4 ms·

Also, the map seems only to cover the United States. America extends up to the Arctic and down to Cape Horn. The definition of a continent is not as universal

Also, the map seems only to cover the United States. America extends up to the Arctic and down to Cape Horn. The definition of a continent is not as universal as one might imagine. Where I grew up, I was taught that "North America" is a continent, "South America" is a continent, and "America" is a legitimate abbreviation for the USA, a country located on the continent of "North America". In other locations, people are taught that "America" is a continent that stretches from Argentina/Chile to Canada. Someone from the USA who calls themselves 'American' appears arrogant to someone who believes that "America" is the continent composed of North American and South America. Just keep in mind that the difference is simply due to regional education differences. (How many continents are there? Seems like a simple question, but the answer, 5,6, or 7, is mostly related to where you received your early education)

6cxs2hd6 13y ago
> Someone from the USA who calls themselves 'American' appears arrogant to someone who believes that "America" is the continent composed of North American and South America. Genuine not rhetorical question: Instead of "American", what would be the preferred, less-arrogant way for a U.S. citizen to refer to oneself? (I mean in normal conversation not border control; so presumably not "U.S. Citizen". And I mean seriously; so not "Arrogantian".)
- astrodust 13y ago
  USA-ian obviously. Nobody refers to the union of North and South America as "America". It's, if anything, "The Americas". To complain that it's confusing is a cop-out. The "United States" could mean "The United States of America", but could also refer to the "United Mexican States" in Spanish (Estados Unidos Mexicanos vs. Estados Unidos de América). There's Washington D.C. and Washington state. New York state and New York City. British Columbia and Colombia. Georgia the state, Georgia the country. Are both "Georgians"? Words mean multiple things. This obviously comes as a shock to some people.

6cxs2hd6 13y ago

> Someone from the USA who calls themselves 'American' appears arrogant to someone who believes that "America" is the continent composed of North American and South America. Genuine not rhetorical question: Instead of "American", what would be the preferred, less-arrogant way for a U.S. citizen to refer to oneself? (I mean in normal conversation not border control; so presumably not "U.S. Citizen". And I mean seriously; so not "Arrogantian".)

astrodust 13y ago
USA-ian obviously. Nobody refers to the union of North and South America as "America". It's, if anything, "The Americas". To complain that it's confusing is a cop-out. The "United States" could mean "The United States of America", but could also refer to the "United Mexican States" in Spanish (Estados Unidos Mexicanos vs. Estados Unidos de América). There's Washington D.C. and Washington state. New York state and New York City. British Columbia and Colombia. Georgia the state, Georgia the country. Are both "Georgians"? Words mean multiple things. This obviously comes as a shock to some people.