Copenhagen summit: Europe turns on US and China over weak emission targets

Duh. But here in the UK, the word flat is used. As I am in the UK and the flatmates I referred to were also in the UK, why should I not use the word flatmate?

And a flat and apartment is the same thing. It’s just a word. It doesn’t matter what you call it- they exist in America. They exist in the UK. And hey, they even have them in Africa.

Are you just being obtuse now? Well, aye. That’s a stupid question. Of course you are.

Why don’t you just let it go dude? Did you get bored peeing up the rope? How can I say this so it gets through your thick cranium? Piss off.

“Duh. But here in the UK, the word flat is used. As I am in the UK and the flatmates I referred to were also in the UK, why should I not use the word flatmate?”

Well, we aren’t.

“And a flat and apartment is the same thing. It’s just a word. It doesn’t matter what you call it- they exist in America. They exist in the UK. And hey, they even have them in Africa.”

My point was that your speech patterns (things like “well aye”) are foreign.

“How can I say this so it gets through your thick cranium? Piss off.”

You first, limey.

What is your problem? Why don't you just let this go?

Of course my speech patterns are different. I've been living in foreign countries for 20 years. But there is nothing wrong with this. I'm not actually sure what you're trying to imply there.

things like “well aye”

Well? Americans stopped using the word 'well'? And aye is definitely a word. You understood it, right? I wasn't speaking Klingon. That was Englsih. English being that European language that most Americans speak. Spanish being the other. English is not a foreign language.

You can look it up in the dictionary if that helps.

Is this seriously your comeback? 'Oh he used the word "aye"! That proves he's got cooties!' Jesus guy. It's like... I wouldn't have written that one down on the forum for the whole world to see. Unlike some forums we have no 'take-back/edit' feature. That's still going to be there years from now for everybody to see.

In the South we have a word for refering to the second person in plural. It is y'all. This word is not used in the North by yankees. But this does not invalidate the word. You harping on my use of the word 'aye' (which is used in the USA whether you know it or not) is like a slime bag Yankee giving me stick because I use the word y'all. I remember seeing Ellen Degeneris (sp?) on Jay Leno a long time ago making fun of Southerners by mocking us with the word 'reckon'. She said 'I reckon.' Everybody laughs. But you know what? F--- her.

There is no homogeneity in the way Americans speak (as you seem to be implying). I remember as a boy marvelling at my cousin from Maryland because he called it 'pop' instead of coke. And it was fun in the Army finding out the different ways Americans from different parts of the country spoke and what they found funny about my Southern accent and idioms. Maybe it's just me being weird but I don't find anything sinister there. It's just par for the course. It doesn't matter where you come from, you can bet your bottom dollar that 200 miles down the road they say it a bit different than you do. That applies in Germany, Spain, USA. Everywhere.

I also speak German. My Spanish is faltering but I get by and I have studied French although my pronunciatin is very bad and the French usually pretend to not understand what I say. Does this make me an evil person in your world view? Is it going to freak you out if I spell colour the way I just did as opposed to color?

Limeys live in England. I did live there once for about 6 months. Didn't like it. Try harder to be obnoxious. You're obviously as much of a novice at that as you are at arguing your point.

I'm sorry you are so easily confused by my use of the word flatmate. If there's any way I can make that up to you- donate towards a brain transplant or something (a tenth of mine ought to set you to rights) just let me know. Also, if you're having trouble on another thread in the future and someone has used a word you've never encountered before and it's really messing with your head, give me a ping. I'll sort you out mate!

“What is your problem? Why don’t you just let this go? “

You really are totally humorless. Sad.

My sole and only point is that you have lived as an expat so long you really can’t claim to understand things on the ground here. The fact that you flew so totally off your rocker over an imagined slight to your European friends says that if anything does.

There’s a phrase you might remember from when you lived down here in the South: “bless your heart”.

My sole and only point

You don't have a point. You get freaked out over an English word. You're a clueless idiot.

You haven't even seen me fly off my rocker yet. This is smooth sailing so far. This doesn't even amount to a minor disagreement yet.

And yes, I'm totally humourless. And don't care what you think about that. Although to be fair, you haven't said anything remotely humorous to this point. But you can screw yourself all the same- just for good measure.

“You don’t have a point. You get freaked out over an English word. You’re a clueless idiot. “

LOL. I didn’t get “freaked out” and I knew exactly what you meant. I just pointed out that you are an expat and as such, how much can you really claim to know about the opinions of Americans on the ground here?

“And yes, I’m totally humourless. And don’t care what you think about that. Although to be fair, you haven’t said anything remotely humorous to this point. But you can screw yourself all the same- just for good measure.”

Please.. stay in Europe. If you can’t get the joke being played on us, you don’t understand. History repeats. This time is the farce. The only way to stay sane is to point, squint, and laugh at them. Anything else will just cause a coronary.

Whatever guy. You got to boring me a few posts ago. You don’t have a point. This isn’t going anywhere. Nothing to learn here. No truths to be arrived at.

Now, I’m leaving. Not even going to look in the rear view to see what the bump was. You go ahead and say whatever you want. Call my mother a whore. Insult my ancestors. I don’t care. Hell, you win man. I am pleased and fuzzily glowed just to be in your presence. I am not worthy etc etc etc (insert whatever thing here makes you feel good about yourself)

Have a nice life. And good luck with that half brain thing you got going on.

I noticed he didn't catch that last one. I did. Laughed my a** off.

Now he'll have to google it to find out the meaning.