What do you consider "America"

[Barracuda]

Around the forums Ive seen a few people refer to America as all the countries in the Americas, and I've even seen the quote "America is not a country". My question is, as the topic says, what do you consider America?

Anyone in the United States, or at least mostly everyone, refers to the USA as America. Canadians refer to themselves as Canadians, Mexicans are Mexicans, etc, etc. It confuses me that people would consider the other countries American as well because they already have their own name. If Mexicans in Mexico can also be Americans, then what are we. I understand that the other countries are technically American, but in that case they would either be North or South American.

In my opinion only America should be considered America because that's the name, or at least commonly spoken name, of our country. (Please don't think I'm saying America is better, I only bring this up to save some confusion and because i'm interested)

 

[daan]

America

Your country is the United States of America

 

[BayConRong]

That's mainly because in all the other languages we are "United States", and "of america" is simply a way to get a broad idea of where the United States are.

i find that the Muscle cars are uniquely american, no other car manufacture outside of america has ever done what the muscle cars accomplished, and the Corvette exemplifies that in a way, it is a cheap car (comparitively) that gets you going at the same speed cars twice as much give you.

i would sometimes say Fireworks as it's one of the things that everyone in america can do (until some moronic kid gets his hand blown off like a retard). in a lot of other countries the government is only allowed to shoot off fireworks.

This sort of applies to Canada too but Cultural divirsity. almost no other country freely allows you to buy a house and live there without being a citizen of that country.

Edit: Technically there is no “America” as it is North America and South America, each with their own corruptness and values.

What I think personally is that 3 people are trying to decide what they'll call themselves and a 4th person comes in and says "what? you were called Kanuks? screw that we're calling you Canadians. You're Mexican? alright. your american? no that would confuse and befuddle me. you are United stateian."

speaking of which if you can't call people from United States American any more what will you call them?

 

[Barracuda]

speaking of which if you can't call people from United States American any more what will you call them?

That's the main thing that confuses me. People that live in the USA call themselves Americans. If I asked a Mexican, Brazilian, Canadian, Puerto Rican, etc what they were they would respond with the names I just listed, not as an American.

Were not called United Stateians, so what are we supposed to call ourselves when we were the only country in the Americas that calls ourselves Americans.

 

[Car-less]

That's the main thing that confuses me. People that live in the USA call themselves Americans. If I asked a Mexican, Brazilian, Canadian, Puerto Rican, etc what they were they would respond with the names I just listed, not as an American.

Were not called United Stateians, so what are we supposed to call ourselves when we were the only country in the Americas that calls ourselves Americans.

Call yourself Floridian / Texan etc.

I don't call myself European, I am British (or Scots if you want to be picky).

 

[Joey D]

The demonym is American, so that is what we call ourselves. The term America is ambiguous though. It is everything on the North and South American continents and surrounding islands like daan posted.

Most people I talk to that aren't from the US just ask if I'm "from the states" not if I'm an American.

Call yourself Floridian / Texan etc.

I don't call myself European, I am British (or Scots if you want to be picky).

There is a good amount of truth to this. Even though I think the word Michigander sounds awful it makes sense because it identifies where you live.

 

[BayConRong]

Call yourself Floridian / Texan etc.

I don't call myself European, I am British (or Scots if you want to be picky).

whomp the cat.

that's also because each one has a different government, while we all are under the same government. You learned that in your Political Science class didn't you? and if you want to get picky about the size, Alaska is almost the same size as... oh let me see.... Europe?

 

[Joey D]

whomp the cat.

that's also because each one has a different government, while we all are under the same government. You learned that in your Political Science class didn't you? and if you want to get picky about the size, Alaska is almost the same size as... oh let me see.... Europe?

States' governments differ on many, many things. We are all under the same national government but state governments have rights to do different things. Not to mention different states have different cultures, language dialects, etc. If I went to Alabama I would have not idea what they were talking about for the most part.

 

[Dave A]

America

Bingo.

It is both North and south America combined.

Not to mention different states have different cultures, language dialects, etc. If I went to Alabama I would have not idea what they were talking about for the most part.

A bit like the loacal dialects here in the UK, even in the same county you can have two very different accents and dialects. I struggle to understand some of the heavier ones.

 

[MTC]

America: ambiguous word that should be avoided except when part of a larger name, like "South America" or "United States of America"
United States: country in North America
United States of America: longer name for the United States
American: from the United States
The Americas: North America and South America combined

 

[Barracuda]

America: ambiguous word that should be avoided except when part of a larger name, like "South America" or "United States of America"
United States: country in North America
United States of America: longer name for the United States
American: from the United States
The Americas: North America and South America combined

That I can actually agree with, sounds good.

 

[Rykon Zero]

At least he provides an answer rather than just posing counter statements.

 

[Omnis]

I am a Floridian.

 

[panchito401]

i am martian.

 

[buickgnx88]

I'm a Yooper.

 

[V1P3R]

I'm a PC. Oh...

 

[wfooshee]

Well, that degenerated quickly there at the end.

Technically, America is not a country, but everyone knows what you're talking about if the athlete is American, the American flag is displayed, American cars suck, etc. etc.

It's not just us, either, that refer to ourselves as "Americans." As a child my family spent a couple of years in Germany, rented a house in a smallish town near the point shared by Germany, Holland, and Belgium, and initially were not well treated by the locals. My mother overheard something in the store to the effect that rudeness to us was excused because we were "Englanders." Dad stuck an American flag decal in the window of our front room, and suddenly everyone was all pals and stuff, and peoples' kids were allowed to play with us. Being "Amerikanischer" was apparently a better deal.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm a Yooper.

I feel bad for you... Its better down here as a Troll.

===

To answer the question:

I generally refer to the United States as the "US," and refer to myself as an "American," but the actual word "America" likely depends on the situation that you're in. At school and with most educated people, you'll see more direct uses of the terms, but with most other "normal" folks, they'll refer to the US as "America."

Although, being part of the new world, I tend not to use "America" to describe both the North and South regions. They're so different that I just designate and move on while in a discussion.

 

[buickgnx88]

I feel bad for you... Its better down here as a Troll.

I feel bad for you because you're closer to Ohio!

 

[Jay]

Call yourself Floridian / Texan etc.

I don't call myself European, I am British (or Scots if you want to be picky).

No, you are Britishian..... wait....




One thing that has alwas bugged me a little about United Statians (or United Statish? ) is when I ask where they are from (Random person on the internet which I had no prior knowledge of even what country they are in) they give me an answer like "IA" or "OH" or something and fully expect me to know what they are on about.

 

[Barracuda]

One thing that has alwas bugged me a little about United Statians (or United Statish? ) is when I ask where they are from (Random person on the internet which I had no prior knowledge of even what country they are in) they give me an answer like "IA" or "OH" or something and fully expect me to know what they are on about.

The question is do they know you're an Australian. For the most part If some random person asks me where I live I'll say Florida. I don't usually abbreviate it though unless I'm talking about New Hampshire as the name is long.

 

[Jay]

The question is do they know you're an Australian.

Does it matter? The internet is a world wide thing, why should they assume I am American?

If someone asked me where I was from I would never say SA unless I knew for sure they were Australian (and yes I know the chances are much higher that would be Americian (happy?) rather than Australian)

 

[BayConRong]

it's because if you speak english you generally are from the US or you are british with the great desire to learn as much about the US to make fun of it to the point of obsession.

 

[Barracuda]

Does it matter? The internet is a world wide thing, why should they assume I am American?

If someone asked me where I was from I would never say SA unless I knew for sure they were Australian (and yes I know the chances are much higher that would be Americian (happy?) rather than Australian)

I ask because I generally assume the person i'm talking to is American (if there is no information to say otherwise), and if not it doesn't take but a second to say "oh, I'm sorry. I'm an American". No big deal.

 

[Jay]

I ask because I generally assume the person i'm talking to is American (if there is no information to say otherwise), and if not it doesn't take but a second to say "oh, I'm sorry. I'm an American". No big deal.

Like, I don't mind when I get a reply like "Ohio" "Florida" "Texas" "Wyoming" or something as I would say most english speakers outside of the US are aware of US states anyway but it is the initials that always puzzled me, is it that hard just to say the state name..

 

[Barracuda]

Like, I don't mind when I get a reply like "Ohio" "Florida" "Texas" "Wyoming" or something as I would say most english speakers outside of the US are aware of US states anyway but it is the initials that always puzzled me, is it that hard just to say the state name..

Ah, I see. I could understand for the longer named states (that is after it's been fully typed once), but for the smaller sized state names that would get quite annoying.

 

[buickgnx88]

Perhaps start asking what country they're from instead!

Edit: crap didn't see there was a second page!

 

[Kylehnat]

It's not just us, either, that refer to ourselves as "Americans."

That would be the point I'd make. Everyone else refers to the USA as "America", and its fat, ugly, obnoxious citizens as "Americans". I don't particularly care for the shorthand "America", but it's a damn lot easier to say, read, and write than "The United States of America". Also, "United States-ian" sounds stupid. Well, not as stupid as "The Democratic Republic of the Congo-ian". That could use abbreviating. How about "Zaire"? At any rate, I take issue with the fact that people around the world take offense that "we" have taken the word "America" as if to spite Canada, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and a bazillion Caribbean islands, especially when the argument is meant to portray us as selfish and geographically-ignorant.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I would say most english speakers outside of the US are aware of US states...

I had a thought yesterday while at work that while I know where most of my fellow English-speaking countries are, and that some of you guys know what states are which, I have no idea what provinces (?) are which and so on. I mean, I may know where Yorkshire is, but I have no idea what the rest of England is made up of.

Hmmm...

 

[Wolfe]

This:

America: ambiguous word that should be avoided except when part of a larger name, like "South America" or "United States of America"
United States: country in North America
United States of America: longer name for the United States
American: from the United States
The Americas: North America and South America combined