Ossis and Amis

[Guest]

I hate that they call my cell phone a "handy".

[mlovett 8,681]

 

I think Ami and Yankee are legitimate, non-offensive ways to refer to U.S.-Americans.

 

Sure as hell beats being a Confederate!

 

What about Limey for the British? I'd say it's nicer than Inselaffe.

[ExpatUSA 1,412]

 

I'd say it's nicer than Inselaffe.

What about Pom? I was told that this is considered derogatory, but when I lived in Australia, Brits were called Poms all the time. And the Americans "seppos", by the way.

[lilplatinum 7,142]

I find the term "US American/US-Amerikaner" idiotically offensive. The Demonym of the USA is American.

[john g. 37,776]

 

Sure as hell beats being a Confederate!

 

What about Limey for the British? I'd say it's nicer than Inselaffe.

 

I LIKE Limey! Sort of reminds me of caipirinha...ummmm.(Yes,I know the origin of the word! )

[john g. 37,776]

 

What about Pom? I was told that this is considered derogatory, but when I lived in Australia, Brits were called Poms all the time. And the Americans "seppos", by the way.

 

POM I like, too.. .sort of reminds me of Prisoner of Mlovett..

[mlovett 8,681]

HA! Yes, I always thought Limey was rather nice... you guys avoided scurvy that way, sehr schlau! John, next time someone calls you Inselaffe, tell them that you are not from Gibraltar. :P

[melliefie 3]

Allegedly British sailors were given a regular ration of lime juice to prevent scurvy at sea, thus the nickname "Limey"!

The German sailors were given a regular ration of Sauerkraut for the same purpose, thus the nickname "Kraut"!

 

I'm cool with both. As for "Inselaffe" you can easily make it a cute term by saying "Inseläffchen"... :lol:

[john g. 37,776]

Nice one, mlovett!! I´ll remember that!

[ExpatUSA 1,412]

 

The Demonym of the USA is American.

So how would you call the people living on your continent, considering the different models ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Continental_models.gif )? Just curious.

[lilplatinum 7,142]

North Americans, the combined American model is bullshit and not used in the geographical community because the North and South American continents are on separate primary tectonic plates... (The 7 continent method taught in English speaking world is also scientifically incorrect).

[vesparia 2,161]

I've been called an Inselaffe a few times now... depending on my mood I either reply with "InselaffIN" or just call the person a "Piefke". That one really confuses them :D

[ukpunk1 377]

 

Most of them are neutral, and I, as a black American, find the term "African-American" annoying to no end.

Agreed. Why is a U.S. white person simply called an American? Why is that?

[don_riina 7,406]

 

Why is a U.S. white person simply called an American?

Ain't always the case. Tons of white Americans love to bleat on about being Irish American, or Italian American.

[dessa_dangerous 13,315]

 

Or is it just some sort of sensationalism to sell papers?

 

Probably, and why not? While I think being controversial for the sake of selling papers is a bit iffy, I don't see anything wrong with giving the reader what they want (to an extent). And maybe it is the "artist" in me that likes when a story creates pictures in my mind, and maybe it's the writer in me that wants, and gives the pointless details. For example, when someone is telling me a story, I frequently ask all sorts of questions--how old was the person, how tall, what kind of mannerisms, where did s/he come from, and yes even what race they were. Of course sometimes these details are irrelevant: sometimes they are not.

 

I think that race can have an enormous impact on a person's life: how they were raised, how they were treated, what seems normal to them, certain behaviors. What is completely normal for somebody of one race to do might be regarded as absolutely strange by someone of another, but if the person from the other race has an understanding of how people unlike them live, maybe they can try to be more tolerant.

 

I don't think that pretending differences don't exist fosters more tolerance. Quite the opposite actually.

 

I also cannot see the point when someone is talking about "the tall guy over there", which one? "The one with the dark jacket." That could be any of them? "The one with the short hair." Huh? Ohhhhhh you mean the black guy? "Oh, is he black? I don't notice those sorts of things."

 

 

In my mind, the only thing that makes a "label" an instrument of discrimination and confirming stereotypes is when someone decides to make categories in their brains for people. Not using the labels is not going to make them not do this anymore. They will still have eyeballs and only half a brain, regardless of which words you use.

[ShaggyMame 363]

 

I think that race can have an enormous impact on a person's life: how they were raised, how they were treated, what seems normal to them, certain behaviors. What is completely normal for somebody of one race to do might be regarded as absolutely strange by someone of another, but if the person from the other race has an understanding of how people unlike them live, maybe they can try to be more tolerant.

 

I don't think that pretending differences don't exist fosters more tolerance. Quite the opposite actually.

I agree with what you are saying, dessa.

 

I just wish people would stop using the word 'TOLERANCE' when referring to other people. To tolerate means to endure or put up with something. One "tolerates" pain, bad smells, smoke, illness, loud noise, extreme cold... not people, because saying that we "tolerate" others means that we are accepting them only within limits, while suggesting that there's something inherently negative about them. It's paternalistic at best. How about we talk about respect, acceptance, understanding, equality?

[bludger 104]

Using slang names for a people is not by definition offensive. It is all in the usage. Some such names for a people are basically friendly nicknames. I can't imagine any Aussie or Kiwi being offended by our nicknames - the opposite, in fact. I know it is inaccurate, but in Australia, all Americans (north or south, black and white) are called Yanks, plain and simple. I am not aware of any particular negative connotation. (It must be annoying to southerners though). "Pom" can be a bit negative sometimes (especially when accompanied by "whinging"), but "Pommieland", is usually neutral. I have a Kiwi mate who calls his French wife "Froggie", which I found a bit rude at first, but she doesn't seem to mind. I can't see the difference between all this and "Ami".

 

I can see how Ossi could be a bit annoying, in that it implies that differences still exist, when some would like to think that they don't. But I doubt that it is always the case. It is certainly not as bad as DDR-ler IMO. In fact, I am sure that I have heard a few work colleagues using the word about themselves. I'll have to ask them what they think about it. A quick google, turns up heaps of examples of Ossi being used in a neutral manner.

http://www.focus.de/finanzen/news/arbeitszeit_aid_85155.html

 

Those who would compare Ossi with the American "N-Word" trivialise the malice that often went with that word. Or should we start calling it the "O-word" or O**i from now on?

[dessa_dangerous 13,315]

I also think acceptance and respect are better than tolerance, but for many, it is an important first step--the very least needed to move forward.

 

Especially in Germany it seems that people are often intolerant of customs unlike theirs. They can't get to the respect and understanding until they can at least deal with the fact that they are living among these strange people.

[john g. 37,776]

Hi Dessa! Why do you think it´s a German thing that people are often intolerant of customs unlike theirs? By the way, I didn´t understand your last sentence, unfortunately.

[bramble 9,643]

I had to read Dessa's post a couple of times before I realised that she probably doesn't mean it's only a German thing. She doesn't specifically mention the German people, just people in Germany. For instance, if she is implying that also foreigners in Germany are often intolerant of each others customs as well as German customs, then her last sentence would make sense. I certainly read quite a number of intolerant remarks by expats on Toytown regarding German customs, for example.