What's wrong with saying I'm American?

[Mushet]

To half the world North and South America are considered one continent, and everyone from said single continent is "American", with Americans also coming from United States of America. To everyone else there is North and South America and you're either North or South American, with Americans coming from America.

Which is erroneous considering they're on two different plates.

More than two.

[The Sotoan Union]

Sort of. Again the old world continents were created by the Greeks. Geographically it made sense to them. Now though you end up with Europe and Asia being separated by arbitrary lines. From their point of view it made geographical sense. Europe and Asia were separated by the Mediterranean. They didn't know about Russia and the Urals.

And they were created on geographic lines.....as were the rest of the continents.

What geographic lines? Australia and Antartica float in the middle of the ocean. North and South America are connected by a small strip of land. Europe and Asia are connected by a huge mass of land.

There aren't a lot of similarities there. They are arbitrary lines. They found geographic locations to go with their arbitrary lines but they are still arbitrary. For example the Urals separate Europe from Asia but that's arbitrary. They could have just as easily said any other landmark separates Europe and Asia. Have you ever considered why they picked the geographic lines they did?

[BK117B2]

And they were created on geographic lines.....as were the rest of the continents.

What geographic lines? Australia and Antartica float in the middle of the ocean. North and South America are connected by a small strip of land. Europe and Asia are connected by a huge mass of land.

There aren't a lot of similarities there. They are arbitrary lines. They found geographic locations to go with their arbitrary lines but they are still arbitrary. For example the Urals separate Europe from Asia but that's arbitrary. They could have just as easily said any other landmark separates Europe and Asia. Have you ever considered why they picked the geographic lines they did?

There is a lot of similarity: each is a relatively large body of land either completely separated from the others or very nearly so based on the knowledge available at the time.

Sure, Eurasia looks a lot more like one landmass than the other divisions.....now that we can see the whole surface of the Earth.

There is a cultural difference regarding which continent model to use, but the lines themselves were drawn based mostly on land and water, not human differences.

[Forsher]

Which is erroneous considering they're on two different plates.

Yeah, but they are connected by a landbridge and Western European culture so a large portion of Europe (Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, Netherlands who were the most influential in the area) grouped them all into a single continent at the time because there was no difference. Most of them kept the idea, as did their colonies.

This is irrelevant... it is not how it is in English. If you are speaking, say, German, you don't use English demonyms. If you are speaking, you are in the wrong if you are using, say, Spanish demonyms. This is pretty basic and it's not really appropriate to try and assert a moral justification for people to be doing this.

I think you missed the point. Because the colonial powers controlled both parts of the American continent they didn't see a difference between them. It was America that created the 2 Americas around the 1800-1900's, and most of the world outside the Americas hasn't accepted that because it's arbitrary. Continents are grouped mostly based of ethnic and historical cultures, so Asia and Europe wouldn't fit into a single one at all.

England does. Hence why Americans do.

Yes, but in England (and, I guess the rest of the UK) referring to Europe and treating it, conceptually, as a different space is entirely commonplace and mundane.

Comes from having a bad name for your country. Statesians sounds weird, though I suppose we do call people Emirati.

We call them Yanks.

I suppose that works.

Which, ironically, I am given to understand has a quite different connotation to Americans.

We call them Yanks.

I suppose that works.

Sure. If British people are called Tommies and Germans are called Jerries.

Those words, they're not equivalent.

Sure. If British people are called Tommies and Germans are called Jerries.

Well, I sometimes call British people Poms, if that counts.

Pom is generally used to refer to the English.

This is possibly because it's usage is often tied up with sport... (which, additionally, is the context for the aforementioned Europe thing as I am familiar with it).

[Stellonia]

White people aren't allowed to be proud.

We most certainly are, sir.

[The Sotoan Union]

What geographic lines? Australia and Antartica float in the middle of the ocean. North and South America are connected by a small strip of land. Europe and Asia are connected by a huge mass of land.

There aren't a lot of similarities there. They are arbitrary lines. They found geographic locations to go with their arbitrary lines but they are still arbitrary. For example the Urals separate Europe from Asia but that's arbitrary. They could have just as easily said any other landmark separates Europe and Asia. Have you ever considered why they picked the geographic lines they did?

There is a lot of similarity: each is a relatively large body of land either completely separated from the others or very nearly so based on the knowledge available at the time.

Sure, Eurasia looks a lot more like one landmass than the other divisions.....now that we can see the whole surface of the Earth.

There is a cultural difference regarding which continent model to use, but the lines themselves were drawn based mostly on land and water, not human differences.

They could put the lines anywhere. Though it seems obvious for continents like Antarctica, for continents like Europe and Asia the lines were drawn there because human differences made it make the most sense there.

[Stellonia]

They could put the lines anywhere. Though it seems obvious for continents like Antarctica, for continents like Europe and Asia the lines were drawn there because human differences made it make the most sense there.

The word continent is defined as any of the world's main continuous expanses of land. Hmm... Anything about human differences?

[Alyakia]

To half the world North and South America are considered one continent, and everyone from said single continent is "American", with Americans also coming from United States of America. To everyone else there is North and South America and you're either North or South American, with Americans coming from America.

Which is erroneous considering they're on two different plates.

and? your definitions of continents is not based on plate tectonics. neither are most of them. you are free to prove me wrong but i don't think you will.

[Stellonia]

To half the world North and South America are considered one continent, and everyone from said single continent is "American", with Americans also coming from United States of America. To everyone else there is North and South America and you're either North or South American, with Americans coming from America.

Which is erroneous considering they're on two different plates.

Again, the word continent is defined as any of the world's main continuous expanses of land. Nothing about tectonic plates.

[BK117B2]

There is a lot of similarity: each is a relatively large body of land either completely separated from the others or very nearly so based on the knowledge available at the time.

Sure, Eurasia looks a lot more like one landmass than the other divisions.....now that we can see the whole surface of the Earth.

There is a cultural difference regarding which continent model to use, but the lines themselves were drawn based mostly on land and water, not human differences.

They could put the lines anywhere. Though it seems obvious for continents like Antarctica, for continents like Europe and Asia the lines were drawn there because human differences made it make the most sense there.

Same cultural and ethnic groups reside on both sides of the line.

There is very little difference in ethnicity or cultural histories among the people living on opposite sides of continental borders compared to the differences within continents.

Clearly the idea was to distinguish between land masses, not people

[Stellonia]

They could put the lines anywhere. Though it seems obvious for continents like Antarctica, for continents like Europe and Asia the lines were drawn there because human differences made it make the most sense there.

Same cultural and ethnic groups reside on both sides of the line.

There is very little difference in ethnicity or cultural histories among the people living on opposite sides of continental borders compared to the differences within continents.

Clearly the idea was to distinguish between land masses, not people

It could be argued, however, that Afro-Eurasia is one continent.

[BK117B2]

Same cultural and ethnic groups reside on both sides of the line.

There is very little difference in ethnicity or cultural histories among the people living on opposite sides of continental borders compared to the differences within continents.

Clearly the idea was to distinguish between land masses, not people

It could be argued, however, that Afro-Eurasia is one continent.

Certainly, but that is still just choosing slightly different criteria for a division of land. It is not switching to a system of dividing based on people

[The Alma Mater]

So, conclusion:

Anyone who thinks citizens of a country on the American continents should not be allowed to call themselves American if they so desire is being silly.

Agreed ?

[The Two Jerseys]

I was talking with some guy from colombia who went off on me when I said I was an American. He said something like everyone in the Americas is an American. I agreed but then said he wasn't asking what continent I came from but what country. Then I asked how many countries have America in their name. He didn't answer but went on about Americans being arrogant etc.

I thought I had a good point. People don't say they are from a continent. They say they are from a country. My country is America. Is there another country called America?

How many countries have America in their name? I know one.

The solution is simple: call yourself a Columbian from Columbia, and tell him that Colombia has to change its name or else we'll give them a healthy dose of Freedom_TM.

Also, ask him that since Spanish speakers insist on calling us estadounidense, why don't they call British people reinounidense?

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

Nothing, although if you say you're from New Jersey then there's gonna be a problem...

[Yedmnrutika Gavr]

nothing. anti-americanism is common for now. they will find a new generalization to hate soon enough. and to those saying the us is a young nation, did the troyans call themselves turks or did the etruscans and romans call themselves italians.. the us is one of the oldest named nations in perpetual existence not withstanding the additions of western territories and has the oldest constitution. plenty of other nations are warmongers and only recently did us wars for a selfish intent become common. before america invaded iraq, the lowland countries and england decided africa was theirs to divide and before that ghengis khan was invading rus. its all ignorance and greed. and like u said no other nation has america in its name. ive said it while living in other countries and never was it unclear or did someone say, "can u clarify which nation of the americas"

[The Two Jerseys]

Nothing, although if you say you're from New Jersey then there's gonna be a problem...

Yes, you'll have foreigners start asking you about every goddamned "Noo Joisey" stereotype under the sun.

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

Nothing, although if you say you're from New Jersey then there's gonna be a problem...

Yes, you'll have foreigners start asking you about every goddamned "Noo Joisey" stereotype under the sun.

I'm just scared of those who come from New Jersey.

[The Two Jerseys]

Yes, you'll have foreigners start asking you about every goddamned "Noo Joisey" stereotype under the sun.

I'm just scared of those who come from New Jersey.

Good, it's working!

[Caerek]

Nothing I'm a flag touting, wall mart shopping, hot dog eating, Murican!!!!! Best country on earth! God bless the USA!

[New Tuva SSR]

I want to be United Statesian.

[Deuxtete]

So, conclusion:

Anyone who thinks citizens of a country on the American continents should not be allowed to call themselves American if they so desire is being silly.

Agreed ?

Was that in question? They live in the Americas of course they're americans. Just like British French and Italians are Europeans, Vietnamese Indians and Japanese are Asians, Egyptians Algerians and Madagascarians(?) are Africans.

I'm not leaving you out Australia as a slight, merely the point is made.

[The Alma Mater]

So, conclusion:

Anyone who thinks citizens of a country on the American continents should not be allowed to call themselves American if they so desire is being silly.

Agreed ?

Was that in question?

Well yes - it is in fact the very question asked in the OP

[Sun Wukong]

White people aren't allowed to be proud.

We most certainly are, sir.

The Joke goes, "the Norwegian prides himself in his humility."

One of my favorite things about White people, at least in Western Europe, Oceania, and North America, is the extent to which they've largely abandoned ethno-tribal bullshit in favor of a larger view of humanity.

Of course, you can't complement them on this, in the same way that you can't complement a Norwegian - they reject the premise of the complement itself - but, hell, I'm going to do it anyway: White people, good fucking job. Obviously you're not perfect, but I can't think of anyone whose done better. So Kudos.

Now, like the Norwegian, you all have to reject that. If anyone accepts my complement, it's retracted.

[Imperializt Russia]

It's not silly. When there are, what, a billion people who live in the two Americas and when anyone in the world ever says America they default to the US, that's probably pretty fucking annoying to the two thirds of a billion people who don't live in North America.

I'm sure it's also annoying when people confuse the nation Turkey with the fat domesticated bird. I don't see any calls to change the names of either though. Greenland is not green; that has to be a misleading name. Chile shares its name with a spicy vegetable, and even looks like one too.

I guarantee if the U.S. Changed its denonym we'd have much more confusion than we do now.

None of your "examples" are remotely comparable.

"I am from Turkey"
"How did you fit?"

"I am from Greenland"
"Why are you white?"

"I am from Chile"
"I thought it was warm there."

Fucking nonsensical.