How should we characterise Canadians?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Charactarisin is a way of life here.

Edited August 29, 2007 by CarolsMarc

[Tinker 0]

Okay, I'll let it go

Although one of the pics on here of the hot guys was one of my third of fourth or something cousin, ICK....just wrong.

and I haven't tried Poutine, I don't wanna try Poutine and you can't kick me out of Canada on that!!

Trailer Park Boys.....um, that's another story.

[trailmix 77]

This thread is kind of wishy washy.

Unlike the little train that could, this is the thread that can't.

[pedroh 21]

Tiffany Towers

Kimberly Conrad

Shannon Tweed

Canada FTW

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

This thread is kind of wishy washy.

Unlike the little train that could, this is the thread that can't.

[no name 1]

Someone mentioned on here about how the general worldwide perception of the United States is that Americans are running around, telling each that the U.S. is "the greatest country in the world" and expects every other nation to believe it as well. I don't really think that's the case. Sure, some people are like that. There are some who will do and believe practically anything. For the most part, however, I can't say I've really found it to be like that.

Most Americans do have a certain amount of "patriotic pride" in their country. This may stem from various sources as not everyone believes in the same things. However, many Americans do genuinely believe they live in the best country in the world. There's nothing wrong with that. The United States is most certainly ONE OF THE BEST countries in the world.

Problems arise on an international level, however, when either a few extremely dogmatic Americans travel outside their country's borders or citizens of other countries pick up on what is being said on American newspapers, TV channels and radio stations. There are loudmouths who find great delight in telling others off while in another country (why this is, I couldn't tell you, as I'd hate to get in trouble with another country's law system) and parts of the American media is designed to promote patriotic feelings (of course, other parts of it are equally designed to tear it back down again).

American politicians (on a federal level) play up to the whole "the U.S. is the greatest" ideal. It makes sense, if you think about it. What do voters want to hear? That the United States is the best thing since sliced bread and that it practically owns the planet or that we're screwing up left and right, making a number of foreign nations angry with us? While that example is fairly "black-and-white," the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. But the voters don't want to hear or know about that. So the politicians tell the voters want they want to hear and what they want to know, so the politicians will get elected.

In general, however, most Americans won't go around saying "My country is better is than yours!" if he or she is a foreign country. They might think it (fortunately there's no such thing as the "thought police"), but only in very rare cases would they actually say something to that effect -- unless they just happen to be a complete jerk or moron or both.

And as for the American flag or Canadian Maple Leaf on items, my fiancee didn't realize it when she bought it, but her luggage had red maple leaves on it. She only noticed it after it was too late to return the luggage and she was set to come down here anyway. It's not that she was embarrassed of being Canadian (she's not at all), but she didn't necessarily want to broadcast her nationality out to everyone. With red maple leaves on her luggage, it would be a pretty easy guess as to what country she was from. I thought it was rather amusing and the maple leaves themselves were small, so I didn't really see what the concern was over in the first place. It's certainly no worse than American Tourister (a luggage company in the United States), which practically screams out, "Hey look! I'm an American!" to everyone who notices. That's if they notice, of course. Most people in an airport are far too busy with their own luggage, checking in (if they didn't do so online), getting past security, going through customs if they need to, and getting to their gate in time. The only people who might really take a good look at your luggage at the airport would be the security screeners and then that's their job.

Thank you for a civil, logical & thoughtful (Canadian) post.

[Ban Hammer 13,636]

[Lou Lou 1]

We are discounting the MP office experience because it's from a Canadian's view, from inside - not actually as an American traveller(s), with (non-flag bearing) backpacks & all.

but in her experience she said that there were some Americans that were coming asking for Canadian stuff and when asked why they said it was because they were traveling abroad...

no one is saying it happens all the time but t happens on occasion...

I get that. They may have been jusy saying that - or they may not.

Both Robin & myself have travelled extensively as Yanks, lived abroad & have not seen it. That is what we are saying.

My personal experience - you can choose to believe it or not, it really doesn't matter to me, nor does it change the fact that American tourists came into our office to obtain Canadian pins and decals to wear when they travelled overseas. Just because you didn't experience it doesn't make it false - there actually is a world outside of your experience as well. There are Americans who do and Americans who don't. As I said, you can discount my evidence if you wish - it really doesn't change the reality.

(Ok - now I am in need of a Timmies! Marilyn! Do you have a photo you can share?)

Well, I don't usually dive into this territory but thought I would here. I have a set of two neighbors either side of me who travel overseas (mostly Europe) every year and claim to be Canadian to avoid getting into political conversations with people. They started doing it after meeting people at dinner or whatever and Europeans (especially Brits on holiday) would not stop banging on about Bush. So, the next leg of their trip they played the Canadian card and hey presto no hassle. They now do it all the time and they claim it makes their holiday a little easier to bear. They haven't gone as far as carrying pins though, but if I suggested it to them, they probably would.

[Marilyn. 340]

who said we are mocking?? the magority of the mocking is being done against the Canadians...

post 31, 47, 69, 70, 73....I can go on.

I don't know if most people are aware but most of us Canadians didn't move to the US because we wanted to be Americans, we moved here because our SO's happened to be Americans...

No one said you wanted to be Americans...? LPRs, yes.

I didn't move here to become an LPR....

[Marilyn. 340]

so it is ok to mock Canadians but not ok to mock Americans...

We are discounting the MP office experience because it's from a Canadian's view, from inside - not actually as an American traveller(s), with (non-flag bearing) backpacks & all.

but in her experience she said that there were some Americans that were coming asking for Canadian stuff and when asked why they said it was because they were traveling abroad...

no one is saying it happens all the time but t happens on occasion...

I get that. They may have been jusy saying that - or they may not.

Both Robin & myself have travelled extensively as Yanks, lived abroad & have not seen it. That is what we are saying.

but just because you have not seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen and a few people on here have actually done it or seen it firsthand...

Edited August 29, 2007 by MarilynP

[Marilyn. 340]

We are discounting the MP office experience because it's from a Canadian's view, from inside - not actually as an American traveller(s), with (non-flag bearing) backpacks & all.

but in her experience she said that there were some Americans that were coming asking for Canadian stuff and when asked why they said it was because they were traveling abroad...

no one is saying it happens all the time but t happens on occasion...

I get that. They may have been jusy saying that - or they may not.

Both Robin & myself have travelled extensively as Yanks, lived abroad & have not seen it. That is what we are saying.

My personal experience - you can choose to believe it or not, it really doesn't matter to me, nor does it change the fact that American tourists came into our office to obtain Canadian pins and decals to wear when they travelled overseas. Just because you didn't experience it doesn't make it false - there actually is a world outside of your experience as well. There are Americans who do and Americans who don't. As I said, you can discount my evidence if you wish - it really doesn't change the reality.

(Ok - now I am in need of a Timmies! Marilyn! Do you have a photo you can share?)

I get that. They may have been jusy saying that - or they may not.

Both Robin & myself have travelled extensively as Yanks, lived abroad & have not seen it. That is what we are saying.

My personal experience - you can choose to believe it or not, it really doesn't matter to me, nor does it change the fact that American tourists came into our office to obtain Canadian pins and decals to wear when they travelled overseas. Just because you didn't experience it doesn't make it false - there actually is a world outside of your experience as well. There are Americans who do and Americans who don't. As I said, you can discount my evidence if you wish - it really doesn't change the reality.

And just because you some Americans came in & told you 'their reason? Almost always that they were going overseas and knew that Canadians were better treated than Americans in many countries. Fact.'

That does not make it a fact. Have you ever travelled abroad & seen anyone with a Canadian flag pin on their lapel? Or a sticker on their luggage?

I think the links posted prove no one in Europe or elsewhere really cares about the difference between Canadians & Yanks. Canuks don't even rank on the best or worst travellers lists....so how could they be treated better or worse?

to my knowledge no one had said that the flags and decals actually work but people might do it because they think they will get better treatment....

I am really not sure why this is such a big deal anyways....

Edited August 29, 2007 by MarilynP

[no name 1]

who said we are mocking?? the magority of the mocking is being done against the Canadians...

post 31, 47, 69, 70, 73....I can go on.

I don't know if most people are aware but most of us Canadians didn't move to the US because we wanted to be Americans, we moved here because our SO's happened to be Americans...

No one said you wanted to be Americans...? LPRs, yes.

I didn't move here to become an LPR....

You want to be illegal then?

[no name 1]

to my knowledge no one had said that the flags and decals actually work but people might do it because they think they will get better treatment....

and there is absolutely NO PROOF that there is ANY unfair treatment!!

but just because you have not seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen and a few people on here have actually done it or seen it firsthand...

and just because you say it happens doesn't mean it is the norm, or the majority...

Edited August 29, 2007 by devilette

[Kathryn41 3,205]

(Ok - now I am in need of a Timmies! Marilyn! Do you have a photo you can share?)

Thank you, Marilyn!! Now THAT's Canadian!!

Edited August 29, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Tinker 0]

*snort* turned into illegal immigrant thread again.

Figured I'd go to work, come back and maybe the thread might be on track....

Oh hold on, I'm getting it, all Canadians are liars That's it!!

Damn we're slow to catch on, suckers for punishment......

According to the select few anyway.

Anyone have a wooden stake, maybe we can kill it!!!