Poll of the Day > Why do people in South America get offended when we call our country America?

(+) Yeah! (+)

America isn't the whole 2 continents, there is North America (continent) South America (another continent) and America (country)
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Muscles posted...

America isn't the whole 2 continents, there is North America (continent) South America (another continent) and America (country)

Shut-up you bigot, America is for all continents, not just your white cis country!!!
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the country is actually the United States of America
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Some continental models America is refered to North and South as one
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JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

That's nor the point of this topic because saying you are an United States of American sounds dumb af

Saying you are a South American sounds fine and clears up any confusion
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Does anybody actually get offended? After all, that's what they use to refer to Americans anyway (or Americanos)

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

Yeah, we should be calling ourselves Usonians!
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Muscles posted...

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

That's nor the point of this topic because saying you are an United States of American sounds dumb af

Saying you are a South American sounds fine and clears up any confusion

im pretty sure south americans dont just say they are south american, just as you dont say youre north american
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JunkoEnoshima posted...

Muscles posted...

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

That's nor the point of this topic because saying you are an United States of American sounds dumb af

Saying you are a South American sounds fine and clears up any confusion

im pretty sure south americans dont just say they are south american, just as you dont say youre north american

Then why do they get pissy about us calling ourselves Americans?
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they're jealous
they're taught that the northerners stole their land when in reality they couldn't feasibly maintain it amoung other things like us causing all of the wars in the pacific
that was my impression with el salvodor anyway
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JunkoEnoshima posted...

Muscles posted...

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

That's nor the point of this topic because saying you are an United States of American sounds dumb af

Saying you are a South American sounds fine and clears up any confusion

im pretty sure south americans dont just say they are south american, just as you dont say youre north american

No, they identify the country. People from Canada don't call themselves North Americans, they call themselves Canadians. Likewise, we don't call ourselves North Americans, we call ourselves Americans.
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Muscles posted...

JunkoEnoshima posted...

Muscles posted...

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

That's nor the point of this topic because saying you are an United States of American sounds dumb af

Saying you are a South American sounds fine and clears up any confusion

im pretty sure south americans dont just say they are south american, just as you dont say youre north american

Then why do they get pissy about us calling ourselves Americans?

i think you probably made that up
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RoboXgp89 posted...

they're jealous
they're taught that the northerners stole their land when in reality they couldn't feasibly maintain it amoung other things like us causing all of the wars in the pacific
that was my impression with el salvodor anyway

Yeah, but youre not very smart, soooooo......

Also, who cares? Its the United States of Mexico and theyre called Mexicans.

JunkoEnoshima posted...

just as you dont say youre north american

I do if I'm talking about what continent I'm from.

Zeus posted...

Does anybody actually get offended? After all, that's what they use to refer to Americans anyway (or Americanos)

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

Yeah, we should be calling ourselves Usonians!

My friends uncle did. I said welcome to America and he got pissed and said he is American since he is feom central America, it's the United States. So yeah some people do get offended. May have been some more alterations but that was memorable.
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Because it's incorrect and self-centered. Much like "America".
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Because those people are fucking babies? I live in Canada and still call the USA "America" most of the time.
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Muscles posted...

America isn't the whole 2 continents, there is North America (continent) South America (another continent) and America (country)

Assuming you're trolling I'll answer anyway. And I very much doubt people in south america get offended by Americans calling themselves Americans.

America is the whole continent west of the Atlantic Ocean. It's one continent according to France, Italy, Spain, Latin America, the United Nations and the Olympic games (hence the five rings, one is for America).
Some contintent models separate North and South America. Such as the 7 continent model. Which is used in the US and most of Western Europe. It's the model that makes the most sense in a lot of ways (geographically, historically, biologically).
This splits the (super) continent of America into North America and South America. Like the supercontinent of Eurasia can be split into Europe and Asia.

America is the "new world", named after Amerigo Vespucci, born 1454. the First guy who showed that brazil and the west indies were not the same as the east indies.

If you tell me you're "American" I won't know if you're from the US, or from another country in North or South America.
America (or American) is used a lot as short for United States of America. So I'll probably assume someone who claims to be American is from the US. Especially if they're speaking English. Other countries in America usually refer to their country, not the continent.

something something ethnocenterism
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Zeus posted...

Does anybody actually get offended? After all, that's what they use to refer to Americans anyway (or Americanos)

"Americanos" is generally only used to mean "citizen of the United States of America" within the United States of America. In almost every other country with a significant Spanish-speaking population, the correct term is "estadounidenses".

But hey, this is the kind of thing that happens when you arrogantly name your country like you're the only one in the Americas that matters.
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dainkinkaide posted...

Zeus posted...

Does anybody actually get offended? After all, that's what they use to refer to Americans anyway (or Americanos)

"Americanos" is generally only used to mean "citizen of the United States of America" within the United States of America. In almost every other country with a significant Spanish-speaking population, the correct term is "estadounidenses".

But hey, this is the kind of thing that happens when you arrogantly name your country like you're the only one in the Americas that matters.

But we are <_<
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dainkinkaide posted...

But hey, this is the kind of thing that happens when you arrogantly name your country like you're the only one in the Americas that matters.

To be honest, they were -states- in -America- that -united- and then called their unison the United States of America. Which became a country.
While there are other states/countries in America, there are no other united states in/of America. The name is fair, and not arrogant.

Compare with European Union. Not a country but the countries in it share some things like military or currency. People in it call themselves Europeans. Just like how people in the United States call themselves Americans.
Doesn't mean that people in Europe but outside of the Union are not Europeans. Or people outside of the United States but in America are not Americans.

I noticed people from The United states of America call the rest of America "The Americas" instead of just America, which they reserve for their own country.

Ogurisama posted...

Some continental models America is refered to North and South as one

Afroeurasia, Americas, Australia, Antarctica. That's it.

Muscles posted...

there is North America (continent) South America (another continent)

They're the same land mass though. Continents, how do they work?
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benbeverfaqs posted...

While there are other states/countries in America, there are no other united states in/of America. The name is fair, and not arrogant.

Mexico, or more properly, Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the United Mexican States. Likewise, Brazil is a federated republic of an inseparable union of states.

Granted, at the time the United States of America chose its name, neither of these countries had yet united their states, but it was still mighty arrogant to assume that no other countries in America would form a union of states.
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Ive not once heard of someone being offended by this
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Its jealousy because we are more powerful, but hypocrisy. In Spanish, they sometimes use "North American" to refer to Americans, forgetting Canada and Mexico

I forgot who made this, but enjoy, ok?


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I'll just leave this here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29g57XTYgLE
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Meh you're all Americans to me.
*sips tea*
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American has two meanings:
1. From the continent(s) of America.
2. From the country United States of America.

I don't see the huge problem. If unclear then just specify.

American coffee beans -> From the continent, they don't grow coffee large scale in the US.
American aircraft carrier -> Military is country specific and I don't think other American countries even have those.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Afroeurasia, Americas, Australia, Antarctica. That's it.

That's just landmasses. And America pretty recently connected north and south. Landmasses =/= continents. Your list arbitrarily leaves out Greenland and Madagascar.
Continents are arbitrary too, but they're based on landmass, tectonics, history (a big part), culture, biology etc. That's why sometimes America is split in two, Eurasia is sometimes counted as one, and Antarctica is sometimes left out (big landmass but no people).

dainkinkaide posted...

Mexico, or more properly, Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the United Mexican States. Likewise, Brazil is a federated republic of an inseparable union of states. Granted, at the time the United States of America chose its name, neither of these countries had yet united their states, but it was still mighty arrogant to assume that no other countries in America would form a union of states.

I meant to say that no other unison of nations had taken on the name of the continent yet. Since they were a unison of american nations, and the name was free, I think it was fair, and not arrogant. Though it might not have been the best choice. I don't think they prohibited other new nations from picking the same name, though none did. They were called united colonies before. Even though there were other colonies around. There's also a United Kingdom (UK) even though there are a lot of other kingdoms.

To be honest I thought of Mexico and Brazil as just two countries. But it makes sense that it's a unison of smaller countries/states/provinces/districts. Most countries are.
The Netherlands was originally the Seven Provinces.
Spain was made up of a lot of smaller countries (some want out).
Same with Italy and Germany; lots of small kingdoms united.

if someone says they are from America it means they are from the USA.
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benbeverfaqs posted...

They were called united colonies before.

The original Thirteen Colonies were actually called Columbia for awhile. This was a perfectly good name that nobody else was using. They could have gone with the United States of Columbia, called themselves Columbians, and everything would have been hunky dory.

The country now known as Colombia was part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada at the time.

There's also a United Kingdom (UK) even though there are a lot of other kingdoms.

But the United Kingdom isn't the "United Kingdom of Eurasia". It's the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". That country is quite specific about where the kingdom is. The people of this country call themselves British, English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish. They don't take their demonym from the name of an entire continental landmass.

It's not the "United States" part that's the problem in "the United States of America".
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

if someone says they are from America it means they are from the USA.

Yes, it could mean that, or it could mean that they are from another country in America. (Please read the topic before posting)

dainkinkaide posted...

The original Thirteen Colonies were actually called Columbia for awhile. This was a perfectly good name that nobody else was using. They could have gone with the United States of Columbia, called themselves Columbians, and everything would have been hunky dory.

Isn't Columbia a city or a state in the US? anyway I agree that'd be a pretty good name.

But the United Kingdom isn't the "United Kingdom of Eurasia". It's the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". That country is quite specific about where the kingdom is. The people of this country call themselves British, English, Scottish, Welsh, or Irish. They don't take their demonym from the name of an entire continental landmass.

European Union might be a better example.
28 countries united and named their unison after their continent.
16 European countries are on the continent but not in the union.

no, if they are from America it means they are from the USA. if they are from Canada they are Canadians, if Mexico they are Mexicans, if from a country in south america like Brazil they are Brazilians
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

if from a country in south america like Brazil they are Brazilians

lol
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

no, if they are from America it means they are from the USA. if they are from Canada they are Canadians, if Mexico they are Mexicans, if from a country in south america like Brazil they are Brazilians

I'll assume you're trolling now, but it's an interesting topic anyway.

You have it the wrong way around:
If people are from the USA it means they are Americans.
The other way around is not (always) true, Americans can be from the USA, but they can also be from other places. The country The United States of America is not the only place with the name America.

For one, and it's pretty big, there is the continent. People from North, Middle or South America are from the continent America. That means they are American. This includes Canadians, Mexicans and Brazilians.
A guy can be from the city Mexico City, country Mexico, continent America.
In the eyes of people from Europe or Asia, he is from the "new world"; America.

To make it interesting, there are cities called America.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America,_Limburg
Over 2000 people live there. They're Americans and also Europeans. They're from the city America, but not from the country or continent America.
There are also cities called Amerika or Amrica. There even used to be cities in America that were named America.

benbeverfaqs posted...

In the eyes of people from Europe or Asia, he is from the "new world"; America.

I want all the European posters on this board to tell me what they call people from the USA.

Zeus posted...

Does anybody actually get offended? After all, that's what they use to refer to Americans anyway (or Americanos)

JunkoEnoshima posted...

the country is actually the United States of America

Yeah, we should be calling ourselves Usonians!

United Stateseans.

But I've always preferred the name United States anyway.
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People know they are called Americans claiming you wouldn't know which north or south they are talking about is just claiming to be arrogant and ignorant
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If arv was from South America he would say he was from South America not America it's just logic
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Muscles posted...

Why do people in South America get offended when we call our country America?

fucking literally like nobody gets offended at this at all

stop making up bullshit as an excuse to make another muscles topic bro this is garbage
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Cacciato posted...

benbeverfaqs posted...

In the eyes of people from Europe or Asia, he is from the "new world"; America.

I want all the European posters on this board to tell me what they call people from the USA.

We usually call them Americans. We also call people from the continent of America Americans. None of them are offended btw.
If we talk about an American coffee farmer, we'll know he's from Central or South America.

benbeverfaqs posted...

We usually call them Americans. We also call people from the continent of America Americans. None of them are offended btw.
If we talk about an American coffee farmer, we'll know he's from Central or South America.

except nobody really does this though

99% of the time if you're referring to somebody from south or central america you'll refer to them as south american or brasilian/chilean/argentinian or whatever before you refer to them as simply "american". as "american" is used for people from the US 99% of the time

the thing is everybody and their dog knows this

idk why this needs a topic

let alone people debating it lol
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FatalAccident posted...

99% of the time if you're referring to somebody from south or central america you'll refer to them as south american or brasilian/chilean/argentinian or whatever before you refer to them as simply "american". as "american" is used for people from the US 99% of the time

I FUCKING KNEW IT

FatalAccident posted...

benbeverfaqs posted...

We usually call them Americans. We also call people from the continent of America Americans. None of them are offended btw.
If we talk about an American coffee farmer, we'll know he's from Central or South America.

except nobody really does this though
99% of the time if you're referring to somebody from south or central america you'll refer to them as south american or brasilian/chilean/argentinian or whatever before you refer to them as simply "american". as "american" is used for people from the US 99% of the time. the thing is everybody and their dog knows this idk why this needs a topiclet alone people debating it lol

Because talking about things is fun.
What country are you from where american means "from the US" pretty much exclusively?

Where I'm from American tends to mean "from the US" about 90% of the time when talking about people. And even more when talking about typical USA things like military or movies. But less than 90% when it involves items, biology, travel or history. Then american can mean the country or the continent.

Thing is, it's usually clear what people are talking about. American politics means the US, that's country specific. Usually with people it's country specific, and only the USA used the name of the continent in its name.