A few questions for all the Americans out there?

[OblivionDuruza]

I just love the internationality of the UESP Forums. There are a couple of questions I've always wanted to ask and American (everyone else, just you wait your time is coming ) so here goes:

In Australia there is a huge Melbourne/Sydney rivalry, is there something similar with the US East/West coasts?

In Australia different states are constantly having a go at each other, is it the same in the US, obviously you have way more states, but is there one that cops the most flack from everyone else (Alaska or something??)?

What do Americans think of us Aussies?

Could someone explain the term 'Yank'? I know it used to refer to members of the Union back during the Civil War and I've read a bit about it, but what/how do Americans actually think/use it?

[Vendetta]

In Australia there is a huge Melbourne/Sydney rivalry, is there something similar with the US East/West coasts?

Not that I know of. We are in peace

In Australia different states are constantly having a go at each other, is it the same in the US, obviously you have way more states, but is there one that cops the most flack from everyone else (Alaska or something??)?

Kentucky and Tennessee are always in a few jokes....

What do Americans think of us Aussies?

Average people just like everyone else

Could someone explain the term 'Yank'? I know it used to refer to members of the Union back during the Civil War and I've read a bit about it, but what/how do Americans actually think/use it?

In the dictionary it means to pull.. In american slang it is something much more inappropriate, that's all I'll tell you

[John117]

A 'yank' or 'yankee' was a term used by the English to refer to Americans, it was supposed to be an insult.
There actually kind of is a rivalry, except it's more like they kill each other and are spaced everywhere.
States don't really have rivalries.
And, everyone thinks Aussies are English.

[Spiney]

And, everyone thinks Aussies are English.

You are so wrong. If you guys followed cricket you'd know of the large rivalry between Australia and England with the Ashes. :3

[John117]

Eh, where I live everyone thinks they're the same.

[Luvitus]

And, everyone thinks Aussies are English.

You are so wrong. If you guys followed cricket you'd know of the large rivalry between Australia and England with the Ashes. :3

Actually people tend to mistake Kiwis for The English

[The Dog Whisperer]

I know a person who once said to someone from New Zealand: "Oh, you're from New Zealand? You speak very good English"
So maybe not. lol

[Luvitus]

I know a person who once said to someone from New Zealand: "Oh, you're from New Zealand? You speak very good English"
So maybe not. lol

Mind...Blown

[Veck]

I think most people tend to mistake Kiwis for Australians.

[Luvitus]

I think most people tend to mistake Kiwis for Australians.

That happens quite a lot too

[Avron the S'wit]

Ahem!

In Australia there is a huge Melbourne/Sydney rivalry, is there something similar with the US East/West coasts?

Yes, but just for fun - it doesn't really mean anything unless you're in a gang or a rapper (which, c'mon, most of us aren't). It's sort of like, "Oohh, those lazy bums on the West" and "Oohh, those crazies on the East!" It's a different mentality here in the East than the West.

In Australia different states are constantly having a go at each other, is it the same in the US, obviously you have way more states, but is there one that cops the most flack from everyone else (Alaska or something??)?

Sometimes we tease each other - south vs. north, midlands vs. New England - but all in good jest. It's like picking on a little brother.
Edit: No, wait, I lied. There is an armpit of America, and its name is "New Jersey." I think that that state gets a lot of slack.

What do Americans think of us Aussies?

That you have delicious BBQs/barbies. Mmmmm. No, no, just kidding. I just asked my cousin (a typical, average American, unlike yours truly) and she said, "Down under?" So there you go.

Could someone explain the term 'Yank'? I know it used to refer to members of the Union back during the Civil War and I've read a bit about it, but what/how do Americans actually think/use it?

"Yank" is just a snazzy term for an American, but you're right: it was used most in the Civil War to describe the Union soldiers. I've heard lots of people from the UK use it. We ourselves don't use it...unless we're joking. As you can tell, we're a very serious people, eh?


And please, no bad American jokes. We have to lock every thread that even utters my nationality, so let's keep it civil for once. Thank you.

[Sonixboom]

Well... all the yankees like up norht above the mason dixon line.

and we dont think much about you aussies cept wondering why your upsidedown.

and the east coast west coast rivalry doesnt mean much unless your a rapper (which I am... so East coast all the way )

-Sonix

[Fiar]

The Aussies I've known were pretty hilarious, so you are cool in my books! However, the 14 hour difference made it hard to cater to you when I did Halo 3 skirmishes for a clan I was in...Which was very aggravating.

And I'm in New Hampshire, we tend to give a lot of flack to Massachusetts. for their riskay driving habits and demeanor towards some people.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Jokes abound about state stereotypes, barbs traded between Urban and Rural areas and the occasional poking fun at foreigner/tourist types (My state's motto is Vacation land so I'm familiar with tourists from the South during the winter and Canadians in the summer).

What do we think of Aussies? the average white bread American probably would say "You mean the Crocodile hunter people?"

@FireAcolyte: Do you call them M_ss Holes too?

[Fiar]

@FireAcolyte: Do you call them M_ss Holes too?

That I do! I thought my family was the only one, lol.

When you hold up traffic, and your close enough to scratch my paint job, yeah, you deserve a nickname.

[Chaos the N'wah]

That I do! I thought my family was the only one, lol.

When your hold up traffic, and your close enough to scratch my paint job, yeah, you deserve a nickname.

Here in Maine, we pretty much always use it. Seems like if you live in a city on the east coast, you have to come here to vacation and be annoying

[ZombieMonkeyNZ]

*Shakes head* Yanks.

[Dark Lord Cam]

No one has mentioned rivalries within states themselves? Here in California, we southerners do not look kindly on the Northerners and their liberal use of the fictional word "Hella" We're also stealing all of their water *cough*

[Vendetta]

No one has mentioned rivalries within states themselves? Here in California, we southerners do not look kindly on the Northerners and their liberal use of the fictional word "Hella" We're also stealing all of their water *cough*

Ahh yes.. Forgot about that rivalry
Cant really blame them.. Kern county has the most crime in the state

[MoonRose]

Could someone explain the term 'Yank'? I know it used to refer to members of the Union back during the Civil War and I've read a bit about it, but what/how do Americans actually think/use it?

I live in Texas (a southern state) but was originally born in Minnesota (a northern state) so a lot of the "born here" Texans like to call me a yankee or yank because im from the north. Of course its all in good fun So i guess that is another way that that term is used

[leroybrown]

Thanks for asking! Most people don't seem genuinely interested in my country. You're a breath of fresh air. Keep in mind if you ask these questions to ten different US citizens, you may get ten different answers.

In Australia there is a huge Melbourne/Sydney rivalry, is there something similar with the US East/West coasts?

It depends on how you look at it. I wouldn't use the word 'rivalry' as that suggests a combative nature. It's more like the two coasts have different things to offer. From there, some people say one coast is better than the other. It's really not a big deal though. The rapper thing started with the Biggie/Tupac rivalry. Rappers nowadays don't really care.

In Australia different states are constantly having a go at each other, is it the same in the US, obviously you have way more states, but is there one that cops the most flack from everyone else (Alaska or something??)?

Not really. Only when it comes to sports and even then it's more about the team rather than the location. Go Jags!

What do Americans think of us Aussies?

That's kinda like asking me what I think about the planet Jupiter. I don't mean that in a derogatory sense, it's just that I don't often think about it. If you think to yourself what's the top places to travel, it's typically Rome, Paris, Venice, etc. When I think of Australia, I think of a rugged version of England. Why? Because that's what TV tells me to think. I think of camping, cooking out, driving a land rover out into the desert, surfing, yadda. Also, kangaroos. I am hyper aware that these are illusions that may be false, so I don't make any determinations on them.

My travel interests are a bit odd in comparison to the standard American. I have been to europe twice though I'd rather go to Kabul than Paris, no contest.

Could someone explain the term 'Yank'? I know it used to refer to members of the Union back during the Civil War and I've read a bit about it, but what/how do Americans actually think/use it?

Ask a Brit, they spawned the language. I think it's derogatory, I'm not sure to be honest. I'd say only about 1 in 5 (maybe less) Americans are aware people refer to us as this. Nobody really cares.

Here in the south US, sometimes people from the north are referred to as 'yankees' but not 'yanks.' There's a Lynyrd Skynyrd song where the lyrics go, "I smile at the yankee slicker with a big 'ol southern grin." That's an example of a north/south rivalry. It's just an excuse to puff ones chest out, nobody really cares. There are small circles of people that fly the confederate flag and create a rivalry but most ignore them.

I've been up north plenty of times. I have family in NY, NJ and PA. If anything people just ask about the weather. I've never heard a derogatory comment about my home city or state from them.

From time to time we'll give each other a friendly joshing about accents but that's all. It's all in good fun and I think most enjoy the variety. Girls' accents can be attractive, puts a grin on my face kinda thing.

[Dark Lord Cam]

It comes from the song Yankee Doodle Dandy which was def making fun of Americans.

[Dark Spark]

Yankee Doodle went to town,
Riding on a pony.
Stuck a feather in his cap,
And called it macaroni.

In case you were wondering, 'macaroni' was 18th Century slang for 'my bling'.

"You see, General Washington, the word 'bling' is meant to imitate the sound effect a piece of jewelry makes when it catches the light in a movie. That is, of course, if you knew what a 'sound effect' was. Or a 'movie', for that matter... Let me guess: you're ordering your men to have me burned as a witch, no?"

I hate time travel.

[ch00_bakka]

Being from the "flyover states," I can say that I see no east-west rivalry. But there are some state rivalries. There are friendly ones, like Minnesota/Wisconsin, and bitter ones, like New York/Massachusets. All based on sports.

[Dark Spark]

And being a Californian, I had no idea the flyover states had actual people living in them. I thought it was all just grass and herds of bison.

There's a price to be paid for the haughtiness, for sure. Like close to 30% of one's annual income.