How should we characterise Canadians?

[pedroh 21]

THANK CANADA FOR John Kricfalusi!!! OMGWTFBBQ

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

canadian club is a good mixer too....

not if you're a seal

[Emancipation 2]

canadian club is a good mixer too....

not if you're a seal

Oh please...... they don't club seals anymore.. it's a bullet to the head thank you very much

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

why? are the fries free? I don't think they'll escape being eaten.

I think it has to do with

1. the American "affections" towards the french

2. the American love of the word "freedom"

*ducks and runs for cover...

or maybe cause the french pissed off americans again

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think canadian bacon should be called ''round bacon'', french fries should be called ''fried potatoes'' and brazilian wax should be called ''painfull wax''.

But why do French people call coffee cafe americain? And why do British people call a certain shade of pantyhose American Tan? Do Americans tan differently than other nations? And shouldn't they be Belgian fries anyways?

[DeadPoolX 9]

Maybe I'm weird (well, I know I'm weird...), but I just don't understand the point of this thread.

How "should we characterize" Canadians? How do you characterize anyone? By who they are, not by their association (which is, of course, far easier to do).

It's simple to say that "all Canadians are..." but is that correct? Well, I'm sure there are SOME areas in which more Canadians than other groups would have in common, but that certainly doesn't make it "all." It's impossible to say "all" of practically anything. I suppose the only "all" you could say would be that "all living creatures will die one day." That is, as far as we know (with current medical technology), absolutely true. We have yet to find the key to immortality, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to be immortal; I wouldn't mind living a couple of hundred years, but I don't think I could handle living forever.

Are there a lot of stereotypes about Canadians? You bet. Not all of them are necessarily "bad" though, but I suppose it depends on your point-of-view. One stereotype I've often heard about Canadians is that they're extremely polite. There's even a joke that goes something like "if a Canadian bumps into a piece of furniture, he'll say excuse himself" or whatever.

Maybe as a whole, Canadians tend to be more polite than some other groups (most likely they'd be compared with Americans, seeing as the United States is their neighbor), but I am absolutely sure there are plenty of very rude and obnoxious Canadians. There have to be! People drive in Canada. Where there are drivers, there are rude, inconsiderate, jerks -- and this is coming from someone who drives everywhere.

So I don't see how we (or anyone, for that matter) can characterize Canadians or any other group of people and do it accurately.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

And speaking of driving, a characterization of Canadian drivers is having lane discipline. I notice it as soon as I cross the Ambassador Bridge. They pull into the fast lane, they pass, and then pulll back into the right hand lane. They generallly do not do what americans do and pull into the fast lane, hit the cruise control button and then continue on for hours while a big tailback develops. IT DRIVES ME NUTS!

[pedroh 21]

I think canadian bacon should be called ''round bacon'', french fries should be called ''fried potatoes'' and brazilian wax should be called ''painfull wax''.

But why do French people call coffee cafe americain? And why do British people call a certain shade of pantyhose American Tan? Do Americans tan differently than other nations? And shouldn't they be Belgian fries anyways?

Cafe Americano is originally an italian word.. which is an espresso shot diluted in hot water.. making the regular drip coffee you drink @ the office (unless yall have an espresso machine)

"One popular explanation for the name is that it was originally intended as an insult to Americans, who wanted their espresso diluted. If this is the case, many American coffee drinkers are either unaware of or unfazed by the derogatory nature of the name, even in some cases going so far as to misinterpret americano as being a uniquely American way to drink espresso"

[thetreble 19]

And speaking of driving, a characterization of Canadian drivers is having lane discipline. I notice it as soon as I cross the Ambassador Bridge. They pull into the fast lane, they pass, and then pulll back into the right hand lane. They generallly do not do what americans do and pull into the fast lane, hit the cruise control button and then continue on for hours while a big tailback develops. IT DRIVES ME NUTS!

driving in the US is a whole other story and I agree. If I could change one thing about america, it would be driving. Every day here multiple people cut me off and then give ME the finger! I actually had someone cut me off months ago, almost hit me because they ended up not having enough room to squeeze in infront of me, and with the window open yelled out "go back to canada you dumb ######!"

I'm not going to lie, I cried a lil'

[Emancipation 2]

driving in the US is a whole other story and I agree. If I could change one thing about america, it would be driving. Every day here multiple people cut me off and then give ME the finger! I actually had someone cut me off months ago, almost hit me because they ended up not having enough room to squeeze in infront of me, and with the window open yelled out "go back to canada you dumb ######!"

I'm not going to lie, I cried a lil'

Nothing says welcome to America like "dumb ##@#"..

[thetreble 19]

you got 'er! haha

Just miss that patient manner. I live in the North East and every one is always in a hurry to go some place, even on sunday morning!!

[Emancipation 2]

you got 'er! haha

Just miss that patient manner. I live in the North East and every one is always in a hurry to go some place, even on sunday morning!!

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH do i know what you mean!! (we are in CT).. heading for Canada next weekend.. cannot WAIT until I get into Northern Maine.. MUCH more civil/calm drivers!! It actually takes a few days to get the aggression out of our driving when we travel somewhere else.. Even when we go to Atlanta, HUGE difference in the drivers than the North East.

[C&C 0]

Guess I'm late in coming to this one but I haven't laughed so hard since this immigration thing started.

I appreciate all perspectives here… you’re all right! I have kind of mixed take that some of you might share. It is one of a thoroughly progressively raised American who lived 7 years in Canada after living in several places in the US with family all over and specifically growing up in the deep south university town, then living in the conservative plains of Nebraska, oh and have “lived” for semesters in London and Paris and vacationed other places…. Ok I think that’s enough for background.

Canada vs. US discussions are terribly fun so why not a few simplistic but fun statements to start … Tim Horton’s coffee is good for American coffee, timbits are no better than muchkins, hockey is still dumb and stupidly violent I can’t believe you “good” Canadians tolerate it (even though I know a little more about it now), I am so happy to be back in a US college football town where my silly professional gladiator “students” are better than yours, CBC TV is great but US public radio is better, poutine is disgusting, Gulf coast oysters and smoked mullet delish, this hour has 22 mins and Air farce are mostly lame although they have their moments but Rick Mercer is an absolute genius he has a lot in common with Seinfeld down deap may that how rest in peace, clubbing baby seals = clubbing other hockey players, my peccadillo “it depends on what your definition of the word is is” is no worse than your “da proof is da proof is da proof”, etc. Ceasars are gross can’t you make a proper bloody mary?????

Living in Canada makes you constantly compare and the Canadians are constantly doing it themselves which is soooo friggin tiresome but hey I’m on the bandwagon. VJ Troll kind of hits it on the head in some ways in a black sarcasm kind of way – I think I might explain it better…. What Kathryn says is extremely typical of a certain kind of Canadian opinion of themselves and America/Americans – what she says I am sympathetic to in many ways, but always sounded also a bit smug and whiney in my ears…. though I never told my close Canadian friends that.

I was raised to be skeptical of any kind of flag waving or stereotyping of others, groups, countries etc. I was excited to move to Canada which I thought would be more progressive and sophisticated than the deep south and conservative plains of America where I’d spent most of my adult life. Turns out Canada IS authentically more progressive in terms of public opinion – the average is more tolerant than the US -- reflected in things as diverse as recent provincial laws allowing gay marriage or at least civil union equality, strong mat leave rights, public health insurance (which is great although it’s not a perfect system either), or the concept that you can be a red Tory – hard to find a political place when you are that. But it’s hardly a socialist country (as right wingers in the US like to say just to scare people) just a little more progressive a democratic republic than the US is all. It’s really not that different than Vermont, Michigan, and Oregon. But I have been so disappointed at the provincialism I found in Canada – I guess, like anywhere else – most people are not very informed about other places, and there is a knee jerk we are better ism because people seem to need that to feel validated for some reason. Unfortunately for the American in Canada, you encounter this stereotypical anti-Americanism, even from otherwise educated, self-aware Canadians who actually vacation in America. I was educated about US history and its role in the world and made aware of America’s strengths and what it has given and does give the world, as well as its not so nice qualities and contributions. I was educated about nationalism and conflict and misperception and skapegoatism and how it leads to all kinds of nastiness some harmless and some not so in history – in all our countries and cultures. I found after a few years that living in Canada made me reactionarily proud to be an American in ways I never was ever before, and never felt in visiting other countries where they don’t have a national self-esteem problem like Canada. I just got sick of hearing ridiculous negative generalizations about “America” and “Americans” that weren’t true of me or my family or any of my friends that I grew up with or my co-workers or congregations, etc., against ridiculously rosy contrasting generalizations of “good” Canada is. I could have been happy staying in Canada, but I just feel comfortable back in the US and the south where American nationalism is old news and not so terrible, “conservatism” is sometimes disturbing but isn’t the horrific devil either, and where culture and communities are just as caring and vibrant and interesting as you can find anywhere, and where you can find modest, individualistic, live and let live people and colourful cultures of your choice to participate in. People who didn’t grow up in a southern city don’t know how great it is (despite things we still need to work on to make our communities and our great country better). I think my Canadian husband who is very individualistic, idealistic, modest and live and let live will be very comfortable as a southern American in a great funky city like Austin, Texas. In conclusion, Weird Al Yankovic pretty much hit it on the head with the “Canadian Idiot” track. If anything I said resonates for you and you haven’t heard it – download it for your player – it’s hilarious.

Truly, the only differences I believe I’ve seen – maybe -- first hand between Canadians and Americans and it’s so slight a difference its only a hypothesis - Canadians are in general more socially progressive, Americans are a touch more individualistic/libertarian (which isn’t necessarily all bad in case you don’t remember it’s a critical ingredient of democracy), Canadians a little more passive and accepting of structure/hierarchy, Americans a little more willing to take risks, call a spade a spade and use a swear word while they’re at it, while Canadians will perhaps be a little more civil and keep their opinions to the themselves. Both have great people, great wilderness, and in the big cultural history picture, same basic history although different paths as Kathryn noted, and some different cultures layered in with the basic colonial brit foundation, depending on the region. In most places in Canada, culturally it’s quite like Nebraska – or Vermont, or Michigan, or Oregon.

But, what I will miss about being a Torontonian is:

• Algonquin park

• Subways and trolleys

• Working and socializing in diverse ethnic social groups where my blond hair is unusual and there are all shades and kinks of hair and skin tones and facial shapes, and no one is in a majority or minority we are all just a neat mix of people

• Working in organizations where women are equal to men or even dominate high positions

• Long summer evenings

• Making about $15 K more than I do now – esp. now with the exchange rate -- why didn’t we wait another month before changing the money from the house sale??? This move has cost us probably $25 K if you add it all up, but we still believe it’s worth it.

C&C

[C&C 0]

Guess I'm late in coming to this one but I haven't laughed so hard since this immigration thing started.

I appreciate all perspectives here… you’re all right! I have kind of mixed take that some of you might share. It is one of a thoroughly progressively raised American who lived 7 years in Canada after living in several places in the US with family all over and specifically growing up in the deep south university town, then living in the conservative plains of Nebraska, oh and have “lived” for semesters in London and Paris and vacationed other places…. Ok I think that’s enough for background.

Canada vs. US discussions are terribly fun so why not a few simplistic but fun statements to start … Tim Horton’s coffee is good for American coffee, timbits are no better than muchkins, hockey is still dumb and stupidly violent I can’t believe you “good” Canadians tolerate it (even though I know a little more about it now), I am so happy to be back in a US college football town where my silly professional gladiator “students” are better than yours, CBC TV is great but US public radio is better, poutine is disgusting, Gulf coast oysters and smoked mullet delish, this hour has 22 mins and Air farce are mostly lame although they have their moments but Rick Mercer is an absolute genius he has a lot in common with Seinfeld down deap may that how rest in peace, clubbing baby seals = clubbing other hockey players, my peccadillo “it depends on what your definition of the word is is” is no worse than your “da proof is da proof is da proof”, etc. Ceasars are gross can’t you make a proper bloody mary?????

Living in Canada makes you constantly compare and the Canadians are constantly doing it themselves which is soooo friggin tiresome but hey I’m on the bandwagon. VJ Troll kind of hits it on the head in some ways in a black sarcasm kind of way – I think I might explain it better…. What Kathryn says is extremely typical of a certain kind of Canadian opinion of themselves and America/Americans – what she says I am sympathetic to in many ways, but always sounded also a bit smug and whiney in my ears…. though I never told my close Canadian friends that.

I was raised to be skeptical of any kind of flag waving or stereotyping of others, groups, countries etc. I was excited to move to Canada which I thought would be more progressive and sophisticated than the deep south and conservative plains of America where I’d spent most of my adult life. Turns out Canada IS authentically more progressive in terms of public opinion – the average is more tolerant than the US -- reflected in things as diverse as recent provincial laws allowing gay marriage or at least civil union equality, strong mat leave rights, public health insurance (which is great although it’s not a perfect system either), or the concept that you can be a red Tory – hard to find a political place when you are that. But it’s hardly a socialist country (as right wingers in the US like to say just to scare people) just a little more progressive a democratic republic than the US is all. It’s really not that different than Vermont, Michigan, and Oregon. But I have been so disappointed at the provincialism I found in Canada – I guess, like anywhere else – most people are not very informed about other places, and there is a knee jerk we are better ism because people seem to need that to feel validated for some reason. Unfortunately for the American in Canada, you encounter this stereotypical anti-Americanism, even from otherwise educated, self-aware Canadians who actually vacation in America. I was educated about US history and its role in the world and made aware of America’s strengths and what it has given and does give the world, as well as its not so nice qualities and contributions. I was educated about nationalism and conflict and misperception and skapegoatism and how it leads to all kinds of nastiness some harmless and some not so in history – in all our countries and cultures. I found after a few years that living in Canada made me reactionarily proud to be an American in ways I never was ever before, and never felt in visiting other countries where they don’t have a national self-esteem problem like Canada. I just got sick of hearing ridiculous negative generalizations about “America” and “Americans” that weren’t true of me or my family or any of my friends that I grew up with or my co-workers or congregations, etc., against ridiculously rosy contrasting generalizations of “good” Canada is. I could have been happy staying in Canada, but I just feel comfortable back in the US and the south where American nationalism is old news and not so terrible, “conservatism” is sometimes disturbing but isn’t the horrific devil either, and where culture and communities are just as caring and vibrant and interesting as you can find anywhere, and where you can find modest, individualistic, live and let live people and colourful cultures of your choice to participate in. People who didn’t grow up in a southern city don’t know how great it is (despite things we still need to work on to make our communities and our great country better). I think my Canadian husband who is very individualistic, idealistic, modest and live and let live will be very comfortable as a southern American in a great funky city like Austin, Texas. In conclusion, Weird Al Yankovic pretty much hit it on the head with the “Canadian Idiot” track. If anything I said resonates for you and you haven’t heard it – download it for your player – it’s hilarious.

Truly, the only differences I believe I’ve seen – maybe -- first hand between Canadians and Americans and it’s so slight a difference its only a hypothesis - Canadians are in general more socially progressive, Americans are a touch more individualistic/libertarian (which isn’t necessarily all bad in case you don’t remember it’s a critical ingredient of democracy), Canadians a little more passive and accepting of structure/hierarchy, Americans a little more willing to take risks, call a spade a spade and use a swear word while they’re at it, while Canadians will perhaps be a little more civil and keep their opinions to the themselves. Both have great people, great wilderness, and in the big cultural history picture, same basic history although different paths as Kathryn noted, and some different cultures layered in with the basic colonial brit foundation, depending on the region. In most places in Canada, culturally it’s quite like Nebraska – or Vermont, or Michigan, or Oregon.

But, what I will miss about being a Torontonian is:

• Algonquin park

• Subways and trolleys

• Working and socializing in diverse ethnic social groups where my blond hair is unusual and there are all shades and kinks of hair and skin tones and facial shapes, and no one is in a majority or minority we are all just a neat mix of people with lots of different perspectives

• Working in organizations where women are equal to men or even dominate high positions

• Long summer evenings

• Making about $15 K more than I do now – esp. now with the exchange rate -- why didn’t we wait another month before changing the money from the house sale??? This move has cost us probably $25 K if you add it all up, but we still believe it’s worth it.

C&C