Jargon

[andrewducker]

Several people have said that discriminating against Americans isn't racism. Which seems reasonable in some ways, because Americans aren't a race. But in that case, what is it? Nationalism doesn't seem right, because nationalism is usually being proud of your own country, not against a specific other one. Anyone?

[Poll #161402]

Comments

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

I don't really think that "discriminating" really is the right word for what's at issue here. I'd say "making generalizations about" rather than "discriminating".

[wordofblake.livejournal.com]

I think part of the problem is that intelligence doesnt increase by numbers. Isn't there a saying that a mob is less smart than its dumbest member?

I know, or have known, a bunch of Americans and as individuals they've had a spread of intellectual ability tending towards the smarter end. But as a mob they are responsible for Jerry Springer and ad breaks every five seconds and poor health care.

Of course we are just as bad, and by we I mean every possible group that includes me. But then no group that includes me has any real power on a global stage.

Canadians, of course, are universally intelligent, fun, and pretty :)

[nickys.livejournal.com]

I think the correct term for thinking that people from another country are inferior is Chauvanism - derived from a M. Chauvin in the 19th Century.

Of course these days chauvanism is used to mean different stuff.

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

Does it have to be an -ism? Couldn't it just be prejudice?

I agree that it's definitely not racism.

[thefirethorn.livejournal.com]

Actually I changed my mind, I think what you are describing is generalization.

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

If the reference is (as I assume it is) to this cartoon (http://www.livejournal.com/users/andrewducker/358296.html), the answer's pretty amusing.

[rainstorm.livejournal.com]

I've noticed lately that your use of apostrophes is going down the drain. I will therefore look down my nose at you whenever I have the chance.

Ha!

heh

[josephgrossberg.livejournal.com]

"Americans aren't a race"

Maybe that gives the portion of critics who really are bigoted, more leeway than they deserve.

heh

[josephgrossberg.livejournal.com]

Sub-poll:

xenophobia, except when it's your own country

And when it's your own country, it's ...?

* revolutionary
* reactionary
* progressive
* elitist
* hypocritical
* credible
* ???