NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't think that "United Statesian" is a particularly great term, or accurate, but I don't understand the virulent and vitriolic reaction that it provokes among some citizens of the United States of America on this forum. Examples:

Your use of "usians" ( not even capitalized, btw ) betrays your true intent and purpose. You can safely be ignored.

[NS poster], if you don't stop using that derogatory and insulting word that starts with a U I'm going to have to do something. You don't use the N word and I'm sure you wouldn't want me to use the F or Q word, so why do you think it's OK to use the U word?

Why is it assumed that USian is a mark of an anti-American opinion?

Crap, how can this still be going on? And a new thread at that!!

http://www.johnberman.com/pics/funny/not_this_shit_again.jpg

This is so last weekend.

I have no idea. Maybe it's like blasphemy of America's name.

This is so last weekend.
tolly

Because many people believe that the United States owns all sovereign claims to the term "America" and thus implications that the name is even remotely in use by any other group of people, or continent, that happens to have been around for even longer than the US is considered an attack upon the insecurity of US citizens, thus putting them on the defensive whenever it is used.

No not another thread.

Well to toss my .02.

It's the delivery that has been a cause.

Certain individuals have a penchant for bashing the US. So when they start using it, it's taken as an insult.

There are other individuals that go about correcting people. No you are not American, it's arrogance to call yourself that. You are usian.

It's one thing where the language basically says people of the united states (as sin pointed out) and it's another to correct a person on what they call themselves.

It's a persons prerogative to label themselves. The same people shouldn't worry about what other people call you. ;)

I just go meh when I hear it. It doesn't bother me unless there are a few adjectives added to it. :p

This is so last weekend.
The job that I was meant to be starting yesterday has been pushed back by a week, so it's still the weekend for me. ;)

This is so last weekend.
Actually, it's so Sunday night at 21:30 GMT.

[Anti-USian:] We're the only country with America in our name so we get the adjective and anything else is like calling French Belgians!
[Pro-USian:] But there are also two or three continents housing 600 million more people called America and you're denying them the right to distinguish themselves from you!

Because many people believe that the United States owns all sovereign claims to the term "America" and thus implications that the name is even remotely in use by any other group of people, or continent, that happens to have been around for even longer than the US is considered an attack upon the insecurity of US citizens, thus putting them on the defensive whenever it is used.
that cannot be it!

its prbly something like, cuz USian is too much like Asian, maybe they don't like Asians in the USA, cuz they're too good at math, those asians, thats why noone likes them, they're so smart

I have no idea. Maybe it's like blasphemy of America's name.
Thats usania.

Someone decided that the term "American" is culturally imperialist because its use usually means people of the USA, but the term also covers the people of Central and South America. They felt like making a distinction - hence, USian.

Then a bunch of FOX-watchers went apeshit like they're being herded into the gas chambers. :rolleyes:

Result - more threads for us to lock.

Poor mods.... everything translates into more work for them around here. :(

No, this is not unduly sarcastic.

Someone decided that the term "American" is culturally imperialist because its use usually means people of the USA, but the term also covers the people of Central and South America.
and North America! you know, Canuck-land and those crazy immigrants

and North America! you know, Canuck-land and those crazy immigrants
Oh yeah, them too.

Oh Dobb, not another one...

Because many people believe that the United States owns all sovereign claims to the term "America" and thus implications that the name is even remotely in use by any other group of people, or continent, that happens to have been around for even longer than the US is considered an attack upon the insecurity of US citizens, thus putting them on the defensive whenever it is used.

Whereas it puts others on the chest beating self righteous offensive apparantly.

Ive just decided that if peeps insist on being needlessly offensive there is no point reading what they have to say. I wont lose many valid thoughtful points by ignoring those who purposefully flame so and I wont be needlessly irritated. You win. Congrats

http://www.johnberman.com/pics/funny/not_this_shit_again.jpg

as I concur with you I will make zee joke:

There was a little girl and her mother walking through the park one day and they saw two teenagers having sex on a bench. The little girl says "Mummy, what are they doing?". The mother hesitates then quickly replies "Ummm they are making cakes". The next day they are at a zoo and the little girl sees two monkies having sex. Again she asks her mother what they are doing and her mother replies with the same response, making cakes. The next day the girl says to her mother "Mummy, you and Daddy were making cakes in the lounge last night eh?". Shocked, the Mother says "how do you know?"

She says, "Because I licked the icing off the sofa".

I don't think that "United Statesian" is a particularly great term, or accurate, but I don't understand the virulent and vitriolic reaction that it provokes among some citizens of the United States of America on this forum. Examples:





Why is it assumed that USian is a mark of an anti-American opinion?
Because the only reason anyone uses USian is to get under our skin. Personally I find it too clumsy of a word to make a good insult. It's not clever and so it doesn't bother me. But please be honest. You're just using the word in hopes of making someone angry.

I don't think that "United Statesian" is a particularly great term, or accurate, but I don't understand the virulent and vitriolic reaction that it provokes among some citizens of the United States of America on this forum. Examples:
Why is it assumed that USian is a mark of an anti-American opinion?

Citizens of the United States of America have been called Americans since the founding of this country. We are Americans and most of us are proud of our country and our American heritage. Calling us by the term USian is denigrating and derogatory. It is the equivalent of calling an Irishman Paddy or Mick, an Englishman a Limey, or an Italian by the W or G word.

Why do I think it is anti-American? Because that is exactly how some posters use it.

I swear this is the last friggin time I will post on this subject.

Simply this we as a rule call ourselves AMERICANS. Some of us find the term Usians objectionable dismissive and demeaning (myself included). We ask politly that you do not use the term in our presence. Out of respect decorum and courtesy you should then stop using it (in our presence). It is the height of arrogance and rudeness that some people "know better" what to call Americans than what we call ourselves.

My opinion is that once a person asks you politely to refrain from doing something they find objectionalble, and you blantantly continue to do so all bets are off as you are no longer fit to betreated with respect or decorum.


This should be painfully clear and free from ambiguity (crappy spelling/typing not withstanding :) )



I don't think that "United Statesian" is a particularly great term, or accurate, but I don't understand the virulent and vitriolic reaction that it provokes among some citizens of the United States of America on this forum. Examples:





Why is it assumed that USian is a mark of an anti-American opinion?

Cookies, anyone? They're from Sunday night, so they're not the freshest, but hey - it's better to eat semi-fresh cookies than letting this turkey loose again, isn't it?
And anyway, I won that thread. Hands-down. Look into it if'n you don't believe me.

Because the only reason anyone uses USian is to get under our skin. Personally I find it too clumsy of a word to make a good insult. It's not clever and so it doesn't bother me. But please be honest. You're just using the word in hopes of making someone angry.

No, but please, get over the persecution complex.

I don't think that "United Statesian" is a particularly great term, or accurate, but I don't understand the virulent and vitriolic reaction that it provokes among some citizens of the United States of America on this forum.
I'd never heard it coming on here, and have never heard it anywhere else. It strikes me as a somewhat clumsy word, and so I don't understand why people use it; that said, it doesn't actually mean anything beyond the obvious, so why get so worked up about it?

It strikes me as a somewhat clumsy word, and so I don't understand why people use it; that said, it doesn't actually mean anything beyond the obvious, so why get so worked up about it?
Spite. Pure, unvarnished spite. Not that anyone'll admit to it; but that's the real reason, right there. And not spite in a general sense, either - but consciously-directed, with the sole intent of building up a case to discredit... certain posters, with an eye toward ejection and/or deletion from these fora.

I'd never heard it coming on here, and have never heard it anywhere else. It strikes me as a somewhat clumsy word, and so I don't understand why people use it; that said, it doesn't actually mean anything beyond the obvious, so why get so worked up about it?

Their problem is that someone saw somebody use it along with a derogatory term like USians are arrogant fascists once or twice so it can only be used derogatorily from now on in their eyes.

Despite the fact that the word they wish everyone to use has been used way more times in conjunction with derogatory words.

Ignoring this, the whiner section continues to demand that everyone call them Americans becasue it has been used for a long time. Even though USian has its roots in the 1700's by people who felt back than that the word American to describe people from the US was too ambiguous.

But please be honest. You're just using the word in hopes of making someone angry.
In some cases, yes, but not in all.

Citizens of the United States of America have been called Americans since the founding of this country. We are Americans and most of us are proud of our country and our American heritage. Calling us by the term USian is denigrating and derogatory.
I know you think this but why? Why can't you be a proud United Statesian?

It is the equivalent of calling an Irishman Paddy or Mick, an Englishman a Limey, or an Italian by the W or G word.

Except that the term USian actually incorporates the name of the country.

as I concur with you I will make zee joke:

There was a little girl and her mother walking through the park one day and they saw two teenagers having sex on a bench. The little girl says "Mummy, what are they doing?". The mother hesitates then quickly replies "Ummm they are making cakes". The next day they are at a zoo and the little girl sees two monkies having sex. Again she asks her mother what they are doing and her mother replies with the same response, making cakes. The next day the girl says to her mother "Mummy, you and Daddy were making cakes in the lounge last night eh?". Shocked, the Mother says "how do you know?"

She says, "Because I licked the icing off the sofa".

Ewwwwwwww.



Making cakes though, that's an original one.

There's only one way to settle this. Canada must invade the US. Then there will only be Canada and Mexico and a bunch of other countries that nobody really cares to mention.

No, but please, get over the persecution complex.
I don't have a persecution complex. Your accusation is just intended to try and make me, and all other Americans, feel bad.

There's only one way to settle this. Canada must invade the US. Then there will only be Canada and Mexico and a bunch of other countries that nobody really cares to mention.

I fully endorse this plan.

Cookies, anyone? They're from Sunday night, so they're not the freshest, but hey - it's better to eat semi-fresh cookies than letting this turkey loose again, isn't it?
And anyway, I won that thread. Hands-down. Look into it if'n you don't believe me.as I said... it this subject will pop up like all the other Religious/Political rants out there.

*bites into a cookie*

Thanfs for da Cookie...

*Swallows*

Popcorn?

Oh Dobb, not another one...
Nice one, btw.

Though I really don't have the energy for another epic struggle over total crap tonight.

I was certainly astonished with the "Great 'USian'-Backlash". It seemed to come 'out of the blue' to me.

This doesnt of course mean that there were not plenty of 'lead up rumblings' before the main explosion, but rather that the rumblings probably occured in threads I didnt frequent.

I'd actually used the term myself because when I saw others use it, I figured it was a convention that I had previously not come across or not noticed, and that it was useful (it avoided the problem of ambiguity associated with using 'American' without necessitating typing out 'United States of American'). I figured it was a bit 'clunky' (it lacked the kind of 'roll off the tongue' or 'catchy visual asthetic' hook that usually generates the adoption into usage of a new word, or turn of phrase or linguistic short-cut, etc), but I
figured it wasnt significantly more clunky than 'United States of American'.

So actually it was rather a shock to realise that not only were some people offended, but that also these people believed that this was the intention of anyone and everyone who ever used the word. :eek:

Really, I had no clue and frankly it's an annoyance that I cant use a perfectly functional solution to a particular problem (as described above). Personally I find the rationale and reasoning behind being so offended (or even offended at all) inane, ill-conceived, and misfortunate, (the best description of events as per my perception of them is the pithy summary given by Tactical Grace on page 1), but I do appreciate that those who are offended are not necessarily wrong for viewing something as significant just because I happen to find it inane.

This still leaves the problem that I had thought 'USian' was a functional enough solution for.

It's easy enough to type or say 'U.S.' U.S.A.' and to say 'United States', United States of America, 'The US of A'...etc. but to refer to the citizens thereof either requires the ambiguous 'American' or having to come up with some other descriptive that is not ambiguous, and not too long to type and doesnt invoke offence and the absolute belief that the person using it only does so for the purpose of blatantly being 'in-ya-face' offensive.
How about 'USer', or 'USAer' (I gather USAian is too close [to the offensive term] for comfort..)...?

There's only one way to settle this. Canada must invade the US. Then there will only be Canada and Mexico and a bunch of other countries that nobody really cares to mention.
or America can absorb Canada and Mexico... then everyone in North America can be American. :p

There's only one way to settle this. Canada must invade the US. Then there will only be Canada and Mexico and a bunch of other countries that nobody really cares to mention.
Aww, that means I gotta wear olive drab and polish boots 'n' stuff. Let the Mexicans take over; we'll parlez with them for New England and the Pacific Northwest and the other bit... what is it, Michigan? Wisconsin? The one that's already surrounded by us on three sides. You know the one.

I ain't-a gonna march no more! Or, ever.

There's only one way to settle this. Canada must invade the US. Then there will only be Canada and Mexico and a bunch of other countries that nobody really cares to mention.

You may be right. Diplomacy never works. I for one welcome my new Canadian overlords

You may be right. Diplomacy never works. I for one welcome my new Canadian overlords
I'll settle for Landlords. Y'know, charge rent or somethin'.

To all my fellow Americans who keep crying about the term "USian" -

Please stop, you're embarrassing the rest of us. Cowboy up and ignore it.

Aww, that means I gotta wear olive drab and polish boots 'n' stuff. Let the Mexicans take over; we'll parlez with them for New England and the Pacific Northwest and the other bit... what is it, Michigan? Wisconsin? The one that's already surrounded by us on three sides. You know the one.

I ain't-a gonna march no more! Or, ever.
Fine, but Montana becomes an independent nation.

Even though USian has its roots in the 1700's by people who felt back than that the word American to describe people from the US was too ambiguous.

So, please show us where this word had it's roots back in the 1700's.

Fine, but Montana becomes an independent nation.


Sioux Nation?

Fine, but Montana becomes an independent nation.
:confused:

Sure. Why not?

Except that the term USian actually incorporates the name of the country.

No, it is a bastardization of USA, which is an abbreviation for the country.

or America can absorb Canada and Mexico... then everyone in North America can be American. :p

Why not? It worked for Alaska, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and part of Colorado... ;)

So, please show us where this word had it's roots back in the 1700's.

Actually, I'm also still waiting to meet a Cuban or Canadian that calls himself an "American". :D

Why not? It worked for Alaska, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and part of Colorado... ;)

And halfway for Puerto Rico. :p

So, please show us where this word had it's roots back in the 1700's.


http://www.wordlookup.net/us/usian.html

ALl I am getting at is that this isn't some new thing to bash the US and it's citizens - it's actually because of issue with ambiguity - although I didn't know this at the time I had first used it because I had the issue in my head about "American" being an ambiguous term and thought I made up the term "USian" and used it exactly for that reason. Saying that I use the term to bash US citizens would be the silliest thing of all because I am in fact a USian myself and don't look down on people because they are from the US.

No, it is a bastardization of USA, which is an abbreviation for the country.
Note the use of the term 'bastardization', which carries with it (in the eyes and ears of the semi-literate, anyway) negative connotations, was first employed in this thread by a member of the apparently-aggrieved 'anti-USian' side to this non-starter of a dispute.

I'm reserving judgement; just making note of who said what.

Note the use of the term 'bastardization', which carries with it (in the eyes and ears of the semi-literate, anyway) negative connotations, was first employed in this thread by a member of the apparently-aggrieved 'anti-USian' side to this non-starter of a dispute.

I'm reserving judgement; just making note of who said what.

Come on!!!!!

You can do it!

I

am

an

American!

:D

I don't think that "United Statesian" is a particularly great term, or accurate, but I don't understand the virulent and vitriolic reaction that it provokes among some citizens of the United States of America on this forum. Examples:

Why is it assumed that USian is a mark of an anti-American opinion?
Here's the thing. Some people, such as Eustrusca and Celtlund, due to service in our military, have a wee bit too much pride in the United States, and see anyone calling an American a USian as some kind of insult. Thing is, they're not that far off. Most people who use the term here are intentionally trying to insult people with it. Look, if some Americans want to be called USians, that's their business. I am not offended by the term myself, but I prefer being called American. I respect what other people prefer to be called. I would expect the same from them. Those that continue to call me a USian after I insist on American are trying to insult me, and it is only then when the term becomes offensive.

Allow me to explain in a way that is somewhat seperate. Let us say there is a man named James. He prefers James, not Jimmy, not Jim, or any other version of the word James. When someone calls him Jim, he asks them to call him James. One would respect his wishes and not continue to call him Jim. It's the same thing here.

To all my fellow Americans who keep crying about the term "USian" -

Please stop, you're embarrassing the rest of us. Cowboy up and ignore it.

Are you suggesting that we all can all start using names that others find offensive? :eek:

Actually, I'm also still waiting to meet a Cuban or Canadian that calls himself an "American". :D

In the 1960's I was on a train in England going from Oxford to London. I asked a young man if he were American. He very curtly said. "No, I'm Canadian." and very bruskly left the compartment.

Are you suggesting that we all can all start using names that others find offensive? :eek:

Nope. I'm just suggesting that you stop the passive aggressive crying about something so incredibly trivial. It isn't very "American" and you're making us look like thin-skinned babies. Please stop.

It's not derogatory or offensive, just incorrect. Were there a continent called just America, it would be an issue but since there isn't the debate is really pointless. It's only offensive if someone intends it to be, but otherwise it's just incorrect...honestly, it's not that big of a deal.

You refer to citizens of a nation according to the name of the nation, and the name of the country is America and "United States" is its political title. Refering to them by the political title is simply incorrect, whether they are from the United States of America, the Federal Republic of Germany, or anywhere else.

This whole bit with the personal names (Jimmy/James, and from the other night Johnny/Johnathan) just doesn't hold water. It's not fair; Jimmy/James/Jim/Jamie/Hamish, etc. has, in this case, over 300 million discrete personalities, and, as I pointed out the other night, not even a clear majority of Jimmy's personalities represented here on the Forums can agree whether to be insulted or not if they're referred to as Jamie or not.

Why be insulted when no insult is intended? Why let your perceptions of a term be coloured by extremist nonsense derived from (erroneously-arrived-at) feelings of inadequacy or inequity, notions concocted by a scant few as a means of under-handedly 'getting back at' a very select few people through the auspices of a good ol' fashioned fake shit-fit in Moderation?