I want to know what Canadians think of americans.

[PIMking]

Your point of view. I want to hear it.

I was born in germany from a german mother and american father. I am a proud german I am also a proud american.

I really honestly dont know much about Canada I had a very good friend when I lived in Florida who was from Toronto (her mom took a job in FLA)

I never had a bad issue with Canadians I just wonder when I see threads in the off-topic forum it seems like alot of folks north of the boarder dont like us.

I kinda see it this way that Canada and the USA are like brothers we are the same but for some reason we have a boarder. Other than Canada loves hockey and its a nitch sport here.

But I really wanna know if you dislike americans or just the government.

Thanks

[Displaced Flames fan]

This should be fun.

[Coach]

I think the reason there's some animosity towards Americans from Canadians is they are generally quite ignorant of Canada. I was born in the US, but left when I was pretty young and consider myself Canadian, although I am a dual citizen. I do have a lot of American friends though and it astounds me how little they know about a country that is right next to them sometimes. Most of it is the schooling. From what I understand you guys learn very little history outside your own. To be honest we're pretty much the same. It just bothers me when I'm in the States and someone asks where I'm from and I say Calgary and they have no idea what I'm talking about. That's like us having no idea what you're talking about if you say Seattle, or Pittsburgh. Theres like 5 major cities in Canada....freaking learn them!

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

This should be fun.

Oh yeah........

[Bill Bumface]

It's largely an inferiority complex.

When you ask Canadians about the US, it sounds almost the same as asking someone from Edmonton or a small northern town about Calgary:

"There's too much traffic"
"People aren't as polite"
"Too much crime"

I'm a born and raised Canadian and it bothers me how much Canadians try establish that Canada is a way better place than the US. Personally, I'd rather live in Canada than the US, but I know there's about 300 million people that disagree with me for a reason. I also know that if I'm going to vacation in a North American city, my list of favorite places to go is dominated by US cities.

I think the arrogance that comes with being the worlds largest economic and military power for so long is what turns off a lot of foreigners on the USA, but really you guys get a pretty bad rap because of the actions of your government and conservative wing nuts that make it on TV.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I think the reason there's some animosity towards Americans from Canadians is they are generally quite ignorant of Canada. I was born in the US, but left when I was pretty young and consider myself Canadian, although I am a dual citizen. I do have a lot of American friends though and it astounds me how little they know about a country that is right next to them sometimes. Most of it is the schooling. From what I understand you guys learn very little history outside your own. To be honest we're pretty much the same. It just bothers me when I'm in the States and someone asks where I'm from and I say Calgary and they have no idea what I'm talking about. That's like us having no idea what you're talking about if you say Seattle, or Pittsburgh. Theres like 5 major cities in Canada....freaking learn them!

I know were places are in Canada but know nothing about canadian history. I do know they were part of the invasion of Normandy though!

When I was younger and working at a hotel we had several Canadian visitors I always had fun talking with them. I have never been to Canada but I want to go in the worst way ( start in montreal and end in vancouver all hockey trip)

I know some of my redneck friends consider all canadians frenchies and basically our little brother up north that like weird sports. My ole man (who I dont speak with) basically considers Canada a communist country because of the socialized healthcare and super high taxes. I really wonder why some Americans hate/Dislike canada so bad.

[Sainters7]

I know theres a ton of Yankee haters in Canada, and alot of it I think is unfounded. I used to love those Molson Canadian commercials from around 2000 or so, which would basically just be making fun of Americans. That was before I had really ever been to the States, so I had a pre-judged opinion already of em. But now I've travelled to 19 states and have for the most part always been treated well and had alot of fun. It completely changed my opinion. Now when I watch those commercials on Youtube or whatever, they kind of embarass me.

I like Americans, I think they get a bad rap across the world. Yes I can definitely see why many places around the world hate them, mostly due to foreign policy over the years. But that's the government, thats not the general population. In my travels I found Americans to be very friendly, very interested in where I was from, and over-all nice people. Actually I was treated alot nicer down there than I have been in quite a few places travelling around Canada.

Unfortunately there are some ignorant types(like any other country) who travel abroad and ruin it for the rest of them. I was staying in Cabo last summer and it was the first time I had really experienced ignorant Americans first hand. When they found out we were from Canada, they instantly started ripping on us(and not in a friendly, buddy-buddy way), and they constanly looked down their noses upon the Mexicans in the hotel, and Mexico in general. It was pretty bad. They were also complaining about everything, if something didnt go absolutely perfect for them in the restaurant or pool(we saw em a few times), theyd go off on one of the staff. When guys like that travel, I can see how these reputations get formed. But from what I've experienced, its a very small percentage of them who act this way, and it isn't a fair representative of their people.

All-in-all, I like Americans alot. I've always felt welcome when travelling down there, and I'm sure I'll be down there plenty of times in the future.

[Azure]

Much like us, really.

Sure, they have other interests, just like me and my neighbor, but I think they're very similar to us Canadians.

The problem is that the stupid ones are the ones that make the most noise. Just like here in Canada, where people from Edmonton whine more than anyone else.

[Coach]

It also pushes our buttons when American's don't recognize the Canadian's role in the World Wars.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

It's largely an inferiority complex.

When you ask Canadians about the US, it sounds almost the same as asking someone from Edmonton or a small northern town about Calgary:

"There's too much traffic"
"People aren't as polite"
"Too much crime"

I'm a born and raised Canadian and it bothers me how much Canadians try establish that Canada is a way better place than the US. Personally, I'd rather live in Canada than the US, but I know there's about 300 million people that disagree with me for a reason. I also know that if I'm going to vacation in a North American city, my list of favorite places to go is dominated by US cities.

I think the arrogance that comes with being the worlds largest economic and military power for so long is what turns off a lot of foreigners on the USA, but really you guys get a pretty bad rap because of the actions of your government and conservative wing nuts that make it on TV.

well were you lay your head is home, I would love to visit Canada but not live there. Hell I grew up in Florida I think Iowa is too cold let alone Canada.

I left germany when I was 4 years old so I dont remember much of it.
United states needs to be made into different countries themself. the south is completly different from the midwest as the north east is from the west coast.

[Nuje]

Yeah...it's really no big huge differences, but the same reason there are rivalries between cities here. You like where you are, so you try to convince everyone that you're right. I don't mind Americans, but I think I'd be happier living here than the USA (I say I think, because it's been a while since I've been in the USA)

These are all subjective of course:
Caesars > Bloody mary's
Kraft Dinner > Macaroni & Cheese (just the name...I believe they're identical)
Rye whiskey > Bourbon (although here you can get both)
Hockey > All American sports (although they have hockey, I mean the culture that it is first and foremost ahead of all sports, radio & TV cover it around the clock)
CDN Health care system > American
Nascar & Baseball < nothing (just sports I REALLY dislike )

Whenever I run into Americans though...I have no beef with them unless they start some trash-talking, but it very very rarely happens.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by PIMking

well were you lay your head is home, I would love to visit Canada but not live there. Hell I grew up in Florida I think Iowa is too cold let alone Canada.

This is another thing. Canada is not THAT cold. Yeah we have the territories up north, but most of the major cities have weather that isn't unlike the weather in a city like New York or Philadelphia.

[Papi34]

I love americans. all the best things come from america. NFL, MLB, NBA its a magical country!!! I dont get the hate of americans i guess i dont really have an opinion i got no beef i reallt only like the USA because they get everything first before canada that is.

O did i mention the NFL? Ya i love the USA!

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by MattyC

It also pushes our buttons when American's don't recognize the Canadian's role in the World Wars.

Not just the world wars but the war on terriorism...

My mum just got back from Iraq (civillian contractor for KBR) and she said the best people to hang around over there were the MP's and the Canadian troops.

She was a convoy comander and had a couple of younger Canadian boys under her wing that she told me that they were her "adopted boys" knowing how much I loved hockey.

Short story. While in Iraq when the military saw something they thought to be a danger to the Convoy the stop all 50 trucks in the convoy ( I know pretty f'n stupid right?) well when they do that people come up to the trucks and try to sell things and Possible kidnaps and kilings well those two Candian boys I spoke of were getting robbed or what not well those two got out and kicked the living tar out of the guy who had a weapon and while under my mum command she was suppose to fire them but wrote up some bull crap story that the guy ran out infront of the truck and was hit! lol ahh the stories from Iraq

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Papi34

I love americans. all the best things come from america. NFL, MLB, NBA its a magical country!!! I dont get the hate of americans i guess i dont really have an opinion i got no beef i reallt only like the USA because they get everything first before canada that is.

O did i mention the NFL? Ya i love the USA!

Well, I hate some Canadians because they can't put together a proper, coherent and understandable sentence.

[DESS]

My last few trips to the States have been really fun and the older I get the more I like the people. That being said, it bothers me that most Americans I run into say uh-huh instead of thank you, but it's a small quibble.

The war mongering following 911 was abhorant, and it is regrettable the populace supported the attack and occupation of Iraq...that makes anti-American sentiment flow a little freer in Canada and around the world. Unfortunately, this does reflect poorly on the people.

Right now I find it very sad to see the state of your empire. You used to be like our cool older cousin, but now you're more like an old has-been uncle or something. Hopefully you'll get your mojo back as I liked the world better when you were on top of your game.

[driveway]

I think the fundamental difference between Americans and the entire rest of the world (including Canadians) is that Americans believe, totally and fundamentally, that they have rights. These rights are inherent in two things: One, the persons existence as a person, and two, the person's American nationality.

The impression I get is that Americans feel that they have loaned some of these rights to the government in exchange for a stable society, security, collective protection - but that the rights are individual and owned by each person.

As a Canadian, I am glad to have the rights and freedoms which the laws of my country entitle me to, and I believe that there are certain inherent human rights, but it's not the same thing as an Americans' fundamental conviction in their own rights.

I think this conviction is what lies at the root of the successes and failures of USA. It provides a huge amount of personal and national pride and encourages individuals, however it also presents a barrier to effective social policies and, at a very simple level, a barrier to interpersonal relations.

I think when Americans and people from other nations interact, the friction point is ultimately the conflict between a person who believes, usually completely subconsciously, that they are the possessor and sole guardian of inherent and unalienable rights, and a person who believes that rights are something collectively bestowed by a society.

[Ford Prefect]

I like Americans. It's American politics I don't like. I also don't like American pop culture and I get somewhat annoyed the way it steamrolls over a lot of indigenous culture around the world by virtue of its sheer size and marketing power.

As for Americans themselves, as a nation there is a certain self-centeredness and arrogance to the American psyche that I think upsets a lot of people from other countries. That whole Texan attitude about being bigger and better than everybody else. Personally, I think everybody is like that to a fair degree, Americans, Canucks, Brits, certainly the French ... it's really just an expression of pride and patriotism for the most part. It can be taken too far by some though and that's when hard feelings are created.

Probably the only serious knock I have against Americans is your school system ... it seems to fail at teaching you about the world outside of the USA. The collective American grasp of the world around them seems pretty tentative to me.

In general though, Americans are pretty much like Canadians, so what's to hate? Might as well hate ourselves as well. Oh wait, we do.

[Ice]

I've been to Canada a few times throughout my life. Had I not, and I was just basing what my reception would be on opinions of some of posters on this board when it comes to Americans, I wouldn't think I'd be welcomed as an American tourist in Calgary.

[Azure]

Meh.

I think us Albertans have the 'Texas' attitude to a large degree as well.

I like it.