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Comment by nkmnz | Hacker News Reader

love the name

„gar nix“ is German slang for „nothing“ / „absolutely nothing“.

As an Ami who grew up in West Germany, das ist die erste Sache dass ich habe auch gesehen/that's the first thing I saw too.

Also, "gar nichts". But we would say gar nix for short.

What does Ami mean in this context?

(I know Amis people [1], but don't think it would be relevant here).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amis_people

"Ami" is German short form for "American"

According to the Wiktionary linked:

> (informal, mildly derogatory) Yank, Yankee, American (native or inhabitant of the USA)

German slang for "US citizens", shortend from "Amerikaner".

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ami

Be careful, it is derogatory.

What? No it isn't.

Some people seem to think all slang terms for cultural groups are automatically derogatory. A sizable proportion of people from the US get offended that people from Latin America call them “gringos” too (which is ridiculous IMO).

"Ami" isn't just any slang term, it is a politically loaded word. Besides being used as a common derogatory expression it was often used by the RAF[1] and their followers, especially in the slogan "Ami – go home!".

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction

If you are not offended by it, good for you. If I was American I'd definitely be, and that is judged as a German who knows how that word is used here.

"Ami – go home!" is a popular enough slogan that it has it's own Wikipedia entry[1], unsurprisingly only in German and French.

[1] https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home!

EDIT: For some reason the link doesn't work on HN. Either copy and paste "https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ami_–_go_home!" or use https://bit.ly/3CZXNxh

Interestingly, I assumed it was just a reference to author Garth Nix.

I hadn't heard of Garth Nix!

It was in fact from the German. I like the suggestion that the CI should feel like "nothing at all" (rather than the painful slow trial-and-error process of setting up most CIs, which makes you very much aware of them).

I also happen to live very near where Marlene Dietrich lived, who has a famous song in which "und sonst gar nichts/nix" is the refrain ("and nothing else") [0]. When garnix becomes a noun of its own, as here, it reads instead as "and otherwise, garnix", which I find mildly funny.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahyLLX0tmD8

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