CNN Travel-Toronto

[3Dementia]

^^ Actually given the stereo-typical, navel-gazing, world's most powerful and dominant nation, the cultural and economic juggernaut, defender of international democratic freedom.........

..... American may be out of date from any POV.

I think they should be called "Earthians" from now on (until they colonize space).

 

[Bogtrotter]

"American has a very clear meaning universally among English speakers"

Not sure if that's entirely true as I have been referrd to as an 'American' abroad in Britain. I didn't take offense- just made it clear that we make a distinction. In fact I've actually been asked in the States if we hold a grudge over the US hijacking the word :lol But most people these days are well aware of the 'popular' use of the word- I agree.

 

[ganjavih]

Not sure if that's entirely true as I have been referrd to as an 'American' abroad in Britain.

Probably through ignorance. The enlightened Britons I encountered (the majority) were well-aware that Canadians and Americans were different. There was this one cocky dumbass surgeon I worked with in England who kept asking me questions about America even after several reminders that I wasn't American. "How much do they make in America?", "How much holiday time do you have in America?", "What time in the morning do you start in America?". I was getting the urge to do a little surgery on him.

 

[tudararms]

LOL, there is ignorance everywhere isn't there! You should have asked him how much 'vacation' time do you get in Scotland, what do you like to eat in Scotland, what do you Scots like to wear under your kilt....

 

[Bogtrotter]

You shoul have asked him why he didn't become a dental surgeon- he'd be a wealthier man.

 

[cdl42]

In such a case I would keep calling him French. That should piss him off nicely. "All you Europeans seem the same to me!"

 

[ganjavih]

But remember, the British aren't European... they're just British.

 

[cdl42]

Someone better tell them that... their passports need to be corrected (among other things).

As bad as "I'm not Canadian, I'm Quebecois!".

 

[spmarshall]

I'm not French!

 

[Antiloop33rpm]

Sometimes the blanket term of 'American' can be a good thing. In Eastern Europe or Russia I will almost never correct someone when they call me 'American'. That term on its own seems to be the one that rarely brings about hostility in people you talk to. Why that is the case I am not entirely sure but it is something I deffinitely picked up on very quickly.