Calling somebody a European, Eurasian, North American, African, Oceanian, Asian, South American, or Antarctican is geographical, not cultural, in this context. You can say that Britain is not like the rest of Europe if you want, but those islands are still considered part of Europe by the entire world.
Is the term "British" offensive?
- Thread starter Argus Skyhawk
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Actually I've had a few years experience lurking on this board (about 10 years I think) and I actually enjoy reading some of your threads. No offence but you've only attracted my attention in this thread because I think your argument is worth discussion.
If you are ever in Surbiton pop in and I'll make you a nice cup of tea.
On the topic at hand, I actually find the very notion of an offensive word for English people, or British people for that matter, to be absurd.
I seems almost conceited to take racial offense when you are sitting almost on top of the pack thanks to a few centuries of brutal imperialism
I seems almost conceited to take racial offense when you are sitting almost on top of the pack thanks to a few centuries of brutal imperialism
On the topic at hand, I actually find the very notion of an offensive word for English people, or British people for that matter, to be absurd.
I seems almost conceited to take racial offense when you are sitting almost on top of the pack thanks to a few centuries of brutal imperialism
In the great words of Vic Reeves (or was it Bob Mortimer) 'You wouldn't let it lie'
I don't think it's a problem nowadays, it's turned into friendly banter, hopefully and the Scots are only ansty when they have the wind up their kilts
I'll not forgive that landlady of the pub in Wales for reading out the raffle numbers in Welsh ~ I still don't know if I won that piece of coal
And you can forgive the Irish anything with that accent
Agreed. I'm from England, but also British.
And don't even think about The Isle of Man ~ they even have their own flag!
Oh and re your last post Pingfah ~ we'd still be great if we hadn't run out of flags lol!
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I knew the Dutch prefer that (I once got a lengthy lecture on it), but I had no idea it was offensive to some. We usually say 'Holländer' in informal contexts, probably because it's shorter and we don't mean it as an offense.
Don't let my fellow countrymen know it's offensive, though, then it will never stop.
It's mostly due to the fact that there's a bit of innocent rivalry between the west of the Netherlands (Randstad area) and the rest of the country. They of course don't mind people using the name Holland.
I knew the Dutch prefer that (I once got a lengthy lecture on it), but I had no idea it was offensive to some. We usually say 'Holländer' in informal contexts, probably because it's shorter and we don't mean it as an offense.
Don't let my fellow countrymen know it's offensive, though, then it will never stop.
Really? Weird.
We don't use nicknames in the Midwest.
^^ I've heard that about Midwesterners.
I can accept that you think I post stupid things (I do!) - But please don't call me stupid!
No, you misunderstood. I was not referring to you personally, just how humanity as a whole has become over-sensitive to the most stupid things.
And if you're worried about stupid posts, look up some of mine.
I had to look it up as the only use (apart from some sort of sporting thing) I have ever known is negative, as in "Yankee go home!"
My emphasis.The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language said:
From out of nowhere to contempt to pride to mainstream, something the word "gay" also has seen and the word "nigger" is in the process of...
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Oh, come on now, I was just being facetious -couldn't you tell without an emoticon?Um....what?
I can accept that you think I post stupid things (I do!) - But please don't call me stupid!
No, you misunderstood. I was not referring to you personally, just how humanity as a whole has become over-sensitive to the most stupid things.
And if you're worried about stupid posts, look up some of mine.
The British also used to use the term "American" in a derogatory fashion around the time of the Revolution. I think it was Ben Franklin who first used it in a positive sense.
Personally I find that particular term extremely egocentric -it never seems to even accept that anyone outside the US are also Americans...
I think it just came into use because United Statesian is kind of awkward. 
We just don't really refer to ourselves in terms of our continent. The US, Canada, and Mexico are so huge that it just makes more to say Mexican or Canadian instead of referring to everyone as American.
If we're really going to use the term, we'd say North American or South American. Just calling someone an American could mean anywhere in the entire western hemisphere!
Americans come from the Americas; Canadians, US-Americans and Mexicans are from north America. I don't see it as a problem.
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Been there, done that, won't ever do it again -promise!I think it just came into use because United Statesian is kind of awkward.
Just remember, we had two Germanys at some time; The BRD and the DDR -luckily we also had a world divided in East and West making it easier to distinguish those two by using those two simple words.
And Chocolate Chip Cookies? I'll send Barack an email about it.
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