NationStates Jolt Archive

Really. Give me an example of a person who has used USian as an insult.

I don't use it that way, but you take offense anyway.

At some point, the responsibility for that offense is yours.

Banana you!

i think it was about 6 or 7 months ago when i first saw it used so... and since there are a multitude of pages since using the term USian, i don't think i could find it.

how could the responsibility be mine? I'm not the one using the term.

USian is of recent origin less than 10 years a netspeak word. And calling calling somebody a Dick roll more trippingly of the tongue than call them a Richard :p Besides if you're a guy and you had to loose a body part what would want to loose last ( non fatally). I have spare finger and toes but no "extra" dick. It is as valuable as a brain or heart and I dare say held in higher asteem. So is it more insulting to be called a dick or say a wart or a hemeroid?


Feel that way all you want. If the term USian was widely held to be a derogatory word, then I would not use it, but it isn't held to be so. The term "USian "is about 50 years old apparently.

Do you disagree that calling someone a dick is widely held to be an insult?

Show me a list of these millions of people.

I have been to 12 countries and talk to many people from others.

I have never heard of the term USIAN until it was mentioned here.
Learn Spanish.

Proof please. Never heard of it before this site.....


http://www.findword.org/us/usian.html

My god...and you'll compare me to My Nordland?

I'm hurt.

But everything that comes out of his mouth...fingers...whatever...is offensive.
Of course not! I'd never compare the two of you.

You asked if someone used it derogatively. I can say for certain that's an affirmative.

Learn Spanish.

:rolleyes:

So much for your proof.

Of course not! I'd never compare the two of you.

You asked if someone used it derogatively. I can say for certain that's an affirmative.
Mmmm...but reading the original quote (which Sumumba provided), it wasn't the term USian that was insulting, but rather the stereotype that accompanied it.

Why is it so hard to take millions upon millions of people's request that you not use "American" to only refer to yourselves?

This is what is known as an impasse.

...Millions? There's...been some sort of polling on this? Or you're a million people? Wha?

USian is of recent origin less than 10 years a netspeak word. And calling calling somebody a Dick roll more trippingly of the tongue than call them a Richard :p Besides if you're a guy and you had to loose a body part what would want to loose last ( non fatally). I have spare finger and toes but no "extra" dick. It is as valuable as a brain or heart and I dare say held in higher asteem. So is it more insulting to be called a dick or say a wart or a hemeroid?

No, it's much older:
http://www.findword.org/us/usian.html

We aren't talkign about what's more insulting... we are talking about what is widely held to be insulting (at all) or not. USian isn't as most people have never even heard the word.

How is "USians" pronounced, exactly? I've only ever seen it written.

Your schools suck then. What provence do you live in so I can donate a few maps to the ministry of education.

Any Canadian coming from Quebec would say America in that example. There is no such distinction as North and South america in our school.

...Millions? There's...been some sort of polling on this? Or you're a million people? Wha?
The term itself is common usage in Spanish, and as more and more Spanish people move north, you're going to hear it translated into English more and more.

Point being...get used to it.

i'll start saying français when i say it in french, otherwise, they're going to be called french. I'll start saying svenge when i'm speaking swedish, otherwise i'll call someone from sweden a swede or swedish. Same goes for any nationality. I would expect someone to call me whatever their designation is for American in their language instead of American. But since we are speaking english, i expect to be called American. (won't even touch the "your highness" thing :P)
You insist we use American, as it is the term 'American' use to describe themselves. Then, français use 'français' to describe themselves. It's rather strange to insist that we do something you, yourself, don't even do.

Names don't change when language change. Frank does not become François when he speaks french. So why the term used to describe the citizen can be changed when changing language?

And it's "your highness, the epitome of all that is good" thing. I can't stand abbreviations. ;)

:rolleyes:

So much for your proof.
You ignorance is no excuse. It's a common term in the Americas.

http://www.findword.org/us/usian.html


Interesting.

However, how is it valid? They never stuck and more or less been forgotten.

Technically we could still be called colonists. Our British cousins still use that from time to time. ;)

How is "USians" pronounced, exactly? I've only ever seen it written.
I say it the same way I say 'US', with 'ians' on the end :)

You ignorance is no excuse. It's a common term in the Americas.

Ahh now the insults. Typical.

Show me the proof. Sumamba had no problem so why do you?

The term itself is common usage in Spanish, and as more and more Spanish people move north, you're going to hear it translated into English more and more.

Point being...get used to it.

No, "estadounidense" is the term (ignoring that americano and gringo are too). We aren't speaking Spanish. And literal translations are what's going to cause you trouble as more Spanish people move north.

Your schools suck then. What provence do you live in so I can donate a few maps to the ministry of education.
I might suggest the same thing. What self respecing school system teach that America is separated in two continents? Surely they must be mad? What else do these poor suckers learn? That Antartica is not a continent?

:rolleyes:

I say it the same way I say 'US', with 'ians' on the end :)

Yewesian, then. I will, from now on, rite it fonetically.

I might suggest the same thing. What self respecing school system teach that America is separated in two continents? Surely they must be mad? What else do these poor suckers learn? That Antartica is not a continent?

Surely, you jest? I'm looking at my globe right now, and there is a clear distinction made between North America and South America.

Unless, that is, you mean that Yewesia is divided into two continents. That's not what I mean.

You insist we use American, as it is the term 'American' use to describe themselves. Then, français use 'français' to describe themselves. It's rather strange to insist that we do something you, yourself, don't even do.

Names don't change when language change. Frank does not become François when he speaks french. So why the term used to describe the citizen can be changed when changing language?

And it's "your highness, the epitome of all that is good" thing. I can't stand abbreviations. ;)

He insists you use American when speaking English. Demonyms aren't a person's name, they change in different languages.

Ahh now the insults. Typical.

Show me the proof. Sumamba had no problem so why do you?
I'm not sure what you're asking for here. But I'll give you a list of the nations that use the term estadounidense, which in English is USian:

Argentina, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuatorial Guinea, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Spain...the population sum total of which number in the millions...and I'm leaving out the Portuguese speakers which have a similar term, not to mention the French...

I might suggest the same thing. What self respecing school system teach that America is separated in two continents? Surely they must be mad? What else do these poor suckers learn? That Antartica is not a continent?

:rolleyes:

Plenty do. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

You insist we use American, as it is the term 'American' use to describe themselves. Then, français use 'français' to describe themselves. It's rather strange to insist that we do something you, yourself, don't even do.
yah, but do the french call themselves français in english, or do they still use français?
Names don't change when language change. of course they do. USA isn't called the united states of america in spanish or french, it's said differently. And it's "your highness, the epitome of all that is good" thing. I can't stand abbreviations. ;)
how about the epitome of all that is canuck? :P

He insists you use American when speaking English. Demonyms aren't a person's name, they change in different languages.
Then, from now on... consider than when I use USian, I am speaking French. I am from a french speaking province, after all.

No, "estadounidense" is the term (ignoring that americano and gringo are too). We aren't speaking Spanish. And literal translations are what's going to cause you trouble as more Spanish people move north.
When a similar word does not exist in another language, you must invent it, or adopt the foreign word. So either you like estadounidense, or you take USian (or UnitedStatesian).

No, I won't, because the urban dictionary is exactly that...any sort of term a certain person uses as slang, defined. It's not a reference tool I think is appropriate for determining the insult-level of USian.

Ok. dictionary.com has no entry of usian.

Yet "indian" is there and it covers you my dear.

Point is you declare it an offical word and I keep asking where is it?

Your response is to learn spanish. So basically the South Americans have a slang word for the US?

Proof helps here.

He insists you use American when speaking English. Demonyms aren't a person's name, they change in different languages.
Even in English, the term 'American' isn't correct, especially when you come from a word in another language that is much more precise and acceptable.

Interesting.

However, how is it valid? They never stuck and more or less been forgotten.

Technically we could still be called colonists. Our British cousins still use that from time to time. ;)


I don't see why a word has to be validated by someone for me to use it. What would make you think of the word as a valid word? wide usage by many people, a spot in the dictionary, popular usage on MTV24?

I don't care if you call us colonists... you use your word and I'll use mine... it still doesn't make the word derogatory just because it isn't used popularly.

I'm not sure what you're asking for here. But I'll give you a list of the nations that use the term estadounidense, which in English is USian:...

It means "from the United States", as does 'americano' and 'gringo'. If you're trying to make a literal translation, it means statesunitedian.

yah, but do the french call themselves français in english, or do they still use français?
No respecting français would be caught dead talking in english. :p

of course they do. USA isn't called the united states of america in spanish or french, it's said differently.
Then, by all means, consider than when I use USian, I am talking in french.

how about the epitome of all that is canuck? :P
I can live with that, even if it is a lesser term than my formal nationality.

So Findword which quotes Wikipedia good, Urban Dictionary bad.

That'd friggin arbitrary what makes one wiki better than another?


http://www.findword.org/us/usian.html

Your response is to learn spanish. So basically the South Americans have a slang word for the US?

Proof helps here.
No, the slang word for people from the US is usually yanqui, or gringo.

Estadounidense is the proper term for referring to the nationality of citizens of the US.

Americano is the proper term for referring to the continental identity of people who inhabit the Americas.

As for proof: here is a list (http://spanish.about.com/cs/culture/a/nationalities.htm) of nationalities in Spanish.

When a similar word does not exist in another language, you must invent it, or adopt the foreign word. So either you like estadounidense, or you take USian (or UnitedStatesian).

What? Estadounidense and American can mean the same thing. There's no word to invent. Don't like the fact they look different? Then you'll have trouble learning a good deal of other Spanish words that happen to not look exactly the same as the English equivalent.

Plenty do. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent
I'm with you there. Read what I was responding to, please.
The poster was a condescending jackass. I am being one in return.

I'm not sure what you're asking for here. But I'll give you a list of the nations that use the term estadounidense, which in English is USian:

Argentina, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuatorial Guinea, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Spain...the population sum total of which number in the millions...and I'm leaving out the Portuguese speakers which have a similar term, not to mention the French...

http://www.spanishdict.com/1AS.cfm?e=estadounidense

I have been to France. Never heard Usian only American......

No respecting français would be caught dead talking in english. :p
hahaha


Then, by all means, consider than when I use USian, I am talking in french.
i guess it's not a bad thing i can't read french then :p

It means "from the United States", as does 'americano' and 'gringo'. If you're trying to make a literal translation, it means statesunitedian.

Estadounidense, translated, is in fact UnitedStatesian, because the sytnax of Spanish is different of that of English. You don't translate casa roja as house red. It is not translated as 'from the US' any more than canadiense is translated as 'from Canada'.

Americano can refer to people who live in the US, but it also refers to everyone in the Americas. Gringo does not just refer to USians anymore...it often refers to any pale foreigner.

No, the slang word for people from the US is usually yanqui, or gringo.

Estadounidense is the proper term for referring to the nationality of citizens of the US.

Americano is the proper term for referring to the continental identity of people who inhabit the Americas.

As for proof: here is a list (http://spanish.about.com/cs/culture/a/nationalities.htm) of nationalities in Spanish.

And here's a quick list of nationalities in English, the language we're actually speaking:

American: From the USA
Canadian: From Canada
Mexican: From Mexico
Peruvian: From Peru

Weird how English has it's own words for things, isn't it?

Yewesian, then. I will, from now on, rite it fonetically.



Surely, you jest? I'm looking at my globe right now, and there is a clear distinction made between North America and South America.

Unless, that is, you mean that Yewesia is divided into two continents. That's not what I mean.
Please, spare me your insult.

Start a thread and ask how many continents there is and to name them and you'll se there is no consensus.

As such, thinking you are holding the only truth and I am ill-educated is the height or egoism. Look out the window, there's abig world out there. Some people disagree with how you were taught things. Cope with it.

What? Estadounidense and American can mean the same thing. There's no word to invent. Don't like the fact they look different? Then you'll have trouble learning a good deal of other Spanish words that happen to not look exactly the same as the English equivalent.
You have a poor background in Spanish.

There are two words...estadounidense and americano. American exists in English, but no equivalent to estadounidense does. They are not the same word.

Americano can refer to people who live in the US, but it also refers to everyone in the Americas.

You mean...Exactly like the word American?

American
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American may refer to:

* A person or attribute of the United States of America
* A person or attribute of the Americas, the lands and regions of the Western Hemisphere

English (take note, ENGLISH)

Etymology

From Modified Latin Americanus (America from Latinized name of Amerigo Vespucci, Italian navigator of 1512).

Pronunciation

American (noun and adjective)

US: SAMPA: /@"mEr@k@n/, IPA: /ə'mɛrəkən/

Proper noun

American (plural: Americans)

1. A person born in, or a citizen or inhabitant of, the United States of America.
2. An inhabitant of the Americas. More often this is specified as either North American or South American.

http://www.spanishdict.com/1AS.cfm?e=estadounidense

I have been to France. Never heard Usian only American......


me too - I was just in Paris recently for my honeymoon. We were with a tour group walking as A group of french guys walked by and I heard one say "Stupid Americans". But he used it as an insult so perhaps people shouldnt be allowed to use that word.

I don't see why a word has to be validated by someone for me to use it. What would make you think of the word as a valid word? wide usage by many people, a spot in the dictionary, popular usage on MTV24?

I don't care if you call us colonists... you use your word and I'll use mine... it still doesn't make the word derogatory just because it isn't used popularly.

We are basically arguing the same thing. It all depends on how it is used.

Usian I suspect is used in a derogatory sense simply because of all the other comments posted about the country here. If people routinely bash the US.....

hahaha



i guess it's not a bad thing i can't read french then :p
:p
You, sir, are on my cool Usian list.

http://www.spanishdict.com/1AS.cfm?e=estadounidense

I have been to France. Never heard Usian only American......
Étatsunien/ne

All you link has proven is that there is not an adequate translation available in English.

USian would be it.

Please, spare me your insult.

Start a thread and ask how many continents there is and to name them and you'll se there is no consensus.

As such, thinking you are holding the only truth and I am ill-educated is the height or egoism. Look out the window, there's abig world out there. Some people disagree with how you were taught things. Cope with it.

Sheesh. From now on then, because I said so ( ;) ), there are to be but 3 Continents. Austerica, Eurasia, and Afrartica.

me too - I was just in Paris recently for my honeymoon. We were with a tour group walking as A group of french guys walked by and I heard one say "Stupid Americans". But he used it as an insult so perhaps people shouldnt be allowed to use that word.

You have never heard me say it can't be used.

People are arguing it's a common word and I am only saying prove it.

You have a poor background in Spanish.

There are two words...estadounidense and americano. American exists in English, but no equivalent to estadounidense does. They are not the same word.

Why not? Stuggling with synonyms? Sure, Americano has two meanings. Estadounidense shares one of those meanings. And incidentally, if we'd actuually talk aboout English, American has two meanings. Or, you can say it's two words with the same spelling and pronuciation, with different meanings. We call them 'homonyms'. An intresting aspect of the English language, among others.

Sheesh. From now on then, because I said so ( ;) ), there are to be but 3 Continents. Austerica, Eurasia, and Afrartica.
I say, you're having a hard time coping with it. :rolleyes:

And here's a quick list of nationalities in English, the language we're actually speaking:

American: From the USA
Canadian: From Canada
Mexican: From Mexico
Peruvian: From Peru

Weird how English has it's own words for things, isn't it?
And here are a bunch of words that have been adopted into English:

chocolate, tobacco, bok choy, wonton, dim sum etc etc etc

Weird how English doesn't have it's own words for many things, isn't it?

This at least, is an attempt to have one, rather than use 'estadounidense'.

<snip>

it's like peeing in the wind dude. No use.

You mean...Exactly like the word American?

American
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

American may refer to:

* A person or attribute of the United States of America
* A person or attribute of the Americas, the lands and regions of the
Thank you, that's exactly my point.

Estadounidense does not mean American. Americano means American, and because American is an imprecise term that refers to a national identity and a continental identity, USian is more preceise, refering only to nationality...just like estadounidense.

I'm so happy you're finally getting it.

I say, you're having a hard time coping with it. :rolleyes:

Sometimes there just needs to be a right and a wrong, you know? This reminds me vaguely of the debate on the various biological kingdoms.

And here are a bunch of words that have been adopted into English:

chocolate, tobacco, bok choy, wonton, dim sum etc etc etc

Weird how English doesn't have it's own words for many things, isn't it?

This at least, is an attempt to have one, rather than use 'estadounidense'.
i would just like to say because those words didn't exist before... but we have one denoting our nationality. *pees in the wind*

Étatsunien/ne

All you link has proven is that there is not an adequate translation available in English.

USian would be it.


You yanked your link ;)

So no adequate translation is available so you declare USian to be it. Didn't know you had the power. ;)

And here are a bunch of words that have been adopted into English:

chocolate, tobacco, bok choy, wonton, dim sum etc etc etc

Weird how English doesn't have it's own words for many things, isn't it?

This at least, is an attempt to have one, rather than use 'estadounidense'.

We have one. Can you spell it? It starts with an 'A' and has more than one meaning...

kinda off topic, but how do you put someone on ignore here?

i would just like to say because those words didn't exist before... but we have one denoting our nationality. *pees in the wind*
That term also exists in Spanish, and is just as imprecise.

Welcome to the need for a new term from an old term used elsewhere. English is like that.

And you realise you just soiled yourself...don't you?

Sometimes there just needs to be a right and a wrong, you know? This reminds me vaguely of the debate on the various biological kingdoms.
Tell me, then. How do you define a continent?

We are basically arguing the same thing. It all depends on how it is used.

Usian I suspect is used in a derogatory sense simply because of all the other comments posted about the country here. If people routinely bash the US.....


Why would you suspect that it is being used primarily as a derogatory word after all we just discussed though? Especially after I showed you it's history and the reason for it's emergence. I, as a citizen of the United States, use the word to describe my own nationality as well. AM I putting myself down? I find that it is a better term than American and have no intentions of insulting myself or my fellow countrymen (unless they are republicans, but then I don't consider them real citizens and would only refer to them as jerks :p j/k jerks)

Thank you, that's exactly my point.

Estadounidense does not mean American. Americano means American, and because American is an imprecise term that refers to a national identity and a continental identity, USian is more preceise, refering only to nationality...just like estadounidense.

I'm so happy you're finally getting it.

Imprecise? Every word with two meanings is imprecise? I hope you never need to wrap your mind around a word like "cleave", or "fluke". Most people have no trouble discernng which meaning is being used in everyday communication. If you can't, well I'm sorry for you. Also, English isn't really the best language for you, considering all the "imprecise" words. Maybe newspeak or something, it's supposed to be simple.

kinda off topic, but how do you put someone on ignore here?
Put your hands over your eyes and go 'lalalalalalalalaa'.

No, seriously, go into profile at the top left hand corner of the page, and then into your buddy/ignore list.

Or you could stay out of threads that cause you to vent spleen.

Tell me, then. How do you define a continent?

Continental shield, usually...

kinda off topic, but how do you put someone on ignore here?
Go in your profile, click on "buddy/ignore list", put his name on your ignore list .

But, please, don't put me on your ignore list. I'll be good! I promise.

Imprecise? Every word with two meanings is imprecise? I hope you never need to wrap your mind around a word like "cleave", or "fluke". Most people have no trouble discernng which meaning is being used in everyday communication. If you can't, well I'm sorry for you. Also, English isn't really the best language for you, considering all the "imprecise" words. Maybe newspeak or something, it's supposed to be simple.
Well hey, maybe we could just all use the term 'human' when referring to people! And when we want to be specific about where that human is from, we won't, because that would narrow things down too much for you, and get you all riled up! Oh noes!

it's like peeing in the wind dude. No use.

Eh, I'm bored, nothing better to do.

Well hey, maybe we could just all use the term 'human' when referring to people! And when we want to be specific about where that human is from, we won't, because that would narrow things down too much for you, and get you all riled up! Oh noes!

Uh-huh...So, you can't use a word with two meanings then?

These threads always grow to scary proportions in such a small time...yet we all seem to love bashing our heads over the same arguments again and again...

Tell me, then. How do you define a continent?

A big chunk of land that looks vaguely detatched from all the other big chunks of land. This can be by water or by a very narrow sliver of land that is in danger of being submerged under the ocean at any time.

Then it would be necessary for me to define "chunk of land." This of course, is anything that is roughly the size of a breadbasket the size of Australia.

A strip of land is considered "narrow" if you could not transport a breadbasket the size of scotland across it by land.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9043/spanish6ch.png

more peeing in the wind...

btw, thanks for telling me. It's for future use after this thread.

These threads always grow to scary proportions in such a small time...yet we all seem to love bashing our heads over the same arguments again and again...

Yeah, yeah we do...Then again, that's about all of NSG, as far as debate goes.

This is a stupid debate. I'm from the United States, and I couldn't care less what you call me - USian, American, Yank, whatever, it's cool. I'll probably keep referring to myself as American though. It's not that we feel we control this continent, it's just what we call ourselves.

To those arguing for the use of USian, DesignatedMarksman is an idiot, plain and simple. Please don't use him as an example of all of us from the States, because he's really not.

To DesignatedMarksman, you are an idiot. Call yourself American, but don't cry like the whiney little biggoted bitch you are when someone calls you something else. Quite frankly, you should be happy to be called USian, and not something more accurate, like 'shmuck', or 'asshole'.

Why would you suspect that it is being used primarily as a derogatory word after all we just discussed though? Especially after I showed you it's history and the reason for it's emergence. I, as a citizen of the United States, use the word to describe my own nationality as well. AM I putting myself down? I find that it is a better term than American and have no intentions of insulting myself or my fellow countrymen (unless they are republicans, but then I don't consider them real citizens and would only refer to them as jerks :p j/k jerks)

Why would I suspect? Well just about 99.9% of the comments regarding the US tend to be critical. So I guess you are right. Usian falls under the .1% ;)

Oxford and Websters don't seem to have an entry for Usian. So is it a word or is it slang?

A big chunk of land that looks vaguely detatched from all the other big chunks of land. This can be by water or by a very narrow sliver of land that is in danger of being submerged under the ocean at any time.

Then it would be necessary for me to define "chunk of land." This of course, is anything that is roughly the size of a breadbasket the size of Australia.

A strip of land is considered "narrow" if you could not transport a breadbasket the size of scotland across it by land.
Then why is Europe and asia not the same continent?

Why is Japan not a continent by itself?

Why is The UK not a continent?

These threads always grow to scary proportions in such a small time...yet we all seem to love bashing our heads over the same arguments again and again...

Hey! You just reached the next step in the 12 Step NS recovery program! Good for you!!!!!! :D

You have never heard me say it can't be used.

People are arguing it's a common word and I am only saying prove it.


But you were saying it's not a valid word, weren't you? or perhaps you were just asking how it can be valid since it's use has been out of fashion for so long. You were also arguing that it is being used primarily in a derogatory fashion because it was used in concordance with insults about US citizens just because a couple people have used it that way, but I thought I layed that one to rest.

I dont know where I was going with that, nevermind.

I didn't know anyone was saying its a common word (I also disagree). I am just arguing that it is a valid word to use as most to hear it know whats being refered to and it has it's roots in early USian literature, plus it's beginnign to gain popular usage, at least somewhat on NSG, or else there wouldn't be so many people up in arms about it. Although, what does it matter if its a common word or not?

Then why is Europe and asia not the same continent?

Why is Japan not a continent by itself?

Why is The UK not a continent?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

Why would I suspect? Well just about 99.9% of the comments regarding the US tend to be critical. So I guess you are right. Usian falls under the .1% ;)

Oxford and Websters don't seem to have an entry for Usian. So is it a word or is it slang?

The U.S. is awesome.

There, increasing the percentage.

The U.S. is awesome.

There, increasing the percentage.

Perhaps you don't realize just how many US-bashing comments are in that 99.9%.

Then why is Europe and asia not the same continent?

Why is Japan not a continent by itself?

Why is The UK not a continent?

I think Eurasia is a valid continent.

You could fit a dozen Japans/UKs into a breadbasket the size of Australia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent
From your link:

"Since geography is defined by local convention and there is difficulty in setting lines in terms of "continuous", there are several variations as to which land masses qualify as continents"

So who died and made Hydesland boss?

I think Eurasia is a valid continent.

You could fit a dozen Japans/UKs into a breadbasket the size of Australia.
Look back on your definition of continent...

By your definition, Japan, The UK, Greenland are all continents.

Care to reconsider your view?

Uh-huh...So, you can't use a word with two meanings then?
Let me try to explain this so you can understand the need for precision in certain situations:

You can use the word 'red' and 'crimson' and basically know that you're talking about the same kind of colour. Hold up two paint samples and ask, 'which red do you like? The red, or the crimson?' You do that in order to be precise.

Which American do you mean?

The Unitedstatesians.

In the US, you don't tend to discuss things on a continental level...neither do we here in Canada. I suspect it is because we don't share an official language with the majority of other people on the American continent. However, once you step into that majority world, "American" becomes much more imprecise than it does in the US or Canada, and hence the term 'estadounidense' is commonly used to refer to the national identity of those living in the USA. It wouldn't matter here so much except the world is changing and becoming more global...and as things shift, the need for new precision may arise for some.

You go ahead and use the term 'American' to refer to only those people living in the US. I may ask you to clarify who you are speaking about. When I use the term USian, you have no doubts.

Yes

From your link:

"Since geography is defined by local convention and there is difficulty in setting lines in terms of "continuous", there are several variations as to which land masses qualify as continents"

So who died and made Spadesburg boss?

Hey, don't pin that quote on me. I made my case somewhere else, and I don't need no goddamned links to do it. ;) <-- winking again, for some reason.

Perhaps you don't realize just how many US-bashing comments are in that 99.9%.
Still... one comment increases the percentage. Too bad we approximate. ;)

From your link:

"Since geography is defined by local convention and there is difficulty in setting lines in terms of "continuous", there are several variations as to which land masses qualify as continents"

Exactly. The answers to your questions aren't definite. I'd tell you what I think, but you'd just say "why?"

Hey, don't pin that quote on me. I made my case somewhere else, and I don't need no goddamned links to do it. ;) <-- winking again, for some reason.
Sorry... meant the other bloke. Will be fixed in a jiffy.

Why would I suspect? Well just about 99.9% of the comments regarding the US tend to be critical. So I guess you are right. Usian falls under the .1% ;)

Oxford and Websters don't seem to have an entry for Usian. So is it a word or is it slang?


Then I would suspect that all words so describe USians are all used in a derogatory fashion on NSG and therefore it doesnt matter if USian, AMerican or any other term is used. SO there is no point on harping (not you) that USian is a derogatory word because "American" is used so much more to put down USians and noone is objecting to it's usage.

Perhaps you don't realize just how many US-bashing comments are in that 99.9%.

The U.S. is awesome (to the power of ten gajillion)

There, that should take care of the pesky percentage.

But you were saying it's not a valid word, weren't you? or perhaps you were just asking how it can be valid since it's use has been out of fashion for so long. You were also arguing that it is being used primarily in a derogatory fashion because it was used in concordance with insults about US citizens just because a couple people have used it that way, but I thought I layed that one to rest.

I dont know where I was going with that, nevermind.

I didn't know anyone was saying its a common word (I also disagree). I am just arguing that it is a valid word to use as most to hear it know whats being refered to and it has it's roots in early USian literature, plus it's beginnign to gain popular usage, at least somewhat on NSG, or else there wouldn't be so many people up in arms about it. Although, what does it matter if its a common word or not?


Heck I don't know what we are arguing about anymore either? ;)

I am just amazed at the contentious this term has become.

There are far better things to argue about.

Hey! You just reached the next step in the 12 Step NS recovery program! Good for you!!!!!! :D
Oh I've been there a long time...no progression so far...

The only real argument I've seen about not using USian is that people feel offended by it. Are you offended when referred to as estadounidense instead of americano? I for one don't use it in a derogatory sense. I don't hide my derision that way, I let it hang out...and I don't label all USians as being the same (love ya Sumumba!). You can go ahead and take offense...but my kids are Spanish speakers too, and the word is going to stick...and they don't use it to piss USians off.

Perhaps you don't realize just how many US-bashing comments are in that 99.9%.
Then again, you tend to hear what you want to hear.

And the absence of bashing-comments never gets your attention as much as the presence of them.

Then I would suspect that all words so describe USians are all used in a derogatory fashion on NSG and therefore it doesnt matter if USian, AMerican or any other term is used. SO there is no point on harping (not you) that USian is a derogatory word because "American" is used so much more to put down USians and noone is objecting to it's usage.

Wellllllllllllll.......

The adjectives they like to use with Usian would get them warned if not banned!

;)

Then again, you tend to hear what you want to hear.

And the absence of bashing-comments never gets your attention as much as the presence of them.

Take my last post, for example. And incase you don't feel like scrolling:

The U.S. is awesome^10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Look I made this for YOU!

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=487511

It seems most people think unlike the MOE that there is a NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA !!!:eek: :eek: :eek:



Still... one comment increases the percentage. Too bad we approximate. ;)

Exactly. The answers to your questions aren't definite. I'd tell you what I think, but you'd just say "why?"
Listen Dinaverg. I have nothing against you. You supply answers and are a fine upstanding poster.

I got sidetracked by this other poster who insist he knows what the continents are and that his word is the law. I disagreed. He then said that what I learned was stupid. I don't respond well to condescending idiots.

I went intothis argument about continents and asked him to define since he seems the know THE truth. You answer to my posts but not his. So I use your post to drive my point across that he is a jackass that arbitrarily decided he was right.

Thank you for helping me make my point. Not let's cut the tension between us and disagree with our respective other posters. Deal?

Let me try to explain this so you can understand the need for precision in certain situations:

You can use the word 'red' and 'crimson' and basically know that you're talking about the same kind of colour. Hold up two paint samples and ask, 'which red do you like? The red, or the crimson?' You do that in order to be precise.

Some might. Art folks, for example. Personally, I'd say "this red" or "that red"

Which American do you mean?

The Unitedstatesians.

In the US, you don't tend to discuss things on a continental level...neither do we here in Canada. I suspect it is because we don't share an official language with the majority of other people on the American continent. However, once you step into that majority world, "American" becomes much more imprecise than it does in the US or Canada, and hence the term 'estadounidense' is commonly used to refer to the national identity of those living in the USA. It wouldn't matter here so much except the world is changing and becoming more global...and as things shift, the need for new precision may arise for some.

You go ahead and use the term 'American' to refer to only those people living in the US. I may ask you to clarify who you are speaking about. When I use the term USian, you have no doubts.

Next grammar lesson:
"How do we tell what someone means when the use a word with two common meanings?"

"The key here, kids, is something we like to call 'context'. Context basically means all the words around something and their meanings. For example, if someone says "The American President", how do you tell what they mean by American?"

*raises hand* "Well, because the USA has a President, and the COntinents don't, you can tell it means "of or relating to the USA"."

"Very good. And, what if someone says "The american supercontinent", what would it mean then?"

*raises hand* "It would be refering to North and South America, because the USA isn't a supercontinent."

"Exactly."

Geez, I think we need a full grammar class in schools.

Heck I don't know what we are arguing about anymore either? ;)

I am just amazed at the contentious this term has become.

There are far better things to argue about.


lol agreed - and to think I thought I was original and made the word up back when I first used it a couple years ago.

Look I made this for YOU!

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=487511

It seems most people think unlike the MOE that there is a NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA !!!:eek: :eek: :eek:
Now, if MOST people is ALL people, you might have a point. Otherwise, it proves my stance that continents are not a consensus.

Heck I don't know what we are arguing about anymore either? ;)

I am just amazed at the contentious this term has become.

There are far better things to argue about.
It's the little things that rock the boat the most...we already know about the big things, and tend to avoid them more...it's the little things we are just amazed people don't see our way. (speaking from experience of mixing cultures...they do WHAT with the salt???)

Then again, you tend to hear what you want to hear.

And the absence of bashing-comments never gets your attention as much as the presence of them.

That wasn't really a very serious comment...And then there was that one thread..."I wish America had balls so I could cup them"? Something like that.

Let me try to explain this so you can understand the need for precision in certain situations:

You can use the word 'red' and 'crimson' and basically know that you're talking about the same kind of colour. Hold up two paint samples and ask, 'which red do you like? The red, or the crimson?' You do that in order to be precise.

Which American do you mean?


Here's the question it boils down to....

If i ask someone abroad, "Do you like Americans?"

Who do you think they'll be talking about? "USians" as you so put it, or people from South America?

*edit*
and i like how ppl glossed over my pic of the translation of estadounidense :P

Look I made this for YOU!

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=487511

It seems most people think unlike the MOE that there is a NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA !!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

hehe... I see you used science to prove your point while I resorted to misunderstood humor. Well that's just the way it goes, I suppose.

Oh I've been there a long time...no progression so far...

The only real argument I've seen about not using USian is that people feel offended by it. Are you offended when referred to as estadounidense instead of americano? I for one don't use it in a derogatory sense. I don't hide my derision that way, I let it hang out...and I don't label all USians as being the same (love ya Sumumba!). You can go ahead and take offense...but my kids are Spanish speakers too, and the word is going to stick...and they don't use it to piss USians off.

Oh don't get me wrong. If I sound like censorship is in order, I am not. It goes against my being for that.

I sometimes toss out things just to see where people are coming from.

South America is a rather ignorant topic for me. I fully admit it. The only thing I have read about is basic history that our "wonderful" school system provides, one book about the last of the Mayan healers and a few books about the Muriqui. I would love to do some research on the Muriqui in Brazil.

My sister would probably agree with your comments. She lived in Brazil for a year on an exchange program. But I am too lazy to call her. ;)

You can call me what ever you like as long as it doesn't have "I'm going to kill you" in it. :D

That wasn't really a very serious comment...And then there was that one thread..."I wish America had balls so I could cup them"? Something like that.

Whoever started that thread has obviously never heard of Alabama.

Oh I've been there a long time...no progression so far...

The only real argument I've seen about not using USian is that people feel offended by it. Are you offended when referred to as estadounidense instead of americano? I for one don't use it in a derogatory sense. I don't hide my derision that way, I let it hang out...and I don't label all USians as being the same (love ya Sumumba!). You can go ahead and take offense...but my kids are Spanish speakers too, and the word is going to stick...and they don't use it to piss USians off.

It's because it's like:

"My name is Joesph"
"Yea, but there's another Joesph down the hall, so we'll call you Joey"
"I don't want to be called Joey"
"Pff, who cares what you want, Joey?"

Some might. Art folks, for example. Personally, I'd say "this red" or "that red" From that comment, I'm leaping to the assumption that you are a straight male, as my husband would do the same :D



Next grammar lesson:
"How do we tell what someone means when the use a word with two common meanings?"

"The key here, kids, is something we like to call 'context'. Context basically means all the words around something and their meanings. For example, if someone says "The American President", how do you tell what they mean by American?"

*raises hand* "Well, because the USA has a President, and the COntinents don't, you can tell it means "of or relating to the USA"."

"Very good. And, what if someone says "The american supercontinent", what would it mean then?"

*raises hand* "It would be refering to North and South America, because the USA isn't a supercontinent."

"Exactly."

Geez, I think we need a full grammar class in schools.
Context is important, and will clear up a lot, for sure. But you can't always have it. And when it is lacking, you get clarification.

Like you walking into a room and hearing the word 'heel/heal'.

What meaning should you infer from that word, if there is no context?

I like to be precise because I use the term "American" quite a bit, especially within an aboriginal context, to refer to all the people of the Americas. To be consistant, I use the term USian (in writing, never in speech, where I would say instead, people or citizens of the USA) when referring just to a certain nationality. That way, people who deal with me know the context already.

The word 'American' can be mistaken. The word 'USian' can not. Motivation explained.

Wellllllllllllll.......

The adjectives they like to use with Usian would get them warned if not banned!

;)


When asked to supply a link to a post where USian was used in a derogatory fashion on NSG, the link never came. I bet you I can find a hundred of derogatory posts concerning the USA with words used in conjunction with the word "American" for every single example anyone can find of someone using the term "USian" in conjunction with an insult. Not that I actually ahve the time to do that, but I bet I could if I wanted too.

Whoever started that thread has obviously never heard of Alabama.

*shrug* Probably. :p

you would be meaning me? Look at what you wrote !!! Isn't this EXACTLY what you've done?


Listen Dinaverg. I have nothing against you. You supply answers and are a fine upstanding poster.

I got sidetracked by this other poster who insist he knows what the continents are and that his word is the law. I disagreed. He then said that what I learned was stupid. I don't respond well to condescending idiots.

I went intothis argument about continents and asked him to define since he seems the know THE truth. You answer to my posts but not his. So I use your post to drive my point across that he is a jackass that arbitrarily decided he was right.
Thank you for helping me make my point. Not let's cut the tension between us and disagree with our respective other posters. Deal?

I don't label all USians as being the same (love ya Sumumba!).

:fluffle: <3 :fluffle:

It's because it's like:

"My name is Joesph"
"Yea, but there's another Joesph down the hall, so we'll call you Joey"
"I don't want to be called Joey"
"Pff, who cares what you want, Joey?"No, it's like this:

"My name is Everyone"
"Well that term exists already and means more than just you, so I'll call you Joey."
"I don't want to be called Joey."
"Well you aren't Everyone, so get over it."

From that comment, I'm leaping to the assumption that you are a straight male, as my husband would do the same :D

Darn, I've been found out. :cool:

Context is important, and will clear up a lot, for sure. But you can't always have it. And when it is lacking, you get clarification.

Like you walking into a room and hearing the word 'heel'.

What meaning should you infer from that word, if there is no context?

I'm not sure...Is there a dog in the room? Is this a party? At the workplace? Who said it? Are there gestures to go along with it?

I like to be precise because I use the term "American" quite a bit, especially within an aboriginal context, to refer to all the people of the Americas. To be consistant, I use the term USian (in writing, never in speech, where I would say instead, people or citizens of the USA) when referring just to a certain nationality. That way, people who deal with me know the context already.

The word 'American' can be mistaken. The word 'USian' can not. Motivation explained.

Eh...But that still leaves hundreds upon thousands of other words in the English language for you to fix.

you would be meaning me? Look at what you wrote !!! Isn't this EXACTLY what you've done?
No it's not. Unless you are talking about insults, in which case you use them too.

I said there is no consensus. And there isn't.

You said that you were right. When asked why? YOu said "Because I say so". Again, why?

I never said there was six continents nad that it was the absolute truth whereas you did it (with 7 continents mind you). Clearly there is a difference.

I see that there is a clear consensus about North and South America.


Now, if MOST people is ALL people, you might have a point. Otherwise, it proves my stance that continents are not a consensus.

No, it's like this:

"My name is Everyone"
"Well that term exists already and means more than just you, so I'll call you Joey."
"I don't want to be called Joey."
"Well you aren't Everyone, so get over it."

...Well, if they were actually named Everyone, that'd be a little odd, but I'd try to still use Everyone. Maybe "Mr./Mrs. Everyone", or "Everyone <insert surname or surname initial here>.

Darn, I've been found out. :cool:

I'm not sure...Is there a dog in the room? Is this a party? At the workplace? Who said it? Are there gestures to go along with it?

Eh...But that still leaves hundreds upon thousands of other words in the English language for you to fix.
Not really.

When you use a term that is imprecise, and you don't get your meaning across, what do you do? You use another term.

When I am talking about nationality, I use national terms. American is not a good national term. I choose to use a term that is better. If you still can't understand the term I choose to use, then I'll say something else...but American is not going to be the name I call you by, unless I'm including you as a person living here in the Americas.

...Well, if they were actually named Everyone, that'd be a little odd, but I'd try to still use Everyone. Maybe "Mr./Mrs. Everyone", or "Everyone <insert surname or surname initial here>.
The dude is a hippy who changed his name (not legally) and later on wants to be called the Archangel Michael.

Hell I don't care how many continents there are as long as you understand North ans South America are 2 DIFFERENT continents. The MOE that teaches differently is wrong....Don't you have friggin Risk in Quebec?

No it's not. Unless you are talking about insults, in which case you use them too.

I said there is no consensus. And there isn't.

You said that you were right. When asked why? YOu said "Because I say so". Again, why?

I never said there was six continents nad that it was the absolute truth whereas you did it (with 7 continents mind you). Clearly there is a difference.

USian sounds PC and gay. If not American, how about United Statesmen?


British people are now called UKians.

It's because it's like:

"My name is Joesph"
"Yea, but there's another Joesph down the hall, so we'll call you Joey"
"I don't want to be called Joey"
"Pff, who cares what you want, Joey?"


Much like how most of us got nicknames in elementary.

The dude is a hippy who changed his name (not legally) and later on wants to be called the Archangel Michael.

That would be sorta cool, why not? Intresting to put on a memo, at least...

I doubt I'd even use the term USian if I didn't so often need to be clear on the distinction between American as a nationality and American as a continental identity. "American aboriginal" in my circles means all aboriginal peoples of the Americas, and 'American' is quite often a pan-continental descriptor.

I got sidetracked by this other poster who insist he knows what the continents are and that his word is the law. I disagreed. He then said that what I learned was stupid. I don't respond well to condescending idiots.

I went intothis argument about continents and asked him to define since he seems the know THE truth. You answer to my posts but not his. So I use your post to drive my point across that he is a jackass that arbitrarily decided he was right.
Thank you for helping me make my point. Not let's cut the tension between us and disagree with our respective other posters. Deal?

I hope you're not talking about me...? Heck, I wish you were right about America being one continent, because you seem to be doing a number on your blood pressure debating it. All I ever said was that I was reading off a globe this blob labled "North America" and one labeled "South America." I'm not saying I'm right, all I'm saying is the Replogle 12 Inch Diameter Globe PLATINUM CLASSIC series probably represents the more commonly held belief.

Much like how most of us got nicknames in elementary.

Whether we wanted them or not...At least the three Joesphs in my class already had different things to be called. Joe, Joey, and Joesph, they were.

Kreynoria']USian sounds PC and gay. If not American, how about United Statesmen?


I like UnitedStatesian (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10850457&postcount=883). Less sexist.

I see that there is a clear consensus about North and South America.
You haven'T bee reading the same thread as me...

Hell I don't care how many continents there are as long as you understand North ans South America are 2 DIFFERENT continents. The MOE that teaches differently is wrong....Don't you have friggin Risk in Quebec?
Why decided that? Risk is your source on continents?
I don't see them as separated continents. You see them as such. Deal with it. I'M not the one who can't get over that what he was taught is not accepted universally as the truth(TM).

I doubt I'd even use the term USian if I didn't so often need to be clear on the distinction between American as a nationality and American as a continental identity. "American aboriginal" in my circles means all aboriginal peoples of the Americas, and 'American' is quite often a pan-continental descriptor.

*shrug* Perhaps. But you seem to suggest we can't use American.

"So either you like estadounidense, or you take USian (or UnitedStatesian)."

Just forget the 'ian thing. Who is this Ian guy anyway?

Kreynoria']Just forget the 'ian thing. Who is this Ian guy anyway?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian

EXACTLY It's because it's like:

"My name is Joesph"
"Yea, but there's another Joesph down the hall, so we'll call you Joey"
"I don't want to be called Joey"
"Pff, who cares what you want, Joey?"

I hope you're not talking about me...? Heck, I wish you were right about America being one continent, because you seem to be doing a number on your blood pressure debating it. All I ever said was that I was reading off a globe this blob labled "North America" and one labeled "South America." I'm not saying I'm right, all I'm saying is the Replogle 12 Inch Diameter Globe PLATINUM CLASSIC series probably represents the more commonly held belief.
Nah... you were quite civil. I'm talking about the one who said that the Quebec ministry of education is dumb. New s... something.

Though I disagree with your globe, you won't see me complaining that much. And I can assure you that continents is not what got my pressure rising. It's the insult to my province that was.

Whether we wanted them or not...At least the three Joesphs in my class already had different things to be called. Joe, Joey, and Joesph, they were.


At least the US isn't getting my old nickname "Skinny Bone Jones"

EXACTLY
No, not exactly. As has been pointed out many, many times before, none of us call other nationalities what they choose to call themselves. You can argue, 'oh, but in English you should use the English terms'...well now you have one. USian.

At least the US isn't getting my old nickname "Skinny Bone Jones"

I thought it was IBM?

Itty bitty meat. :p

Nah... you were quite civil.

Thank you. I'm taking pills for it at the moment.

I thought it was IBM?

Itty bitty meat.

That was low. And in more ways than one! ;) Although...



Oh nevermind.

But you aren't at work. If you put a disclaimer in you sig I'll give YOU a pass something like "the use of Usians is by me is neither meant to be derogitory nor Orwellian Newspeak."


I doubt I'd even use the term USian if I didn't so often need to be clear on the distinction between American as a nationality and American as a continental identity. "American aboriginal" in my circles means all aboriginal peoples of the Americas, and 'American' is quite often a pan-continental descriptor.

I thought it was IBM?

Itty bitty meat. :p


that came later, once I started showering during P.E., but then I get horny and it becomes "run away"

that came later, once I started showering during P.E., but then I get horny and it becomes "run away"

It probably would have helped if you reserved your showering for after P.E.

It probably would have helped if you reserved your showering for after P.E.


but then I wouldn't have gotten to shower naked with other boys ;)

But you aren't at work. If you put a disclaimer in you sig I'll give YOU a pass something like "the use of Usians is by me is neither meant to be derogitory nor Orwellian Newspeak."
I like my sig the way it is. You can just, from now on, know that the above is true.

If you speak to a Chinese person do you call them a chink? Do you use N*gger for black people? The same principle applys.
No, not exactly. As has been pointed out many, many times before, none of us call other nationalities what they choose to call themselves. You can argue, 'oh, but in English you should use the English terms'...well now you have one. USian.

If you speak to a Chinese person do you call them a chink? Do you use N*gger for black people? The same principle applys.
No, because USian is not an racial epithet. Nor does it have the historicaly negative connotation as your examples.

No, not exactly. As has been pointed out many, many times before, none of us call other nationalities what they choose to call themselves. Just because it has been pointed out doesn't mean it's correct.

You can argue, 'oh, but in English you should use the English terms'I would call someone what they want to be called, i don't see why people having a problem calling me what i want to be called
...well now you have one. USian.
NO. that's your term, not mine.

And people still haven't responded to my question of "Do you like Americans?"

It is my opinion that 90% if not most people not of the USA would be talking about citizens of the USA when answering said question.

not racial no but it has very negative contations. I would rather be called yank.


No, because USian is not an racial epithet. Nor does it have the historicaly negative connotation as your examples.

I am shocked, and disappointed, that in over 600 posts on the use of the term 'USian', not one has described it as political correctness gone mad.

Does no-one respect tradition any more?:(

Eutrusca's not here, that's why.

USian is a gay world only used by those who want to inflame the American users on NS. Mainly when the they suck at debating.

(I'm losing the Debate! I know I'll pull out the USIAN bomb!! Then when they're annoyed by that I can get away like a little wuss.)

USian is a gay world only used by those who want to inflame the American users on NS. Mainly when the they suck at debating.

(I'm losing the Debate! I know I'll pull out the USIAN bomb!! Then when they're annoyed by that I can get away like a little wuss.)

What if you're debating about it?

I am shocked, and disappointed, that in over 600 posts on the use of the term 'USian', not one has described it as political correctness gone mad.

Does no-one respect tradition any more?:(
Well it's a bit of a different circumstance to your standard PC gone mad story. In a standard political correctness story it would be the US governmentor or one of its ancillaries deciding that 'Americans' shouldn't call themselves 'Americans' because it offended other people from the Americas. In this example individuals are defending the correctness or not of their own decisions to call US Americans by a less ambiguous name.

Well it's a bit of a different circumstance to your standard PC gone mad story. In a standard political correctness story it would be the US governmentor or one of its ancillaries deciding that 'Americans' shouldn't call themselves 'Americans' because it offended other people from the Americas. In this example individuals are defending the correctness or not of their own decisions to call US Americans by a less ambiguous name.

It isnt less ambiguous it is lazy. Citizens of the United States of America is the correct term. It is too long to type as many times as those who paint with broad brushes are want to do however The term "Americans" is over inclusive however it is NOT ambiguous. USian is ambiguous (and derogatory as can be seen by those who like myself dont like being called by this name). Yank or Yankee is unambiguous if slightly derogatory. I saw the obscure article about USians in the wikipedia, however aside from needling pricks who enjoy irritating people for sport on this site I have never seen the term USians elsewhere.

Hardcore irritants continue to insist upon using the term "USian" despite knowing it is unwelcome. They probably enjoy this. It is unlikely it is honestly their way of improving the world around them. One more name to rile citizens of the United States of America, one more way to tar them all with the same brush, and one more way be lazy, and one more way to be needlessly denigrating.

Congratulations users of the term USian, you are prime examples of all you claim to despise.

Usain happens to be the first name of a Jamaican world record holding sprinter !!.... I don't think you should try to steal his name

The term "Americans" is over inclusive however it is NOT ambiguous.

No. If you used 'Americans' to refer to all people from the Americas and only in that context used it to refer to US Americans then that would be over inclusive. As it stands it has to serve duty as two overlapping but separate meanings hence ambiguous.
USian is ambiguous
Even assuming that you first translate Estados Unidos Mexicanos into English and then use the less common United States of Mexico, the fact that USian is a neologism currently used solely to describe the USA means it is in no way ambiguous, whatever its other faults.

No. If you used 'Americans' to refer to all people from the Americas and only in that context used it to refer to US Americans then that would be over inclusive. As it stands it has to serve duty as two overlapping but separate meanings hence ambiguous.

Even assuming that you first translate Estados Unidos Mexicanos into English and then use the less common United States of Mexico, the fact that USian is a neologism currently used solely to describe the USA means it is in no way ambiguous, whatever its other faults.

If most people on the planet know what you mean when you use the term "American" and most people do not know what you mean when you use the term "USian" then "USian" is the more ambiguous term. Simple really.

Try this test.
Which is more ambiguous UKian or Briton?

If most people on the planet know what you mean when you use the term "American" and most people do not know what you mean when you use the term "USian" then "USian" is the more ambiguous term. Simple really.

No that's just unfamiliarity with the term. The term itself isn't ambiguous.

Try this test.
Which is more ambiguous UKian or Briton?
I think they're the same. Now if you'd said UKian or British then there is some ambiguity in the term British, specifically in its use in the term 'British isles'. The term 'British Isles' capitalised shouldn't actually be ambiguous, but there is a bit of political hoo-hahing about what it should refer to.

No that's just unfamiliarity with the term. The term itself isn't ambiguous.



Is a person who resides in Washington DC a USian?

Guam?

Peurto Rico?

Is a person residing in the Falklands a Briton? A UKian.


Still the fact remains that USian is a perjorative term used to denigrate.

If you dont tolerate Wop for Italians Frogs for French, niggers for blacks, kikes for jews faggots for homosexuals then you shouldnt tolerate USians either. None of these terms are friendly. All have been said to be useful and unambiguous and meaning no harm and causing no harm. It is all hateful. Subscribe to hate and insulting terms if you must but dont dress it up as helpful good natured or needed. It doesnt ring very true.

Is a person who resides in Washington DC a USian?

Guam?

Peurto Rico?

Is a person residing in the Falklands a Briton? A UKian.


Still the fact remains that USian is a perjorative term used to denigrate.

If you dont tolerate Wop for Italians Frogs for French, niggers for blacks, kikes for jews faggots for homosexuals then you shouldnt tolerate USians either. None of these terms are friendly. All have been said to be useful and unambiguous and meaning no harm and causing no harm. It is all hateful. Subscribe to hate and insulting terms if you must but dont dress it up as helpful good natured or needed. It doesnt ring very true.

So I take you you haven't been paying attention to the thread. Thats fine, but don't expect me to be apologetic about calling myself and my fellow countrymen USian, because I never used it in a derogatory way. You could go ahead and look up the history of the word and see that it's origins were not meant to be so either. Feel free to argue with me over this but I wont reciprocate... you'd do better to go back and read the arguments layed out as they address all your points.

I like the term personally and take no offense because theres nothing to be offended over.

In matters of being polite, people should refer to others by what they want to be called. Most citizens of the USA don't want to be called a USian. Hence they should not be called that. American is much better because everyone knows that it is short for the longer proper name of the US. No American seriously thinks that they are the only true Americans in the Americas so no one else should either.

Is a person who resides in Washington DC a USian?
Yes if they are a citizen of the US, no otherwise. It does not matter where you live, it is the nation you are a citizen of that defines your nationality.


Still the fact remains that USian is a perjorative term used to denigrate.
No fact at all. It is simply your opinion. Now you are entitled to that, but it does not mean that I have to agree with it. When I use the term USian it is in no way to denigrate. I use the term Bushite for that. :p

If you dont tolerate Wop for Italians Frogs for French, niggers for blacks, kikes for jews faggots for homosexuals then you shouldnt tolerate USians either. None of these terms are friendly. All have been said to be useful and unambiguous and meaning no harm and causing no harm. It is all hateful. Subscribe to hate and insulting terms if you must but dont dress it up as helpful good natured or needed. It doesnt ring very true.

By whom, when? These are derogatory terms, that are tied to races or behaviours. They are nothing like the term USian, which is like the term Canadian, or Irish, a designation of a nationality, with no implicit criticism attached.

If you want to think we are being derogatory and insulting, then you will, regardless of the terminology we use. As such it is up to you to remove these conotations from your head, not up to us to stop using a clear and neutral term.

In matters of being polite, people should refer to others by what they want to be called. Most citizens of the USA don't want to be called a USian. Hence they should not be called that. American is much better because everyone knows that it is short for the longer proper name of the US. No American seriously thinks that they are the only true Americans in the Americas so no one else should either.


I'd like to see where you got that info from. Was there a Zogby poll I missed or something?

American is too PC of a term. :D

Derogatory may be too harsh a word, but it is definitely highly impolite to call an American that. Why? Because when doing so, that individual is consciously calling a citizen of the US by a term that he or she does not want to be called by. Its like insisting on calling someone by a nickname they'd rather not be called by. I don't think I have to offer proof that most citizens of the US prefer the term American.

Is a person who resides in Washington DC a USian?

Guam?

Peurto Rico?

Is a person residing in the Falklands a Briton? A UKian.

I won't pretend that I know everything about the various terminologies used to describe inhabitants of different territories and dependencies but I can't see how in these circumstances USian is any worse than American, or Ukian any better than Briton.

I'd like to see where you got that info from. Was there a Zogby poll I missed or something?

American is too PC of a term. :D

I live in America. I think I would know what my fellow countrymen mean when they say the word American.

Derogatory may be too harsh a word, but it is definitely highly impolite to call an American that. Why? Because when doing so, that individual is consciously calling a citizen of the US by a term that he or she does not want to be called by. Its like insisting on calling someone by a nickname they'd rather not be called by. I don't think I have to offer proof that most citizens of the US prefer the term American.


If you are going to make the claim then you should offer proof. otherwise it's just your opinion and you know what opinions are like and how much they stink.

and everyone gets called by nicknames that they dont like... boo hoo... thats life. I like the term... I'm a USian... I'll use it as much as I like.

I live in America. I think I would know what my fellow countrymen mean when they say the word American.

SO do I and I know what my fellow countrymen mean when they use the term as well. So what? Was there a point to this?

Any word to describe USian nationality can be thought of as derogatory or insulting when used in conjuntion with words like: war-mongering, fascist, christian-fundamentalist, dirtbags and so on, but by themselves they are just descriptors of someones nationality and nothing more.

If you are going to make the claim then you should offer proof. otherwise it's just your opinion and you know what opinions are like and how much they stink.

and everyone gets called by nicknames that they dont like... boo hoo... thats life. I like the term... I'm a USian... I'll use it as much as I like.And in so doing you show that you are the same type of person who uses terms like ****** kike faggott frog wop dago etc etc etc. Hate has no boundaries. It is your perogative to show what you are and my pleasure to point it out hate mongers no matter their stripe.

Any word to describe USian nationality can be thought of as derogatory or insulting when used in conjuntion with words like: war-mongering, fascist, christian-fundamentalist, dirtbags and so on, but by themselves they are just descriptors of someones nationality and nothing more.

Nope. The term USian is perjorative and inflammatory or this thread wouldnt exist.

I won't pretend that I know everything about the various terminologies used to describe inhabitants of different territories and dependencies but I can't see how in these circumstances USian is any worse than American, or Ukian any better than Briton.

I however do. I am not inventing the belief that the term is offensive. I am far from the only one who recognises this. It is a term to use if you desire to irritate people of the United States or rally others against them. USian is not a neutral term. Yank is closer to neutral, shorter to write and less irritating. If your wish is merely to irritate you now know how. If your wish is to illuminate then please pick a different less offensive term.

If anyone, in real life, called me a USian I would call them whatever SLUR that applies to thier nationality,race,color or creed because, like Not bad said, the term USian is inflammatory.

If anyone, in real life, called me a USian I would call them whatever SLUR that applies to thier nationality,race,color or creed because, like Not bad said, the term USian is inflammatory.
Gringo

Yes if they are a citizen of the US, no otherwise. It does not matter where you live, it is the nation you are a citizen of that defines your nationality.



No fact at all. It is simply your opinion. Now you are entitled to that, but it does not mean that I have to agree with it. When I use the term USian it is in no way to denigrate. I use the term Bushite for that. :p



By whom, when? These are derogatory terms, that are tied to races or behaviours. They are nothing like the term USian, which is like the term Canadian, or Irish, a designation of a nationality, with no implicit criticism attached.

If you want to think we are being derogatory and insulting, then you will, regardless of the terminology we use. As such it is up to you to remove these conotations from your head, not up to us to stop using a clear and neutral term.

If you wish to believe against all who have said differently that your term USian is without negative connotations I cannot change your mind. If you want me to ignore perjorative terms because you say they are not then you have an awfully big opinion of your insults. If you know that a term is insulting and you have other terms at your disposal then if you continue to use the term despite this knowlege you are a bigot and are using the word purely for it's insulting properties.

The term "USian" generally comes from people in South America who are pissed off that our country is better than theirs, so they decided to adopt the term "USian" when referring to Americans just to piss us off.

The defense that "America is a country, not a continent" is also false, since there is North and South America, and some people consider Central America to be its own little region as well. Besides, no one refers to themselves by continent first and then nation. No one from France would say "I'm from Europe." rather than "I'm from France."

Same with South America. A Venezuelan calling himself an American is just being a troll, because he's Venezuelan, or if he wants to refer to his continent, South American.

If you wish to believe against all who have said differently that your term USian is without negative connotations I cannot change your mind. If you want me to ignore perjorative terms because you say they are not then you have an awfully big opinion of your insults. If you know that a term is insulting and you have other terms at your disposal then if you continue to use the term despite this knowlege you are a bigot and are using the word purely for it's insulting properties.

When I have good reasons to use the term, such as the fact that I am an American, I live in the Americas, but am not a US citizen, then I will continue to use it. The term is not derogatory in any way, beyond your pointless and ungrounded objection. For me it clarifies things, particularly in my academic work, where I often have to refer to Americans (being the people from the the American continent) in comparison to the USians (being the people from the US). There are significant differences in behaviour and culture beteween USians and Americans, which in part explains some of the behaviour of the two groups.

Now, you can accept this term, used in this disambiguating fashion, or you can continue thinking that I am being deliberately insulting. To be honest I really don't care.

When I have good reasons to use the term, such as the fact that I am an American, I live in the Americas, but am not a US citizen, then I will continue to use it.

That's not really a good reason to use Usian. It's a good example of how one word can have two meanings.

And in so doing you show that you are the same type of person who uses terms like ****** kike faggott frog wop dago etc etc etc. Hate has no boundaries. It is your perogative to show what you are and my pleasure to point it out hate mongers no matter their stripe.

Yes I am putting myself down by calling myself a USian because I hate myself LMFAO :D :rolleyes:

Nope, you're wrong. Already covered in thread... will no go over it again.


Nope. The term USian is perjorative and inflammatory or this thread wouldnt exist.

:rolleyes:
Nope, you're wrong. Already covered in thread... will no go over it again.

If you wish to believe against all who have said differently that your term USian is without negative connotations I cannot change your mind. If you want me to ignore perjorative terms because you say they are not then you have an awfully big opinion of your insults. If you know that a term is insulting and you have other terms at your disposal then if you continue to use the term despite this knowlege you are a bigot and are using the word purely for it's insulting properties.

I have yet to see these throngs of people who object to the term and find it offensive.

The usage is decades old and doesnt even come close to what you seem to think it means.

That's not really a good reason to use Usian. It's a good example of how one word can have two meanings.

Can you read more than one sentence?

(Well actually I know you can, so please do so.)

Can you read more than one sentence?

(Well actually I know you can, so please do so.)

Yes, I can, but I was pointing out that that paticular sentence does not contain a good reason for using USian.

Yes, I can, but I was pointing out that that paticular sentence does not contain a good reason for using USian.
Maybe you don't think so, but I prefer to think have a different label to apply to myself to the one I apply to those from the USA. No value judgement in this preference, simply a recognition that I am not a citizen of the USA, but I am American.

Maybe you don't think so, but I prefer to think have a different label to apply to myself to the one I apply to those from the USA. No value judgement in this preference, simply a recognition that I am not a citizen of the USA, but I am American.

...Ummm...that's the point of a word haveing a different meaning, isn't it? I'm an American, you're an American. Unless you just don't like the chance of being associated with us United States of America citizens?

...Ummm...that's the point of a word haveing a different meaning, isn't it? I'm an American, you're an American. Unless you just don't like the chance of being associated with us United States of America citizens?

I am not in the USA, I am not part of the USA culture. I do not want people to assume that I am. It causes all kinds of confusions, particularly for an English speaker in Latin America. It is not my opinion of the USA that matters here, it is the opinion of those that I am dealing with, and due to historical events, the US is either loved or hated here. I do not want to be prejudged, that is all.

I am not in the USA, I am not part of the USA culture. I do not want people to assume that I am. It causes all kinds of confusions, particularly for an English speaker in Latin America. It is not my opinion of the USA that matters here, it is the opinion of those that I am dealing with, and due to historical events, the US is either loved or hated here. I do not want to be prejudged, that is all.

Well then, why not be clear about it? Say Brazilian, or something to that effect. Or of the Americas. Americas usually refers to the continents. I don't see how the answer is renaming us because what you call yourself may cause confusion.

Meh, I either use "US'er", "UnitedStatesian", "Yanqui" or "Yankee", "US Dude/Guy/Gal" or just "Yank"...

Well then, why not be clear about it? Say Brazilian, or something to that effect. Or of the Americas. Americas usually refers to the continents. I don't see how the answer is renaming us because what you call yourself may cause confusion.

Because I often refer to American culture as opposed to European culture. I do not mean Brazilian culture, nor Canadian culure,. nor USian culture. I mean American culture in general. However, people listening to me, tend to assume that I mean USian, when I say American - which I don't. So I have to introduce the term USian to disambiguate. How can this possibly be caused due to my namingf myself something in error. It is the USians calling themselves Americans when they are only a subset of Americans that causes the confusion.

The only real answer is to rename the Usians to resolve this confusion.

Now, you may not like this, but it is a consequence of your ancestor's inability to decide on a name for your country.

Only those above the Mason/Dixon line.

I object to that. I'm a Michigander and I'm not a yankee. Yankees are New Englanders and possibly parts of NY, NJ, and PA.


No, I won't, because the urban dictionary is exactly that...any sort of term a certain person uses as slang, defined. It's not a reference tool I think is appropriate for determining the insult-level of USian.

Did you guys notice that the urban dictionary thing was written by Eutrusca?

I object to that. I'm a Michigander and I'm not a yankee. Yankees are New Englanders and possibly parts of NY, NJ, and PA.


Well considering Michigan fielded 31 Infantry regiments for the Union army; that kind of makes you a yankee to our Southern cousins.....

Well considering Michigan fielded 31 Infantry regiments for the Union army; that kind of makes you a yankee to our Southern cousins.....

Yes, but they'd be wrong. New Englanders are Yankees. We're not.

As E.B. White was supposed to have said

To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast.

Did you guys notice that the urban dictionary thing was written by Eutrusca?

That's funny.

Man I am off today.

Good eye!

Yes, but they'd be wrong. New Englanders are Yankees. We're not.

As E.B. White was supposed to have said

To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast.

It doesn't matter. If you are North of the MD line, you are a yankee.

Im all for being able to use weird and incorrect terms for people of ANY country that people there find distasteful or derogatory. It is par for the course here. The French are frogs the brits limeys the swedes are sods and so forth.

Of all the incorrect terms for citizens of the US I like Yanks best.

I like Yanqui. YMMV

I picked up USAmerican from someone here. It's a useful term to distinguish us from non-US Americans.

Lol, USians. There are 3 Americas, get over it.

Oh, and it's AN Usian.

Nope. "A" is correct, not "an". An is used only with words starting with vowel sounds.

It doesn't matter. If you are North of the MD line, you are a yankee.

yeah I suppose that is true

in fact, and yankee is whomever wishes to be called one

A USian is whomever wishes to be called one

A flippin pie is whomever wishes to be called one

its amazing how many people we can get to argue who has the right to the name Bobby

i wanna be a pie

i wanna be a pie

I agree, being a pie would be great

besides getting eatin

Repeat after me:
Your post is spam.
Your post is spam.
YOUR post is spam.
YOUR post is spam.
YOUR post is spam.
YOUR post is spam.
YOUR post is spam.
YOUR post is spam.

...

Oh, wait, the whole thread is spam now, so it doesn't matter.:gundge: :upyours: :sniper: :p :headbang: :D :fluffle:

Right, I'll repeat after you.

USian
USian
USian

Missed something?

I've never heard of the term "USian" before, not even from the people I know from other countries. This is the first forum I've ever encountered where the term was even being bandied about.



As far as nationality goes there is only one country on earth that refers to themselves as "Americans." If someone is speaking geographically, then anyone on either the continent of South America or North America could refer to themselves as "american."


But to make things clear: prior to my encountering this thread if someone had walked up to me on the street and called me a "USian" I would have ignored them. Even if this were someone with an American English accent I would have ignored them. Quite simply I've never encountered any citizen of the United States refer to themselves as a "USian," and I've lived in 18 different homes, living on both coasts and in the "Mid-West." Never once heard the term till now.


I honestly have no idea if people calling a native of the United States a "USian" is an attempt at language introduction or an insult... I mean you don't hear people calling the French: "Francians." I imagine if I was of French nationality and someone called me "Francian" I would be pretty pissed off.

NT

There is no such person or place as Usia.
There is no such person or place as Usia.
There is no such person or place as Usia.
There is no such person or place as Usia.

There is no such person as a USian
There is no such person as a USian
There is no such person as a USian
There is no such person as a USian

There is a person or place called America(n)
There is a person or place called America(n)
There is a person or place called America(n)
There is a person or place called America(n)

There is a place called the US, and there is no ian after it
There is a place called the US, and there is no ian after it
There is a place called the US, and there is no ian after it
There is a place called the US, and there is no ian after it

I am an American, not some lesser form of life known as a USian
I am an American, not some lesser form of life known as a USian
I am an American, not some lesser form of life known as a USian
I am an American, not some lesser form of life known as a USian

Period. End of story.

I'm an American, not some lesser form of life known as a USian. Or whatever the hell that is. If we were attached to Asia you might have a point, but not so since we aren't.



Tried "Americunt" ? you people are dumb as hell.

:headbang: :headbang:

And in so doing you show that you are the same type of person who uses terms like ****** kike faggott frog wop dago etc etc etc. Hate has no boundaries. It is your perogative to show what you are and my pleasure to point it out hate mongers no matter their stripe.
People mentioned PC bullshit earlier in the thread, but that is the true PC bullshit, trying to jump on the victimised minority band waggon. The only term you listed that is even slightly comparable to USian, ie. that isn't racialized or homophobic is the term Frog to describe the French. And that term evolved specifically as a term to disparage the French on the basis of their eating habits and comes with that baggage attached to it. Which is totally different from the term USian, which is derived from the name of the country and from one of its common descriptive adjectives -'US'. And in each of the examples you listed, and indeed in the case of other countries with unnofficial names contracted from their actual name, there are uncontrovertable alternatives. eg. Brit becomes Briton. In the case of USian, the next comparable alternative is something along the lines of United States Citizen or Citizen of the United states of America whichever you want. Which are too long for everyday forum useage.

What's this all about? No other group of people, anywhere on Earth, call themselves Americans besides us.. there's nothing wrong with the term. If someone objects to us using the term "American," ignore them. Simple.. although I've never heard anyone object to the term..
Well it just so happens that I know a lot of emigrated South americans who call themselves 'Americans' and call people from the US 'those from the US' or Usians :D
EDIT: Well actually, they speak french so they say 'états-uniens' It's easier then USian

People mentioned PC bullshit earlier in the thread, but that is the true PC bullshit, trying to jump on the victimised minority band waggon. The only term you listed that is even slightly comparable to USian, ie. that isn't racialized or homophobic is the term Frog to describe the French. And that term evolved specifically as a term to disparage the French on the basis of their eating habits and comes with that baggage attached to it. Which is totally different from the term USian, which is derived from the name of the country and from one of its common descriptive adjectives -'US'. And in each of the examples you listed, and indeed in the case of other countries with unnofficial names contracted from their actual name, there are uncontrovertable alternatives. eg. Brit becomes Briton. In the case of USian, the next comparable alternative is something along the lines of United States Citizen or Citizen of the United states of America whichever you want. Which are too long for everyday forum useage.

Which is why United States Citizens refer to themselves as "Americans."


And as I said not three posts back was that no one would refer to the French as "Francians," so just who in the hell are people from other countries to presume to be able to name the nationality native to the United States.

And just for sake of argument: US is not an adjective. It is a noun. It is the abbreviated form of "United States."

NT

Which is why United States Citizens refer to themselves as "Americans."

Well you can call yourself what you want, but you can't elect to be called by an ambiguous name and then try to quash all attempts to use another descriptive.

And just for sake of argument: US is not an adjective. It is a noun. It is the abbreviated form of "United States."

Well I confess I don't know the precise term when a noun is being used as an adjective, if there even is one, but US as opposed to 'the US' has an adjectival meaning more often than not.

Because I often refer to American culture as opposed to European culture. I do not mean Brazilian culture, nor Canadian culure,. nor USian culture. I mean American culture in general. However, people listening to me, tend to assume that I mean USian, when I say American - which I don't. So I have to introduce the term USian to disambiguate. How can this possibly be caused due to my namingf myself something in error. It is the USians calling themselves Americans when they are only a subset of Americans that causes the confusion.

The only real answer is to rename the Usians to resolve this confusion.

Now, you may not like this, but it is a consequence of your ancestor's inability to decide on a name for your country.

We have a name. We are Americans. We're not the only Americans. If you use a word people don't understand, use a different word for that. When refering to us, people would understand you if you used American. They don't understand you when you refer to the whole of the continents. So maybe that's the one you need a different word for? It seems the confusion comes from you using a word with it's less common meaning.

We have a name. We are Americans. We're not the only Americans. If you use a word people don't understand, use a different word for that. When refering to us, people would understand you if you used American. They don't understand you when you refer to the whole of the continents. So maybe that's the one you need a different word for? It seems the confusion comes from you using a word with it's less common meaning.
See, this attitude is what irks USian users. US Citizens are fine with what they call themselves so we should change a whole continent's name to cater to their sensibility.

The ego you guys have is unbelievable.

See, this attitude is what irks USian users. US Citizens are fine with what they call themselves so we should change a whole continent's name to cater to their sensibility.

The ego you guys have is unbelievable.

Did I say we should change the name of the Americas? No, I suggested he replace the word that's causing confusion. Which incidently, is not caused by us, as he seemed to think.
He said so himself, when he says "American", people think "of the US".

For USA citizens, I suggest the adjective:

Free&Brave

It'd clear up many confusions.

Those in this hemisphere have a problem with us in the US calling ourselves American, and I hafta say I agree with them. There are two Americas (three if you count Central America), so applying the term "American" to citizens of the US is a bit silly.

rampant, nonetheless

But to make things clear: prior to my encountering this thread if someone had walked up to me on the street and called me a "USian" I would have ignored them. Even if this were someone with an American English accent I would have ignored them. Quite simply I've never encountered any citizen of the United States refer to themselves as a "USian," and I've lived in 18 different homes, living on both coasts and in the "Mid-West." Never once heard the term till now.
Are you really surprised that nobody in the USA has called temselves USian? It's not US Citizen that have a problem with calling themselves 'American' it's the rest of the world.

One has to wonder if I go around here and ask around if someone will call me a frog. Does that means that nobody calls quebecers frog? Hardly.

Also, I'd like you to meet Sumamba Buwhan. US Citizen, calling himself USian.

I honestly have no idea if people calling a native of the United States a "USian" is an attempt at language introduction or an insult... I mean you don't hear people calling the French: "Francians." I imagine if I was of French nationality and someone called me "Francian" I would be pretty pissed off.

NT
As much as a français is pissed that he's called a french. He's not. He's français. Why do you want to call him something else than what he calls himself but he can't call you something else that you call yourself?

Did I say we should change the name of the Americas? No, I suggested he replace the word that's causing confusion. Which incidently, is not caused by us, as he seemed to think.
He said so himself, when he says "American", people think "of the US".
Oh, right. Might have jumped the gun on the ego thing.

But then what do you propose we call people from the American continent? The only valid term seems to be american. I'm all for synonym, but it leads to confusion in certain circumstances.

Why do you want to call him something else than what he calls himself but he can't call you something else that you call yourself?

*takes a moment to understand this sentence*

Because I'm speaking English, and he's speaking French. He want to refer to me in French? Etats-uni-something, I don't know french, but I'll assume he does.

*takes a moment to understand this sentence*

Because I'm speaking English, and he's speaking French. He want to refer to me in French? Etats-uni-something, I don't know french, but I'll assume he does.
Still doesn't change the fact that you're not calling him by the term he prefer while you (plural) insist we call you by the term you prefer.

Its obvious how most the people here are from europe. You know what, call yourselves what ever you want. Im from the land that most countries when they refer to it call it America. Ive been to europe: Ireland, Italy, FRANCE, Spain, and everyone ive met there, calls it America. Therefore im proud to be an American. The country that is yelled at when we do go in, and yelled at when we dont go in. You want to call us Usians. Go ahead, but please understand if i refer to you as and Igonorant sob. Were refered to as Americans because were the only country in the Americas that actually has America in its name. The United States of AMERICA. Theres no Canadian Republic of America. No Venezuelan socialist states of america. Theres Canada and Venezuela. Hence they call them selves Canadian and Venezuelan. Oh and to the whole French/ Frencais thing. Well ones in english and ones in French, but translated, they mean the same thing. The French say while speaking in English cause they like to speak in Frenglish.
I'm an American. And i will say this that the person who made this thread did so poorly.

Oh, right. Might have jumped the gun on the ego thing.

But then what do you propose we call people from the American continent? The only valid term seems to be american. I'm all for synonym, but it leads to confusion in certain circumstances.

Hmm...Well, let's see. Continental American? I know Continental U.S. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_United_States)is used, but it's a slight difference...

Still doesn't change the fact that you're not calling him by the term he prefer while you (plural) insist we call you by the term you prefer.

If you're speaking Spanish, I don't mind if you call me estadounidense, or americano. I insist you call me by the term I prefer when speaking English. If you're speaking French, call me the French word for me. Technically, you could call me anything, I don't know French.

If you're speaking Spanish, I don't mind if you call me estadounidense, or americano. I insist you call me by the term I prefer when speaking English. If you're speaking French, call me the French word for me. Technically, you could call me anything, I don't know French.


The word for American in French varies on the location. In the country its the word translates to Amrican. IN paris....well it translates to something a bit more vulgar.:eek: im not sure cause i don speak French Either.

Damn French.:gundge:

Out of curiosity, how do you pronounce "USian", anyway?

yoo-ESH-an?
yoo-ESS-ee-an?
YOO-zee-an?
yoo-ZYE-an?

If you're speaking Spanish, I don't mind if you call me estadounidense, or americano. I insist you call me by the term I prefer when speaking English. If you're speaking French, call me the French word for me. Technically, you could call me anything, I don't know French.
Why? Why do you have the monopoly on what we call you in english?

And why should I not insist you call me français when speaking in english? Is there a convention you cannot use term from another language when conversing in english?

Its obvious how most the people here are from europe. You know what, call yourselves what ever you want. Im from the land that most countries when they refer to it call it America. Ive been to europe: Ireland, Italy, FRANCE, Spain, and everyone ive met there, calls it America. Therefore im proud to be an American. The country that is yelled at when we do go in, and yelled at when we dont go in. You want to call us Usians. Go ahead, but please understand if i refer to you as and Igonorant sob. Were refered to as Americans because were the only country in the Americas that actually has America in its name. The United States of AMERICA. Theres no Canadian Republic of America. No Venezuelan socialist states of america. Theres Canada and Venezuela. Hence they call them selves Canadian and Venezuelan. Oh and to the whole French/ Frencais thing. Well ones in english and ones in French, but translated, they mean the same thing. The French say while speaking in English cause they like to speak in Frenglish.
I'm an American. And i will say this that the person who made this thread did so poorly.
What about when we refer to those inhabiting the American continent. Surely they should be called American? Cetainly, calling you american also can lead to confusion. Especially on an international forum that frequently refer to geographical locations. What if there was a term we could use to differentiate the two, say, USian. Surely that might be a good solution.

There are no thing as an USian.

You people are americans, because you live in the North American continent

I am also an american, because I do live in the South American continent.

That makes you both an american and a United Stater.

That makes me both an american and a Venezuelan.

Point made, I retire :D

Out of curiosity, how do you pronounce "USian", anyway?

yoo-ESH-an?
yoo-ESS-ee-an?
YOO-zee-an?
yoo-ZYE-an?
I always said it like: YOO-ess-ee-an

I always said it like: YOO-ess-ee-an

Thanks.

Now you're just being silly..
More silly then the op? dont think so

Why? Why do you have the monopoly on what we call you in english?

And why should I not insist you call me français when speaking in english? Is there a convention you cannot use term from another language when conversing in english?

You could, I suppose. Personally, I can neither pronuonce nor type it, so you'll have to deal with my poor approximations.

You could, I suppose. Personally, I can neither pronuonce nor type it, so you'll have to deal with my poor approximations.
Hey, everybody is more friendly to those who at least try :D

There are no thing as an USian.

You people are americans, because you live in the North American continent

I am also an american, because I do live in the South American continent.

That makes you both an american and a United Stater.

That makes me both an american and a Venezuelan.

Point made, I retire :D
Ah but Mexico too can be a united stater (United Sates of Mexico).

USian, UnitedSatesian, UnitedStatesman have at least the advantage of having been used in the past.

First of all but the Canadians it seems understand that there are two conitnents North and South America. So we could use the terms North American for folks from USA Canada Mexico and all points North of the canal and South American for all points South.

Your hypocracy, of stating it's rude to call a French person French instead
of Francias but it's ok to call an American a Usian despite American being the CORRECT term, is ironic.

Oh, right. Might have jumped the gun on the ego thing.

But then what do you propose we call people from the American continent? The only valid term seems to be american. I'm all for synonym, but it leads to confusion in certain circumstances.

Can you actually show me where it(Usain) has been used in a source more than 50 yrs old? Just point me to the book and I'll take it from there.

Ah but Mexico too can be a united stater (United Sates of Mexico).

USian, UnitedSatesian, UnitedStatesman have at least the advantage of having been used in the past.

Can you actually show me where it(Usain) has been used in a source more than 50 yrs old? Just point me to the book and I'll take it from there.
Read the thread. SB has linked to it.

I read the little wiki that CLAIMED it was an old word I call bullshit til I see proof.


Read the thread. SB has linked to it.

First of all but the Canadians it seems understand that there are two conitnents North and South America. So we could use the terms North American for folks from USA Canada Mexico and all points North of the canal and South American for all points South.
*sigh* here we go again...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continents
Note:
The 7-continent model is usually taught in Western Europe, China, and most native English-speaking countries. The 6-continent combined-America model is taught in Latin America, Iberia and some other parts of Europe. The 6-continent combined-Eurasia model is preferred by the geographic community, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Japan. In all of these cases, the names Australasia or Oceania may be used in place of Australia; in Canada, the government-approved Atlas of Canada names 7 continents and indicates Oceania instead.

Historians may use the 5-continent model in which North Africa is separated from Sub-Saharan Africa and included in Eurasia (Jared Diamond) or the 4-continent Afro-Eurasian (Andre Gunder Frank).


Your hypocracy, of stating it's rude to call a French person French instead
of Francias but it's ok to call an American a Usian despite American being the CORRECT term, is ironic.
Your hypocrisy of demanding that we use the term you want while not doing the same is ironic. And I've been one to use US Citizen out of courtesy to those who think that USian is pejorative.

Can you actually show me where it(Usain) has been used in a source more than 50 yrs old? Just point me to the book and I'll take it from there.
You realise if you need every term in use to be at least 50 years old, language wouldn't exist.

I read the little wiki that CLAIMED it was an old word I call bullshit til I see proof.
Call it all you want. We've had this discussion before you came along and we will have it again (and soon). The fact is that I won't be able to change your mind so I won't bother.

Besides, what if it is a new word?

ppl who made up that name are just pissed cuz at one point in time USA kicked the shit out of thier country and the only thing they can do in return is name call! BOW DOWN BEFORE YOUR SUPERIOR AMERICAN OVERLORDS BITCH! DO IT! KNEEL! WE ARE YOUR GODS!

(and if you dont belive me walk or drive about 5 miles and stare in awe at the mcdonalds or wal-mart that owns your ass.):eek:

they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

YOUR government per your quote teaches that there are 7 continets.

Your petty narciscism refuses to let you see the forest for the trees. It not about what YOU want it's about what the other person wants! If a person objects to being called something you don't call them that. How were raised?Did you call other children rude names a child? Because dispite you protests to the contrary most Americans prefer to be called Americans not what you or others arbitrarily use.

Perhaps an anology:

Me: From now on I'll use the term Smarmy Candain Bastards because it's more accurate.
You: Please don't I find it rude and offensive beside not very accurate.
Me:Nonsese it's much nore accurate and it's been around for years according to some guy we can't possibly verify.
You:Look it's offense the other 99.99999999% of the world uses the term "Canadian" and that is what you should do to out of simple respect.
Me: Typical Smarmy Canadian Bastard double talk I'll ignore that too.

DO YOU GET IT NOW?????:headbang:




*sigh* here we go again...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continents
Note:




Your hypocrisy of demanding that we use the term you want while not doing the same is ironic. And I've been one to use US Citizen out of courtesy to those who think that USian is pejorative.

I'm just being nitpicky

You realise if you need every term in use to be at least 50 years old, language wouldn't exist.

they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

No, Merkins :P

they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

or just fat.

YOUR government per your quote teaches that there are 7 continets.

Your petty narciscism refuses to let you see the forest for the trees. It not about what YOU want it's about what the other person wants! If a person objects to being called something you don't call them that. How were raised?Did you call other children rude names a child? Because dispite you protests to the contrary most Americans prefer to be called Americans not what you or others arbitrarily use.

Perhaps an anology:

Me: From now on I'll use the term Smarmy Candain Bastards because it's more accurate.
You: Please don't I find it rude and offensive beside not very accurate.
Me:Nonsese it's much nore accurate and it's been around for years according to some guy we can't possibly verify.
You:Look it's offense the other 99.99999999% of the world uses the term "Canadian" and that is what you should do to out of simple respect.
Me: Typical Smarmy Canadian Bastard double talk I'll ignore that too.

DO YOU GET IT NOW?????:headbang:

You took my idea. I want payment.

What that Canadians are smarmy bastards ??:p :p :p :p (just kidding much love for my Canadians please send coffe crisps and aero bars!!!)You took my idea. I want payment.

Those in this hemisphere have a problem with us in the US calling ourselves American, and I hafta say I agree with them. There are two Americas (three if you count Central America), so applying the term "American" to citizens of the US is a bit silly.

Those other Americas are seperated into countries and are called according to that. Brazillians are Brazillians, not Southern American Brazillians.

:mp5: they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

And all non-Americans........Ass Kickees.:mp5:

:mp5: they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

And all non-Americans........Ass Kickees.:mp5:

:mp5: they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

And all non-Americans........Ass Kickees.:mp5:

:mp5: they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

And all non-Americans........Ass Kickees.:mp5:

:mp5: they should just call Americans ASS KICKERS.

And all non-Americans........Ass Kickees.:mp5:

:mp5:

And all non-Americans........Ass Kickees.:mp5:

Welcome to NationStates. Enjoy the fact that 5 of first posts have a gun smiley, and thus noone takes you too seriously :p

USians can call yourselves Americans if you like. I doubt any Canadians care, eh?

...quintuple...