Can a non dog person ask a question about German Shepherds?

[Kirk1]

Why is it so bad to call them Alsatians? Thats what the breed was when I was growing up and I don't understand why people are getting huffy with me for this mistake. It's unconscious, unless I'm thinking about it I still make the mistake. I do correct myself, I am trying but until recently I haven't been around any so it hasn't been a problem I've had to work on.

Grr, posted too soon. I was going to add that I'm curious, because I don't have the story and I hate an unsolved mystery! Also was going to add "called" into my second sentence.

I believe the name Alsatian came about in the UK because of anti-German feeling during/around the WWI. Breed enthusiasts then lobbied the KC to have it changed to German Shepherd Dog, which was how one of/the it's founding breeder/s referred to the breed.

I assume modern day GSD enthusiasts don't like the name Alsatian because in reality the breed was always the GSD from the start, with the name being changed for political/propaganda reasons and only for a finite length of time. So, GSD is the historically accurate name for the breed, iyswim.

Some people still believe that Alsatians are the short-coated dogs, whereas GSD's have the thicker/longer/plusher coats, but this has no basis in fact.