On Thu, 2006-03-30 at 14:23 -0500, William Killian wrote:
> > Yes absolutely. In fact I personally know some people that would be
> > insulted if you called them American.
> > 
> > In Canada there is no ambiguity: American means "of the US", without
> > question.
> > 
> > Now, if you called them "North Americans", that they'd have zero
> problem
> > with.
> 
> Sounds like a personal problem with ignorance.  And not mine.

Everybody can be insulted by something, for some being called American
is one of them.

> They would literally freak if some Chinese national in broken English
> asked if they were European or American?
>
> Way too touchy.

OK, now your putting words in my mouth. I said "personally insulted", I
NEVER said "literally freak". By personally insulted I mean they would
quickly correct the person. We're all adults here, and misunderstandings
don't mean "freak out".

> Would they object to being called white even though they are pink?
> (Guessing they aren't brown by playing the odds - I do work in casino
> gaming after all)

Well, you'd be wrong, one of the people I'm thinking of isn't white,
although I really don't understand what difference that would make? I'm
curious now how you think racism would enter this picture?

My point is in Canada there is zero ambiguity as to the meaning of
"American", the only meaning I've ever heard is "a person from our
friendly neighbour to the south".

Please stop putting words into my mouth.

Thanks, TTYL


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