Is the term "British" offensive?

[Pingfah]

I've never heard of anyone having a problem with Brit. I certainly don't.

 

[Michael Chris]

Here's a (hopefully) more serious question:

Is the term "Brit" offensive? Do British people object to being called "Brits"?

I always discourage my students from using that term, and I flag it if I find it in their written work. Even if it's not offensive, I think it's too colloquial for an academic paper.

To me it seems like calling Americans "Yanks," Germans "Krauts," or Irish people "Micks."

Or should I lighten up?

What's wrong with calling Americans "Yanks"? I'm a Yank in a town that was once taken over by the Dixies. We kicked them out but good.

 

[Goliath]

What's wrong with calling Americans "Yanks"? I'm a Yank in a town that was once taken over by the Dixies. We kicked them out but good.

Well, like I said: it's too colloquial for academic work.

It would be like letting students write, "So the Confederates said, "we can has independence?" And the North said, "ROFL, no way, n00bs, all your states are belong to us!" Etc.

 

[Michael Chris]

I suppose. However, I definitely wouldn't consider it the same as "Kraut" or "Mick." I mean I'm damn proud to be a Yank. It has very positive connotations to me.

 

[An Officer]

Nonsensical thing to get upset about. You'd have to lead a very sheltered life to find that the most upsetting thing in your day.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I am English and I am British and I take no offence to either title. Nobody I know gets offended at being called British.

I do get offended however at being called European.

 

[RandyS]

Nowdays, EVERYTHING is offensive in one way or another.

Stupid, stupid humans..........

HEY!

What happened to post not poster?

Um....what?

 

[trekkiedane]

Nowdays, EVERYTHING is offensive in one way or another.

Stupid, stupid humans..........

HEY!

What happened to post not poster?

Um....what?

I can accept that you think I post stupid things (I do!) - But please don't call me stupid!

I am English and I am British and I take no offence to either title. Nobody I know gets offended at being called British.

I do get offended however at being called European.

How can you be offended by a geographical fact?

 

[All Seeing Eye]

How can you be offended by a geographical fact?

because as far as i'm concerned Europe ends at the English channel. Mainland Europe and the British isles aren't connected as far as i'm concerned therefore i'm not European.
At the end of the day you dont call a French dude a Eurasian person just because they're located on the Eurasian tectonic plate.

 

[captcalhoun]

i'm not offended by eing called British, English or a Brit. what irritates me is the stupid twats who ask me if Scott is spelt with one T. i tell them 'no, two. my NAME is Scott i am not A scot.'

 

[trekkiedane]

How can you be offended by a geographical fact?

because as far as i'm concerned Europe ends at the English channel. Mainland Europe and the British isles aren't connected as far as i'm concerned therefore i'm not European.
At the end of the day you dont call a French dude a Eurasian person just because they're located on the Eurasian tectonic plate.

I see - you're one of those personal canon-people...

 

[RoJoHen]

Here's a (hopefully) more serious question:

Is the term "Brit" offensive? Do British people object to being called "Brits"?

I always discourage my students from using that term, and I flag it if I find it in their written work. Even if it's not offensive, I think it's too colloquial for an academic paper.

To me it seems like calling Americans "Yanks," Germans "Krauts," or Irish people "Micks."

Or should I lighten up?

What's wrong with calling Americans "Yanks"? I'm a Yank in a town that was once taken over by the Dixies. We kicked them out but good.

I think it's weird whenever people refer to Americans as "Yanks" because nobody in America uses that word. The only time I've ever actually heard it used by an American was when they were making fun of a foreigner for using it.

 

[captcalhoun]

How can you be offended by a geographical fact?

because as far as i'm concerned Europe ends at the English channel. Mainland Europe and the British isles aren't connected as far as i'm concerned therefore i'm not European.
At the end of the day you dont call a French dude a Eurasian person just because they're located on the Eurasian tectonic plate.

that's just idiotic pendantry. Britain's connected to Europe by they seabed, the tectonic plate and the fucking Chunnel.

 

[Michael Chris]

I think it's weird whenever people refer to Americans as "Yanks" because nobody in America uses that word. The only time I've ever actually heard it used by an American was when they were making fun of a foreigner for using it.

I've heart if a fair amount when visiting my brother in Texas.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

What's wrong with calling Americans "Yanks"? I'm a Yank in a town that was once taken over by the Dixies. We kicked them out but good.

I think it's weird whenever people refer to Americans as "Yanks" because nobody in America uses that word. The only time I've ever actually heard it used by an American was when they were making fun of a foreigner for using it.

I don't care if people call me that. I am a Yank, and I root for the YankEES, so it's all good. If I go down South, people will probably call me a Yank there, although probably not in a mean spirit.

I don't know if Red Sox fans would object to being called "Yanks" though. They just might.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I love that term "offense kleptomaniacs". So true, though...

 

[All Seeing Eye]

that's just idiotic pendantry. Britain's connected to Europe by they seabed, the tectonic plate and the fucking Chunnel.

So are you saying i'm a Eurasian? because i'm on the Eurasian plate? are you saying i'm French because the UK is connected to France by the seabed?

I think you're digging yourself into a hole on this one.

I am not European, the UK and the European mainland share nothing in common. Our history's and the fact we're separated by water has ensured we are too different to be categorised by such a title.

Europe is Europe and Britain is Britain, we are different, we are separate. I am no more European than a Canadian is an Australian.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I'm Scottish(two T's) and although when people ask me where I'm from i say Scotland, i have no problems or issues when I'm classed as a Brit or British....don't make any difference to me one bit.

 

[trekkiedane]

that's just idiotic pendantry. Britain's connected to Europe by they seabed, the tectonic plate and the fucking Chunnel.

So are you saying i'm a Eurasian? because i'm on the Eurasian plate? are you saying i'm French because the UK is connected to France by the seabed?

I think you're digging yourself into a hole on this one.

I am not European, the UK and the European mainland share nothing in common. Our history's and the fact we're separated by water has ensured we are too different to be categorised by such a title.

Europe is Europe and Britain is Britain, we are different, we are separate. I am no more European than a Canadian is an Australian.

And yet, you are a mix of chiefly Roman and Viking genes...

 

[Me-Ike]

that's just idiotic pendantry. Britain's connected to Europe by they seabed, the tectonic plate and the fucking Chunnel.

So are you saying i'm a Eurasian? because i'm on the Eurasian plate? are you saying i'm French because the UK is connected to France by the seabed?

I think you're digging yourself into a hole on this one.

I am not European, the UK and the European mainland share nothing in common. Our history's and the fact we're separated by water has ensured we are too different to be categorised by such a title.

Europe is Europe and Britain is Britain, we are different, we are separate. I am no more European than a Canadian is an Australian.

It's especially (but not only) the history which would make me classify the British Isles as part of Europe.