Mods Move to OT board please: A (small) portion of this board loves to hate on the US

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Dion

My sister works as a teacher in Denver. She often comments about how little Americans know about thier country and especially Canada. Some kids still think we have Cowboys and Indians up here and that we live in Igloo's in the winter.

If I live to be a 100 I'll never forget the two hicks in Jackson Mississippi asking me(and being serious) if I drove a mercury pickup truck. Crazy part was they thought mercury was a canadian company,when I told them it was just a part of ford they just looked at each other in disbelief.

I laughed so hard I could have been shot

I think the movie "dumb & dumber" was inspired by these guys.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

Canadians OTOH essentially have a built in envy and an inferiority complex that is manifested by a need to point out how bad and stupid Americans are at any opportunity to compensate.

Oy Vey. Criticism equals envy, gotcha! Not sure if this post was a clever troll, or you just hamfisted your way into showing why other countries, not just us inferior Canadians, find some Americans unbearable.

[Montana Moe]

Hey, I was doing my best to stay out of this thread...

I understand what you're saying, SeattleFlamer, and I agree that I won't ever "get" the inferiority complex, if that's what you (not me) want to call it.

I love Canada, I have family there, as well as friends that I've met through this board. I could live there in a heartbeat. I root for their teams and athletes in every situation that doesn't involve defeating U.S. teams/athletes. I follow Canadian pop culture, politics, etc. With that said, I obviously have a stake in the game.

If I discuss anything Canadian with "typical" Americans, they really couldn't care less. I agree that many see Canada as "U.S.A. Lite", but I'll likely never understand the need to compare the two.

Of course, when we eventually become MexAmeriCanada, it won't really matter. We'll be one big, happy, homogenous gumbo.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

A typical American see Canadians in the same view as a New Yorker would see a Washingtonian...American in all but name.

Look at it this way: Americans are actually Canadian, in all but name.

I can't imagine any American having a problem with that sentiment. Can you?

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

Canadians OTOH essentially have a built in envy and an inferiority complex that is manifested by a need to point out how bad and stupid Americans are at any opportunity to compensate.

"Bla bla bla you are jealous and obsessed and yada yada yada". Original stuff.

We all marveled at how you could land a goddamn car on Mars last week. Nobody else can do that.

We also marveled at how a chicken sandwich was the bigger story. Nobody else can do that, either.

[FlyingDonutz]

[Montana Moe]

^ Now, that's just not fair.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by nik-

Oy Vey. Criticism equals envy, gotcha! Not sure if this post was a clever troll, or you just hamfisted your way into showing why other countries, not just us inferior Canadians, find some Americans unbearable.

Whatever...my opinion as a Canadian looking in.

As per the OP, you probably can see why "these superior" Americans find some Canadians unbearable with all the negativity towards their (my) country.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

The irony of course is how Canadians love American culture via the internet, movies, tv, music, shopping, American products and prices. Canadians are and have been economically dependent on the the States since Confederation even to the extent that trade between the provinces and the US is easier than interprovincial trade because of artificially created provincial tariffs.

Canadians compare themselves on every level to America that borders on paranoia like daily local news updates on how the loonie is doing versus the greenback. You don't see that in the States even in border towns.

Why would Americans care what the exchange rate is unless they're planning a trip to Canada? Do you seriously not recognize why the CAD/USD exchange rate is much more important to Canadians than it is to Americans due to the relative scale of the countries' economies?

And what cultural neurosis is behind the daily news updates on commodity prices? Do you really think the price of silver has more of an impact on daily life than the CAD/USD exchange rate?

I think Americans would be shocked and confused how disliked they are by their closest relatives since we are so similar. A typical American see Canadians in the same view as a New Yorker would see a Washingtonian...American in all but name. Certainly differently than the perception towards Europeans or Mexicans.

Canadians OTOH essentially have a built in envy and an inferiority complex that is manifested by a need to point out how bad and stupid Americans are at any opportunity to compensate.

There is a bit of an inferiority complex in Canada, I'll agree with that. But it's a huge stretch to suggest that criticisms of the United States are somehow rooted in that or that they're less valid because of it. Pretty much the entire world sees the same things and that's a populace that is relatively ignorant of the world around them one that leads a very insular life. How many world powers have had a vice presidential candidate who had left their own country once in their life? A lot of the stuff said about the US is certainly over the top, but when it comes to peoples' ignorance I think it's apt based on my personal experiences (years worth of travel through 40+ states).

Personally I've found the United States to be largely the opposite of what I'd perceived their reputation to be. When I was younger and before I'd spent a ton of time there I expected the people to be fairly brash but for the standard of living and the quality of the infrastructure to be high. But I've found it to be largely the opposite. The people I've encountered have been almost universally nice and easy going but I've also been shocked at just how shoddy most of the country is in terms of both infrastructure and living standards. There are huge swaths of the United States that are in worse shape than anything I've ever seen in Canada.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

We all marveled at how you could land a goddamn car on Mars last week. Nobody else can do that.

We also marveled at how a chicken sandwich was the bigger story. Nobody else can do that, either.

I suck at short-hand. You sir, have nailed it!

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

WRONG!!!!! First off convicted felons can not legally purchase firearms. Secondly a lot of states do not allow you to own fully automatic weapons. The ones that do require a more stringent screening process and a tax on top of it to obtain a fully automatic weapon. However a semi automatic rifle or handgun can be obtained in 20 mins by filling out paperwork and having the seller call in for a background check.

That being said.. I'm American and I'm proud to be one. I dont deny that we have problems. We have lots but I also still think this is a great country to live in. I dont know why Canadians have such a problem with Americans. I really dont see that much of a difference between us. I could easily move to Calgary and not really have to much of a culture or system shock. The only differences would be its a lot colder there in the winter, poutine, more hockey and...... you guys cant win as many medals in the Summer olympics..

Dude.. I live in Kansas. The uzi reference was just a joke. I was trying to be 'ironic.' lol

That's another thing I hate about Americans though.. their knee jerk reactions to everything.

[Barnet Flame]

There are a lot of holes in what Seattle Flamer has posted and some of the conclusions he makes on ordinary occurances are bizarre and off the mark.

One of the most obvious misinterpretations he makes is on exchange rates. Go to any newspaper's website in just about any country - they ALL compare the local currency to the greenback.

I'm in the UK and every news bulletin business segment as well as reporting on the major bourses, report on the Pound relative to the Dollar, Euro and Yen - all the time. It is a vital business indicator common throughout the world and not the dick measuring contest inferred.

[Devils'Advocate]

I'm not "envious" of the United States. If I had any belief whatsoever that it was a better country than Canada, I would have moved there years ago. I've had plenty of opportunity (job offers) over the years. I wouldn't even contemplate it. How does that Sloan song go? "The only thing I know about the rest of my life is that I'll be living it in Canada".

- We do a better (not great, but better) job of taking care of the weakest among us. There is less of a gap between the rich and the poor.
- There is more of an acceptance of immigrants. My workplace is quite the mix of nationalities and many of them have horror stories of friends and relatives that tried moving to the United States. Several of them, honours students at foreign universities had their choice of where they wanted to live their life and their families suggested that they live here rather than the U.S. since they know we would welcome them more than our neighbour to the south. A very good friend of mine took a 1 year assignment in Baltimore. She had her project sabotaged because she is Muslim.
- We criticize our health care system, but my family and I have never had reason to complain. Whereas, even with Obamacare, you still have to go through a third party insurance company that is out for profit... and that's just wrong.
- The belief that their country is NOT ONLY THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, but that God created the world FOR THEM TO BE THE GREATEST. "God Bless America (and screw the rest of the world)" It's one thing to be proud of the country you live in... but this is so far beyond being proud that it believes that they can do no wrong. One reason it is so hard to enact change is because it is hard for people to admit that the status quo isn't the right thing. If they adopted Canadian-style health care, that would suggest that we were right and they were wrong, and that just can't be so.

If anything I have an arrogant superiority complex. So I don't get this "envy" and "inferiority complex" terms that get thrown around in this discussion.

-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-

One funny observation I have noticed over the last few days is regarding Usain Bolt. He is obviously one of the most arrogant, classless, unsportsmanlike arses on the planet. But because he's from Jamaica, we love him to death. If he was American, we'd tear him to shreds. "Greatness has been found" gets us upset while "I'm the greatest athlete to ever live" gets a big thumbs up. What's up with that?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Just a few quick points.

I like the USA, although drinking with my buddies I'd never admit it. Not because I secretly hate the US but because ragging on it can be fun. Same reason we joke about how dumb Newfie are, in reality some of the smartest people I know are from Newfoundland, some of my closest friends, I love partying there, with them, and would do basically anything they ask. But dumb Newfie jokes are fun, in good fun, nothing more.

As for the US, isay it's just like Canada but a little off. Not off in a bad way, Americans coming to Canada would say the same thing. At a glance it's the same with minor things different. It's hard to pinpoint exactly.

I've found Americans very friendly and knowledgeable, I don't expect them to pick out Nova Scotia on a map, or know a lot about it. When they do I think it's cool. One guy said to me, oh yeah Nova Scotia, that's the province that's a 6 on top of a 7? I was impressed and told him I was from the 6.

Last time in the States I discussed the Canadian Healthcare system with random Joe Blow in the bleachers of Fenway. You can't fault people for nit knowing something they never had the opportunity to learn. And why would they? Think about it, how much do you know about Mexico? Really? Do they have Stares, provinces, territories, counties, if so how many? How many cities over 1,000,000 does it have? Where are they? I think it's easy for us to say the US knows nothing about us, yet we don't look in the mirror when it comes to us and other countries.

A few weeks ago I was at a friends wedding where the bide was from Georgia, they had friends and family from all over the Southern US. I was amazed at how much they knew about Canada, down to obscure court procedures, and geography.

One think I do have trouble talking to Americans on is the weather. Not because of them but both of us. I don't know how to convert negative C temperatures to F, and vice versa nor do they. Might as well tell the other in the winter the temperature drops to placemat.

Here is a serious question for Americans. I was outside a department store in Maine, and started chatting to this old man, who clearly had some health problems. He started telling me about how he was shot in Vietnam, etc. I honestly didnt know how to respond. Canada didn't support the Vietnam War, we tend to treat our soldiers very well after their service (I can't say enough good things about how my grandparents have been treated by DVA). I also don't know anyone that's been shot (or told me, as I think of it my grandfather HAD to have taken a bullet at some point in WWII knowing the battles he was in). How do you respond to a stranger telling you his ailments from Vietnam, I feel for the guy, but can't affirm him being there, not being American I can't thank him for his service as he didn't serve me or my country. It was awkward, and I feel bad. Thoughts?

Tl;dr USA = a ok, it's both similar & dissimilar to Canada, how do you to a Vietnam vet as a Canadian in the States?

[Bigtime]

PIMking: Your avatar is flying two flags, I'm alerting Fox News.

[Caged Great]

I am not envious of anything. America is not better than Canada in some aspects, and is better in others. That said, with the 2nd amendment being in effect, I would not move to the states pretty much under any circumstance. Gun nuts are nuts. I also do not like their propensity to elect complete morons into office. Seriously I would take a random grouping of people on here and put them in their spots and feel that it would be a ton better.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I also do not like their propensity to elect complete morons into office. Seriously I would take a random grouping of people on here and put them in their spots and feel that it would be a ton better.

New thread potential spotted!

[Table 5]

Some random thoughts from a guy who grew up in Canada and lived the last 8 years in NY (keep in mind though, NY is NOT the US) and has an American wife.

America is just the extreme version of Canada. What's better is a lot better, and what's worse is a lot worse.

People there don't hate Canada, disrespect Canada, or dislike Canada. They just don't care about Canada. It would be like asking you what you thought of Singapore. They know that Canadians like hockey. Montreal is a great party town, and that Toronto is the capital of Canada.

As a Canadian, it can be frustrating to think how someone wouldn't care about their neighbor. But don't worry, they don't care about a lot of countries. New Yorkers don't even care about America.

Most Americans are functionally stupid. Smart about what they need to know....but don't give a crap about anything they don't, and don't care. That's the bad news.

The good news is that America also has some of the smartest people in the world. They run things even if the other 90% are morons. They used to be a lot better at attracting these smart people however, but its still an amazing hive of really smart people doing really smart things.

Canada has dumb ignorant morons too....they are just slightly less dumb, ignorant, and moronic on average.

Americans have balls and take chances. That's the best part of America. Some of the best things in our life have originated in America because people took chances. They innovate and dream less than they used to however, which is a real shame, but still produce fantastic things.

Canadians don't really take chances, and don't dream big. That's often the worst part of Canada...the lack of balls.

Canadians always seem to look down on Americans, yet at the drop of any mention of Canada in the US media, they jizz their pants. There is still a ton of insecurity and need to gain acceptance. Educating Americans on Canada seems like the job of every Canadian. When it comes to this issue, Canadians come across insecure as hell.

And last but not least, there ARE two Americas. Don't compare what you see in the midwest to what you see in NY or Boston or SF. They are separate countries and separate mindsets.

[Lobotroth]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Montreal is a great party town, and that Toronto is the capital of Canada.

It is?

[Table 5]

Woosh.

[Lobotroth]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Woosh.

Oh I see.