To post 171023777591 Isn't this whole debate based off of people's feelings? I feel like feelings shouldn't be considered irrelevant, plus the whole thing has gone past the point of informing about the problem and to the point of just bashing people who wish to expand their linguistic horizons. Honestly, what if British people started saying you can't learn our slang since we feel weird when you use it, wouldn't that feel wrong to you?
Had you read and understood this whole debate, you wouldn’t ask this.
The speaker communities’ feelings towards their languages are, of course, the basis for that. If they are fine with others learning their language, that’s ok, if they’re not, that has to be respected.
The wishful learner’s feelings, however, are irrelevant. If a speech community doesn’t want you to learn their language, you can be sad, disappointed, whatever, but that doesn’t mean they need to change their stance just to accommodate you. Thinking otherwise is entitlement, like it or not.
My people bashing is reserved for the more persistent or provoking kind of ignorants around here.
Your example is a caricature. English has become the dominant first foreign language and language of international communication because the British and Americans forced it down everyone’s throats for centuries, not because everyone on this planet magically felt attracted to it. Brits are definitely not in the position to complain when people actually do learn English now!