What should citizens of the U.S.A. be called?

OK people, I'm being serious here. Try to resist the name-calling.

My wife and some friends were recently discussing the erroneous label of "Americans" to refer to citizens of the United States of America.

Technically, anyone living from the northermost tip of Canada to the southernmost tip of Chile is an "American".

Living in the Americas makes you an American. Same as living in Africa makes you an African or living in Asia makes you an Asian.

SO...narrow it down from continent to nation.

Citizens of Canada are; Canadian.
Citizens of Mexico are; Mexican.
Citizens of The United States of America are; American???

I suppose that it's the natural way to say it, and here in the U.S. the term "American" has completely lost its continental meaning and refers to our national identity only. Unfortunately that doesn't sit well with the millions of other Americans both North and South of the border. A Venezuelan is an American. Same as a German is a European.

But what are the options?
U.S.A.-dian?
Americanese?
Yankee?
In Honduras, citizens of the United States are referred to as; Norteamericano (Northamerican).



Any thoughts on the matter?

Goddamn American.

eh, american works for me.

Let's just leave it at American... there's bigger fish to fry right now anyway...



What do the Hondurans call Canadians I wonder?

RenHoek said:

Anxiety said:

RenHoek said:

What do the Hondurans call Canadians I wonder?

"lonely".

RenHoek said:

Sometimes I think canadians and mexicans should be called circle flies.

This is a minor pet peeve of mine as well. Everyone up here calls me an "American," and it's like some epiphany when I tell them they're just as American as I am.

This is pretty much a non-issue and it will never change, but I think "Statesider" or "Unioner" is fitting.

After all these years of branding and marketing both internally and overseas that we are supposed to change it?
No one contests that everyone born in the Western Hemisphere, (excluding Antarctica) is an American.
But asserting your identity as an American is understood to refer to a natural born or naturalized citizen of The United States of America.
So yes, Canadians are Americans but are generally referred to around the world as Canadians. Brazilians are Americans but are generally known around the world as Brazilians, not Americans.
We shouldn't have to change, and other Americans need not be offended. No one is taking the identity of being a Western Hemisphere American away from them.
People around the world are aware of the difference so I don't see what the problem is.

SUPRMAN said:

I am called "Americanian".

idiots?

shanti0608 said:

I am called "Americanian".

How about Unitarians?












rim-shot

Lammastide said:

SUPRMAN said:

After all these years of branding and marketing both internally and overseas that we are supposed to change it?
No one contests that everyone born in the Western Hemisphere, (excluding Antarctica) is an American.
But asserting your identity as an American is understood to refer to a natural born or naturalized citizen of The United States of America.
So yes, Canadians are Americans but are generally referred to around the world as Canadians. Brazilians are Americans but are generally known around the world as Brazilians, not Americans.
We shouldn't have to change, and other Americans need not be offended. No one is taking the identity of being a Western Hemisphere American away from them.
People around the world are aware of the difference so I don't see what the problem is.

I don't think it is such a real problem as much as a tacit concession of being somewhat of a satellite to the U.S. I think rodman's post #7 sums up how many North Americans feel deep down.

Whose responsibility is that? I dunno... and I don't think many people much care, given more serious matters.

It is curious, though. And I have to say I'm surprised a people as given to self-identity as, say, the Quebecois, haven't ever raised a stink about this. They're nuts.

PurpleJedi said:

But what are the options?
U.S.A.-dian?
Americanese?
Yankee?
In Honduras, citizens of the United States are referred to as; Norteamericano (Northamerican).



Any thoughts on the matter?

'Legitimate Targets'

American.

Yanks

Tremolina said:

PurpleJedi said:

But what are the options?
U.S.A.-dian?
Americanese?
Yankee?
In Honduras, citizens of the United States are referred to as; Norteamericano (Northamerican).



Any thoughts on the matter?

United statesman.

Tremolina said:

PurpleJedi said:

But what are the options?
U.S.A.-dian?
Americanese?
Yankee?
In Honduras, citizens of the United States are referred to as; Norteamericano (Northamerican).



Any thoughts on the matter?

United statesman.

SUPRMAN said:

Lammastide said:

I don't think it is such a real problem as much as a tacit concession of being somewhat of a satellite to the U.S. I think rodman's post #7 sums up how many North Americans feel deep down.

Whose responsibility is that? I dunno... and I don't think many people much care, given more serious matters.

It is curious, though. And I have to say I'm surprised a people as given to self-identity as, say, the Quebecois, haven't ever raised a stink about this. They're nuts.

No we don't think of them as circle flies. It's just your pretty quiet neighbors in a party neighborhood. We like to be impressed and frankly, Canada and Mexico impress periodically, but nothing steady.
If we wanted satellites, I think we could make them satellites. They might take awhile to get used the idea but they'll come around.

America is part of the name of the country - I think that's where the "american" comes from.

Measure in Love
"May the voice of the child in you never stop speaking. May it fall like a gift from heaven, offering to dessicated words its splendorous burst of laugher, the salt of its tears, its all powerful wildness." Maurice Blanchot

Anxiety said:

"Big Dummy". Especially if they let the current administration derail the election or vote for the warmonger John McCain.

Anxiety said:

RenHoek said:

What do the Hondurans call Canadians I wonder?

"lonely".

I've been told that the grammatically correct title is United Statesian. I'm not sure whether or not that's right, but it sure as hell is awkward to say.
[Edited 8/21/08 18:03pm]

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

Funny that if things had remained what they were in 1776, we'd all be "Columbians."



Somehow I don't think that'd fly with a certain element of "Americans" these days.

Lammastide said:

SUPRMAN said:

After all these years of branding and marketing both internally and overseas that we are supposed to change it?
No one contests that everyone born in the Western Hemisphere, (excluding Antarctica) is an American.
But asserting your identity as an American is understood to refer to a natural born or naturalized citizen of The United States of America.
So yes, Canadians are Americans but are generally referred to around the world as Canadians. Brazilians are Americans but are generally known around the world as Brazilians, not Americans.
We shouldn't have to change, and other Americans need not be offended. No one is taking the identity of being a Western Hemisphere American away from them.
People around the world are aware of the difference so I don't see what the problem is.

I don't think it is such a real problem as much as a tacit concession of being somewhat of a satellite to the U.S. I think rodman's post #7 sums up how many North Americans feel deep down.

Whose responsibility is that? I dunno... and I don't think many people much care, given more serious matters.

It is curious, though. And I have to say I'm surprised a people as given to self-identity as, say, the Quebecois, haven't ever raised a stink about this. They're nuts.