Dear Sheldon
It would indeed be patronising to assume that one countries use of a language is more correct than anther's. I do not at any point believe that I alluded to that.
You have obviously suffered this fate in the past, but not from me.
The list to which I posted is international and as such has speakers spread around the world. I sort to point out the correct use of this term to all of them. It is equally miss used in the United Kingdom as any where else (I assume, as I have not been every where else) and I have no belief that its miss use began any where in particular.
I might be bold enough to say that the use of the internet proliferates the miss use of many terms.
Regards
Martin Coopland, Scotland, http://www.BatesBicycles.com