Current Events > Why aren't Mexicans and Canadians called Americans?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Isn't America all Countries in North and South America? Why is the US so special?

---

I mean I hear people use the term "South Americans" fairly often. Not sure about Canadians though.

---

United States of AMERICA.

America is not in the names of Mexico, Brazil, etc.

---

Dondre_X posted...

Isn't America all Countries in North and South America? Why is the US so special?

That's the view that was had by a South American chick I dated.

We are "full of ourselves" for calling ourselves America when all of North and South America should be considered "America"

---

cuttin_in_farm posted...

United States of AMERICA.

America is not in the names of Mexico, Brazil, etc.

---

Crono99 posted...

When I'm in Italy, everyone refers to me as an american even though I'm canadian.

I mean, our country is called Canada, not the Canadian Provinces of America. We don't have America in the country's name.

I think that would just happen if you're a white guy without a noticeable "British style" accent. >_>

I've heard so many people say that you should sew a Canadian flag onto your backpack or wear a pin or something on your clothes when traveling abroad and people will generally treat you better. Seems pretty douchey to me though.

---

Because they know what country they are from and aren't speaking about North America in general when referring to a specific countries.

---

Wow, that doesn't look real good on us.. lol.

---

Crono99 posted...

Dunno about better. But when I was switching planes in Germany to go back to Montreal, there were apparently so many canadians who bothered the airport staff asking for directions that they put a huge canadian flag next to the terminal where we had to wait for our flight

And so when it was my turn to ask for directions they just pointed at the flag with a half-baked smile that said "gee another one"

Ive been to many different countries and some parts of Germany have been the most least English friendly areas Ive ever been to

---

Hmm, this might be new, dont think Ive ever heard anyone even slightly be bothered by this.

---

Canada & Mexico are first world countries that border another first world country that actually has the word America in its official name, and that is also usually called America as a nickname.

So calling them Americans would simply lead to confusion.

---

cuttin_in_farm posted...

United States of AMERICA.

America is not in the names of Mexico, Brazil, etc.

Easy answer. It is really annoying hearing this dumb argument over and over again. We say American cause it makes more sense than saying United States of American, obviously. How else would you refer to someone from the states nationality besides American that makes sense?

I feel like a lot of these complaints would be easily taken care of if the people took 2 seconds to think of logical answers themselves.

---

WrkHrdPlayHrdr posted...

That's the view that was had by a South American chick I dated.

We are "full of ourselves" for calling ourselves America when all of North and South America should be considered "America"

This has boggled my mind every time Ive heard it.

I cant even fathom caring about something so trivial. >_>


---

MARKINGRAM22 posted...

Easy answer. It is really annoying hearing this dumb argument over and over again. We say American cause it makes more sense than saying United States of American, obviously. How else would you refer to someone from the states nationality besides American that makes sense?

I realized this as a fucking 6 year old. What else would we be called? United Statesians? Lol

---

If human life originated in Africa, why aren't all Americans called African Americans?

---

How is this a question?

---

Crono99 posted...

Dunno about better. But when I was switching planes in Germany to go back to Montreal, there were apparently so many canadians who bothered the airport staff asking for directions that they put a huge canadian flag next to the terminal where we had to wait for our flight

And so when it was my turn to ask for directions they just pointed at the flag with a half-baked smile that said "gee another one"

which airport was this?

most airports have huge screens with your flight number/gates.

---

Politics posted...

I mean I hear people use the term "South Americans" fairly often. Not sure about Canadians though.

...

Mexico is in North America.
---

Mexicans and Canadians are North Americans though

---

Mexico is central America wtf did everyone take stupid pills this morning or what.

---

WrkHrdPlayHrdr posted...

are "full of ourselves" for calling ourselves America when all of North and South America should be considered "America"

basically this

you guys down in the USAs hogged the name and didn't realize

---

Kolibri X posted...

Mexico is central America wtf did everyone take stupid pills this morning or what.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America

---

Kolibri X posted...

Mexico is central America wtf did everyone take stupid pills this morning or what.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America

https://youtu.be/_asNhzXq72w

CruelBuffalo posted...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America

https://youtu.be/_asNhzXq72w

""Central America" may mean different things to various people, based upon different contexts:

The United Nations geoscheme for the Americas defines the region as all states of mainland North America south of the United States and specifically includes all of Mexico.[5]"
---

DeadBankerDream posted...

""Central America" may mean different things to various people, based upon different contexts:

The United Nations geoscheme for the Americas defines the region as all states of mainland North America south of the United States and specifically includes all of Mexico.[5]"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement

https://youtu.be/_asNhzXq72w

Central America is a region of North America.
---

DeadBankerDream posted...

Central America is a region of North America.

then why are you chiming in when someone is calling people stupid for saying mexico is in north america

good q

---

CruelBuffalo posted...

then why are you chiming in when someone is calling people stupid for saying mexico is in north america

I don't understand.
---

DeadBankerDream posted...

I don't understand.

Exactly

Same reason plural for mouse is mice and plural for house isn't hice

---

CruelBuffalo posted...

Exactly

god bless

---

I cant wait for all this silly fake upset shit to be done with.

United States of america
Mexico
Canada

gee I wonder why one of them is specifically called America

---

it's not fake, why can't united statesians (which is what they're called in mexico) get this right

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

I cant wait for all this silly fake upset shit to be done with.

United States of america
Mexico
Canada

gee I wonder why one of them is specifically called America

United Mexican States is the name of the country in English.

edit. I need my coffee

Because we're the only country in the world with "America" in its name.

Also, "United Statesians" and "North Americans" would have the same pitfalls, as it would assume our sole ownership of all United States nations (a la the United Mexican States) and of the entire continent/subcontinent. Advocating either over "American" just seems like you're okay with ignoring your main argument against Americans calling themselves Americans if we instead call ourselves something else that doesn't marginally impact you but does impact others.

"Usonians" is a sometimes suggested denonym for us, but good luck getting everybody to adopt that. I suppose we could shorten it and have us be "Ameros," but again... good luck getting everybody to adopt it.

Long story short, simple law of dibs. We were the first to claim it and remain the only country with "America" in our name, so we call ourselves "Americans." Too bad.

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

I cant wait for all this silly fake upset shit to be done with.

United States of america
Mexico
Canada

gee I wonder why one of them is specifically called America

Why dont you tell us? I dunno what your answer is but Im certain it will be dumb and funny.

K181 posted...

Long story short, simple law of dibs.

lol

---

Estados Unidos Mexicanos = United Mexican States that's the real name of Mexico, no word of it being American at all.

---

BurmesePenguin posted...

Why dont you tell us? I dunno what your answer is but Im certain it will be dumb and funny.

One of those words had America in it, the other 2 did not. Find that one word and report back if/when you find it. Once you find that word, hopefully stuff with register with you, if not, come on back and Ill try to figure a way to explain it to anyone.

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

One of those words had America in it, the other 2 did not. Find that one word and report back if/when you find it. Once you find that word, hopefully stuff with register with you, if not, come on back and Ill try to figure a way to explain it to anyone.

this doesn't follow

---

Wewillrocku posted...

this doesn't follow

3 words. One has America. Other 2 do not. Hence why one is called america for short and people are called Americans.

cant wait for Americans to complain that they arent called Mexican Canadian American Northern all of Everything .... or some shit

---

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

I cant wait for all this silly fake upset shit to be done with.

United States of america
Mexico
Canada

gee I wonder why one of them is specifically called America

Just like people from African countries are called Africans.People from European countries are called Europeans and people from Asian countries are called Asians. Shouldn't people from North and South America be called Americans. That makes sense to me

---

I love when people use examples that dont have the slightest thing to do with the topic on hand.

When you want to return to the Americans conversation then we can continue.

Oh wait heres some nonsense, arent South Africans referred to as that and not just Africans? Interesting, kinda ruins some of your point.

---

Dondre_X posted...

Just like people from African countries are called Africans.People from European countries are called Europeans and people from Asian countries are called Asians. Shouldn't people from North and South America be called Americans. That makes sense to me

Except referring to people by their continent of origin is so overwhelmingly vague that it essentially becomes pointless, aside from obviously Australians. Most continental discriptors usually have caveats further narrowing their identifications down, like West African, Eastern European, and South Asian, just to name a few, and even those can cover a dozen countries and provide little meaningful unifying cultural, ethnic, linguistic, or historical heritage shared between them.

Saying someone is "Asian" can mean someone is Chinese or Vietnamese or Pakistani or a Kazakh or an Iraqi or Yemeni or an "African" could be Egyptian or Ethiopian or a Somali or Moroccan or Chadian or Congolese or Mozambican. Not really useful. Same goes for attempting to label essentially all the people of the Western Hemisphere as a universal "American."

---

Because it's used to refer to citizens of the USA. Using it for other North American countries would be confusing.

That said it is kinda silly to use terms such as European or Asian when discussing ethnicity. Asia includes so many different people and cultures that Asian is completely useless as a descriptor

---