# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/81 "2009-07-07T15:28:00Z")
**Completely OFF TOPIC ALERT** What is the plural of Marx? \*Karl \*\*Marx’s \*_legacy was …_ \*Karl \*\*Marxes’?[/\*\*I] Words that end in X have always stymied me. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/82 "2009-07-07T15:38:47Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > I think I’m going to start spelling it “Ameriqa”, or if I’m particularly outraged, “AmeriQQQa”. Thanks for pointing that out, otherwise I would have assumed you were heavily invested in Nasdaq stocks whenever I saw “AmeriQQQa.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/83 "2009-07-07T15:51:31Z")
**Shirley Ujest** said: > [@](#): > > What is the plural of Marx? Karl Marx’s family is the Marxes, which would make it the Marx family. ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@Baby\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/84 "2009-07-07T16:00:21Z")
\*\* Nzinga, Seated\*\*, I see what you’re saying and it’s nice to get _some_ sort of explanation for the alternate (and aesthetically displeasing) spelling. But I dunno…I guess it raises awareness, but to what aim? Seems like a whole lot of piss is missing the urinal to make a point. ---
**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, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/85 "2009-07-07T16:02:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > Lord, me too. How convenient that it happened in our lifetime! Kind of reminds me of people who think technology’s gone “too far,” but only want to scale it back to, hmm, when did they get their last laptop again? Feminism the equality movement may or may not be done, but feminism the woman-only advocacy group will never be finished. Getting back to the OP, I’ve changed my mind. I think that we should encourage the idiots to identify themselves, as long as there’s no danger of their changing the accepted spelling. And then mock them mercilessly. ---
**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, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/86 "2009-07-07T16:49:24Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > No. I’m not saying that we have to say ‘womankind’. > > 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 wince just a touch when I hear “one step for mankind” or whatever now. I can’t explain it. I am not offended by it. But I have been ‘nudged’ by very zealous feminists that have pushed hard and tirelessly to get people to be inclusive of women. > > I don’t care to call mankind ‘womanandmankind’ or whatever. But I can see what they were trying to do when they waged a war on words like ‘mankind’. Isn’t it **womynkind**? Just another example of the Bromerican agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/87 "2009-07-07T17:13:47Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Isn’t it **womynkind**? > > Just another example of the Bromerican agenda. Bromerica, fuck yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/88 "2009-07-07T19:16:16Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Words that end in X have always stymied me. Yeah, that’s what your exes all say. ---
**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, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/89 "2009-07-07T20:15:07Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Bromerica, fuck yeah! Can I get a BOOYA?! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/90 "2009-07-07T20:41:40Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > United States? More like JEWnited States! Amiright? Or the JEWnited tate ✡f Ameriקקקa! /member of the tribe ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/91 "2009-07-07T21:06:09Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Getting back to the OP, I’ve changed my mind. I think that we should encourage the idiots to identify themselves, as long as there’s no danger of their changing the accepted spelling. And then mock them mercilessly. Yeah, then the rest of us can decide who is open minded and has a point to make, and who is so infatuated with the status quo, “my country right or wrong, love it or leave it”. Just so you know, drawing people out and getting them to identify themselves is the first part of any persuasion campaign. I think Sun Tzu called it “Draw the Tiger out of the Lair” 🙂 ---
**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, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/92 "2009-07-07T21:29:56Z")
You sure it wasn’t “Seize the peacock’s eggs, so that the heart and mind may be instructed.”? ---
**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, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/93 "2009-07-07T21:38:31Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > Yeah, then the rest of us can decide who is open minded and has a point to make, and who is so infatuated with the status quo, “my country right or wrong, love it or leave it”. Unwarranted accusations of patriotism are the first refuge of the douchebag. Oh, and welcome back. ---
**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, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/94 "2009-07-07T22:28:14Z")
As I said earlier, I hadn’t noticed any resurgence of that spelling in many a moon. Back when I could say “groovy” without a hint of irony, or could say “wow!” without it being an expression of dismay. But even then, there were things I wouldn’t do, like off-handedly refer to cops as “pigs”. Or spell “America” with a “k”. Not that I disagreed with the sentiment implied, it just runs against my grain as a flag-waving, true-blue American radical. And “AmeriKKKa” is _right out_! So I’m a bit surprised to hear the subject come up, it seems so anachronistic. You tell me people are doing it, well, OK, and so what? Why should anybody care? Are they somehow instructive, does their behavior have any larger implications? Or is it really no more significant that what the crazy guy mutters to himself? Not the perfectly sane fellow spending his time talking into an itty-bitty phone, the crazy guy. What a long, strange trip its been. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/95 "2009-07-07T22:45:32Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Unwarranted accusations of patriotism are the first refuge of the douchebag. > > Oh, and welcome back. Thanks for noticing I was gone 🙂 But seriously, have you read the thread? Do you think I misstated the feelings of those who say they judge the intent and value of the thought processes of those who use a certain limited rhetorical advice, and in fact the worthiness of the author him or herself? I admit I am being a little hyperbolic in the section you quoted, but do you really think that people here have not questioned the patriotism of people who would use a “K” in a word, or even consider their point simply because of the “K”? If you do agree with that, how does that not equate to “I am more patriotic then that snot nosed author, I don’t give him or her the pleasure of reading the piece”? It is not like I am making this observation at the beginning of a thread you know… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/96 "2009-07-07T23:00:32Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So I’m a bit surprised to hear the subject come up, it seems so anachronistic. You tell me people are doing it, well, OK, and so what? I’ll venture a guess that the ratio of people using ‘Amerika’ and ‘wimminz studies’ in a disparaging way versus those using them in a genuine political fashion is at least 10 to 1 on these boards. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/97 "2009-07-07T23:38:50Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > I admit I am being a little hyperbolic in the section you quoted, but do you really think that people here have not questioned the patriotism of people who would use a “K” in a word, or even consider their point simply because of the “K”? If you do agree with that, how does that not equate to “I am more patriotic then that snot nosed author, I don’t give him or her the pleasure of reading the piece”? For myself, I think patriotism is a mild mark against someone’s character. Loyalty to a state is not something I value: rather, loyalty toward folks that deserve loyalty is admirable. Therefore disloyalty to a state is also not valuable. Judge the individual, not the conglomerate. And I still think “Amerika” is dumb. It makes no point, it’s distracting, but it poses as making a bold defiant statement against the country. Sorry, it doesn’t: it’s just dumb. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/98 "2009-07-08T01:19:17Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > Thanks for noticing I was gone 🙂 > I admit I am being a little hyperbolic in the section you quoted, but do you really think that people here have not questioned the patriotism of people who would use a “K” in a word, or even consider their point simply because of the “K”? If you do agree with that, how does that not equate to “I am more patriotic then that snot nosed author, I don’t give him or her the pleasure of reading the piece”? I don’t question the patriotism, I question the thought process. It strikes me as shorthand for that know-it-all, but totally clueless attitude I run into far more often than I would like. Too often it assumes the point has been made when actually there is not point. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/99 "2009-07-09T00:08:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > 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. Errmmm… I’ve used USers in posts to this board to mean people from the US (in exactly the same way I’ve used “NZers” on occasion to reference my compatriots)… and in my head it’s always been “yew-ess-ers”, and until this very moment I didn’t realise that a) it could be seen as an insult, or b) pronounced differently (and rhyme with “losers”). I’m happy to stop doing it… I’ve used the term since “Americans” has always felt a bit odd to me unless I’m referring to (collectively) the people who dwell in the Americas (although this may well be the correct usage for referring to the people of the United States)… and I’m worried that “Yanks” might be insulting to those from the south. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139/100 "2009-07-09T00:41:55Z")
I haven’t laughed at a thread title in a long time. Thanks for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-america-amerika-makes-you-look-like-a-jakkass/502139.md?page=6)