History Main / CrossCulturalKerfluffle

This doesn't have to be a cause of offense. It could result in accidental {{Narm}} instead, but the potential offense is the more notorious version of this trope.

** Also, some people from Spanish-speaking countries may think you are referring to the United States (Estados Unidos), although the normal Spanish abbreviation for United States is EE.UU.. ** It also works in French-speaking areas, where the United States is ''les États-Unis'' (the accent is often dropped on capitals and/or when typed on English keyboards).

** And now comes the real WallBanger: The second member of the Schutz Heiligruppe is ''Blitzkrieger'' (''Lightning Warrior'')! OK, let's see: A member of a group which is dedicated to exterminating Nazism, is named after... [[CriticalResearchFailure an infamous war tactic, invented by the Nazis???]] [[BigWhat WHAT????]] (The translation published in Germany just went with ''Generator'', due to his [[ElementalPowers electricity-related powers]].)

* Recently an [[http://www.news.com.au/national/australian-kfc-ad-labelled-racist-by-us-commentators/story-e6frfkvr-1225816754881 Australian KFC ad]] caused a bit of a kerfluffle in the United States. It showed an awkward white Australian fan surrounded by hundreds of cheering black West Indies fans (who were the upcoming opposition) before he offered them all fried chicken. The ad was from a series of "cricket survival guide" ads showing the Australian solving various problems with KFC so he could enjoy the cricket. So the Australian train of thought was simple - being surrounded by supporters of the opposing team is awkward, [[TastesLikeFriendship offer KFC, everyone has a good time]]. However US various commentators called the ad racist, despite the fact that the ad was Australian and [[{{Wallbanger}} the people were West Indian, not African American]].

** Likewise, the Toyota MR-2 had to be renamed in France since "MR-2" in French is pronounced ''exactly the same way as'' "emmerdeux", in other words "It's shit".

** Of course, the Americans found nothing wrong with an all-American, handsome, chick attracting, one-liner tossing special agent who [[ResidentEvil4 went into a foreign country]] and mowed down dozen upon dozens of [[strike: Mexicans]] brainwashed Spaniards.
*** You shouldn't over-generalize, several Americans took due note.

* During the first TournamentArc of ''YuYuHakusho'', Urameshi fights a ninja with a shaven head and a ''manji'' tattoed on his forehead. Since the Manji, as mentioned above, bears a strong resemblance to the Swastika, the first thing a western audience would think of him is 'Skinhead Neo-Nazi'. Or, as I put it when I first saw him, "Whoa! [[McNinja Nazi-ninja]]!"

** Let's start with the group's name itself. It is supposed to mean ''Group of Protecting Saints'', but actually translates to ''Protection Holy-Group''. (The intended figurative meaning was ''League of Guardian Angels'', which would in German be ''Liga der Schutzengel''. The translation published in Germany simply went with ''Helden-Liga'' --> ''Hero League''.) Granted, GratuitousGerman is bad, but not really offensive.
*** Perhaps they aimed for "Schutzheiligen-Gruppe", which would be "group of patron saints"; a bit closer, but still wrong.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si-lSLv9b4E This Japanese mobile phone ad]] depicts an Obama rally with red 'Change' signs and the company's mascot, a monkey, on the podium. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82J-TDASyY0 Some African-American ex-pats]] think this is racist. Of course, expecting an ad for Japanese domestic audiences to conform to American political correctness when the country doesn't share any of the US's history with race is just [[YouFailLogicForever a failure of logic]].

*** Me? I just pretend [[TakeAThirdOption it's supposed to be Joe Biden]].

** UK viewers still titter at the closing credits of any Buffy episode where Thomas Wanker is listed as the composer.
*** In the States, it's the word "titter" that would cause... giggles.

* This editor remains convinced that ''DueSouth'' suffered in the eyes of British viewers because the Mountie's hot boss had the same name as the most hated (and admired; being divisive was actually part of her ''policy'') woman in recent British history.
** Though this is presumably intentional - contrasting the hotness of the fictional one with the .. um .. notness of the real one. I certainly have a hard time believing that the writers ''hadn't heard of'' Margaret Thatcher..
*** Most certainly intentional, but not necessarily intended as a compliment ''per se''. The ''DueSouth'' writers ''loved'' ThemeNaming, and their most popular theme by far was "Canadian celebrities, especially politicians". (This American is not 100% sure why Margaret Thatcher counts, but figures it has something to do with Canada's Commonwealth status.) Character names on ''DueSouth'', considered over the whole series, aren't intended to send any particular real-world message.
*** Also note that Ray V calls her "Dragon Lady".
* In ''DoctorWho'' when the Doctor said "You see what I mean? Domestic!" in response to Mickey several American fans expressed disgust at his apparent racism; however this was misunderstanding of the language. In the UK "Domestic" isn't really used to mean "Domestic servant", but rather "Domestic argument" or in this case "mundane and boring".
** It isn't used that way very often in most parts of the US, either.

* When someone from the [[EuropeanUnion EU]] sees the term 'EU', it is usual for a pause before realising what is meant is [[ExpandedUniverse EU]].
** In all honesty, even someone outside of Europe is more likely to think of the former meaning for the abbreviation, even if they know what both terms are.
** Also, some people from Spanish-speaking countries may think you are referring to the United States (Estados Unidos).
*** The normal Spanish abbreviation for United States is EE.UU., however. As unintuitive as that is.
**** It's intuitive when you know that in spanish, doubled letters in an acronym indicate plural (E.U. would be "Estado Unido" ("United State"), while "EE.UU." makes it "Estados Unidos" ("United States"). Likewise, "RRHH" means "Recursos Humanos" ("Human Resources"). There are a handful of abbreviations that work this way in English, too, most notably "pp." for "pages".
** It also works in French-speaking areas, where the United States is ''les États-Unis'' (the accent is often dropped on capitals and/or when typed on English keyboards).
* Similary any reference to "America" is confusing for all the americans who are NOT from the United States of America.

** Is this some other "Siemens"? They're a ''German'' company, right?

*** It should be pointed out that it's [[DidNotDoTheResearch not actually]] Xtreme Letterz. [[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zyklon "Zyklon" is the real German word for "cyclone"]].

** This Portuguese troper was once amused by a bin full of "Trampa" ("crap" in Portuguese) doormats. Said doormats were even brown. He isn't sure if they are still being sold, though.

* Coon Cheese. Even Australians aren't really sure why it's called that.
** It's the name of the family that founded (and still owns) the company. They can trace their name back further than the racist usage (a derogatory term for Australian Aboriginals for those not in the know) which dooms any attempted suit by Aboriginal rights groups.
*** Has anyone ''ever'' used it for Australian Aboriginals? It seems most of the confusion comes from Americans who think it's a slur for African-Americans that nobody in Australia has ever heard of.

** The leader of the group is ''Hauptmann Deutschland''. Obviously, he is intended to be the [[CaptainPatriotic German counterpart of Captain America]], complete with a name that is a direct translation of ''Captain Germany'' and a flag-costume. The problem: Such PatrioticFervor is [[ValuesDissonance not very well regarded in post-war Germany]]. (Since the Football World Cup 2006, displaying patriotism in a modest degree may be more acceptable, but the Schutz Heiligruppe had been introduced before that event.) And the fact that a military rank is part of his name [[ItGotWorse makes it even worse]]. Marvel later changed his name into ''Vormund''. Intended meaning: ''Guardian''. Actual meaning: '''Legal''' ''Guardian''. D'oh! (The correct term would be ''Wächter'', the translation published in Germany went with ''Freiheitskämpfer'' --> ''Freedom Fighter'')

*** The normal Spanish abbreviation for United States is E.E.U.U., however. As unintuitive as that is.
**** It's intuitive when you know that in spanish, doubled letters in an acronym indicate plural (E.U. would be "Estado Unido" ("United State"), while "E.E.U.U." makes it "Estados Unidos" ("United States"). Likewise, "RRHH" means "Recursos Humanos" ("Human Resources"). There are a handful of abbreviations that work this way in English, too, most notably "pp." for "pages".

[[caption-width-right:250:The Obama Sock Monkey: Popular in Japan. Considered Racist in America. Kinda Adorable.]]

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si-lSLv9b4E This Japanese mobile phone ad]] apes Obama rallies with red 'Change signs.' And the company's mascot, a monkey, on the podium. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82J-TDASyY0 Some African-American ex-pats]] think this is racist. Of course, expecting an ad for Japanese domestic audiences to conform to American political correctness when the country doesn't share any of the US's history with race is just [[YouFailLogicForever a failure of logic]].

*** In Germany's defense most countries are unaware of the conection between African-Americans and Fried Chicken. [[Tropers/MakiP This Troper]] had to go to the United States and ask her relatives living there about it to understand it.

*** It's for exactly the same reason that French-speaking people in the UK are highly amused when they find out there's a (n apparently) popular soap opera entitled ''Emmerdale''.

** It also works in French-speaking areas, where the United States is les Éats Unis (the accent is often dropped on capitals and/or when typed on English keyboards).

* Recently an [[http://www.news.com.au/national/australian-kfc-ad-labelled-racist-by-us-commentators/story-e6frfkvr-1225816754881 Australian KFC ad]] caused a bit of a kerfluffle in the United States. It showed an awkward white Australian fan surrounded by hundreds of cheering black West Indies fans (who were the upcoming opposition) before he offered them all fried chicken. The ad was from a series of "cricket survival guide" ads showing the Australian solving various problems with KFC so he could enjoy the cricket. So the Australian train of thought was simple - being surrounded by supporters of the opposing team is awkward, offer KFC, everyone has a good time. However US various commentators called the ad racist, despite the fact that the ad was Australian and [[{{Wallbanger}} the people were West Indian, not African American]].

** It also works in French-speaking areas, where the United States is les ?ats Unis (the accent is often dropped on capitals and/or when typed on English keyboards).