“America” as a single entity, devoid of qualifiers, is the entirety of North and South America. A massive and diverse swath of Earth with very little in common. I don’t see how that’s a useful definition, and most English-speakers have agreed so “America” instead is shorthand for the giant country with “America” in its name.

We use descriptors because they help. “The Americas” is the whole thing, “North America” is everything from Panama to Canada plus some distant colony islands because this is politics not tectonics.

There is only one country in the Americas that has America in the title. Everyone is aware of the continents, but only pompous douchers bring up the “technically, Canada and Mexico are American too” nonsense.

I honestly think some Americans aren’t used to passive aggression, indirectness or sarcasm. That’s why some of you don’t get Canadians aren’t particularly ‘nice’.

IME they’re always saying sorry and apologizing, but like the brits they don’t actually mean it most of the time. In fact, sorry can mean fuck you, depending on the context. From what I understand, the whole ‘bless your heart’ thing in the American South is similar. That whole thing is also incredibly condescending and smug.

If you get the chance check out Minnesota or Wisconsin, the people there are pretty similar to the Canadians I know. Super nice people.