America (Semantics Question)

[Villainaire]

First off, I'm a tard for not realizing this until now.

So there's North and South America.

By definition, isn't everyone who lives in either of these places an "American"?

Another thing. People from Canada are Canadians, people from Mexico are Mexicans, but what are people from the United States?

This makes me feel British.

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True.

Yes.

No.

Americans.

Ok.

[Villainaire]

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True.

Yes.

No.

Americans.

Ok.

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Why aren't people who live in South America Americans?

[kipin]

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[ QUOTE ]
True.

Yes.

No.

Americans.

Ok.

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Why aren't people who live in South America Americans?

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If you go to a SA country and declare yourself as an American, they will get offended and say they are Americans as well.

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Becuase this is overriden by whatever country they are actually from. They are Columbians, Argentinians, etc. We have the only country with America in the name so we win. Of course, they are American in the same way that a brit is European.

[shaniac]

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Why aren't people who live in South America Americans?

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Because South America is a frickin continent, and it would be absurd to denote Colombians, Equadorians, Brazilians etc. (as well as Candians and Mexicans, by your logic) as "American" since, well, we're already calling residents of the United States "American."

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what are people from the United States?

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Maybe we could be Unitarians.

[2Fast]

It's the "United States of America". That's why we're known as "Americans". It's not some conspiracy or rude overbearing way for us to refer to ourselves - get over it!!

And FYI, Mexico in Spanish is "Los Estados Unidos de Mexico", or "The United States of Mexico". They're called "Mexicans" so why can't we be called "Americans"??

[Villainaire]

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Becuase this is overriden by whatever country they are actually from. They are Columbians, Argentinians, etc. We have the only country with America in the name so we win. Of course, they are American in the same way that a brit is European.

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Good Point. Anyone else agree with this?


but wait... It's the United States of America.

Back to square one. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

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More importantly, why isn't your avatar animated?