Text 1942, 82 rader
Skriven 2007-05-23 23:45:01 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
   Kommentar till text 1940 av Ross Cassell (1:123/456)
Ärende: Americaan
=================
Hello Ross!

On Wednesday May 23 2007 16:26, you wrote to me:

 RC>>> So is it American Football, well no if you are in the PC crowd,
 RC>>> not every nation in the Americas see it that way, it cant be USA
 RC>>> Football, Canada plays it too!

 MV>> Which should tell you that "America" includes Canada....

 RC> But Latin America doesnt see our definition of Football the same,
 RC> employing your logic of course.

It is not my logic, YOU brought football into the equation, claiming that in
Canada they play "American football" and that therefore it can not be called
USA football.

 RC>>> Do we not say we are taking a aspirin for a headache, even though
 RC>>> the pill may not be "an aspirin", but a generic term for it?

 MV>> Not here. The term "aspirin" - or rather the Dutch equivalent
 MV>> "asperine" is hardly ever used since the stuff with the original
 MV>> name was taken off the market. The most popular pain killer now
 MV>> is paracetamol and it is called just that,

 RC> You missed the point I was trying to make.

I think it is you that missed the point. Which is that the habit of using brand
names for the generic product is not as wide spread as you think it is.

 MV>> Then what is the generic term for an inhabitant of the continent
 MV>> of America (North or south)?

 RC> There is no generic term, that has taken its place in common
 RC> vernacular.

There isn't? How odd.

 RC> If you wish to refer to a resident of Canada, then use Canadian, if
 RC> Mexico, then use Mexican, Columbia, use Columbian, Venezuela, use
 RC> Venezuelan, Brazil, use Brazilian etc etc.

But what if I do not want to be that specific? If you do not want to be
specific and do not wat to narrow ot down to Dutch, German or Swede, you can
say Eropean. Are you telling me there in no equivalent for the contint of
America?

 RC>>> If there is anyone confused, it is not citizens of the Americas.

 MV>> It nevertheless is confusing for those in the rest of the world.

 RC> Then get over your confusion, if it isnt bothering the people you all
 RC> assume it would, then it shouldnt bother you.

That does not help resolving the confusion.

<sigh> I give up. I do not understand why you make such an issue of being
called the by the U word. The three letters USA are painted in big letters on
every spacecaft that is launched from Cape Whatsitcallednow. I guess I will
never understand. :-(

 RC> Narrowing down the scope to only include Fidonet, you are even being
 RC> more foolish by trying to alleviate confusion that does not exist.

 RC> As you have pointed out for yourself, it might be ok to refer to you
 RC> as Dutch, but not as a Hollander,

As has been explained to you many times over, Holland is a province. Two
actually, North Holland and South Holland. Referring to the entire country by
that name is confusing at least.

 RC> in either case you are the one standing up and saying "ahem". Can you
 RC> say anyone on this side of the pond is objecting to what you appear to
 RC> be confused about?

Obviously your are. Objecting to my confusion....


Cheers, Michiel

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