this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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They might not be confused, but if you're not from the US, they'll be wrong (spoiler: America is a continent, usually broken down into North, Central, and South America (and Latin America, for hispanic countries and Brazil. Other subcategorisations of "America" the continent might exist))
I'm Canadian. We know America is the entire continent. We still don't want to be called Americans. The US can keep that.
I’m American and also know the continents are called that and also don’t always want to be called American. But that’s the standard and what everyone uses to refer to us, until I meet some pedant who thinks they’re clever and trying to prove some kind of point as if I didn’t know or as if I chose that word myself.
Tbh I just mostly be annoyed at how much US stuff makes it my way, even though I've never even set foot there. English became a lingua franca of sorts, and through the use of it online, I cannot avoid stumblin' upon their news and, especially, politics. And sometimes I come to wonder if the (information-based) content I consume might be more relevant to US audiences, therefore rendering the information irrelevant to me.
I do have to give it to them, though, they do have good content online (or rather, content in English tends to be quite good, and in my opinion, unmatched in many languages of which I know and understand, for the number of YouTube channels I follow in any other language pales in comparison to the stuff in English (where are the non-English video essays, funny but sometimes also wise commentary videos, and interesting and sometimes quite fun videos on topics that might teach you a thing or two? (shout out to Ter and Jaime Altozano for the (less frequent) fun content that keeps my YouTube* feed the tiniest bit less English (and never makes me question if I actually like their content, as it's usually great stuff))))
Also, United States of America? Cause… their country is made of states, and these are united? What are countries, if not states, united, after all? And… it's in America, the continent, as well! Did they not come up with a better name? Almost reminds me of Monty Python's witch scene, from The Holy Grail. "And what are countries made of?" " Land" "Churches" "States". Who art thee, so wise in the ways of science?
The only purpose of central America is to pretend that Mexico isn't in northern America.
It's a valid distinction from a cultural point of view. The Americas covers such a vast portion of the globe, you need a succinct way to narrow down which part of it you are talking about. Kind of the same when you talk about the UK, western Europe, eastern Europe, middle east; it's all one big area with no clear geographical division.