Okay, I just got around to watching Billy Elliot tonight, and I have a hard time understanding why an English-speaking American would need subtitles. There’s very little in the way of arcane idiom, and the Northern English accents seem pretty clear to me. Some of the vowels drift a little bit from what you might expect to hear in, say, Maine, but it’s so slight.
Granted, the line “I’ll show you my fanny if you want” might not be as effecting as intended. 
Fuck Billy Elliot. Try watching Trainspotting without the English subtitles and then report back.
For the uninitiated, the U.S. government does not issue any type of “card” per se that says you are an American citizen. However, the U.S. government does issue Green Cards to Aliens. So, the expression “card-carrying American” as used by mehitabel is oxymoronic at best, or a misrepresentation at worst.
Oh, that’s nothing. I was watching a program on the Discovery channel about voodoo religions last year. They had a snake handler on there speaking, and they subtitled him. Where was he from? Lousiana Some stations are more subtitle happy than others.
Most reasonable people would read this as a joke. “Card-carrying American” is obviously play on labels such as “card-carrying Communist” and “card-carrying pro-choicer”.
… but then again, I refer to reasonable persons; you appear to have a stick up your arse over this issue. Nonetheless, mehitabel was clearly making a minor joke–a recurring one on the SDMB, at that.
The correct metaphor for “card-carrying” would be a “card-carrying Democrat” or a “card-carrying Asshole”, for example, to describe individuals such as yourself. Mehitabel is mixing his metaphors when he uses “card-carrying” with “American”. To introduce yourself by saying “I’m a card-carrying American” to other Americans is tacky and would draw quizzical looks as it makes no sense, is an obvious mixed-metaphor, is not humorous, implies ignorance and suggests that you probably meant that you are a card-carrying “Alien” and not American.
Regardless, what do you know and what do you care? By your usage of the term “arse” you are obviously not an American and therefore do not understand the subtle differences. So do us a favor and bugger off.
You’re an idiot.
First you fly off the handle over a harmless joke, and now you claim to be the Metaphor Police. In both matters, you should develop some expertise before opening your pie hole and exposing your yawning pit of ignorance. Don’t give me this “correct metaphor” bullshit (as if such a thing exists); the Merriam-Webster even cites the example of “card-carrying Communist”, which I employed.
Coupled with your failure to grasp even minor instances of humour, you also display ignorance of what a mixed metaphor is. I’ll leave it to you to look it up, but here’s a hint: coupling “card-carrying” with the NOUN (in this case) “American” does not constitute anything close.
For further illustrations of how humorous usages of “card-carrying [noun]” are COMMONLY used on the SDMB, and why you’re an idiot: please refer here at leisure.
… so to answer your questions:
What do I know?
More than you, apparently.
What do you care?
This is the SDMB, the bastion of unsolicited opinions. Welcome.
I work in a hotel, and one day last yeat a woman called and ask to speak with Mr/Mrs Shore. Well I couldn’t find any guest named Shore, and after mush looking and fumbling I asked her how she spelled the name, she said "S-H-A-W Shor
Spelling and grammer subject to change without notice.
I’m an American and it made perfect sense to me.
And, I frequently use the term “arse”.
And you really need to chill.
Pot. Kettle.
I don’t know where you get this - I’ve heard that very expression before used by the native-born with nary a quizzical look from anyone, or any misunderstanding about immigration, aliens, greencards, or anything else.
This, from someone posting from Korea?
Chill, dude. What, did someone wee-wee on your cornflakes or something?
Come to think of it, I wouldn’t consider “bugger off” a particularly American expression either 
I reckon kmg365 is subtly revealing his identity: KiM JonG Il (our Beloved Leader makes the sun rise 365 days a year). The Seoul part is just a smokescreen.
I challenge you to defy me, since I am a card-carrying bullshitter.
So we’re not talking about subtitles anymore?
Not yet … maybe after the next election.
Subtitles are great! I prefer subtitles to dubbing when I watch foreign (to me) language films.
Ooooh! I love it when the cockroaches come out to play at night!!! Bring it on baby!!
Nope. You are an idiot. And quit your trolling, pull your head out of your ass and say something intelligent for once.
And this from someone posting from “NW Indiana”? (Read: filthy and smelly Gary, IN.) And exactly what is your point about Korea? Do you know anything about Korea? Have you ever been here? FYI, there are a quite a few Americans here, and I happen to be one of them.
That’s b/c you’re probably from Gary where the high levels of lead and mercury in the air go straight to the head thereby making it impossible to think or talk straight.
God you are immature. I thought the Irish were more intelligent than that. Oh, sorry – all the smart ones left during the potato famine. And btw, I’m card-carrying U.S. Army, so stuff it. I’m not even amused.
Neither would I. Thank you so much for pointing that out.
I am a card-carrying American.
I am required by law to carry the Japanese Ministry of Justice Certificate of Alien Registration identification card on my person at all times, and to produce it upon demand, to any cop on the beat, or if I want to get a membership card at a video rental shop or gym, or open a bank account or exchange currency, or if I want to pick up a package from home at the post office, or otherwise just basically exist as a foreign resident here in Japan. I’m not complaining, just stating the facts.
However, strange as it may seem, I do not have to show or declare this card when I make statements about ordinary daily experiences, such as what I like to eat, or what type of music I prefer, or which brand of toilet paper I purchase, or what I see or don’t see on TV or in movie theaters.
If I were in the United States, I would never say, “I’m a card-carrying American.”, because, for one thing, it sounds too much like “I’m a card-carrying member of the N.R.A.”, and, for another thing, because it just sounds stupid.
kmg365 and Jervoise, your posts are in violation of the rules of GQ.
If, henceforth, you continue this behaviour in any thread in GQ, you shall be banned from the SDMB.
Consider yourselves warned.
Note to others: Since this thread is not really addressing the OP anymore, I’m closing it. Please continue your discussions in the appropriate forum(s).
-xash
General Questions Moderator