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[hateradio]

Time Cube Redux: Space Moors, Freemasons, black means white, there was no slavery Pt. 2, anyone?


I say California or that my parents are originally from Mexico.

 

[Rest]

[...]never mind US states being more culturally diverse than Europe.

I don't think anyone is arguing that.

The only reason you asked was because you were intrigued by his skin colour. Being white in a predominantly white country with no accent, no one ever asks me where I'm from, even though I'm actually son of immigrants. As you said, not being a first generation migrant made him identify himself as a local, completely integrated culturally. The fact that you assumed he was different from you upset him.

His skin was white, and I'm sure most people looked at him and just thought he was white.

New Jersey can actually be quite nice. Way more farmland and stuff than you'd think. I actually heard NJ is way more wooded now than it's been in the past which bucks the trend of most places.

Most forested US states are slowly restoring their forests. dat conservation culture

Edit: Also, I didn't know Delaware was a state, I always thought it was a district, like Columbia.

You'd get confused looks if you come to the US and refer to the District of Columbia as Columbia, it's District of Columbia, Washington, Washington DC or just DC. Just FYI.

I actually know very few people from Texas with a distinctive accent. Where are you from in Texas? It may help that I've lived in the cites my whole life, most everyone I know has "default" American I guess.

I know of at least three accents that are unique to Texas, so I think it's interesting that you haven't heard any of them. But if you're not in the southwest, the south, or Texas I guess it's not surprising.

[...]and are the only state in the Union that used to be its own damn country. deal with it

California and Hawai'i say hello.

 

[Agalloch]

I'm from Italy and if u ask me i answer Tuscany

 

[Hilbert]

California and Hawai'i say hello.

Utah too, right? There was actually a war between Utah and the United States.

 

[cr_blah_blah]

I know of at least three accents that are unique to Texas, so I think it's interesting that you haven't heard any of them. But if you're not in the southwest, the south, or Texas I guess it's not .

I think people generally have a difficult time realizing Texas is pretty varied in itself. I identify myself as being from South Texas, I have friends clearly from West Texas upbringing, and family in east Texas that aren't anything like me. It's odd.

 

[Sobriquet]

I would say the city.

 

[Agent_ShortBus]

Compare that to Cali Surfer Dude and you'll stop wondering why we identify by State and not just the Country.

Hyperbole of course, but you get what I mean.

Haha I'm from San Diego and I noticed I say DUDE and MAN a lot when I visited the east coast, moslty because I'd get some funny looks when I spoke. I also got thrown off when I was asked what kind of pop I would like. Anyways when not in the US and asked where I'm from I just answer with California.

 

[TomServo]

I don't understand the criticism... I travel internationally a lot, and when I tell people I'm from the US, they want to know what part.

So yeah, I cut to the chase and tell them I'm from the States, Florida (lol) in particular.

 

[bomma_man]

United States of America is a United set of States. They are each distinct and different, and some are very large.

Saying I'm from Texas is different than me being from, say, New York, or California. Granted, we share lots of culture, surely, like anyone would by sharing a language, but the state's are different enough that most Americans like to make the distinction. Also, Federalism (EDIT: to clarify, I mean, for all intents and purposes, our states are all self-governing).

The US isn't the only federal country in the world though.

It's because the US is a cultural superpower. There's no need for rationalisation beyond that.

 

[Rest]

Why are mommy and daddy fighting?



I left the thread for a couple hours and I come back and it's like someone kicked a hornet's next in here.

I blame the Spanish.


ALSO-- did anyone answer my question yet? Does Europe understand that whole Michigan/Mitten reference? I'm sure most of the world understands Italy is a boot, so I don't see why the Mitten thing would be out of line.

I've always wondered what that thing it's about to grab is. Is it snatching a peninsula away from Canada?

90% chance they mispronounce the state anyway. And 70% chance if they're American.

Everyone not from the west coast seems to mispronounce Oregon as well. It is isn't Ore Gone or Ori Gone.

It started like this:

OP: LOL why are all these Americans telling me they're from a State? Like I know anything about that-how dumb.

AMERICANS: Well, they're identifying like that because in this country, the number of states we have are so incredibly varied that identifying yourself as a resident of a state just comes second nature-in our country there are cultures and climates vast and wide, and we're just conditioned to identify with those particular regions and cultures.

EUROPEANS: CULTURE??? CLIMATE!!!!??!?! FUCK YOU, WE HAVE THAT TOO! YOU AMERICANS THINK YOU'RE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD.


In other words, an reasonable explanation to the OP's passive aggressive question came off as an implied slight.

Don't fall for it guys, this sense talking is just a ruse, he's a Dalek and is just trying to lull you in so that he can eat your brains. Or whatever it is that Daleks do, help me out UK GAF.

Thirteen.

I like you.

Which country did Georgia defeat? How about New York? South Carolina?

They collectively defeated Britain. Texas defeated a country on their own.

Uh, I don't think so. As I recall from my history lessons, Texas started out strong but then was being pushed back by Mexico, and the US had to step in.

Yeah sorry but a couple states with a couple centuries history doesn't compare with countries with thousands of years of culture. It is obnoxious to suggest otherwise.

The amount of time a government has been established has nothing to do with the customs and traditions of the people living in an area.

When I've told Americans that iI'm from Tasmania they just give me a blank stare till I've said "you know, like the devil?"

we only have six states to remember too, up your game.

You should say "the big island off of Australia that isn't New Zealand."

Or as humid as the whole southeastern side of the country.

I was highly amused by all the Europeans bitching about the heat and humidity at the US grand prix in Indianapolis when I went several years ago. That's fucking Indiana for god's sake, I can only imagine how miserable Europeans would be in the middle of a Mississippi summer.

Fuck the south's humidity, fuck it right in the ass. You shouldn't feel like you're about to die just because you walk outside. My one adventure in Mississippi had me watch humidity coalesce into puddles on the ground as the sun came up. Hell. Just hell.

What I find weird is when Americans say stuff like "I'm Irish" or "I'm Italian". No you're not. You're American. The fact that your great grandparents came to the US from Ireland/Italy, doesn't make you Irish/Italian. Some of them have never even gone to the country they claim to be from.

Why? I'm Irish and German, the fact that I'm not an Irishman or a German doesn't take away my heritage.

Well yeah, I applied for a citizenship and aced the test. (getting a citizenship is like finishing college, takes years and a lot of money) But all feels pointless when nobody accepts me as an American. I feel like I have no place in the world as I feel no connection to my country of origin or Puerto Rico.

Eh, fuck those people, they don't know what an American is.

 

[NEOPARADIGM]

What's weirder is all the people who live around Detroit saying they are from Detroit.

Basically the whole metro area identifies itself as "Detroit" effectively as a means to distinguish the area from the rest of the state. I'd gather people who live around Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing, and Traverse City do the same thing.

Nahh Detroit is so awesome everyone wants to be from there.

Your insulting attitude is noted.

"Claiming Detroit, when y'all live twenty miles away" - Eminem

Pfft, Eminem's from fuckign Roseville. Talk about a case in point.

 

[Winterfang]

I'm not sure if you're under the impression that this will change one day, as no. America's kept up its class-warfare/racism for quite a while. You just have to get into an environment where it isn't as rampant. Surrounding yourself with good people does the trick, but you'll always get a reminder of your accent/what others think of you. Some people are assholes, and they love to judge people. A lot are in America.

So I'll never be accepted?

 

[aznpxdd]

I usually just say Los Angeles. If whoever I'm talking to doesn't know LA...then...

 

[Goldenroad]

I'll just say I'm from Canada.

Being from Saskatchewan, I pretty much never elaborate beyond that.

 

[Incognito]

I say Texas because everyone knows Texas and Texas shouldn't even be a part of the US anymore. When people mock me by saying "Oh you're from the Republic of Texas" I say, yes, yes I am and I'm proud. It's a badge of honor.

 

[C4Lukins]

I always say Texas. If the conversation has already reached a point where someone has asked me where I am from, I would assume that they already know I am either from the US or Canada by my accent, and Texas is not so obscure that it would be confusing. So yeah I do that.

 

[Goldenroad]

I say Texas because everyone knows Texas and Texas shouldn't even be a part of the US anymore. When people mock me by saying "Oh you're from the Republic of Texas" I say, yes, yes I am and I'm proud. It's a badge of honor.

That's great, but to the rest of the world you Americans are just Americans. It'd be great if you guys could look at it like that too.

 

[Hilbert]

That's great, but to the rest of the world you Americans are just Americans. It'd be great if you guys could look at it like that too.

In my experience, if you tell someone you are from the US, the very next question will be, "What part?"

I am not sure who you are to speak for the rest of the world.

 

[Alcotholic]

When I was in Ireland, people would ask "Where are you from?" and I would answer New York, since that's where I live, but I was raised in California. BUT when they would ask that question, they usually meant, "Where were you born?", which that would be Michigan. So it wasn't really easy for me to answer that question. If you asked me that same question here in NYC, I'd Say California.
It's all strange to me though.

 

[Goldenroad]

In my experience, if you tell someone you are from the US, the very next question will be, "What part?"

I am not sure who you are to speak for the rest of the world.

I ask the same thing about anyone from any country. It's just polite small talk.

 

[charlequin]

I did know him, and it's not rude to ask someone their background.

This is pretty debatable. The experience of being constantly badgered to explain your descent to every random person you meet is common to many PoC in predominantly white countries, and it's rarely considered a particularly pleasant one. Just baldly asking someone about this because someone can't stand the curiosity for five seconds is incredibly demeaning and doesn't speak well to their manners in general.

Now, having a real conversation with someone, something comes up in conversation that prompts it -- that's different. But in that case, by definition you're not going to get the prying awkwardness that defines the "but... where are your PARENTS from" question.

 

[Hilbert]

I ask the same thing about anyone from any country. It's just polite small talk.

Soooo...You wish Americans would just say they are American, but you ask where in America they are from afterwards?

What the hell? What was "I wish you guys would look at it like that too" crap then?

 

[Navy Bean]

Well, I was just in Miami and was asked where I'm from by a hotel staffer. I said Pittsburgh. Nothing. Then I said Pennsylvania. Still nothing. So, fuck it, I said I'm from up north near New York and the person said "cool, I love New York."

 

[SwiftDeath]

Well, I was just in Miami and was asked where I'm from by a hotel staffer. I said Pittsburgh. Nothing. Then I said Pennsylvania. Still nothing. So, fuck it, I said I'm from up north near New York and the person said "cool, I love New York."

That's hilarious

 

[gutter_trash]

For Canadians, the city carries more weight abroad than the province.

If you tell someone etiher Montreal or Toronto... they get you are from Canada.

but if you say Ontario or Quebec, they will got WTF? where's that?

It's like Mexican states, nobody outside of Mexico or border USA know the names of the states in Mexico. Better off saying the name of the biggest city closest to you

 

[cory64]

Because if the US dissolved, we'd still have 9 of the top 30 countries (and 1 in the top 10).

It's as simple as that.

 

[Dead Man]

Because if the US dissolved, we'd still have 9 of the top 30 countries (and 1 in the top 10).

It's as simple as that.

You may want to qualify that as 'by GDP'. But you would still look a bit silly using that as any basis to give your state instead of your country to the very basic question of where you are from.

 

[cory64]

You may want to qualify that as 'by GDP'. But you would still look a bit silly using that as any basis to give your state instead of your country to the very basic question of where you are from.

It's a general explanation for the root of the phenomenon, which almost always comes down to arbitrary scope. No other country has its economic power in multiple relatively unconnected regions at this scale.

 

[Dead Man]

It's a general explanation for the root of the phenomenon, which almost always comes down to arbitrary scope. No other country has its economic power in multiple relatively unconnected regions at this scale.

Using economics as a justification or explanation is really quite silly though, is my point. The cultural argument I can buy, but nobody sits and considers the size of the economy they participate in at cvarious levels when explaining where they are from.

Nobody (well, I'm sure some people do) determines what level of social/legal/governmental representation they will use as an identifier based on the GPD of said regions. It is not a decision on that is informed by GDP.

As an explanation it is a massive reach I think.

 

[cory64]

Because economy and perception of culture are completely unrelated. Of course no one thinks of these things when they say where they are from, but decades of global economic relevance do tend to subconsciously change what someone's answer might be.