Split: Mistaken for Canadian

Just as long as your smalls don't also say that Uncle Sam wants YOU!

I was trying to make a point of what her attitude comes off as. I've seen 'ars*' on the forum quite frequently, I don't think 'ass' is any different, especially when I'm not using it to call the person an 'ass'. Should I have used 'butt'? Or 'Gluteus maximus' instead? But, I reworded my sentence anyways.

I think it was less that and more calling someone an 'extremely arrogant person' and that what they were saying is gross.  Really? It means this much to you?

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life." Cecil Rhodes

British patriotism is alive and well, it's just hiding under a thin layer of postmodern snark. Jingoism is a robust animal; it doesn't slink away because a generation of Guardian readers look down their noses at it.

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life." Cecil Rhodes

British patriotism is alive and well, it's just hiding under a thin layer of postmodern snark. Jingoism is a robust animal; it doesn't slink away because a generation of Guardian readers look down their noses at it.

It does exist, but I'd argue that it's a completely different animal from American patriotism.

I think it was less that and more calling someone an 'extremely arrogant person' and that what they were saying is gross.  Really? It means this much to you?

It is an arrogant attitude to have, and can be taken as bigotry. For an American to be offended over being mistaken for a Canadian/Irish/whatever by a foreigner, is as if that American thinks they're a god, and the Canadian a lesser being. I like to challenge what I disagree with, much like you're challenging me.

A different animal in the same family.

I once knew a Dutchman who loved to laugh at American jingoism, all our silly notions of "country" and "patriotism." He and his countrymen had totally gotten past this sort of foolishness, and he never lost an opportunity to rub our noses in it.

One day, I made a remark about Queen Beatrice. It wasn't even a particularly rude remark, I think I called her "Queen Whatshername." Dude came utterly unstrung. I mean, pop-eyed screaming NINJA angry at my lack of respect.

You can't beat tribal out of people.

For an American to be offended over being mistaken for a Canadian/Irish/whatever by a foreigner, is as if that American thinks they're a god, and the Canadian a lesser being.

Yes. That is how it sounds to me. I'm not saying that is how it it meant; but that is how it can sound to the listener.

I get the same feeling when people use American flags in their Facebook profile pictures.

It feels like they are saying. "LOOK! I AM AMERICAN! ISN'T IS SO GREAT THAT I AM AMERICAN?!!!!" Which implies that they are better than someone who isn't American.

I have some superpatriotic FB friends who go on about how great America is sometimes.  After election day, they were posting about how great America is because in America people have the right to vote.  To me, it sounded like they were implying that America was the only country where people have the right to vote.

I get the same feeling when people use American flags in their Facebook profile pictures.

It feels like they are saying. "LOOK! I AM AMERICAN! ISN'T IS SO GREAT THAT I AM AMERICAN?!!!!" Which implies that they are better than someone who isn't American.

Sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. I'm proud to be American, but I certainly don't think I'm better than anyone else. I know people who put American flags on their FB pages and they don't do it because they think they're better than anyone. They do it because they're proud of who they are. Pride does not necessarily equal arrogance.

It is an arrogant attitude to have, and can be taken as bigotry. For an American to be offended over being mistaken for a Canadian/Irish/whatever by a foreigner, is as if that American thinks they're a god, and the Canadian a lesser being. I like to challenge what I disagree with, much like you're challenging me.

I don't get offended by being mistaken for anything other than American, but I do get offended by Canadians being offended for being mistaken for American because there is an implication that "you wouldn't ever want to be mistaken for one of those Americans".  And, from what I understand, it happens much more often that way than the other. [Edit: so, yeah, I sort of agree with the above quote.] I also have a theory that a good portion of the "offensive/overly friendly/loud Americans" people run into are Canadians.  Not all, but a lot more than it is probably commonly thought.  

About a year ago, Mr A and I were in our favourite curry house.  A couple of Australians were in there as well as some locals.  In came a big group of Canadians.  They started talking to everyone in the restaurant.  Sort of like the "an American couple visits London" but on a bigger scale and instead of "Montakiago Falls, Missouri", they said they were from Vancouver.  Of course, if anyone there didn't realise that Vancouver was in Canada (or if they hadn't mentioned their home city), they'd probably just think they were another group of really loud Americans.

Probably not representative of Canadians in a foreign country as a whole, but I don't think the obnoxious Americans you run into are representative of Yanks either.

Sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. I'm proud to be American, but I certainly don't think I'm better than anyone else. I know people who put American flags on their FB pages and they don't do it because they think they're better than anyone. They do it because they're proud of who they are. Pride does not necessarily equal arrogance.

It appears arrogant to me.

I am proud of who I am but I don't go around talking about it or telling other people how great I am.

The intention may be different, but that is how it comes across to me.

It's about sensitivity - not just what you mean, but how what you say comes across to others.

I don't get offended by being mistaken for anything other than American, but I do get offended by Canadians being offended for being mistaken for American because there is an implication that "you wouldn't ever want to be mistaken for one of those Americans".

This.

I don't have any sparkly pinwheels, I don't even have an airing cupboard, much less a shrine in it, no flag on my facebook, nor do I go around spouting accolades about America the beautiful, or have any sort of American superiority attitude. I have never thought Canadians are lesser people. I don't youtube American patriotic songs all day on July 4th or even wear American flag shirts. I don't go around tapping people on the shoulder and announcing the fact I am American. I simply feel a bit patriotic about where I am from, but now that I read it is WRONG, then I won't do it anymore.

I am of German, Irish, Swiss and French descent, with German being the biggest contributor to the bloodline. If being quietly happy to be American is wrong, then 'Yay Germany!'

Then there is also the question for those who feel things are trivial. If it is so trivial, why waste so much time telling people how wrong they are for the way they feel? If you feel it is trivial, don't feel the need to waste so much time trying to change the way people feel.

Sorry, but this is a little ridiculous. I'm proud to be American, but I certainly don't think I'm better than anyone else. I know people who put American flags on their FB pages and they don't do it because they think they're better than anyone. They do it because they're proud of who they are. Pride does not necessarily equal arrogance.

Exactly!

Then there is also the question for those who feel things are trivial. If it is so trivial, why waste so much time telling people how wrong they are for the way they feel? If you feel it is trivial, don't feel the need to waste so much time trying to change the way people feel.

Thank you!

My response to all of this is: who cares?!  As long as someone isn't spouting off blatant ignorance or racism, they can have their US flag and pride or whatever.  It has no bearing on my life.

I don't have any sparkly pinwheels, I don't even have an airing cupboard, much less a shrine in it...

You know I was joking about that right?    I do find the phrase "openly patriotic" a bit funny, and it made me wonder if I was a closeted patriot or something.

I don't really think I am on either end of the spectrum when it comes to patriotism.  I do think though some people do express their discomfort over being mistaken as a different nationality offensively.  Not always.  I don't think there's anything wrong with clarifying.  Acting like someone was accusing them of being something they weren't is a different story. Saying, "No, actually I am American/Canadian/whatever" is a lot different than making such a big deal out of it everyone asks if you're a certain nationality (Canadian) to avoid the risk of offending you in case you were that nationality.  It has to be so widespread that it's become common practice.

Incidentally, I almost never get asked where I am from, although I've had the awkward "Are you Canadian?" a few times.  Quite a few people have just asked if I was American (especially outside the capital).  Most people don't bother.  It's probably because we're in London.

You know I was joking about that right?

Yup. 

I see the flipside of the coin too, where I've listened to many a Brit telling me how Americans have overinflated egos, we're brainwashed into believing we are the best country, with the best military etc. Then they proceed to tell me how England is the  best country and the British military is best, the Green Berets, SEALS etc are no good and the SAS is best. I don't mind listening to them rattle on about it any more than I mind listening to Americans rattle about America. I'm not sure why people of any country need to feel there is a 'best' country or 'best' military. We are all human and no one is better than anyone, but I see no need to have no patriotic feelings for where you are from, even if you are quiet and polite about it. I've never shouted at anyone or been rude to them for asking if I am Canadian.