Americans... South Americans?

[VinReaper]

Originally Posted by ratchet

Until they spark up the song with

I've been through the desert on a horse named Gary...

VR

[Nidgit]

Originally Posted by ratchet

But do they DESCRIBE themseves as Americans - this is the confusing part...

No, they don't describe themselves as Americans . . . they just like to walk around in jeans that hang down to their knees saying things like . . . word up dog ??

[VinReaper]

Originally Posted by Nidgit

No, they don't describe themselves as Americans . . . they just like to walk around in jeans that hang down to their knees saying things like . . . word up dog ??

I hate that here as well!


And pull up your damn pants!


VR

[TNovak]

lookin like a fool with yo pants on the ground........

[Batwing]

This thread is hilarious!

Yes, generally people prefer to describe themselves by nationalities, not continents.

However, I think 'Asians' and 'Europeans' are more OK with these generalizations, though. But it's rare to hear "North American" being used. And hearing a Bolivian wanting to use "American" is really unusual! Why not, "South American"?

It's like this Indian (as in 'Sub-Continent' India as opposed to Native American) girl I knew at college in America. I said that "Oriental" is a dumb term because it refers to the Eastern World, which includes the Far East, India and parts of the Middle East (the 'Western World' is therefore Occidental). The term "Oriental" is commonly and erroneously used to describe people of Chinese, Japanese or Korean origin. So I said it's more encompassing than just these 3 countries. The silly girl got upset and immediately said,

"Indians are not Oriental; we're Aryan." WTF?! Does she have an inferiority complex or what? So she doesn't want to associate with 'Asians'???

Errr.. different terminology there, lady!

Semantics, schemantics!

[bat_collector]

I hear people talk about Europeans, Asians, Africans, and Australians all the time.

I have no idea why South American's can't describe themselves as American's if they want.

If you have a big problem with it, get over yourself.

[ratchet]

Originally Posted by bat_collector

I hear people talk about Europeans, Asians, Africans, and Australians all the time.

I have no idea why South American's can't describe themselves as American's if they want.

If you have a big problem with it, get over yourself.

Because it's not America - it's South America - just like in the points my friend brought up before. It's not a matter of anyone getting over themselves - it's the point that American says one thing - and you don't think South American when you hear it. It seems like the South Americans that use the term American are ashamed of being known South American... which is silly - sounds like they would be the ones who need to get over themsleves...

[ratchet]

Originally Posted by Batwing

However, I think 'Asians' and 'Europeans' are more OK with these generalizations, though. But it's rare to hear "North American" being used. And hearing a Bolivian wanting to use "American" is really unusual! Why not, "South American"?

Exactly! I've heard about this argument twice now and both times I wondered why it was a big deal to be known as American and not South American - which is more accurate.

When people say European - or Asian - at least people think of the right general area of where that is - but when you say American that infers the United States of America...

[rilynil]

So, by this logic, would Canadians prefer to be called Americans, too? Or would they like to be called North Americans?

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by rilynil

So, by this logic, would Canadians prefer to be called Americans, too? Or would they like to be called North Americans?

I think Canadians prefer not to get picked on so much by Americans.