• Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
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    2 days ago

    Being smug over the meanings of words that aren’t ever actually used in a consistent way is even more American.

    Um actually, Strawberries are not a berry, it’s a Gameboy, not a Nintendo, and I lick toads. Can you go to the bathroom?

    The only thing similar that I have experienced in Europe is the protected food name law, e.g. Champagne and Parmesan, but that’s an EU cultural protectionism law that the US doesn’t actually follow.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_indications_and_traditional_specialities_in_the_European_Union

    • flora_explora@beehaw.org
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      2 days ago

      No worries, “being smug over the meanings of words that aren’t ever actually used in a consistent way” is done over here in Europe as well. People have the exact same conversations you list as examples. I would even go so far and say that this is true for the whole world and throughout time, a human condition. I would also think that it really isn’t about the words/language, but rather about having control over the conversation and power over others.

      • callouscomic@lemmy.zip
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        2 days ago

        No! How dare! My unique lived experience is unique to only me and my arbitrary group! You can’t be the same!

        What next? You gonna tell me the “wait 5 minutes” joke about weather basically applies everywhere?

        • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
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          1 day ago

          The wait 5 minutes joke never seems to hold up in my region. Usually if it changes in the middle of the day, it’s not changing back. Usually it changes at night though.

      • krawutzikaputzi@slrpnk.net
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        1 day ago

        I still get angry about teachers replying with " I don’t know if you can go to the toilet" Fucking power play for sure. I was already shy about asking to use the toilet.

        • flora_explora@beehaw.org
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          11 hours ago

          Yep, I really hate those moments, too. My father used to do this all the time just to get one up on me :/

      • pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 day ago

        If I had a nickel for every lemmy post and comment being hostile over another countries language/use of language, I’d be a rich fucker indeed

    • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      I don’t see much difference between the Parmesan case and Apple sueing against a vaguely similiar looking logo.