# POLLitical spellings **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746 "2007-05-11T20:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/21 "2007-05-12T01:42:08Z")
I’m going to make a WAG and say the OP is referring to the “AMerican in the PM” bumper stickers that pop up with alarming regularity (at least around here). I think it’s a pathetic attempt to be clever and patriotic that doesn’t make a whit of sense. You’re only American for half the day? What, precisely, happens to you at midnight? Those stickers have always irritated me. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/22 "2007-05-12T01:49:29Z")
I \*believe \* “AMerica” is the subset of the population that spends too much time listening to talk shows on AM radio. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/23 "2007-05-12T15:29:34Z")
I have a really bad habit of holding the SHift key for 2 letters, I do it all the time. I don’t think I’ve typed AMerica on this board, though. If you see me do it, be sure and call me out on it. As for the OP, I do agree about the alternate spellings, some folks want to drive their point home so bad. I remember one poster who would capitalize Democrat but not republican, capitalize Clinton but not bush. Right, by not following the rules of capitalization you are showing contempt. Got it. Or the guy who held such contempt for Christians he just couldn’t bring himself to type the word, using Xtian instead. Over and over and over. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/24 "2007-05-12T16:01:42Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] I \*believe \* “AMerica” is the subset of the population that spends too much time listening to talk shows on AM radio. [/QUOTE] That’s very clever. I sure know a handful that would qualify ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/25 "2007-05-12T16:04:01Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] ask Jesse [/QUOTE] Didn’t he call it “Homietown”? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/26 "2007-05-12T16:11:03Z")
I wonder if it could be a reference to Air America, which is (in my market) on AM radio. Or perhaps AM talk radio and its listeners in general. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/27 "2007-05-12T16:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] I have a really bad habit of holding the SHift key for 2 letters, I do it all the time. I don’t think I’ve typed AMerica on this board, though. If you see me do it, be sure and call me out on it. [/QUOTE] I do that all the time too. [QUOTE=Duke of Rat] Or the guy who held such contempt for Christians he just couldn’t bring himself to type the word, using Xtian instead. Over and over and over. [/QUOTE] Are you sure that was contempt? I thought ‘Xtian’ was a neutral abbreviation often used by Christians themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/28 "2007-05-12T16:52:11Z")
Good post, **pizzabrat**. These witless puns drive me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/29 "2007-05-12T17:51:15Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] Are you sure that was contempt? I thought ‘Xtian’ was a neutral abbreviation often used by Christians themselves. [/QUOTE] The Xtian Science Monitor? Onward Xtian Soldiers? Church of X? The context this guy was using it in was definitely contempt, I don’t remember seeing it used like that normally, but I’m not a big reader of all things religious. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/30 "2007-05-12T18:01:29Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Didn’t he call it “Homietown”? [/QUOTE] On the chance that you aren’t joshing, Jesse Jackson called NYC “Hymietown,” referring to the Jews there. It was in a private conversation, not on-mike. I’ve never seen AMerica, but I remember that “Morning in America” was an optimistic catch-phrase for Ronald Reagan. This year, every Publican claims to be a Reagan Republican. Lyndon Johnson, in speeches, addressed us as, “mah fellow 'Murracans.” You still see joking references to that. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/31 "2007-05-12T18:03:19Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] I \*believe \* “AMerica” is the subset of the population that spends too much time listening to talk shows on AM radio. [/QUOTE] That would be my guess. I listen to talk radio all day at work…namely Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, and Sean Hannity. Should I sit here quietly while you guys get the pitchforks and torches, or will you give me a headstart on fleeing? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/32 "2007-05-12T18:04:10Z")
The use of “Xtian” for “Christian” isn’t reverent, but neither is it disrespectful. It may reflect a rather casual view, but not a contemptuous view, unless that view is otherwise made clear by the writers attitude. About all that can be inferred is that the writer is not a doctrinaire Xtian. A bit like “God”, whom some persons of devout persuasion feel compelled to spell as “G\*d”, as thouigh to placate a God not only a jealous god but a rather petty one at that. Nothing wrong with it as a gesture of respect, but it smacks more of groveling subservience than respectful and loving worship. I fully understand that such obeisance to God as Tyrant forms the core of some persons religious experience, and find that bewildering. But it calls more for a shrug than an argument, whatever floats your ark. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/33 "2007-05-12T18:06:58Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] The Xtian Science Monitor? Onward Xtian Soldiers? Church of X? The context this guy was using it in was definitely contempt, I don’t remember seeing it used like that normally, but I’m not a big reader of all things religious. [/QUOTE] Also Malcolm X, The X-Men, The X-Files and X-rays. what? Oh, sorry. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/34 "2007-05-12T20:22:43Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] Also Malcolm X, The X-Men, The X-Files and X-rays. [/QUOTE] Xmas. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/35 "2007-05-13T22:16:26Z")
I remember one such thread (I can’t seem to find it searching, but somebody else probably will) where a pretty big argument broke out about whether it was spelled “Xian” or “Xtian,” the argument being that the X, being short for “Christ,” already included the t, and thus was unnecessary in the shortening of Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/36 "2007-05-13T22:22:49Z")
[QUOTE=JimSox5] I remember one such thread (I can’t seem to find it searching, but somebody else probably will) where a pretty big argument broke out about whether it was spelled “Xian” or “Xtian,” the argument being that the X, being short for “Christ,” already included the t, and thus was unnecessary in the shortening of Christian. [/QUOTE] You know why this happened, because here at the Dope people will argue over _anything!_ One of the reasons I love this place. Like when th math nerds argue whether 1+1 can equal 2 with large values of 1. I don’t understand half of what they’re saying but it’s entertaining all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/37 "2007-05-13T22:37:54Z")
> [@](#): > > **Marley** : These witless puns drive me nuts. We halfwits are disturbed by them only 50 percent of the time. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/38 "2007-05-13T22:47:18Z")
I say, thank heaven for witless puns on the SDMB. Without the SDMB, and this forum in particular, and the witless puns, all I know is, we’d all be Pitless ones. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/39 "2007-05-14T17:03:05Z")
[QUOTE=JimSox5] I remember one such thread (I can’t seem to find it searching, but somebody else probably will) where a pretty big argument broke out about whether it was spelled “Xian” or “Xtian,” the argument being that the X, being short for “Christ,” already included the t, and thus was unnecessary in the shortening of Christian. [/QUOTE] The other day, I was briefly confused by somebody’s reference to “Wuxian” movies. I read it as an English word, thinking "What the heck is “Wucks-ian?” Then I saw they were talking about Chinese hand-to-hand combat films, and probably “Wu-zhan” means something in that context. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746/40 "2007-05-14T17:12:54Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] This year, every Publican claims to be a Reagan Republican. [/QUOTE] Reagan owned a pub? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pollitical-spellings/403746.md?page=3)