I want to know what Canadians think of americans.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I can't speak to the American side of things, but as a Canadian man I open doors for people all the time, not just women of someone is behind me I hold it open for them. But It's also expected the other way and it usually happens for me as well. The 'eh?' thing bothers me because yes we do say eh (or i find myself doing it anyways). But from my experience Americans use 'huh?' in the exact same context A LOT.

Yes we use "huh" and "you know" a lot. If I've ever teased a Canadian about "eh" it was out of affection. Ithink it was the MacKenzies of Great White North that did the eh thing. They often play their skits during Christmas on some local radio station here.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Did you get them back?

Lol, yeah, I got him back. It was pretty funny. We flew in from Amsterdam and landed at Pisa. As we approached the little gate with the passport checker guy, he just kept waving everyone through (everyone was white, italian looking), until he saw my buddy. Like laserbeams, the dude's eyes fixated on my bud and he just pointed his finger at him and yelled 'sinistra' (wop for 'left') and pointed at the little room where you get your bag raided and have to answer questions.

It was actually funny as hell. I went and got a cafe or 2, moved on to beer, locked up my bag in a locker, had a good look at the town map, took a leak, bought a book for the train ride, had another beer, took another leak, all before he was finished getting berated by mean italians. Damn, I'm laughing my ass off just typing this story out. It was friggin priceless... "Sinistra!!" He was so pissed.

[Mr.Coffee]

I remember a stat about how Americans travel less than Canadians globally... and it was a huge number too (something like 1 in 2 Canadians will leave Canada in their lifetime, but only 1 in 10 Americans will leave the U.S. in theirs). This in a nutshell is why the U.S. is viewed negatively by most worldwide I think, they just have no idea what the real world is like. So many Americans think their country is the best in the world, and it is delusional because they don't even leave to see if it's true! They just don't care, and yet they feel they should infringe their beliefs upon others. How does that make sense?

A lot of people in the western world think everybody should live life the way they do. Well what if developing countries don't want to? Doesn't matter, it's assumed they do. It's just all too much arrogance, ignorance and assumption, and not enough understanding or caution.

It gets them into trouble too. Just ask people in New York about September 11, 2001. They don't even step back to ask, 'why are we getting attacked?' Instead the first comment is- 'who did this?' so that they can enact revenge.

I've travelled a lot, been to a lot of countries and I'm still pretty young and will travel some more. Every country has idiots and smart people, fat people and skinny people, rude people and friendly people but a lot of stereotypes about Americans don't just materialize from thin air.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

I agree with the comments about the lack of please/thank you, holding doors open etc. There seems to be more politeness in the Midwest and in some parts of the South... and I don't mean Florida..I've only been to Niagara Falls so I don't know about Canada but one thing that really impressed me about the people in Central and Eadtern Europe was the politeness. Seems like I never had to worrry about opening a door if there were guys of any age around. But then again some women get insulted when guys do that! Also I don't remember their names but I used to hear some Canadian comedians harping on the Canadian "eh".

I agree with you here. I'm always complaining about how rude people are here in Kansas.

I don't think it's that way back home, in Kalispell....unless they know you're from California.

The part that bothers me about all of this is that too often people apply those stereotypes before trying to learn anything about the individual. I see it on hockey boards all the time (not here, I've been here too long). They find out you're not from Canada and immediately you have no clue about anything, ever.

As for the geography thing, I think you'd find those same Americans who don't know where Calgary is probably don't know where Pittsburgh is either.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I remember a stat about how Americans travel less than Canadians globally... and it was a huge number too (something like 1 in 2 Canadians will leave Canada in their lifetime, but only 1 in 10 Americans will leave the U.S. in theirs). This in a nutshell is why the U.S. is viewed negatively by most worldwide I think, they just have no idea what the real world is like. So many Americans think their country is the best in the world, and it is delusional because they don't even leave to see if it's true! They just don't care, and yet they feel they should infringe their beliefs upon others. How does that make sense?

A lot of people in the western world think everybody should live life the way they do. Well what if developing countries don't want to? Doesn't matter, it's assumed they do. It's just all too much arrogance, ignorance and assumption, and not enough understanding or caution.

It gets them into trouble too. Just ask people in New York about September 11, 2001. They don't even step back to ask, 'why are we getting attacked?' Instead the first comment is- 'who did this?' so that they can enact revenge.

I've travelled a lot, been to a lot of countries and I'm still pretty young and will travel some more. Every country has idiots and smart people, fat people and skinny people, rude people and friendly people but a lot of stereotypes about Americans don't just materialize from thin air.

You're generalizing big time here. What beliefs do I hold that I feel I need to force on anyone?

As for the travel thing, it's always amazed me how many of you guys have traveled extensively around the world. It's something I would love to do myself, but I don't have the money or the time. Where do you guys find both? I make pretty damn good money too, I'm lucky if I can afford to go back home once every two years. The amount of money and time many of you seem to have is just mind boggling to me.

[missdpuck]

My aquaintances from Montana, Wisconsin, Illinois and those areas tend to be more polite than those from NY NJ , etc. Those are generalizations of course. I grew up in NJ and am flattered when people who don't know that guess that I'm from the Midwest. Sad to have to say that!!

[Yeah_Baby]

When I've been places in the States, I get mistaken more for a Midwesterner then Canadian.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I've only spent a few days each in Seattle and Tampa, but in both cases, the one thing that stood out was that Americans are passively rude. Not very many people, I found, thanked you for holding a door open, or held a door for you, for example. Little things.

While true, I find Canadians take things really, really personally - lack of pleases and thank you's, driving, cell phones, etc. With Americans, they arn't trying to be rude, they just don't take these things personally.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

You're generalizing big time here. What beliefs do I hold that I feel I need to force on anyone?

As for the travel thing, it's always amazed me how many of you guys have traveled extensively around the world. It's something I would love to do myself, but I don't have the money or the time. Where do you guys find both? I make pretty damn good money too, I'm lucky if I can afford to go back home once every two years. The amount of money and time many of you seem to have is just mind boggling to me.

I've been thinking the same thing Dis!!

[joe_mullen]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

You're generalizing big time here. What beliefs do I hold that I feel I need to force on anyone?

As for the travel thing, it's always amazed me how many of you guys have traveled extensively around the world. It's something I would love to do myself, but I don't have the money or the time. Where do you guys find both? I make pretty damn good money too, I'm lucky if I can afford to go back home once every two years. The amount of money and time many of you seem to have is just mind boggling to me.

We have more time because we get more vacation. Americans work by far the longest hours and have the least vacation in the western world. This is one of the big reasons why the US scores low on numerous quality of life indices.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

You're generalizing big time here. What beliefs do I hold that I feel I need to force on anyone?

As for the travel thing, it's always amazed me how many of you guys have traveled extensively around the world. It's something I would love to do myself, but I don't have the money or the time. Where do you guys find both? I make pretty damn good money too, I'm lucky if I can afford to go back home once every two years. The amount of money and time many of you seem to have is just mind boggling to me.

I make very little money but I'm good at budgeting. Also, outside of USA/Canada and western Europe, the rest of the world is pretty dang cheap for a traveler with a decent financial background. The biggest thing is to take the leap and go somewhere. Don't think about trips in terms of money lost but the experiences you will gain.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

We have more time because we get more vacation. Americans work by far the longest hours and have the least vacation in the western world. This is one of the big reasons why the US scores low on numerous quality of life indices.

By Western World, you mean North Americans? Pretty sure they work pretty hard over in Europe. I know Asia doesn't count, but I would never want to work hours in Japan.

I think the US scores low on life expectancy because of health, not how hard they work.

And what do you define by long? 40 hrs a week?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

We have more time because we get more vacation. Americans work by far the longest hours and have the least vacation in the western world. This is one of the big reasons why the US scores low on numerous quality of life indices.

I've got 5 weeks burning a hole in my pocket as I type this!

I know many Canadians do these things at a young age, so that wouldn't really be an issue. Where does an 18 year old get that kind of dough?

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

You're generalizing big time here. What beliefs do I hold that I feel I need to force on anyone?

As for the travel thing, it's always amazed me how many of you guys have traveled extensively around the world. It's something I would love to do myself, but I don't have the money or the time. Where do you guys find both? I make pretty damn good money too, I'm lucky if I can afford to go back home once every two years. The amount of money and time many of you seem to have is just mind boggling to me.

I know I am generalizing, but this thread is inherently generalized given the subject. Not all Americans are like this, and I've both been schooled by an American International school and work for an American based company. I know a lot of very good people who are American, and a lot of people who don't agree with American policies. They are just people, I realise that. But that doesn't mean that stereotypes aren't justified. Americans DO want people to think the way they do, and live the way they do. Any imperialist nation does. Why does the U.S. have satelite states, or why are the states so concerned about Russia's influence? Hell this one is too easy! Come on... what do you mean you don't think Americans want others to think the way they do?

As for travel, there are a lot of places that are just not very expensive. Like SE Asia, you can get by with a smallish amount of $. I have been fortunate enough to live in Europe (Cyprus) for 3 years too, so it was cheaper to travel and I was very lucky. Travelling is important, you learn more than you will in a classroom. I appreciate the chance to travel, so I make it a priority. In May, I'm going to Germany for a week (never been). Found a seat sale, have a buddy over there already and need to shore up the time off for work which has never been an issue.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I've got 5 weeks burning a hole in my pocket as I type this!

I know many Canadians do these things at a young age, so that wouldn't really be an issue. Where does an 18 year old get that kind of dough?

You sleep in a hostels, 1 star hotels with prostitutes entertaining clients, or make a save in Norway and sleep in a cave.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I appreciate the chance to travel, so I make it a priority. In May, I'm going to Germany for a week (never been). Found a seat sale, have a buddy over there already and need to shore up the time off for work which has never been an issue.

I'm just like this, traveling is so important to me that I put significant amounts of time/money towards it. I'm going to France in a couple days and I want to head out somewhere exotic (India?) for a couple months in the Fall (present to myself for finishing my PhD).

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I've got 5 weeks burning a hole in my pocket as I type this!

I know many Canadians do these things at a young age, so that wouldn't really be an issue. Where does an 18 year old get that kind of dough?

Probably making the sacrifice of living with their parents for a few more years than they'd want to save up a couple thousand and go on a europe tour. My girlfriend and I looked at doing it around the end of April and it came out surpisingly low for a European trip through Paris, Prague and Frankfurt. Around 3000 per person for a 12 day trip

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I know I am generalizing, but this thread is inherently generalized given the subject. Not all Americans are like this, and I've both been schooled by an American International school and work for an American based company. I know a lot of very good people who are American, and a lot of people who don't agree with American policies. They are just people, I realise that. But that doesn't mean that stereotypes aren't justified. Americans DO want people to think the way they do, and live the way they do. Any imperialist nation does. Why does the U.S. have satelite states, or why are the states so concerned about Russia's influence? Hell this one is too easy! Come on... what do you mean you don't think Americans want others to think the way they do?

As for travel, there are a lot of places that are just not very expensive. Like SE Asia, you can get by with a smallish amount of $. I have been fortunate enough to live in Europe (Cyprus) for 3 years too, so it was cheaper to travel and I was very lucky. Travelling is important, you learn more than you will in a classroom. I appreciate the chance to travel, so I make it a priority. In May, I'm going to Germany for a week (never been). Found a seat sale, have a buddy over there already and need to shore up the time off for work which has never been an issue.

I don't care what other people think. If I did, I wouldn't be very comfortable living here in the States!

So you're saying you can have a good vacation in SE Asia for $500? Come on.

[flamey_mcflame]

PROS

1) HBO
2) NFL
3) warm weather
4) Californians, similar to Canadians, especially Northern California(San Francisco, San Jose). Laid back, nice and funny.

CONS

1) religious fundamentalism in the red states
2) illegal wars pushed by leaders from the red states
3) a culture that seems to thrive on vacuous ideals
4) did I mention the red states?
5) The very real possibility that Sarah Palin could have been the VP of the US
6) Americans, not all, tend to be loud and demanding. I used to work in Banff many moons ago, and our hit rate at guessing Americans was real high.
7) Fox pseudo-news
8) bankrupt economy built on materialism, instant gratification and greed.

If the blue states were to separate from the red states, I would like US much more.

[joe_mullen]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

By Western World, you mean North Americans? Pretty sure they work pretty hard over in Europe. I know Asia doesn't count, but I would never want to work hours in Japan.

I think the US scores low on life expectancy because of health, not how hard they work.

And what do you define by long? 40 hrs a week?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_time

Europeans (on average) work much less than North Americans. For example, France has a mandatory 35 hour work week. A friend of mine is a physician in Italy, where he is not allowed to work more than 40 hours per week. Also, Europeans get a lot more vacation and stat holidays.