it on here do so in a sinngering, deliberately insulting manner? Ya think??? :p
Because you see it that way doesn't make it so.

It's insulting to the intelligence, since it's basically l33tsp34k. It's insulting to whoever uses it. It's an insult to the English, excuse me UKian language. It's insulting because it's an attempt at creating NewSpeak as well - the clean, politically correct version that won't insult non-US Americans. (Because apparently it's insulting for a non-US American to have someone *else* be called "American?" Poor babies.)

And you know damn well that the anti-anything-US-does crowd on this board - like dear sweet Fass there - intends it to be annoying, and does it because it annoys those dastardly Americans.
Exactly! Thank you! :)

As you are Canadian, I assume you're familiar with the French word for people from the United States of America. What is it? What was that? Oh yeah, right, américains. Furthermore, many French people call the country l'Amérique. But wait! It's too imprecise! You and I should start a crusade, going all over the world, changing the vocabulary of millions of people by ourselves! We'll need snacks, though... I'll bring the pop, and you can bring the chips.
around these parts, we use États-Unien more and more. So what's your point?

So get off my country, and get off my labels. Go find your own, and quit trying to steal the ones that have belonged to me since America began.
That's took some balls... posting this on a UK forum :p

If it's not soley to piss us off, the only other valid reason
Read the rest of the thread. The reasons are plenty.

If it's not soley to piss us off, the only other valid reason is because you're too stupid to be able to differentiate nationalities properly. Somehow, I doubt that, since you don't seem stupid. Is there some other reason other than to be insulting that you'd be so stupid?

I use it to differentiate it from people who have lived in, and are citizens of, multiple nations in the Americas, and people from the USA. It has nothing to do with insults or my apparent stupidity.

I just find the term USian combursome and annoying, not offensive.

The way I try to explain it to some people from other countries is to refer to me by the state I am from. Since this country is in fact a union of seperate states. For example, I am from New Hampshire. So calling me a New Hampshirite (yes that is the proper term) or even a New Englander is what I usually prefer if the speaker doesn't want to call me an American. This may seem strange but when you get down to it even people from different states can be vastly different from one another. Just my two-cents.

around these parts, we use États-Unien more and more. So what's your point?
Thanks...I knew I'd spell it wrong, so I was waiting for a francophone to set him straight.