I'm tired of people taking the P about Americans

[utepoot]

America is a great country. Yes, it has its flaws but most of that is down to the government, not the people. I happen to be from the USA, I have emigrated to the UK, which I dearly love and embrace all the UK's customs, slang and differences. It peeves me when people say that America "spells words incorrectly". No, we don't. American English is different than British English. There are many, many terms that are different: ie. boot=trunk, bonnet=hood and so on, so why is the American way wrong? It's just a different variation. People who think the "American way" is wrong must also think that all of the EU's way is wrong too, because they all speak a different language! And for that matter, the whole world that doesn't conform to the British way must be wrong too? Why pick on "The Americans"

[MarkRae]

Who picks on Americans?

BTW, major respect for not preceding any verb with "go ahead and"...

[missprim]

Hi utepoot I didn't know anyone was picking on the Americans. Have you read somewhere about that? As you mentioned, we do have different words for the same thing and words are spelt differently.It doesn't bother me though but if I see a word like colour spelt color I just say 'Oh that's the American way of spelling it.' I've never heard anyone say Americans spell their words incorrectly. Will be interested to see other ABers comments on this.

[utepoot]

MarkRae thanks for your response, I have seen quite a few posts on here lately moaning about "the Americans", and how they "spell things wrong", and other complaints such as too much US tv over here etc. (With respect, I also am not that impressed with some US tv programmes!) But I mean come on, we are all supposed to be united as the human race.

[utepoot]

Steve.5 I agree that the US should not be the world's policeman, I did NOT vote for any of the presidents in the last ten years (I've been here in the UK!) And the reason I left my great country is to come to another one where my husband is from!

[missprim]

I think it's just individual choice really.Personally I prefer American programmes to British i.e E.R far superior to Casualty.Always preferred American singers, films. Now I suppose I will be in trouble for not supporting my own country :-)

[Zhukov]

I love Baseball :)

[pastafreak]

I'm also a long term resident of the UK, from the States. I found-when I first moved here-that it was the American relatives/friends that commented on usage and spelling on this side of the pond. No point in getting impatient with them...just educate them in the fact that there *are* differences,and that we are not clones of each other.
Steve-it's really not necessary to make a negative remark about ute's reasons for leaving the US-which were the same as mine by the way......it just looks ignorant.

[pastafreak]

OK .. ;-)

[Zhukov]

what has America given us..apart from the...hotdog? ;)

[naomi24]

I like Americans - generally - and I like America - generally. And I really like Greys Anatomy. ;o)

[DTCwordfan]

It was a Scotsman who was responsible for the different spellings, the simplification of the language - one Andrew Carnegie who headed up a Presidential Commission on this. Carnegie was partly dyslexic.

utepoot, don't get too tweaked about this, it's all part of the special relationship and your lot give as much grief when a Brit lives there. I lived there in two States...

[jd_here]

I've had the pleasure of visiting the USA on 5 occasions and, in all but one location, I found the people extremely friendly and helpful.

I am returning in the early part of 2012 and expect to find the same friendly greeting.

Does it really matter if colour is spelt as 'color'?

[boxtops]

.. or couleur in French?

[kawakiri]

Go Stillers!

[rockyracoon]

Sorry you feel that wat utepoot, please don't be too upset, I have honestly not seen any negative posts on this forum and I too much prefer most US tv, Law & Order, Fringe, Friends to name but a few. It's good to have a mix of opinions on the forum, especially from people from around the globe. When I was in Boston, I got Britbashed by some of the locals, all in good humour, sometimes the humour can be hard to find. Did you see the post about typing 'define an englishman' in google, the word that comes up is the most abhored of swear words but, it was funny.

[starone]

Some of the spellings are easier. But can I please comment on the tv programmes, which I like. My only criticism is I cannot understand a word they are saying. They might as well be talking a different language. If I didn't have the words written there for me I would not be able to watch them. I'm not watching The Closer because it doesn't have sub-titles. I did try, but gave up after a couple of weeks. The women's voices seem to be the worst. But perhaps it's just me although I don't have the same problem with British programmes.

[carlton23]

I`ve no reason to dislike the `yanks`, as back in the 50`s when the US Army were stationed near Bournemouth, they would get me carton's of my favourite `ciggies`, which were `Pall Mall` and `Camel` which I would flog to me mates for a few extra pennies. God Bless America.