# Spelling America "Amerika" makes you look like a jakkass. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 6, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139 "2009-07-06T23:32:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/21 "2009-07-07T01:12:29Z")
Can’t recall seeing the “k” or the “kkk” spelling for _really_ a long time. Is the OP inundated with such? Has he an opinion on tie-dye shirts and bell-bottoms? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/22 "2009-07-07T01:12:54Z")
> [@PastAllReason](#): > > As opposed to, oh say, using the word humanity? Perfectly good word, no exaggerated awkwardness. Yes ‘humanity’ means all humans but it’s most often used to define the ‘state’ of being human not necessarily that which encompasses all humans. Minus the feminist vitriol, mankind is still the best word for what it is you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/23 "2009-07-07T01:16:40Z")
Sure, feminism targeted perfectly good words for political ends, with poor understanding and little linguistic good faith. That is nothing commendable, hence my mockery of the idea of Amerikkka as “raising awareness.” Fortunately the KKKommunists etc. don’t seem to have made the word “America” a dirty word, yet. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/24 "2009-07-07T01:18:34Z")
Ah, well if it’s a reference to the KKK, I’m afraid to rain on everyone’s parade but the US is one of the least racist countries in the world. Other countries just happen to avoid the issue by having a fairly homogeneous people. That’s not to say that we don’t have our fair share of racists, but the number of racists is higher in other countries–they’ve just already been satisfied by having everyone they hate outside their border. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/25 "2009-07-07T01:20:10Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/26 "2009-07-07T01:22:30Z")
I hate references to the “men and women” in our armed forces, for example. It’s become so overused that it sounds now like one word: mennenwomen. What’s wrong with just “people”? The people in our armed forces. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/27 "2009-07-07T01:23:48Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Can’t recall seeing the “k” or the “kkk” spelling for _really_ a long time. Is the OP inundated with such? Has he an opinion on tie-dye shirts and bell-bottoms? Resurfaced a couple of times recently, along with “Kanada,” \*grâce à notre nouvel ami \* **SmashTheState**. You may have missed it if you were also out smashing states, raging against machines, or fighting for your right to party. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/28 "2009-07-07T01:24:12Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Yes ‘humanity’ means all humans but it’s most often used to define the ‘state’ of being human not necessarily that which encompasses all humans. > > Minus the feminist vitriol, mankind is still the best word for what it is you’re talking about. Humankind. I wish I had the time and energy to take on the poster above who said that feminism had pretty much achieved all its goals. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/29 "2009-07-07T01:25:06Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > ché. > And what does it even mean? It is supposed to be some sort of Sovietifikation of the alphabet? A reference to Carl Marcs? “Amerika” is the German spelling. People who use it are referring to Germany, specifically Nazi Germany. It’s their shorthand way of saying that America is like Nazi Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/30 "2009-07-07T01:30:13Z")
> [@PastAllReason](#): > > As opposed to, oh say, using the word humanity? Perfectly good word, no exaggerated awkwardness. Hu_ **person** _ity, please. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/31 "2009-07-07T01:31:25Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > …and I agree with **Tomndebb** in his post that I linked. Theres no reason to use a “K” in America except to deliberately troll. Sure, you might feel that way for real…but outside of the pit, theres no reason to do it unless you want to spark a reaction from others here. Thats normal for a message board but if you’re actually seeking a debate or varied opinions its kind of stupid to outright insult a chunk of the folks you’re talking to. Nonsense. He can call it whatever he likes- and if you’re _insulted_ by the usage, you’ve got disturbingly thin skin. Is it silly? Probably. Is it insulting? Of course not. It doesn’t even _mean_ anything. Remember **Aldebaraan**? (sp?) Actually, looking at your join date, I’m assuming you don’t. Anyway, he was a Middle Eastern poster whose stock-in-trade was criticizing America and Americans, mostly in GD and the Pit, IIRC. He always referred to Americans as “US-ers”. He did it for years and years, and wasn’t banned for it, even though people were always asking what it was about. He did get banned in the end, but for something else. > [@](#): > > “Amerika” is the German spelling. People who use it are referring to Germany, specifically Nazi Germany. It’s their shorthand way of saying that America is like Nazi Germany. I understand why communists/anarchists/other assorted weirdo leftists use it that way - but why do right-wingers? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/32 "2009-07-07T01:31:31Z")
> [@ashman165](#): > > Wouldn’t that be Karl Marks? What? I can’t switch cs and ks? > [@Manduck](#): > > “Amerika” is the German spelling. People who use it are referring to Germany, specifically Nazi Germany. It’s their shorthand way of saying that America is like Nazi Germany. Only if you are left-wing. If you are right-wing it’s like saying we are like Soviet Russia (where country spells YOU). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/33 "2009-07-07T01:37:18Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Which is obviously that the the US is a communist state. It’s spelled “Kommunist”, Komrade ! Kome the Revolution, we will krush the Kaptialist killers and their kowardly kollaborationist kattle once and for all ! A klassless society will be kreated by the koming Kommunist koup ! ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/34 "2009-07-07T01:37:21Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What? I can’t switch cs and ks? I think ashman was switching xs for ks, with his tongue in cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/35 "2009-07-07T01:41:05Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Let me try again. I am saying that I used to think it was _useless_ to write ‘Amerika’. Now, I can see what they are trying to do. I’d suggest that there are better ways to make one’s point. This misspelling of “Amerika,” and for that matter, “Kanada” and “Kanadian,” as a newly-joined Canadian poster likes to do, just reminds me of the kids who are against something, and getting a dig in any way they can. It’s not much different, in my mind, from calling someone a derogatory name, based on their own name: you might insult somebody named “Steve” by calling him “Skeeve,” for example. But the problem is that IMHO, the merits of your message\* are lost in calling the entity Amerika, Kanada, or Skeeve. America may be a fascist dictatorship for reasons X, Y, and Z; Canada may officially sanction discrimination for reasons A, B, and C; and Steve may be just plain skeevy. But I’m more inclined to give your position and arguments credibility if you use the correct names and back up your assertions with reason, rather than resorting to the schoolyard tactic of name-calling. To me, such a tactic removes a measure of credibility from your argument, no matter how reasoned it is. - Not necessarily _your_ message, **Nzinga** ; I’m using the generic “you” here. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/36 "2009-07-07T01:44:05Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > What? I can’t switch cs and ks? Not when the gentlemen in question’s name is spelt _Marx_. > [@](#): > > Only if you are left-wing. If you are right-wing it’s like saying we are like Soviet Russia (where country spells YOU). I’ve always thought _Amerika_ sounds like the name of a German Zeppelin in the 1920s. Or a destination on a 1930s Deutsche Lufthansa advertising poster. But I suppose it could also be connected to National Socialism, too… If you think about it. Which most people don’t. They just parrot the “different spelling” because that’s what “People who don’t like what America has become” do, as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/37 "2009-07-07T01:48:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Nonsense. He can call it whatever he likes- and if you’re _insulted_ by the usage, you’ve got disturbingly thin skin. No, I don’t, really. Especially here. > [@](#): > > Is it silly? Probably. Yes, it is. > [@](#): > > Is it insulting? Of course not. It doesn’t even _mean_ anything. That would depend on the person wouldn’t it? Some people aren’t insulted by things like “Nigger, Jew, Fat-Ass” etc. But to be honest, its not that insulting to me, (“Amerika”) but its mildly annoying. I mean annoying in the way of This-guy-is-really-not-to-be taken-seriously kinda way. > [@](#): > > Remember **Aldebaraan**? (sp?) I don’t remember that. Sorry. > [@](#): > > Actually, looking at your join date, I’m assuming you don’t. Anyway, he was a Middle Eastern poster whose stock-in-trade was criticizing America and Americans, mostly in GD and the Pit, IIRC. He always referred to Americans as “US-ers”. Are we talknig about the same person? The OP in the thread I linked is middle eastern? Hey, he could be, I’m just asking. > [@](#): > > He did it for years and years, and wasn’t banned for it, even though people were always asking what it was about. No one should be banned for spelling America with a K. Its still dumb, though. > [@](#): > > He did get banned in the end, but for something else. ? > [@](#): > > I understand why communists/anarchists/other assorted weirdo leftists use it that way - but why do right-wingers? There may be a lot of reasons, but until I’m convinced otherwise, I’ll go with “because they are dicks”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/38 "2009-07-07T01:49:14Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > This misspelling of “Amerika,” and for that matter, “Kanada” and “Kanadian,” as a newly-joined Canadian poster likes to do, just reminds me of the kids who are against something, and getting a dig in any way they can. It’s not much different, in my mind, from calling someone a derogatory name, based on their own name: you might insult somebody named “Steve” by calling him “Skeeve,” for example. > > But the problem is that IMHO, the merits of your message\* are lost in calling the entity Amerika, Kanada, or Skeeve. America may be a fascist dictatorship for reasons X, Y, and Z; Canada may officially sanction discrimination for reasons A, B, and C; and Steve may be just plain skeevy. But I’m more inclined to give your position and arguments credibility if you use the correct names and back up your assertions with reason, rather than resorting to the schoolyard tactic of name-calling. To me, such a tactic removes a measure of credibility from your argument, no matter how reasoned it is. Shut up, **Skoons**! > [@](#): > > That would depend on the person wouldn’t it? Some people aren’t insulted by things like “Nigger, Jew, Fat-Ass” etc. But to be honest, its not that insulting to me, (“Amerika”) but its mildly annoying. I mean annoying in the way of This-guy-is-really-not-to-be taken-seriously kinda way. If you really needed a goofy spelling to tell you that **SmashTheState** is a bit off his head… ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/39 "2009-07-07T01:55:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Shut up, **Skoons**! 😃 No offense taken. Hey, you made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/40 "2009-07-07T01:55:54Z")
Of course I didn’t. That doesn’t make me thin skinned. _It just makes me a person that finds that thinks spelling America with a K is silly_. **StS** didn’t need any extra help in looking like a person a few cans short of a sixpack. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139.md?page=3)