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I hail from a state 3 times the size of Germany, 268,000 times the size of several European countries, we have counties larger than some other states here in the US, and it takes 12 hours to get from one side to the other with NO traffic. My point is simply that to say that to simply say I am from the United States is very nonspecific.
That said, it is likely cultural. Originally the United States of America was thought to be exactly that in a definitional sense. States are synonymous with nations or countries in a lot of contexts. Originally the idea was that it would be States (similar to nation states) that are in America and who are United, or rather United States in America. This thinking was sometimes at odds in the beginning, but after a little bit of bloodshed it was worked out. This is shown through language, generally in addresses (like State of the Union (not state of the nation)) the USA was referred to as THESE United States whereas after it was referred to as THE United States. It's a small difference, but indicative of a BIG change.
Even most military units were from specific states rather than for a specific purpose until WWII when they created a specialty unit looking men with a special kind of crazy. The kind where they are willing to jump out of a perfectly good airplane behind enemy lines. The first of these units was the 82nd Airborne, who carries the moniker of All American (as commemorated by the AA on their patch) because they had to draw from all of the country to get trained infantry willing to try the new tactic. This, of course is not to forget that the 101st Airborne was commissioned soon after.
Because of this many people in the USA identify first by their state, then by their country.
The US is HUGE! Most other countries don't even compare in size. Although someone in the south can relate as an American to someone in the north, lifestyles, slang, state culture, religion, manners, music, law, weather, food, politics, attitude all can be very different across the US. This is why it's ridiculous when people from outside the country think that the US is homogenous or that we don't have any type of culture. Visiting Florida is not the same as visiting California or Wisconsin. You will most certainly find many differences. Add to this...most Americans have never been to all 50 states to even see or experience these differences in person themselves. So if you ask me where I live, it's state first, then country, because if I were to say US first, most likely the next question anyway would be, what state are you from.
How would you respond to a foreigner, who probably doesn't know American states?
@Guardian45 If I'm say traveling abroad, and someone asked me where I'm from, I'd say the US and then further say which state. If said person asking didn't know the states, I'd just say I'm from the south or from the southern US.
Even within the United States, this can be a thing… I’ve been to and through many different states across the country. I've lived in California, Florida, and grew up in the Midwest… I’m back living in my home state now, because life happens, and honestly (again) I feel out of place here. Always have…
Depending on who you talk to, people will say, “ahh the people on the west coast are so snobby” or “southern people are rednecks” or whatever and honestly in my experience, it couldn’t be further from the truth. I think people HERE are the snobs lol. It’s like a projection. I’ve had some of the absolute best times of my life out west, and in the south, in Florida, and have met some of the best people. People that I miss every single day.
The Midwest feels dull in comparison, not only in what kinds of things you can do, but culturally… it’s not as bad as a place like West Virginia or something, where there’s very little and it feels like you went literal decades back in time, just passing through, but California and Florida alone, are relatively just way more diverse and “happening” places. People are in a much better mood… it’s just a better, higher vibe. Everything feels much more current and embracing of the times.
A lot of people don’t ever leave the comfort of their own lives… their hometowns, states, whatever… and going away vacations don’t count, they are extremely temporary… nothing in their lives change fundamentally, there’s no upheaval, so when people say that people are stuck in a bubble, it’s so true... I can physically see it in people. They lack perspective. They don’t realize how small their world is, yet it’s like they think they’re so big and important…
I can’t wait to get out of here… (again) 😂
Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't. But that's not why the app asks what state you live in. The laws of one state might allow for the company you're dealing with to do certain things or could restrict the activity so companies always want to know which state you live in for that reason. Or the company might not want to ship stuff to a state that's 1,000s of miles away from their head quarters. Otherwise there's no point to asking.
And consider that the U. S. is #3 on the list of countries with the most cities (whether you look at urban areas with over 5 million people, 2 million, 1 million or 500k). And it's the 4th largest by land area BUT the has the most developed road system so which state you live in is probably very significant in ways that might not matter if you lived in a country much lower on the list.
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Great question. Yes, I can say I tend to relate more to my state than America overall. The interesting thing I can say we have in this country is differentness even in our states. Although we are a 'union', each state is practically a little nation of their own, even if we speak the same language, use the same money, and have similarities, there are still things about each state that are different. Road rules, dialect, local cuisine, terminology, state laws, etc. are all different across the states, and there's a reason we have rival states.
When I went to Cleveland a few years ago, the experience was very different from where I live here in the Greater Washington D. C. region. And so was Pittsburgh (which I love more than Philly). So I would say as Americans we do relate more to our own states than to the nation as a whole.
Most people in the USA will tell you they are American. If you ask them where they are from, they will typically name a region or a state.
That's different from other places on the globe. For example, people in Eurooe won't generally tell you they are European, rather they'll say something like, "I'm Germsn, from Munich in Bavaria."
Each state in the USA is like it's own country, with it's own culture and laws, as part of a collection of states that make up the country.
Part of the reason you see or get that reactions from Americans is simple. The schools teach anti-America and many do not feel like the Federal Government has citizens interest at heart.-We identify more with our State because it is a smaller world and the experience within each State are mostly uniformly felt…. Make sense ⁉️
Most relate to their country far more. A possible exception might be Texans who tend to be very proud of being Texans.
People often relate to their region, such as Northwest, Midwest, South, etc. Sometimes they relate to their city - I heart NY for example.
If people say their state, it's probably to be more specific, not because they relate to it more. It might also be that they are not thinking internationally.
I got this and it's not just the USA. Everywhere in the world they do this from top to bottom just because humans can't live without it simply. If it's not continent vs continent then it's country vs country all the way to then states or cities and finally neighbour vs neighbour or one family member vs another. It's human stupid nature but I don't mind it it's just that I want the correct one winning that makes sense and is good for all of us.
It depends.
The USA is a very big place, its not very useful to simply say country. Because there is an enormous amount of geographic, economic, environmental, cultural, and political variability.
America is twice the size of Europe and is even more diverse than Europe Geographically and environmentally, just less so culturally and politically.
I don't relate to either. This is no longer the Republic I took an oath (Under God) to have allegiance. The "Under God" clause gives me an out. This is not a Godly nation nor State that I live in and I will not serve this nation. If there is a world war I will refuse to fight for the United States and might even become a spy for the other side.
If there is a civil war I will refuse to fight for either side.
I live in a state that is a hotbed for socialism. I never could relate to this miserable place and wish I could leave. I relate more to the ideals of the USA or at least the USA we had a couple of years ago.
It’s definitely more state. If people say they are from the US the next question is always state anyway.
We know we are in the United States of America. Typically if we answer with that, people then ask what state. If someone were to answer India, I don't have a clue the names of the providances or states or territories. It wouldn't do me any good
I prefer it when they refer to their state rather than the USA. It gives you more incite as to why they hold different views
I relate more to my city in all honesty. I hate PA and how racially resentful it is. I’m from Philly and love our culture
I THINK YES, BECAUSE NO ONE IN A STATE LOOK AT THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE AND WE SEE AS AN EXAMPLE COLIFORNIA ALWAYS BE DEMOCRATES ANT THE PEOPLE NEVER VOTE TO REPUBLICANS AND IN SOME STATES VIS VERSA.
I relate to the people from my region. If you're not from the Midwest you just don't get it. And I can't really explain it to you. You just kind of have to be born and bred here. People from the coasts just make me laugh.
America is huge and the difference between California and New York is vast in both attitude, accent and mannerisms. So yes when we talk about where we are from it's more about the state.
Yes, dude I'm from a State. I enjoy rights granted by the federal government and a powerful military, but beyond that the Feds don't mean much of anything.
I'm a Floridian first. All politics is local in the USA.
You have to realize every single state in the USA are independent sovereign states equivalent to an India or Canada, that have chosen to bind ourselves together with a contract called the Constitution. The Federal government that exists in DC is a territory not a state, that is a subject of the states.
In general Americans are pretty friendly with each other regardless of what state we are from. That said certain regions of states get along with one another a lot better better than others. As an example, most people in the south get along well and are very neighborly and polite among each other. New Yorkers love to retire in Florida though for the weather, and there is an obvious cultural difference. When they come down south and start rude bullshit like they would back home, they’re likely to get their ass kicked as a matter of principle… If they are civil though, they will be treated friendly like any other person.
You can see obvious cultural conflicts in certain regions. For example when ANTIFA/BLM commies from the West coast go to certain cities to stir up trouble they often get in fights and get beat up by people like the proud boys or shot. They get away with their riots in some places where the law favors them, but they are too afraid to come down South for example because they would get bodied.
I presume there are differences between south and north as are shown in media and entertainment, that's natural because of the distance, my country is big too and there are profound cultural differences depending on what state you're staying. It just feels much more deep in USA since people like to make it clear from what state they're from. But your answer made me think more about it and I guess I'll have to research more about the level of independence of the states just out of curiosity
I know... I'll give you an example though... This is how some people from Democrat run cities behave when they go to other places. They think they own the world. They have crazy ideas and they try to push them on other people. Most Americas will not put up with their shit. Those same crazy people like the vegan in the video run the media. So they come up with all sorts of stereotypes about other regions.
media.gab.com/.../da2ace0df0b5102a.mp4
So when you hear people from places like Florida or Texas say that New York or California are messed up that's what they are getting at. The older lady is minding her own business cooking some BBQ at her own house and the Democrat Vegan thinks she has the right to barge onto her property and demand a stop to the meat smoke in the air. It's just wacky behavior. The older women even offered her some free food, and then the wacky Democrat accused her of murder.
In my life I've encountered hundreds of crazy people like that vegan woman in the video that came to Florida from New York or California. Yet the Southern stereotype of KKK rednecks that media tries to paint on the south with I have never seen. I've lived in Florida my entire life and have traveled to every southern state multiple times. You'd think I'd at least run into it once by now, but nope they always seem to be marching in Democrat cities in the North East, on West Coast, or in the Midwest where Democrats have their cities. The KKK has been a Democrat organization from the time it was founded, yet the media portrays it as a southern stereotype. The media is all bull crap. They project a lot.
Yes, I believe so. I attribute it the fact that Americans are the most individualistic people in the world.
I relate to my country
u @ManOnFire yes I do relate to my country I enjoy going out to Los Angeles on vacation I am a Republican I don’t think about how many Democrats are out there I just enjoy my time there
u @ManOnFire I like visiting Venice Beach visiting my relatives I like the tourism and the sightseeing Arnold Schwarzenegger the celebrities things like that
As the country gets more polarized the short answer is yes.
well US is more commonly known for individual states. most people don't know the same for Canada or india...
i have traveled through most of the 50 sgtates and lived in a few. all states are Trash except Texas and Florida.
Yes I think everyone else's state is off brand if it's not California, but when it comes to dealing with foreigners it's USA all the way!
I'd guess they just assume they are taking with fellow Americans so differentiate themselves with a more localised area such as state.
Most Americans live in a bubble.
State first, country 2nd.
I don't relate to either
Good question and often the answer is yes.
America is the whole world to Americans
It's more to the state
Yes.
Yes selfish people
IE LA 909
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