Why do USA citizens call themselves 'Americans'?

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: middlehead

Originally posted by: destrekor
There's a land-bridge country, but that's about it.

And we cut that bridge country in half.

AMERICA, FUCK YEAH!

:laugh: excellent, hoping someone would allude to that

 

[ja1484]

How will we distinguish between North America and South America and Antartimerica and Iraqmica and Afmericastan?

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: PieIsAwesome
USA is the only real America.

And USA is all the good parts of North America.


AMURIKA!!!!

 

[Shadow Conception]

It's engraved into our society. Get the fuck over it.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13

Originally posted by: dighn
Wtf? Even outside of America, the US is known as "America", and its people "Americans". It has nothing to do with American arrogance.

Typical American arrogance. Most countries do not use the Term America to refer to this country unless they happen to be speaking in English. Most languages have their own words to refer to America and other countries.

PS- The First Sentence was sarcastic.

pronouncing U.S.A. in russian is amusing.
"ssshhhsha" (for the russian translated abbreviation, btw)

but Russians do call us pretty much Americans: pronunciation "amerikaan", "amerikaanski"
they're play with modern english words is kind of fun.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Isaac MM
I know the historical reasons for that, but i don't understand why nobody has made any efforts to change this. I still see your media calling USA citizens "Americans" and calling the USA "America". I also haven't seen anyone doing differently. Can't you see that it makes your people look arrogant and egocentric, specially to other Americans? Also, it makes you look stupid, because the United States of America is the name of your country and America is the name of the continent, it almost sounds like you don't know basic geography.

It is the same as it would be referring to French people as Europeans, or Japanese people Asians, or Egyptian people Africans. There are over 35 countries in America, do you think they like that whenever someone says "American" people immediately think of the USA? It is extremely offensive and makes it sound like the USA is the only relevant country in the continent.

/rant

I realize all this but it doesn't bother me. What do you think we should call ourselves? Usans? If you have a better idea, please share. Calling ourselves Americans is not proof in and of itself that we are arrogant. Actually, we are not in the habit of calling ourselves "Americans." What bothers me is when the media assumes that we are talking about Americans and not people in the world at large. Thus statements like "25% of the population will catch a cold this winter" references Americans, but they don't usually say that specifically.

 

[0roo0roo]

we were the only part that mattered.

 

[MotF Bane]

United States of AMERICA.

Clear enough for you?

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Isaac MM
I know the historical reasons for that, but i don't understand why nobody has made any efforts to change this. I still see your media calling USA citizens "Americans" and calling the USA "America". I also haven't seen anyone doing differently. Can't you see that it makes your people look arrogant and egocentric, specially to other Americans? Also, it makes you look stupid, because the United States of America is the name of your country and America is the name of the continent, it almost sounds like you don't know basic geography.

It is the same as it would be referring to French people as Europeans, or Japanese people Asians, or Egyptian people Africans. There are over 35 countries in America, do you think they like that whenever someone says "American" people immediately think of the USA? It is extremely offensive and makes it sound like the USA is the only relevant country in the continent.

/rant

Wait, you think "America" is a continent? I think you're the stupid one.

Actually, in other countries they teach you that "America" is the name of the entire continent. In fact, I think they teach you that in every single country except in the USA.

Which one? North America or South America? They are two distinct continents, as separate as Asia and Africa. If they teach it that way, they are wrong.

Somebody back me up: They do teach you that America is one continent, divided into 3 regions: North, Central, and South America.

I'm not disputing you that some people teach it that way, I'm just saying it's wrong to teach it that way. Since Africa and (Eur)Asia are linked by the Suez peninsula, they are technically part of the same continent too. So "America" is no more a continent than "Afri-Eur-Asia" is.

I understand, but then there's the question of why is it "North America" and "South America" instead of using a different name for each continent.

This discussion is pointless, though. There is really no consensus anywhere...

rofl... how is that not using a different name for each continent? are you saying north dakota and south dakota aren't using different names for their states?

we could just all be _________pangea and choose a central point of the middle east

there would be north pangea (europe), south pangea (africa), way south pangea (antarctica), north east pangea (asia), far south east pangea (australia), north west pangea (north america) and south west pangea (south america)

then of course south west central east north pangea (atlantis... if you had my security clearance you'd know what i'm talking about)

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Isaac MM
I know the historical reasons for that, but i don't understand why nobody has made any efforts to change this. I still see your media calling USA citizens "Americans" and calling the USA "America". I also haven't seen anyone doing differently. Can't you see that it makes your people look arrogant and egocentric, specially to other Americans? Also, it makes you look stupid, because the United States of America is the name of your country and America is the name of the continent, it almost sounds like you don't know basic geography.

It is the same as it would be referring to French people as Europeans, or Japanese people Asians, or Egyptian people Africans. There are over 35 countries in America, do you think they like that whenever someone says "American" people immediately think of the USA? It is extremely offensive and makes it sound like the USA is the only relevant country in the continent.

/rant

Wait, you think "America" is a continent? I think you're the stupid one.

Actually, in other countries they teach you that "America" is the name of the entire continent. In fact, I think they teach you that in every single country except in the USA.

Which one? North America or South America? They are two distinct continents, as separate as Asia and Africa. If they teach it that way, they are wrong.

Somebody back me up: They do teach you that America is one continent, divided into 3 regions: North, Central, and South America.

I'm not disputing you that some people teach it that way, I'm just saying it's wrong to teach it that way. Since Africa and (Eur)Asia are linked by the Suez peninsula, they are technically part of the same continent too. So "America" is no more a continent than "Afri-Eur-Asia" is.

I understand, but then there's the question of why is it "North America" and "South America" instead of using a different name for each continent.

This discussion is pointless, though. There is really no consensus anywhere...

rofl... how is that not using a different name for each continent? are you saying north dakota and south dakota aren't using different names for their states?

we could just all be _________pangea and choose a central point of the middle east

there would be north pangea (europe), south pangea (africa), way south pangea (antarctica), north east pangea (asia), far south east pangea (australia), north west pangea (north america) and south west pangea (south america)

then of course south west central east north pangea (atlantis... if you had my security clearance you'd know what i'm talking about)

i knew it.
it's like... everywhere. as if the god of atlantis just... sprayed it.

 

[TheVrolok]

This thread delivers.

 

[manowar821]

Because people are stupid. I stopped caring, though, since it's impossible to expect people to suddenly start making sense.

But it's fun to think about and post the question, especially in this kind of place where cunty nationalist responses are the norm!

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: manowar821
Because people are stupid. I stopped caring, though, since it's impossible to expect people to suddenly start making sense.

But it's fun to think about and post the question, especially in this kind of place where cunty nationalist responses are the norm!

What do you call Americans?

 

[CanOWorms]

I'm guessing that the OP is from South America. There they use America for what others call the Americas.

For most of the world, America = United States. When people chant "Death to America" I don't think that they mean Peru.

United States of America = America/USA
United Mexican States = Mexico not America

 

[Ichinisan]

This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29g57XTYgLE

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: manowar821
Because people are stupid. I stopped caring, though, since it's impossible to expect people to suddenly start making sense.

But it's fun to think about and post the question, especially in this kind of place where cunty nationalist responses are the norm!

What do you call Americans?

"Jerks". Don't worry, I'm a jerk, too.

 

[Ichinisan]

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca

Originally posted by: Isaac MM

/rant

Wait, you think "America" is a continent? I think you're the stupid one.

Actually, in other countries they teach you that "America" is the name of the entire continent. In fact, I think they teach you that in every single country except in the USA.

They don't know about hemispheres where you're from?

Wow. Yoo don lern to gud.

 

[Queasy]

Explanation

 

[Ichinisan]

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: Arcadio
Somebody back me up: They do teach you that America is one continent, divided into 3 regions: North, Central, and South America.

Three regions, yes. Two continents though.

Please tell me: How many continents do they tell you exist? 6? 7? We're told that there are 7 continents, and I'm sure you're told the same. How do you account for that 7th continent?

Again: Continent != Hemisphere

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Ichinisan

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: Arcadio
Somebody back me up: They do teach you that America is one continent, divided into 3 regions: North, Central, and South America.

Three regions, yes. Two continents though.

Please tell me: How many continents do they tell you exist? 6? 7? We're told that there are 7 continents, and I'm sure you're told the same. How do you account for that 7th continent?

Again: Continent != Hemisphere

Actually, many countries teach 6 continents. Some combine North & South America while others combine Europe & Asia. I think that Latin Americans tend to combine North and South America, hence why one calling himself American is the same as someone else calling themselves Asian.

 

[Venix]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Ichinisan

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: Arcadio
Somebody back me up: They do teach you that America is one continent, divided into 3 regions: North, Central, and South America.

Three regions, yes. Two continents though.

Please tell me: How many continents do they tell you exist? 6? 7? We're told that there are 7 continents, and I'm sure you're told the same. How do you account for that 7th continent?

Again: Continent != Hemisphere

Actually, many countries teach 6 continents. Some combine North & South America while others combine Europe & Asia. I think that Latin Americans tend to combine North and South America, hence why one calling himself American is the same as someone else calling themselves Asian.

Correct:

"The seven-continent model is usually taught in China and most English-speaking countries. The six-continent combined-Eurasia model is preferred by the geographic community, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Japan. The six-continent combined-America model is taught in Latin America, and some parts of Europe including Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy. This model may be taught to include only the five inhabited continents (excluding Antarctica)[20][21] ? as depicted in the Olympic logo."

 

[Jadow]

Originally posted by: Arcadio
I suggest changing the name of the entire continent to "Arcadia".

then you could get some cheap ass Ashley Furniture

 

[Sea Moose]

1/10 for rant stupidity

 

[Aquaman]

Are you an American or an Americant? :Q

Cheers,
Aquaman [Atlantean]

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Are you an American or an Americant? :Q

Cheers,
Aquaman [Atlantean]

Putting the "I can" back into the American.