Thread: Why are they called Americans?

Originally Posted by Leon

Alex, I've been in your country last year and I can tell you all that you dutch people are really tall! According to a recent European study, you're the tallest Europeans.

I know that. But what was suggested was that people with longer names are taller....and THAT makes no sense.

As for tall people over here, I know all about that. I'm 6ft tall. (1,80m) and pretty much ALL my friends are taller and so are both my brothers.

I read the other day that the average lenght of Dutch women is 6 ft and that of Dutch men is somewhere around 6ft 2 inches.

People here are HUGE. When I go abroad I tend to feel quite tall....but then I come home and I'm a shorty again.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Nothing personal but this is one of the most rediculous posts we've had here.

When you really think about it what's in a name anyway. If you look back in history especially in Europe how many countries have changed hands and territories. What do all those people call themselves. The new name or the old name. And their ancestors what about them. My people were from the Austro Hungarian Empire so what would that be now?. And all those countries in Africa that have changes and moved over the past 40 -50 years or so?

There's probably more people in the world in that situation than people who clearly know what they are and who they are. Remember all the Native American's. What are they? The tribes are considered legally to be sovereign nations. What about the old Soviet Union before it broke up, what are they? Ukranians or Russians or what?

We could go on and on with this forever. And what the heck is the difference between England and the United Kingdom anyway? are they English or United Kingians (sounds like a soccer team eh)

Good grief man...what ruined your breakfast

It's just something I was thinking about the other day. I don't think anyone in this thread is taking things all that serious anyway. It's just some light banter and pondering.

The only reason I asked is because I wonder about things from time to time. And I figure that if I don't know myself...and can't think of any reason. Someone else might know.

Because the only DUMB question is one that hasn't been asked.

The difference between England and the UK has already been explained, as for the other people that you're wondering about. I don't know. What is the territory called currently? Officially that is...

As for the indian Nations, usually they're called after the tribe they're part of aren't they? Navaho tribe are Navahos? Ut (where the name Utah comes from) aren't they the Utehs? Uts? I don't know. I'll be wondering now. I'll probably look it up sometime.

Or could it be that you secretly long to be an American, and that's why you are pondering this? It's a common longing among cultural Europeans - in pulbic they poke fun at the US of A, but secretly want to paint their faces red white and blue and scream "hell yeah!"

So try this experiment:

1. Put on a Toby Keith video, if you find yourself jumping up and saying "that's what I'm tawlkin' about", you really want to be an american.

2. Drink a can of budweiser, if you find yourself spitting it out, well.....actuallly that just means you know piss water when you drink it and nothing else. I'll have to think more about this test.....

The name of our country is the United States of America. I am guessing you know this by now and you are asking the question just to foolishly get a rise out of us. Well. We a can call our country anything we like, except (unlike the Netherlands) occupied.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

Or could it be that you secretly long to be an American, and that's why you are pondering this? It's a common longing among cultural Europeans - in pulbic they poke fun at the US of A, but secretly want to paint their faces red white and blue and scream "hell yeah!"

So try this experiment:

1. Put on a Toby Keith video, if you find yourself jumping up and saying "that's what I'm tawlkin' about", you really want to be an american.

2. Drink a can of budweiser, if you find yourself spitting it out, well.....actuallly that just means you know piss water when you drink it and nothing else. I'll have to think more about this test.....

Interesting my dear Watson...but you are not in posession of all the facts:

I was born in the USA and am therefore an United Statian As well as a Dutchman

So no.

As for the following poster, Icedog.

That's a bit of a cheap shot at WW2 (I think) wasn't it? Because since then we honestly haven't been occupied (at least not since the USA was occupied by the french and british.) since or before that.

And NO...it was NOT just to get a rise. It was an honest question. I honestly wondered. It seems that there is no clear cut answer though. Because a lot of people some to have suggestions as to what COULD be the reason....but no-one has any certain answers.

I'm surprised though. I can't have been the first person to have ever wondered this have I?

Originally Posted by Leon

Yeah, but you know because the Portuguese king at that time denied to sponsor the Colombo's trip, he turned to the Spanish king and eventually found the North American continent using the Spanish flag.
That didn't stop the Portuguese to discover the South American continent and occupy half of that land that today goes by the name of Brazil.



Alex, I've been in your country last year and I can tell you all that you dutch people are really tall! According to a recent European study, you're the tallest Europeans.

Nothing like a tall Dutch woman! Holy mackerel!

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

My brothers are both taller than me and have shorter names

Shorter than Vlad? Wow!

That's the best comment so far!!

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

As for the following poster, Icedog.

That's a bit of a cheap shot at WW2 (I think) wasn't it? Because since then we honestly haven't been occupied (at least not since the USA was occupied by the french and british.) since or before that.

Hey, Icedog is joking already!

The USA was occupied by the french and british? The last of the British occupiers left the US in 1783 (before it was even considered the USA by 99% of the world) more than a decade before Napoleon renamed the Netherlands and set up his own little kingdom there. When did the French ever occupy the USA?

Educate !

History was never a subject I majored in. I might just be misstaken. Besides you don't think I was very serious either do you?

Just a warning though....over here WW2 is not considered a joking matter.