On Europe

[Reliant121]

That might well be our perception of it. You use european to mean little more than geographical location; we tend to use European more as a social or political concept of "Them over the pond", since "they" often shape their policies to make one union where as we do not.

[Mikey]

I thought "the pond" meant the Atlantic; the folks across the pond would be us.

[Captain Seafort]

Atlantic, North Sea, English Channel, take your pick.

[Mikey]

How are we supposed to figure out your nutty lingo when you guys can't even agree on what you mean? I mean, how do you use the same word for "tired" and "testicles?"

[shran]

That might well be our perception of it. You use european to mean little more than geographical location; we tend to use European more as a social or political concept of "Them over the pond", since "they" often shape their policies to make one union where as we do not.

Wouldn't "Continental" be used a lot as well?

[Reliant121]

Continental could, and often is, used. Continental and European are sort of interchangeable in that context.

[Mikey]

Continental could, and often is, used. Continental and European are sort of interchangeable in that context.

Over here, "European" means "from Europe" - including the associated islands - while "continental" refers to mainland Europe.

[Reliant121]

That would be the point of the misunderstanding/debate/etc. We use them interchangeably since we don't consider ourselves "european" as such.

[Tyyr]

What continent are you located in?

[Reliant121]

Europe of course. The word "Europe" does not simply carry geographical meaning. That's the point if this entire conversation, this isn't about simply geography. Politically and socially we are very different to "continental" Europe if you want to put it that way. We simply use European interchangeably with Continental.

[Mikey]

Odd. I have little in common culturally with, for example, someone from Oaxaca - but I can't imagine any valid argument against calling us both "North American."

[Captain Seafort]

That's because "North America" doesn't carry any political meaning. "Europe" does.

[Graham Kennedy]

Exactly. From the "European Economic Community" through to the "European Union" and hell, even the "Eurovision Song Contest" - the word Europe and European are constantly used to describe a political entity rather than a geographic one. North American is hardly ever used that way. The only example that springs to mind is NAFTA, and hell, even that had some people screaming about American independence.

[Mikey]

Weird connotations you have over there and, if I may say as an outside observer, it seems you're being a bit defensive. I really can't understand how someone could confuse the connotation of "That European gentleman" with that of "The European Union." I can understand you not wanting to be pigeonholed politically or culturally with the rest of Europe (even though "the rest of Europe" can hardly be called a unified group itself,) but it's a great stretch of sensitivity to assume that any usage of the term "European" is intended as a cultural slight.

[Graham Kennedy]

Nobody said anything about it being intended as a slight. Rather it's just that the word is mostly used one way, and many find that offensive, so be aware of it.

Another comparison would be "Yank". To Brits, that's simply another word for an American. But there are those in Mississippi, say, who would object if I called them a Yank because that word has cultural connotations for them that it doesn't for me. That doesn't mean I intended to offend them, but it does mean I'd communicate better if I bore the difference in mind when talking to a Mississippian. To many people on this side of the Atlantic "European" doesn't just mean "from the continent of Europe", so if you're talking to them you might want to bear that in mind.