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Originally posted by Wheelz

I think I sort of get what you're saying... but we also [not always] say Phoenix, Arizona; Cleveland, Ohio; even New York, New York -- Not because we think people don't know where those cities are, but just because it sounds natural. Place names are just structured that way in the American dialect.

(Or perhaps we're simply trying to differentiate them from Paris, Texas; Rome, Georgia; and Geneva, Illinois...)

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Originally posted by lemmycaution

Here in Canada we never say Kapuskasing, Ontario.

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Originally posted by Whippersnapper



So how does "Boise, Idaho" fit into this theory?

They always say "Boise, Idaho" but there is only one Boise, and everyone knows it's in Idaho.

I demand an explanation! Now!

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• First, and quite contrary to the over-used, stuck-up, ill-informed, jingoistic, and condescending use of the "ugly American," "imperialistic American," "self-absorbed American" or "stupid American" stereotypes -- use of which I abhor as abominally ignorant -- it is perhaps the case that some Americans are merely trying to be helpful and/or polite, choosing not to presume that their conversation partner is a compendium of geographical knowledge. Let us remember that many people all around the world are fairly uninformed of the names of even world capitals. Not because they are stupid people, but because that information is not included in the lexicon of their daily survival needs. I would hardly look down my nose at a Maori tribesman, Andean Native, Australian Aboriginal, Bantu herder, Chembakolli villager or Shaolin monk who took the time to identify precisely the name and province of any world location. Rather than to assume they presume stupidity on my part or superiority on their part to trigger insulting (because that's what it is), even if "benign," patronizing looks, I choose to assume that they are being helpful in their own way, which does not need my condescention to mock or stunt that expression. This precise topic infuriates me because I am sick to death of anti-American snobbery and the extent to which some non-U.S. persons will go to presume some belittling notion of persons from the U.S. (or should I say "the United States of America.") It is incorrect, it is morally bankrupt, and it is -- in the highest sense of irony -- supremely ignorant. I deal with a lot of non-U.S. nationals who call me by my combined first and sirname. I view it as charming and endearing; I'd sooner bludgeon myself to death than to entertain the idea that they are somehow culturally or intellectually at fault. Maybe that's their custom! Who appointed me culture czar to dictate that they must adopt all local customs, idioms and ideosyncracies when addressing we locals??!!!!??? And why would I presume that my patronizing smile goes unnoticed by them???!!!??? Why wouldn't they feel insulted and belittled?: they can see!!!??? JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T ACT LIKE ME DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SENSE THEIR SURROUNDINGS! Polite people are careful to avoid obvious though even unintended insults.
  
  And please note that I did not single out Europeans, Britons, Chinese, "U.S.A.-ians" or any other national group as principal perpetrators of this snobbish fascism. I single out only the idiots who do it. For example, here in the States, I have no qualms verbally taking issue with the freaking idiots who take great joy in mocking the accent of Indian nationals who work at and own nearly 75% of the multi-billion dollar motel industry in the U.S: what cretin cannot see that the people being mocked are industrious, savvy, and deserving of admiration for their hard work? I assure you this cretin can. (Hmmmm ... somehow that doesn't sound right, but I can't quite put one of my thirteen fingers on it.)
  
  This reminds me of a sensation that occurred to me a couple of decades ago when I spent a good deal of time in the U.K. I was in my early 20s and was dating a very lovely British girl [*longing sigh*] who happily toured me around portions of the country [see Facebook for pictures]. Her family were the sweetest. Her friends were charming and sometimes even overly helpful. I met many absolutely wonderful British people. However, I also had ample occasion to run into idiots who tried their damnedest to mock me for being an American, or to denegrate the U.S., one such person who even denegrated my hometown -- to which he'd never been! I could offer several alternate explanations for such behavior -- jealousy, insecurity, excessive onanism, inbreeding -- but what I would not and do not presume is a national culture of such an attitude.


Accordingly, it may be more accurate to characterize the initial observation as "the attitude of some people in the U.K. toward Americans" rather than the "British attitude toward Americans," as I am loathe to think of so many lovely people as bitter, boorish, and oblivious.


• Second, I tend to believe it is a matter of relative education and/or world travel. I find that people of more extensive education and/or travel tend to leave out geographical sirnames, as I believe many of them are used to speaking with others whom they assume are already aware of the particular locality because of the conversational context. Much like persons from Miami do not speak to each other of "Miami, Florida."

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Originally posted by thefoxboy

An American once asked me where I was from, I said Australia, she said oh, that's part of New Zealand isn't it!

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