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#1
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
"hopitus" wrote in message ... snip If this is a true origin of word, "Limey" (the men eating limes on a long voyage) I fail to see anything distasteful, embarrassing, or otherwise insulting about it. OTOH I would never call an English person anything other than a "Brit" and if that's not good enough "Que' La'stima!" (Spanish for "tough"). I would not call a Scot anything but a Scot. I think this thread is way over dead. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I would never deliberately call *anyone* any term that they consider insulting. If I do it, it is inadvertent (that is, because I did not know the term offended). This is not "political correctness"--it is simply common courtesy. MaryL |
#2
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
MaryL -out-the-litter wrote:
I would never deliberately call *anyone* any term that they consider insulting. If I do it, it is inadvertent (that is, because I did not know the term offended). This is not "political correctness"--it is simply common courtesy. Most things that are referred to as "political correctness" boil down to common courtesy, really. It's just that some people don't want to have to concern themselves with anyone else's feelings. So they grumble ad nauseum about it, and then they talk as though they are the victims, which is pretty ironic! It's kind of like some grade school dork getting mad because the teacher won't let him blow spitballs into Mary Ellen's hair anymore, when he used to be able to do whatever he wanted. Some people just won't let you have any fun anymore! -- Joyce ^..^ (To email me, remove the X's from my user name.) |
#3
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
Jack Campin - bogus address wrote:
OTOH I would never call an English person anything other than a "Brit" and if that's not good enough That one has basically the same connotations as "Yank", i.e. we'd rather you used the same words we do but it's no big deal. I don't know what you mean, Jack. Who would rather who used the same words? What same words? Is "Yank" considered insulting? I hardly ever hear it, so I don't have strong feelings about it either way. For that matter, is "Brit" considered insulting? I hope not - I've used it a lot. One thing I think should be considered is the issue of expediency. A lot of people will opt for an expression that is short, fast and easy to say, especially if it's a term that gets used a lot. Call it laziness if you will, but I think it's just a matter of not wanting to repeat the same long phrase over and over. Which is one reason why I think words like "Yank" and "Brit" have a strong appeal. -- Joyce ^..^ (To email me, remove the X's from my user name.) |
#4
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
"hopitus" wrote in message news:299d66c6- This thread is way, way dead. A perfect example of why I never, ever converse with strangers in checkout lines. One has no way of beng sure of what gets anyone's short hairs up, so keeping your mouth shut and your eyes open is the way to go. It's not dead while anyone finds it interesting and would like to join in. I don't see anyone getting offended here. I believe in "if you never ask, you never learn" and I for one have learnt things here, not least what I wanted to know in the first place which is how offensive the M word was. Who else to ask about it apart from my friends on this group? My world is not populated by Americans, I only know one American in real life and I haven't seen her for years. I appreciate all the input from you Merkans, please feel free to ask this Limey about British topics. duck and run Tweed |
#5
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
wrote in message ... Jack Campin - bogus address wrote: OTOH I would never call an English person anything other than a "Brit" and if that's not good enough That one has basically the same connotations as "Yank", i.e. we'd rather you used the same words we do but it's no big deal. I don't know what you mean, Jack. Who would rather who used the same words? What same words? I am guessing that Jack means English for those who live in England, Scots for those for live in Scotland, and Welsh for those who live in Wales. It's not a big deal for me, I do not mind being called a Brit, but those who are very proud of their Scottish or Welsh heritage might feel differently. My father was Scottish and was extremely proud of it so I guess he would have preferred to be called a Scot rather than a Brit. Is "Yank" considered insulting? I hardly ever hear it, so I don't have strong feelings about it either way. My understanding is that it not mean as insulting from over the pond, but wasn't the term Yanks used for the north during the north/south war in the USA? I am not sure about this, I did not study American history at school. For that matter, is "Brit" considered insulting? I hope not - I've used it a lot. I do not find it insulting. I describe myself as a Brit on the group. One thing I think should be considered is the issue of expediency. A lot of people will opt for an expression that is short, fast and easy to say, especially if it's a term that gets used a lot. Call it laziness if you will, but I think it's just a matter of not wanting to repeat the same long phrase over and over. Which is one reason why I think words like "Yank" and "Brit" have a strong appeal. We all know what phrases are acceptable to describe our nationality and others without being racist. I have no problem with "Brit" myself and don't know any other person from England who does. Tweed |
#6
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
Christina Websell wrote:
I am guessing that Jack means English for those who live in England, Scots for those for live in Scotland, and Welsh for those who live in Wales. Oh, sure, that makes sense. But I wouldn't call a Scot a Brit anyway! "English" doesn't have too many syllables, I think I could handle that. -- Joyce ^..^ (To email me, remove the X's from my user name.) |
#7
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
I am guessing that Jack means English for those who live in England,
Scots for those for live in Scotland, "Scottish" would be better. "Scots" can mean just the Lowland population that speaks a Scots dialect, which excludes immigrants and Gaelic-speaking Highlanders. (It doesn't *need* to have that connotation, but an outsider wouldn't have a prayer of getting it right in every situation). and Welsh for those who live in Wales. Oh, sure, that makes sense. But I wouldn't call a Scot a Brit anyway! No reason why not, or "British" (which we'd prefer). It's a geographical term, not a political one. I always put "Scotland" rather than "UK" as my postal address. The time I get most annoyed about not being able to state that is with drop-down menus on websites. These usually derive from the same source, which recognizes the Heard and Macdonald Islands as separate countries (they are only populated by penguins) but not Scotland. Confronted with that, I usually say I'm from Azerbaijan. ==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === http://www.campin.me.uk ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts |
#8
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
"Christina Websell" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... Jack Campin - bogus address wrote: Is "Yank" considered insulting? I hardly ever hear it, so I don't have strong feelings about it either way. My understanding is that it not mean as insulting from over the pond, but wasn't the term Yanks used for the north during the north/south war in the USA? I am not sure about this, I did not study American history at school. Tweed "Yankees" was a term that originally meant New Englanderds and later was used by the South to describe the North (the Union) during the Civil War. Today, the term is likely to have either meaning. I grew up in Ohio, and it does not offend me to be called a Yankee (or former Yankee). The Civil War was a long time ago. I think "Yanks" was more likely to be used by Europeans to describe Americans. During World War II, there was a song: "The Yanks Are Coming." Either term is sometimes used with some derision but also sometimes used with some degree of affection or good humor. Mark Twain wrote a novel called "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." MaryL |
#9
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Thank you all: was Ameriicans only
MaryL wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... Jack Campin - bogus address wrote: Is "Yank" considered insulting? I hardly ever hear it, so I don't have strong feelings about it either way. My understanding is that it not mean as insulting from over the pond, but wasn't the term Yanks used for the north during the north/south war in the USA? I am not sure about this, I did not study American history at school. Tweed "Yankees" was a term that originally meant New Englanderds and later was used by the South to describe the North (the Union) during the Civil War. Today, the term is likely to have either meaning. I grew up in Ohio, and it does not offend me to be called a Yankee (or former Yankee). The Civil War was a long time ago. I think "Yanks" was more likely to be used by Europeans to describe Americans. During World War II, there was a song: "The Yanks Are Coming." Either term is sometimes used with some derision but also sometimes used with some degree of affection or good humor. Mark Twain wrote a novel called "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." MaryL Old time movie star, James Cagney, made a movie called "Yankee Doodle Dandy". It recently replayed on TV -- very entertaining. See it if you can. MLB |
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