Florete Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Since I trust you to all be a reasonable bunch of people, I'd like to know what you all think of this. Does it offend you? Do you think it's "wrong?" Do you not care? And please explain why if possible. I'm asking because of what happened in this topic over at MAL (the first post was recently edited, but the original post is quoted in the second post). Leaving the behavior of the community aside, a larger amount of people than I expected felt like pointing out that "America" is not a country. Now, sure, perhaps it is officially the United States of America, but it is commonly shortened to simply "America" and when people say "America" (not in the context of North or South America) I'm pretty sure others will know what they are talking about. I do not think it's a problem in any way, nor is it something worth being "corrected," and at this point in time I don't understand why someone would. Discuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashGordon94 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I don't care, I know it's "technically" wrong but we all know what it means so what's the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acacia Sgt Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Well, in itself it is kind of wrong, since America is the name of the whole continent, the terms of North/South America aside. But I don't think it's that much of an issue to get upset about. I see it like the weight/mass thing. Using Kilograms when speaking of weight is wrong, but the usage is so commonplace it's kinda silly to get upset they don't use Newtons and to try to correct them. So yeah. Besides, over here we use United States, so it's not like I get to encounter it much anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ansem Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Well America is the country where being gay is a choice and being fat is genetics. Mexico and Canada arent too bad... yeah, I can see why people would be offended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunwoo Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I've been trying to break the habit of calling the U.S. "America", because in all technicality the country is called "The United States of America". But even that name is clunky compared to most other country names. I don't like calling the U.S. "America" because it's ... well, maybe it's me, but it feels arrogant. Canada, Mexico, and everything in South America and Central America is also "America". The U.S. isn't just AMERICA. It's a part of it, yes, but just one part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ISRMMBV Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Well America is the country where being gay is a choice and being fat is genetics. Mexico and Canada arent too bad... yeah, I can see why people would be offended. This. Also, I've noticed that Canadians tend be more Moe than other "Americans". Or that's what I've heard. Your mileage may vary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowofchaos Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Before I came to the states, a lot of people from the United States referred to themselves as "American". I think despite the technicalities present, "I'm from the United States" is a bit "meh". And because of that, just from the 2 other languages other than English that I know... that's what's pretty much what gets me to assume "United States" whenever someone says America. I don't think anyone should be offended by something like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Tarrasque Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Don't care. It's just another example of people over-thinking something popular and being anal about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashGordon94 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 This. Also, I've noticed that Canadians tend be more Moe than other "Americans". Or that's what I've heard. Your mileage may vary Desu desu, eh? And yeah "American", that seems to be the only demonym for people from the US so that's another reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melonhead Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 United states of america or USA is too long or hard on the tounge, so people often call it America to make it sound smoother. I do this often, although technically incorrect, I live in the United states and people know what I am talking about. Now, in Mexico or Canada, maybe not. I would say "I live in the United states" But not "The United States is a good place to live" I would say "America is a good place to live" In formal situations, use the proper name, but in casual ones, America is just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anouleth Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 People getting upset over this is almost as dumb as people getting upset over referring to Great Britain as "England". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 People getting upset over this is almost as dumb as people getting upset over referring to Great Britain as "England". Get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agile Tit-Tyrant Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 (edited) It's not America it's AMURICA Personally I think United States or America is fine. But sometimes when let's say a game is announced they tend to say things like "stateside" or "coming to America" and it's like, "Well it's coming here (Canada) too right?". Well America is the country where being gay is a choice and being fat is genetics. Mexico and Canada arent too bad... yeah, I can see why people would be offended. yay canadia This. Also, I've noticed that Canadians tend be more Moe than other "Americans". Or that's what I've heard. Your mileage may vary brb googling your otaku terminology Edited June 9, 2012 by Xmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celice Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 (edited) I always wanted to be called a United Statesian. yay canadia oh god, canadia, how I miss thee~ Edited June 9, 2012 by Celice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Alear Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 (edited) I don't mind when it is used to refer to either north america or north, south and central america together, I don't mind when it is used to refer to the usa, and I love when it is used to refer to Earth's moon. I just hate it when someone is talking about someone from the UK, but doesn't know their nationality and calls them something that implies they're from the USA. It's insulting even. I don't want to be associated with my former oppressors. I always wanted to be called a United Statesian. Now that would be moe. Edited June 9, 2012 by Hawkeye Hank Hatfield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanarkin Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 (edited) I dislike it when its referred to as America, because America doesn't just stand for a country. Its a continent (or 2 depends where you are). Edited June 9, 2012 by SlayerX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Alear Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 I dislike it when its referred to as America, because America doesn't just stand for a country. Its a continent (or 2 depends where you are). Someday we will get Central America declared its own continent, and the Americas will consist of three continents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agro Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 We don't care, we're still calling you "fucking yanks". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicious Sal Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 I dont really get the feeling they're all that united anyway. Other than that, people shouldnt rage so much over contextual discrepancies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anouleth Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Get out. People have only been doing it for 1000 years. And Great Britain is also a synecdoche since when we use it we are often referring to the whole of the United Kingdom. Why do people hate synecdoches so much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau of Isaac Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 America is a term generally used as United States of America is too long, and USA is bulky. When referring to countries, it's obvious because of the name being exclusively used by the United States. Of course when speaking geographically no one usually refers to them as a whole, since it's such a large space. Instead they are then referred to as continents. So when westerners, typically Americans and Canadians, are expecting a release from Japan for example, they are awaiting a "North American release". As stated in the OP, and rather as an example, many other countries don't use such a specific distinction. Japan's word for the United States is アメリカ, or amerika*. I'm sure in many other languages it's similar, or the same. * There is of course アメリカ合衆国, which would be the full title of the country, but I have yet to see it used and am guessing it is a formal title. There is also 亜米利加合衆国, which seems much more formal given the kanji. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshineYON Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Today's obsession with being politically correct bothers me more so than people being politically incorrect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Marth 64 Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Since I trust you to all be a reasonable bunch of people, I'd like to know what you all think of this. Does it offend you? Do you think it's "wrong?" Do you not care? And please explain why if possible. I'm asking because of what happened in this topic over at MAL (the first post was recently edited, but the original post is quoted in the second post). Leaving the behavior of the community aside, a larger amount of people than I expected felt like pointing out that "America" is not a country. Now, sure, perhaps it is officially the United States of America, but it is commonly shortened to simply "America" and when people say "America" (not in the context of North or South America) I'm pretty sure others will know what they are talking about. I do not think it's a problem in any way, nor is it something worth being "corrected," and at this point in time I don't understand why someone would. Discuss. I think it might reffering about North America or USA. (But thats just my guess, I am not too sure.) Well America is the country where being gay is a choice and being fat is genetics. Mexico and Canada arent too bad... yeah, I can see why people would be offended. Technically, North America and South America is a Continent, not a Country, and United States (also called United States of America or USA) is a Country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewjeo Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 America meaning the country is such a common thing that worrying about it is pointless. Besides, connotation is more important than denotation. What something technically means doesn't matter. What it means to people is what matters. Language was made to communicate, so just use it that way instead of fussing over technicalities that just make it harder to communicate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balcerzak Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 If we can refer to the People's Republic of China as China (ignoring the fact that there is also the Republic of China, I don't see why we can't shorten up our references to the United States as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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