A random question for my Canadian friends ...

[Drunk Skunk]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

I'm shocked too. "Fished" for seals?


Everybody knows we CLUB our seals.


But seriously, watch out for those polar bears.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

In general,
"Americans are benevolently ignorant about Canada, while Canadians are malevolently well-informed about America"

Very well said

[burn_baby_burn]

I'm not really surprised that the majority of Americans don't know a thing about Canada. Becasue there are plenty of Americans who don't know a thing about their own country. I've met Americans who think Canada and Mexico are US states. My brother lives in Montana. He has run into people in other states who have never heard of Montana or else think that it is part of Canada.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Staypuft

Fotze wins.
The only reason we feel so high and mighty because we know so much about the US is because we get almost all of our (good) TV from there. Places like Youtube that garner millions of hits a day frolm Canadians consistently have Presidential debates and other current US news on them. We're constantly bombarded with all things American, we'd have to be dense not to absorb it.

If the roles were reversed I'm sure they'd be a lot more informed about Canada...at least enough to know that Jean Poutine was gone from office years ago

I agree with this for the most part. I don't exepct most Americans to be able to name the Canadian Prime Minister or have much idea about what's happening in Canadian politics. After all, aside from the US, how many foreign heads of state do you think the average Canadians can name? I'd be surprised if it would be more than two or three. And I doubt very much most Canadians can talk in detail about the political goings-on of other countries.

However, there's a lot an stories in this thread of some Americans thinking that Canadians live in igloos, ride dog sleds, don't have electricity and so forth. And I've experienced such questions myself as well on a trip to Texas. To me, there's just no excuse being that ignorant of the world outside your own borders. I realize every country has its ignoramuses, it just seems to me based purely on anecdotal evidence and my own experiences, there seems to be more of them in America.

[ken0042]

Regarding our igloos, while I find it funny I can't say I really fault them 100%. I had some misconceptions about Mexico when I first went there. I was expecting a much more severe level of poverty; in fact flying in at night I was a little surprised to see how many lights there were; I was thinking a lot of people wouldn't have electricity. I quickly found out that they may not all have walls on their houses, but they certainly have electricity to be able to watch soccer on TV.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by fotze

I've run into people who have rogue crap in their underwear and ask me for spare change pretty...much every day on the way home from work. Calgarians are substance addicted schizophrenic boobs I guess.

You said it.

I do get your point. I should have stated that not all Americans are like that. And yes, plenty of Canadians don't have a clue as well.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

It's easy enough to google the anwers, but if you don't know without looking them up, is it really fair to criticize Americans for not knowing much about Canada?

It's fair to criticize blatant stupidity. A literate American adult doesn't have to know much about Canada, but they should know enough about geography and, frankly, common sense, to know that we don't live in goddamn igloos.

Re: the Mexico thing -- fair point, most Canadians probably don't know a hell of a lot about Mexico, but we know enough to know that they all don't run around naked and eat raw salamanders, which is pretty much the equivalent of this igloo/seal hunt nonsense.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It's fair to criticize blatant stupidity. A literate American adult doesn't have to know much about Canada, but they should know enough about geography and, frankly, common sense, to know that we don't live in goddamn igloos.

Re: the Mexico thing -- fair point, most Canadians probably don't know a hell of a lot about Mexico, but we know enough to know that they all don't run around naked and eat raw salamanders, which is pretty much the equivalent of this igloo/seal hunt nonsense.

this is so true, my sentiments exactly.

[Sylvanfan]

I have to say that if I'm talking with an American I don't expect he/she to know where all the parts of Canada are and accept that I might have to explain it to them. When I talk to one who does, I must admit that it almost impresses me, which might sound arrogant.

A bit OT but I was watching that game show last night....power of 10. They had a question to Americans of will the United States exist as a country 100 years from now. Only 74% of the people said yes. I'd like to know what the other 26% think will happen, or if they understood the question.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'd like to know what the other 26% think will happen, or if they understood the question.

I'm sure there are some people who believe this will happen. But I don't think that will account for the whole 26%.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I'm sure there are some people who believe this will happen. But I don't think that will account for the whole 26%.

Sweet!! with all those Jesus freaks out of the picture, I can impliment my plan to take over the world!!! Ready Pinky?!?

[Flashpoint]

Most Texans know as much about Canada as Canadians know about Texas.

Not much.

[flip]

my view of typical americans as seen in the simpsons season 6 "the PTA Disbands"


Homer: [expansive] So, how was everybody's day at school?
Bart: Horrifying!
Lisa: Pointless!
Marge: Exhausting. It took the children forty minutes to locate Canada
on the map.
Homer: Marge, anyone can miss Canada, all tucked away down there.