Hacker News Reader

Comment by hackyhacky | Hacker News Reader

You're entitled to your opinion, but the use of the "-American" suffix here is consistent with how it is often used for immigrants, e.g. a Chinese person who immigrates to the US could be described as Chinese-American. Or just American. The demonym can reflect both ethnicity and citizenship. Identity is complicated.

Moreover, I don't even know what you mean by "roots." The US is a country of immigrants. What qualifies as having "American roots" in your view?

View on HN

I mean might be wrong to ask this question in a US based forum as you’re mostly going to be biased, but the reality is she is an Austrian that lived in the US. I feel like the hyphen changes her identity which she might not have agreed with.

Well you used a word that is crucial imho, roots, means where you come from, origins. I feel like I tend to have libertarian views regarding choosing your identity, which includes calling yourself American, Austrian or whatever, ultimately it’s you that should make this decision. But just adding hyphens to people with historical significance that decided to move to a country that at the time gave them an economic incentive by having the best market feels dirty. Especially considering that most other countries don’t do this.

So in your view, you're qualified to tell us Hedy's preferred demonym, but Wikipedia is not?

Where did I do that? I asked how is she -American in my OP.

> I feel like the hyphen changes her identity which she might not have agreed with.

Emphasis mine.

Sure sounds like you're speaking on behalf of Hedy.

This is a forum and I’ve brought this up as a topic for conversation, I’m expressing my opinion. It’s a normal use of a forum.

And also, it sounds nothing like I’m doing that. “I feel” and “might not” are definitely signs that I’m not claiming anything just discussing the topic.

You think that she became an American citizen and referred to herself as an American actress but didn’t think of herself as an American? The part we’re adding to how she described herself is Austrian, not American.

Sources please, I’m genuinely curious.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com