I know it’s not unusual that people from the US identify with their heritage enough to claim they’re that nationality. But why assume that’s the case instead of at least asking before trying to make a mockery of someone else?
Why do they always react as if it's the other person's fault they're an idiot? "You said something that makes it obvious you're not American, but it's your fault I didn't know you're not American because you didn't say you're a foreigner", "People who are American say they're Italian so you shouldn't have said you're Italian that way, you should have said it a way a non-American would have said it." "How am I supposed to know you didn't mean dollars when you said your console cost ₹60,000?"
They spoke English, duh. 😆 everyone knows you're supposed to say, "Da italiano, penso che…" in order to first let everyone know you're "foreign" simply by the fact that you speak another language.
I don't even speak any other languages. Just English. How do I make it clear I'm British and not an American with British ancestry? If I write "colour" and "realise" they'll just assume I can't spell, not that I'm British! I guess I have to really hammer it. "As a British person from England, with a British passport and no other passports because I'm British and have always lived in Britain, where we speak English and write words with British spellings..."
I’m 🇬🇧my ex is 🇺🇸 & I’ve been asked so many times how I learned to speak English so well. Another was where is your accent from? It’s clearly British, I’d say “it’s Yorkshire” to be met with puzzled looks and “what country is that?” Or “I’ve never heard of that country” 🤦🏼♀️
2 ex brother in laws asked me “why do you use English in England not some Europe [sic] language like…” but they couldn’t name any. 🙄Another I’d get often was what language do people speak in England? So I’d ask “do you mean solely England or the UK as a whole?” I’d get yet more blank looks 🙄I think I permanently overstretched my eyes muscles from rolling them at or about Americans 😂
Argh that one gets me so bad! You can talk about trains from London to Birmingham and they're like "there aren't any trains between Birmingham Alabama and London Ontario" or "don't you mean flights? You can't get a train across the Atlantic Ocean, idiot XD"
Oh please, Americans don't even know about Fake London (London, Ontario), they'll bring up some random small town called London that surely we all must know about...
wait, there's a London in Ontario? and there's a Birmingham in Alabama? I guess I learn something new everyday. I mainly know Birmingham due to the football club Birmingham City
my great ... something amounts of great grandfather was king in Korea so Koreans should treat me as royalty! (/s for treating me a royalty, but according to my parents apparently I am desended from King Sejong's elder brother, so I do technically have former royal ties)
Edit: just to be clear, I do not expect any special treatment for that, I'm stating it as a fun fact. I don't even claim to be Korean American due to that, I claim to be Korean American because I'm someone actually born in Korea that immigrated to America.
And 99% of the time it’s because they have a black ancestor, so their family back then had to lie and say they had Native American ancestry because it was more accepted (which is why it’s always native royalty lol)
The Latino LGBT community in New York came up with that one. It was limited to that particular niche, and by no means universal within it, but then a bunch of non-Latino academics glommed onto it.
Most people in the US of Latino descent hate that term just as much as everybody else in the Americas. It ended up being a political liability, and so it's been fading out.
Tbf, “Latino” is an American construct. We always called ourselves “Latinoamericanos”. It’s only relatively recently that “Latino” as a concept has begun to be used in these parts, and that’s mainly due to Hollywood’s influence.
I personally always used the term "Latino" for anyone who grew up in a country whose language is derived from Latin (this includes European countries, too)
I mean, me too, but it wasn’t always like this, and still plently of Latin Americans don’t identify with the term to this day. If you go take a scroll at r/2latinoforyou, most people don’t really use the term (yeah, I realize the irony considering the sub’s name, but the point stands).
Me personally, I use it because it’s shorter and people understand it regardless of where they’re from. But if I’m in a purely hispanic context, I’ll probably use “latinoamericano”.
Yes, I mean, I don't usually use "Latino" because of its current meaning either. But the point of my comment is that there are people in the USA who believe that Latin American culture, or the concept of "having Latin American blood" is exclusive to them.
“because my grandparents came here before that sick communism took over poland and rotted the genetic pool 😤 “ <— literally the most common explanation from these folks on why are they supposedly more polish than people in poland
I’ll never understand these people. So quick to claim how much they love America, are so proud to be American. They also love to shit on foreigners and refugees. But then are quick to brag about their ancestry percentages and “honor” their ancestry.
My partner’s brother is one of these people when it comes to their Irish heritage. Even gave his kid an “Irish” name. It’s Eiemielie (Emily) lol so fuckin unnecessary.
Even gave his kid an “Irish” name. It’s Eiemielie (Emily) lol so fuckin unnecessary.
The funniest part is that that's a Latin name originally (Aemilia). Assuming Eiemielie is genuinely used in Gaelic (I don't know enough about the language to say), it's still not any more "Irish" a name than Emily is English. I mean if the idea was to honor their heritage, there are so many names that actually originate in Ireland: Colleen, Maeve, Briana, Keira...
To add to your list of how Americans are hypocrites when it comes to immigrants:
They have no problems with Americans living in other countries, because those are "Expats" and not "Immigrants", which in their eyes is completely different...
I've seen American "Expats" living in Western Europe complaining about "immigrants" from Eastern Europe without being able to understand the irony of their post...
They also other black people by calling them African American, as if they are not just Americans. In the UK, we just use the term 'black' to describe people.
The most American thing is not making the mistake, but doubling down on it. Why is it so hard for them to say ‘oops, my bad’ when they get called out. I just want to tell some of them, it’s ok to be wrong, stop digging. Instead they usually go from 0 to 100 on the aggressive ‘who tf are you’ attitude. This fake it till you make it culture is really detrimental for all involved sometimes. Sometimes you need to stop faking, admit you don’t know shit, people will forgive you and a normal conversation usually follows. It shouldn’t be that hard
Obviously it’s deliberately misleading to state your actual nationality, and you’re clearly just (let me just check my notes here) trying to trick people into thinking you’re American.
This doesn’t even make sense, like “as a mother” hell yeah you can have that extra authority for parenting related topics. Just like an Italian would for Italy related ones.
As an Italian you can say "as an Italian I think beans on pizza is a war crime"
Everyone can think the same, weetabix needed a wellness check after tweeting beans on weetabix.
But as pizza is of Italian origin, the qualifier of nationality helps.
White people shouldn't wear a kimono.
"As a Japanese person, I love it when they do."
There was a protest outside an exhibition and the Asian Americans were screaming cultural appropriation and the Japanese born members of the exhibit looked at them scornfully.
There are shops that deal almost exclusively with tourists selling or renting kimono and other clothing.
I gave up from italian food subs because they are filled to the brim with americans posting dishes made with industrialized seasoning and calling them italian traditional
In Spanish it's "Los Estadosunidences" and I love it.
The US doesn't have a real name, if you think about it. It's the United States of America. They are part of America. "United States" would be the name of their country. But they claim to be "America". The rest are Canadians and South Americans.
Factually Mexico, Cuba, Jamaika are also North-America. Jamaika isn't even Latin American, because they don't speak Spanish/Portuguese, but English. But they are black, so of course they can't be North-American. /s
You know exactly what I mean.
Technically American means = someone from The Americas. Just because the Yanks claim that name since 1776 doesn't make it correct
Lol I never said that Belize is in South America. Culturally and language wise it's Latin America. So if there is South America and North America, the United States is "America"? What kind of logic is that? Oh the "fuck y'all because we say so" logic.
By our reckoning you are in South America, and we're up here in North America alongside Mexico and Canada.
I'll be okay with there being only one America in the English language if 'Eurasia' also becomes a thing. Looking at a globe, there's more of a case for it. Both the French and the Kazakhs would get to be 'Eurasian.'
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be the same thing? If you divide in south and north America, I've never seen someone in north America call themselves "north American".
Canada is "Canadian", Mexico is "Mexican", both use terms that is a clear reference to their country.
On the other hand, I only see people from the US call themselves "Americans"
Calling Canadians and Mexicans American is offensive. Like don’t do it. We call ourselves Canadian or if we refer to our continent we’re North Americans
I don't think I understood you, you are agreeing or disagreeing with me?
Because my point was exactly that, that "American" became a synonym for US citizens, but there are other countries in the American continent.
So I get why calling someone who's not from the US "American" would be offensive
We don’t have an American continent. There’s 2 separate ones in English or at least in western English. It’s offensive to call people American outside the US America, in English. Like don’t do it. I’m not the only Canadian who will tell you this.
If it doesn’t bother the actual people here calling us Americans American, then no need for y’all to be offended by it on behalf of us.
I get where you guys are coming from, but pick your battles with other things lol. It’s even a rule in this sub that it’s not defaultism.
Neither of the posters are American, to clarify for the masses. I don't get how it fits the other sub r/shitamericanssay other than "He, he, look how stupid people can be!" which is a stretch.
And before the inevitable stupidity here, the OOP is from the Balkans based on his/her posting history.
ETA: Though I was replying to someone else down thread so this looked odd out of context. Fixed now.
This comment has been marked as safe. Upvoting/downvoting this comment will have no effect.
OP sent the following text as an explanation why their post fits here:
Someone claiming to be Italian is immediately met with the assumption they’re actually American with Italian heritage.
Does this explanation fit this subreddit? Then upvote this comment, otherwise downvote it.
Why do they always react as if it's the other person's fault they're an idiot? "You said something that makes it obvious you're not American, but it's your fault I didn't know you're not American because you didn't say you're a foreigner", "People who are American say they're Italian so you shouldn't have said you're Italian that way, you should have said it a way a non-American would have said it." "How am I supposed to know you didn't mean dollars when you said your console cost ₹60,000?"
They spoke English, duh. 😆 everyone knows you're supposed to say, "Da italiano, penso che…" in order to first let everyone know you're "foreign" simply by the fact that you speak another language.
Ah but then they say "This is an American website, speak American"
But at least now they know you're foreign. Gotta pick and choose.
I don't even speak any other languages. Just English. How do I make it clear I'm British and not an American with British ancestry? If I write "colour" and "realise" they'll just assume I can't spell, not that I'm British! I guess I have to really hammer it. "As a British person from England, with a British passport and no other passports because I'm British and have always lived in Britain, where we speak English and write words with British spellings..."
Shocked Pikachu face, 1924,
colorizedcolourisedObviously as an Italian he should have spoken European. /s
But that’s only because Europe is the best country, no offense, Italy 🤷♀️😂🤣
Thing is, an USian could read any other language and they will just thing that it's spanish and the other person is a Mexican
https://preview.redd.it/gq4085gsfg7g1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a56987a87ccf7deecefecaff3503dd524f0195e7
OMG!!! What language did I learn in school for 8 years then if it's not Spanish??
Especially if it is Navajo or Cherokee.
but what if you're British, Australian, or any other country that speaks primarily English?
Then you need to show them your accent. Because everyone knows that Americans don't have accents.
I’m 🇬🇧my ex is 🇺🇸 & I’ve been asked so many times how I learned to speak English so well. Another was where is your accent from? It’s clearly British, I’d say “it’s Yorkshire” to be met with puzzled looks and “what country is that?” Or “I’ve never heard of that country” 🤦🏼♀️ 2 ex brother in laws asked me “why do you use English in England not some Europe [sic] language like…” but they couldn’t name any. 🙄Another I’d get often was what language do people speak in England? So I’d ask “do you mean solely England or the UK as a whole?” I’d get yet more blank looks 🙄I think I permanently overstretched my eyes muscles from rolling them at or about Americans 😂
Same energy as "How was I supposed to know you meant Birmingham UK and not Birmingham Alabama?"
Argh that one gets me so bad! You can talk about trains from London to Birmingham and they're like "there aren't any trains between Birmingham Alabama and London Ontario" or "don't you mean flights? You can't get a train across the Atlantic Ocean, idiot XD"
Oh please, Americans don't even know about Fake London (London, Ontario), they'll bring up some random small town called London that surely we all must know about...
wait, there's a London in Ontario? and there's a Birmingham in Alabama? I guess I learn something new everyday. I mainly know Birmingham due to the football club Birmingham City
So patriotic but still so eager to say they are from a different country
That's Schrödinger's USian: being proud to be American while at the same time claiming another heritage
So true, it's like they are playing Bingo. Bonus points for claiming Native roots aswell, preferably Cherokee 🫣
Yeah some great-grandmother was a Cherokee princess or something 🤡
Well, MY great-great-great...-....great-great grandfather was a viking king so I should own Denmark! /s
my great ... something amounts of great grandfather was king in Korea so Koreans should treat me as royalty! (/s for treating me a royalty, but according to my parents apparently I am desended from King Sejong's elder brother, so I do technically have former royal ties)
Edit: just to be clear, I do not expect any special treatment for that, I'm stating it as a fun fact. I don't even claim to be Korean American due to that, I claim to be Korean American because I'm someone actually born in Korea that immigrated to America.
And 99% of the time it’s because they have a black ancestor, so their family back then had to lie and say they had Native American ancestry because it was more accepted (which is why it’s always native royalty lol)
She sure got around!
USA is truly the land of hypocrites 🤣
No wonder they couldn't invent indomie and ayam kremes.
This reminds me of the "Latinos are only from the USA" thing
Latinx is, they can keep it
The Latino LGBT community in New York came up with that one. It was limited to that particular niche, and by no means universal within it, but then a bunch of non-Latino academics glommed onto it.
Most people in the US of Latino descent hate that term just as much as everybody else in the Americas. It ended up being a political liability, and so it's been fading out.
I hear they're saying Latiné now.
It's less stupid, I guess.
happy cake day!
Tbf, “Latino” is an American construct. We always called ourselves “Latinoamericanos”. It’s only relatively recently that “Latino” as a concept has begun to be used in these parts, and that’s mainly due to Hollywood’s influence.
I personally always used the term "Latino" for anyone who grew up in a country whose language is derived from Latin (this includes European countries, too)
I mean, me too, but it wasn’t always like this, and still plently of Latin Americans don’t identify with the term to this day. If you go take a scroll at r/2latinoforyou, most people don’t really use the term (yeah, I realize the irony considering the sub’s name, but the point stands).
Me personally, I use it because it’s shorter and people understand it regardless of where they’re from. But if I’m in a purely hispanic context, I’ll probably use “latinoamericano”.
Yes, I mean, I don't usually use "Latino" because of its current meaning either. But the point of my comment is that there are people in the USA who believe that Latin American culture, or the concept of "having Latin American blood" is exclusive to them.
I missed that one. Do you have a link?
I didn't post it or anything, it just happened to me.
I could look for that comment; the discussion is worthy of SAS.
Americans: USA is the best country in the world! America first, yeehaw!
Also Americans: I have 1% of Polish DNA, can I get a Polish citizenship?
Also Americans: I'm more Polish than the people from Poland because an online DNA test says so
“because my grandparents came here before that sick communism took over poland and rotted the genetic pool 😤 “ <— literally the most common explanation from these folks on why are they supposedly more polish than people in poland
It really is a fascinating dichotomy.
they’re so desperate to have something unique about them
I’ll never understand these people. So quick to claim how much they love America, are so proud to be American. They also love to shit on foreigners and refugees. But then are quick to brag about their ancestry percentages and “honor” their ancestry.
My partner’s brother is one of these people when it comes to their Irish heritage. Even gave his kid an “Irish” name. It’s Eiemielie (Emily) lol so fuckin unnecessary.
The funniest part is that that's a Latin name originally (Aemilia). Assuming Eiemielie is genuinely used in Gaelic (I don't know enough about the language to say), it's still not any more "Irish" a name than Emily is English. I mean if the idea was to honor their heritage, there are so many names that actually originate in Ireland: Colleen, Maeve, Briana, Keira...
It's a r/tragedeigh - It's a Latin name, the Irish spelling would seem to be Eimíle but it's not common - 2024 figures give Emily 4th and Amelia 8th most popular girls names in Ireland, over the Irish equivalent which doesn't make the top 500.
To add to your list of how Americans are hypocrites when it comes to immigrants:
They have no problems with Americans living in other countries, because those are "Expats" and not "Immigrants", which in their eyes is completely different...
I've seen American "Expats" living in Western Europe complaining about "immigrants" from Eastern Europe without being able to understand the irony of their post...
To be fair, it's unfortunately quite a Western thing. Met lot of these types when i lived in Indonesia and it was not only Americans.
They also other black people by calling them African American, as if they are not just Americans. In the UK, we just use the term 'black' to describe people.
Yeah that's an odd one, we just say black too, or black fella more likely lol but that's Australia.
There's this other thing going around now where they're saying black people that aren't African American aren't actually black people?? Like what
I have 1% of Polish DNA why don't they worship me when I visit Poland?
FTFY
"Can I"? Since when they're so polite? In reality they're like: "where's my Polish citizenship, bit*hes?! You'll be lucky to have me on board!"
Poland: Of course, if you're okay with us immediately calling you in for your mandatory military service at the
Eastern Frontborder to RussiaThis would fit very well in r/shitamericanssay as well.
Oh, thought we were there already
Admitably there is like a 90% overlap of the subs.
The most American thing is not making the mistake, but doubling down on it. Why is it so hard for them to say ‘oops, my bad’ when they get called out. I just want to tell some of them, it’s ok to be wrong, stop digging. Instead they usually go from 0 to 100 on the aggressive ‘who tf are you’ attitude. This fake it till you make it culture is really detrimental for all involved sometimes. Sometimes you need to stop faking, admit you don’t know shit, people will forgive you and a normal conversation usually follows. It shouldn’t be that hard
One of the biggest gifts in life is to learn from your mistakes. They don't learn and just keeps repeating the same mistake over and over.
Obviously it’s deliberately misleading to state your actual nationality, and you’re clearly just (let me just check my notes here) trying to trick people into thinking you’re American.
Or something.
This doesn’t even make sense, like “as a mother” hell yeah you can have that extra authority for parenting related topics. Just like an Italian would for Italy related ones.
As an Italian you can say "as an Italian I think beans on pizza is a war crime"
Everyone can think the same, weetabix needed a wellness check after tweeting beans on weetabix.
But as pizza is of Italian origin, the qualifier of nationality helps.
White people shouldn't wear a kimono.
"As a Japanese person, I love it when they do."
There was a protest outside an exhibition and the Asian Americans were screaming cultural appropriation and the Japanese born members of the exhibit looked at them scornfully.
There are shops that deal almost exclusively with tourists selling or renting kimono and other clothing.
Heinz knocked it out of the park with that. At least us Brits and Italians can unite in weirding out Americans with corn on pizza.
Maybe they meant it in the sense that if your great-grandmother had children you're allowed to call yourself a mother too.
I think you are being too generous and they actually think mothers don’t have any special insight on…..mothering.
Okay, that last comment genuinely confused me. Wtf are they on about?
I gave up from italian food subs because they are filled to the brim with americans posting dishes made with industrialized seasoning and calling them italian traditional
I get salty whenever people from the US call themselves Americans, as if there isn't any other countries in America.
Exactly. This fucking thing everytime. They're claiming the name of a DOUBLE CONTINENT and everyone is ok with it???
I'm not. I never called them America. They're US-Americans from the US. Not more, not less. Especially these days I won't give it to them.
They never even bothered finding a different name for themselves, did they? They either say US citizen or American, lmao.
In Spanish it's "Los Estadosunidences" and I love it.
The US doesn't have a real name, if you think about it. It's the United States of America. They are part of America. "United States" would be the name of their country. But they claim to be "America". The rest are Canadians and South Americans.
Factually Mexico, Cuba, Jamaika are also North-America. Jamaika isn't even Latin American, because they don't speak Spanish/Portuguese, but English. But they are black, so of course they can't be North-American. /s
the full proper name of Mexico is the United States of Mexico so the USA isn't even the only United States in North America.
Nice, I didn't know that! Tell this to the Yanks and watch their head explode 💥
No, our heads won't explode. Why would we care?
I didn't know that! That's amazing, and a punch into the USA
Same, in Italian we also call them "Statunitensi"
Love it 🤌🏽🍝
I'm borrowing that
South America begins below the Darien Gap of Panama.
American citizen also works.
But people from Bolivia, Paraguay, Belize etc are also American citizens. Because they are citizens of the Americas.
That's not what American means in English.
You know exactly what I mean. Technically American means = someone from The Americas. Just because the Yanks claim that name since 1776 doesn't make it correct
Belize is in North America and the rest are in South America. That's how it works in the English language, which adheres to the 7 continent model.
Lol I never said that Belize is in South America. Culturally and language wise it's Latin America. So if there is South America and North America, the United States is "America"? What kind of logic is that? Oh the "fuck y'all because we say so" logic.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the USA is called Estados Unidos da America, and we call them "estadunidense"
I speak Spanish (among other languages) and I love this accurate naming.
I'd love to learn German, but I'm kinda scared haha
There we go
Sounds like you should get over it. This is the standard demonym in English.
By our reckoning you are in South America, and we're up here in North America alongside Mexico and Canada.
I'll be okay with there being only one America in the English language if 'Eurasia' also becomes a thing. Looking at a globe, there's more of a case for it. Both the French and the Kazakhs would get to be 'Eurasian.'
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't it be the same thing? If you divide in south and north America, I've never seen someone in north America call themselves "north American". Canada is "Canadian", Mexico is "Mexican", both use terms that is a clear reference to their country. On the other hand, I only see people from the US call themselves "Americans"
Calling Canadians and Mexicans American is offensive. Like don’t do it. We call ourselves Canadian or if we refer to our continent we’re North Americans
I don't think I understood you, you are agreeing or disagreeing with me?
Because my point was exactly that, that "American" became a synonym for US citizens, but there are other countries in the American continent. So I get why calling someone who's not from the US "American" would be offensive
We don’t have an American continent. There’s 2 separate ones in English or at least in western English. It’s offensive to call people American outside the US America, in English. Like don’t do it. I’m not the only Canadian who will tell you this.
If it doesn’t bother the actual people here calling us Americans American, then no need for y’all to be offended by it on behalf of us.
I get where you guys are coming from, but pick your battles with other things lol. It’s even a rule in this sub that it’s not defaultism.
But I called you "American"? I don't understand
I’m not American lol
Okay then
This isn’t a debate or argument lol. I was educating you nicely. Grow up.
Canadians are fine with 'North American.'. on the other hand, calling them American is worse than calling a Chilean an Argentine.
South American arrogance, unfortunately.
What do they think people born in Italy are?
they are just immigrants that immigrated to italy duh
I saw that post, OP has to be ragebaiting, dude fought everyone on everything.
how much brain dead they aree 😭😭😭
Just to make it 3D: I’m from Jersey (old not new) with Italian roots and I’ll say and eat whatever I like.
There's a chance that you are more Italian than these pretenders
"...maybe you shouldn't shout your stupidity.." 👹👹
Well, they should've started with "Mamma mia" to indicate they're "authentic"
Now this is some next level of stupid
They claim ancestry to anything and everything EXCEPT the only thing most of them really are, is British. It's a given of course but still.
We're a nation of immigrants that hates immigrants.
So, is ICE going to deport them all? I mean since they’re not Muricans obviously..
What?🤡
It’s true that usians do that, but like, don’t double down??
defaultism inception
USdefaultismdefaultism
Did I really write interception? I mean‘t inception like the movie
I like the term "European Mutt" to describe my ancestry
Neither of the posters are American, to clarify for the masses. I don't get how it fits the other sub r/shitamericanssay other than "He, he, look how stupid people can be!" which is a stretch.
And before the inevitable stupidity here, the OOP is from the Balkans based on his/her posting history.
ETA: Though I was replying to someone else down thread so this looked odd out of context. Fixed now.
You don't have to be from the USA to default to the USA.
Understood. I fixed the comment as I thought I was replying to another idiot down thread.
Some people in the UK got Irish passports after bloody rotten Brexit. If you have Irish grandparents you qualify.
All Italians emigrated to US
You’re thinking of the Irish 😉
Oh dear, that is incredible.