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Well, we're coming up on the annual "Canada Day Boastfest of Why Canada is Better than the US", so just open up your eyes and ears over the next two weeks and you'll get plenty of examples of the phenomenon.
Given that the Americans have just had an tragic and unfortunate spate of racial violence, this year should be particularly bountiful.
Well now you might be talking about something other than the discussed obsessive desire to emulate, might you not?
That would indicate anything but the "inferiority complex" or the subliminal and pervasive "big brother envy" as suggested so often on here by some self-flagellating Canuckuckleheads.
Exhibit A: the "What makes you proud about Toronto?" thread.
Something like half the posts are about the U.S. or Toronto/Canada in relation to the U.S.
Not exactly. A lot of those assertions are made by a few posters from America who consistently draw the Toronto vs. Insert U.S. City comparisons. Having lived here for almost a year now, I actually find that there are as much similarities as there are differences between Toronto and your typical American city.
Also, I think it's completely natural to see similarities and comparisons being drawn between Toronto and other U.S. cities - we share the same language, media culture, and there is just so much more interaction between Toronto and other American cities (as evidenced by the huge number of daily flights to almost every major airport hub in America, as well as receiving close to 3 million overnight visitors from America in 2014).
Exhibit A: the "What makes you proud about Toronto?" thread.
Something like half the posts are about the U.S. or Toronto/Canada in relation to the U.S.
That is NOT true AJ - if you look at the thread in question it was an outsider making unnecessary comparisons to other places that precipitated just ONE post about the U.S.. It wasn't a necessary post and uncalled for but the person who stoked the fires there was an outsider from the U.S and they fired the first shot as is often the case..
I think you should read that thread more carefully AJ and look for context.... It certainly isn't half the posts being about the U.S and really someone from the U.S came in and started bringing out the measuring sticks(as this person often does) - NOT a Torontonian.. Let's not be disingenuous - I know you are more honourable a poster than that!
Not exactly. A lot of those assertions are made by a few posters from America who consistently draw the Toronto vs. Insert U.S. City comparisons.
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This is very true... I didn't even read this before responding to AJ - sorry if I sounded like a Parrot but the core group of Toronto posters in these forums are far from being mindless boosters... 95 percent of the time when comparisons are drawn its because outsiders come in and start that nonsense.
PB. you know a couple of things here, and perhaps you ought to admit them:
-- A "British-style" government, is better known as a Westminster parliament. Many countries around the world have them. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand would be the most prominent examples, but you can find others. It works for them.
-- The Queen is Canada's head of state, according to Canada's constitution. She is not "European" or "British" when she acts in Canadian affairs--she is Canadian. You know this, if you are as educated in Canadian constitutional law as you claim to be.
Now, if you feel that, under a republican system, Canada would be better off, you are free to say so. But to claim that Canada has a "British-style government" is to imply that it is still governed by Britain. That is not the case, and you and I both know it. Admit it.
Also, I think it's completely natural to see similarities and comparisons being drawn between Toronto and other U.S. cities - we share the same language, media culture, and there is just so much more interaction between Toronto and other American cities (as evidenced by the huge number of daily flights to almost every major airport hub in America, as well as receiving close to 3 million overnight visitors from America in 2014).
If what you said were true as the reason, you would see Canadian cities being constantly brought up in the American cities forums, but they aren't. The Americans seem doing just fine without talking about Canadians cities at all on a variety of issues.
Despite the similarities, such fascination is not reciprocal, even on the internet.
If what you said were true as the reason, you would see Canadian cities being constantly brought up in the American cities forums, but they aren't. The Americans seem doing just fine without talking about Canadians cities at all on a variety of issues.
Despite the similarities, such fascination is not reciprocal, even on the internet.
C'mon Botti - you deny that in the Toronto/Canada forums it doesn't get its fair share of constant American posters coming in and stirring things up (it may be a select group of recurring characters) but still they are there....
I agree with you that Canadian cities/issues aren't really discussed in the U.S forums (and we are plenty ok with that actually) but within the Canada and Toronto forums we get our quite a few coming in and stirring the pot.. They're either genuinely from the U.S or they are posers and genuinely messed up in the head but to deny their existence is completely off base.
If you look at C v C I haven't once gotten involved in starting a U.S city vs Canadian city thread.. I'll join into already existing one's but I never start it due to an endless fascination with making comparisons.
If what you said were true as the reason, you would see Canadian cities being constantly brought up in the American cities forums, but they aren't. The Americans seem doing just fine without talking about Canadians cities at all on a variety of issues.
Despite the similarities, such fascination is not reciprocal, even on the internet.
Simple. America is the largest, most powerful, and weathiest country in the world. If there such a thing as "capital of the universe", then it'd be America. Canada is more on par with a country like Sweden or Australia in terms of international stature. People talk about America everywhere, and it clearly doesn't have to be reciprocal interest.
If what you said were true as the reason, you would see Canadian cities being constantly brought up in the American cities forums, but they aren't. The Americans seem doing just fine without talking about Canadians cities at all on a variety of issues.
Despite the similarities, such fascination is not reciprocal, even on the internet.
I see Canadian cites brought up often enough on the US forums. Urban Planning often mentions Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto.
There was even a thread started by an American about an article in a Atlanta newspaper comparing Vancouver with Atlanta.
There not as common of course due to the sheer number of threads devoted to the US.
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