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My wife is Canadian and I lived in Ontario for over 15 years so I have a good idea of what Im talking about. Canadians have a serious one way competition with the US that Americans don't even notice its happening. I dont know if its because Canadians feel inadequate next to the US or what. They tend to tell everyone how great they are and their country is (which is simply put, a joke) while the rest of the world doesn't even notice. It comes off as rude and low class but Canadians dont even notice this. I think when people say Canadians are "nice" it is a sly insult. Imagine if you call a guy "nice". He isn't the guy making moves and he isn't the guy getting the girl he's just a "nice" guy. The nice guy finishes last.
Before I lived in Canada I had a better image of Canada than after living there. Yes there are many low class whites in Canada. I dont know if it is more than in America but if I had to bet I would say there is. What is low class is that Canadians are constantly trying to compete with Americans and it comes off as childish. Like this thread has shown, many Canadians get their ideas of America from TV (Honey boo boo) and quick trips through the country. Many have a smug attitude that is simply laughable because Canada is overall a mediocre country. I think it is better than most and would rather live there than Mexico or Russia but I think the so called inferiority complex is indicative of feelings of insecurity due to being next to the USA. Almost all of Canada is undesirable due to the climate and I think the average Canadian town is much more provincial and isolated geographically and culturally than the American counterpart.
@ ILikeMike91: My wife lives in the US and spells American style too. When I was in Canada I noticed many Canadians use American spelling and dont notice. I briefly tried using British or "Canadian" spelling when I lived in Canada but it just didnt feel right. And because some Canadians used American spelling for some words I figured I would just use American spelling.
@Fusion2 I dont know why you would want to freeze oil exports to the US just to get Americans to pay attention to you. That sounds like a child seeking attention from its father. If you want Americans to pay attention to you start becoming more innovative or inventive. Start doing things of significance rather than waiting for Americans to come up with new things. Make a new identifiable culture rather than copying Americans. Then the world will notice you.
My wife is Canadian and I lived in Ontario for over 15 years so I have a good idea of what Im talking about. Canadians have a serious one way competition with the US that Americans don't even notice its happening. I dont know if its because Canadians feel inadequate next to the US or what. They tend to tell everyone how great they are and their country is (which is simply put, a joke) while the rest of the world doesn't even notice. It comes off as rude and low class but Canadians dont even notice this. I think when people say Canadians are "nice" it is a sly insult. Imagine if you call a guy "nice". He isn't the guy making moves and he isn't the guy getting the girl he's just a "nice" guy. The nice guy finishes last.
Before I lived in Canada I had a better image of Canada than after living there. Yes there are many low class whites in Canada. I dont know if it is more than in America but if I had to bet I would say there is. What is low class is that Canadians are constantly trying to compete with Americans and it comes off as childish. Like this thread has shown, many Canadians get their ideas of America from TV (Honey boo boo) and quick trips through the country. Many have a smug attitude that is simply laughable because Canada is overall a mediocre country. I think it is better than most and would rather live there than Mexico or Russia but I think the so called inferiority complex is indicative of feelings of insecurity due to being next to the USA. Almost all of Canada is undesirable due to the climate and I think the average Canadian town is much more provincial and isolated geographically and culturally than the American counterpart.
@ ILikeMike91: My wife lives in the US and spells American style too. When I was in Canada I noticed many Canadians use American spelling and dont notice. I briefly tried using British or "Canadian" spelling when I lived in Canada but it just didnt feel right. And because some Canadians used American spelling for some words I figured I would just use American spelling.
@Fusion2 I dont know why you would want to freeze oil exports to the US just to get Americans to pay attention to you. That sounds like a child seeking attention from its father. If you want Americans to pay attention to you start becoming more innovative or inventive. Start doing things of significance rather than waiting for Americans to come up with new things. Make a new identifiable culture rather than copying Americans. Then the world will notice you.
Canadians so called competition with the US really isn't a competition. It's been my experience that the topic only comes up when someone from the US brings it up. Some Americans have no idea that they sound like braggarts. My conversations with Americans in Canada, in the US and around the world are mostly pleasant and we get along very well. It's ONLY when an American tells me I'm not free ( re guns, or the fact we don't vote directly for our PM ) that I will react. The ignorance of Canada is fine, but when people start with " we protect you " " Canada is the 51st state " and on and on, well as a Canadian I will defend my country. Also if I believe we do something well, I will definitely say it but only if it's been brought up.
It's not Canadians running around screaming " we are the freest nation on earth " and other such nonsense.
I will repeat though, that the majority of Americans I know and meet, are not that way. I guess I choose not to hang around ' white trash ".
Spelling LOL. My ribbing, was just that, with a bit of " you seem to not only be spelling as an American, but thinking like one as well ". It's not really a biggie.
Canadians so called competition with the US really isn't a competition. It's been my experience that the topic only comes up when someone from the US brings it up. Some Americans have no idea that they sound like braggarts. My conversations with Americans in Canada, in the US and around the world are mostly pleasant and we get along very well. It's ONLY when an American tells me I'm not free ( re guns, or the fact we don't vote directly for our PM ) that I will react. The ignorance of Canada is fine, but when people start with " we protect you " " Canada is the 51st state " and on and on, well as a Canadian I will defend my country. Also if I believe we do something well, I will definitely say it but only if it's been brought up.
It's not Canadians running around screaming " we are the freest nation on earth " and other such nonsense.
I will repeat though, that the majority of Americans I know and meet, are not that way. I guess I choose not to hang around ' white trash ".
Spelling LOL. My ribbing, was just that, with a bit of " you seem to not only be spelling as an American, but thinking like one as well ". It's not really a biggie.
I agree that is stupid when Americans say you arent free or you are the 51st state. I apologize for that.
But Americans generally dont focus on Canadians at all while there is a huge swath of Canadians who focus on Americans constantly and try to "one-up" us. Believe me, I lived there. It might only be an Ontario thing. I mean I can count on one hand the number of times Canada has arisen as a topic in the last two years. When I was in Ontario it was every day someone saying something about the Americans and trying to depict Canada as superior. I never imagined Canada would be like that. Yes, it is very annoying and extremely ignorant. It is simple bigotry that stems from feelings of inadequacy.
I have lived almost half my life in Canda and the rest in the US. Canadians focus on Americans on a whole different level. Americans just dont care about Canada and rarely talk about. There is a silly competition that many Canadians have with the US but Americans dont even realize it.
I agree that is stupid when Americans say you arent free or you are the 51st state. I apologize for that.
But Americans generally dont focus on Canadians at all while there is a huge swath of Canadians who focus on Americans constantly and try to "one-up" us. Believe me, I lived there. It might only be an Ontario thing. I mean I can count on one hand the number of times Canada has arisen as a topic in the last two years. When I was in Ontario it was every day someone saying something about the Americans and trying to depict Canada as superior. I never imagined Canada would be like that. Yes, it is very annoying and extremely ignorant. It is simple bigotry that stems from feelings of inadequacy.
I have lived almost half my life in Canda and the rest in the US. Canadians focus on Americans on a whole different level. Americans just dont care about Canada and rarely talk about. There is a silly competition that many Canadians have with the US but Americans dont even realize it.
I like your posts and agree with a lot of what you say. It's unfortunate that some Canadians do this.
Overall I do think that Canada is every bit as good a country as the U.S. is, although each country has things it is better at.
Food for thought. This was originally published in Maclean's magazine.
Note this was a "Canada Day" special. It's odd how so much of the Canada Day banter (both in the media and around the BBQ) revolves around how Canada does this and that better than States.
Note this was a "Canada Day" special. It's odd how so much of the Canada Day banter (both in the media and around the BBQ) revolves around how Canada does this and that better than States.
Dommage...
YES that article is EXACTLY what Im talking about!
Another note I made is that Quebecers dont have the same obsession with the US. They have their own rich culture, language and history. They are culturally equal to other countries in all but name because they still only a province and have the Canadian federal government. But I think it is interesting that they dont have this insecurity and have their own identity just like Mexicans or Brazilians dont base their identity on competition with the US.
YES that article is EXACTLY what Im talking about!
Another note I made is that Quebecers dont have the same obsession with the US. They have their own rich culture, language and history. They are culturally equal to other countries in all but name because they still only a province and have the Canadian federal government. But I think it is interesting that they dont have this insecurity and have their own identity just like Mexicans or Brazilians dont base their identity on competition with the US.
People in Quebec have other hangups, though! But not this one...
Oh sorry Im not saying "cheque" or "colour"....I live in the US now and go to school and work here. Its outdated and most native English speakers in the world use American English. Guess what I dont have the stereotypical Canadian accent either.
*Gasp* Shame on you, ILM!
Actually, "cheque" is British spelling, NOT Canadian. Same with "colour," "centre," "labour," analyse," "paralyse," "oestregen, "whilst," "draught," etc. Some of these, Canadians use; for others, they employ American spelling (I guess only a certain number of American spellings are acceptable in the Canadian forums. Beyond that, one runs the risk of being snickered at (another Britishism)).
Though I have British parents and use Brit spellings occasionally, I actually think some of them are kind of pretentious and prefer the American.
I agree that is stupid when Americans say you arent free or you are the 51st state. I apologize for that.
But Americans generally dont focus on Canadians at all while there is a huge swath of Canadians who focus on Americans constantly and try to "one-up" us. Believe me, I lived there. It might only be an Ontario thing. I mean I can count on one hand the number of times Canada has arisen as a topic in the last two years. When I was in Ontario it was every day someone saying something about the Americans and trying to depict Canada as superior. I never imagined Canada would be like that. Yes, it is very annoying and extremely ignorant. It is simple bigotry that stems from feelings of inadequacy.
I have lived almost half my life in Canda and the rest in the US. Canadians focus on Americans on a whole different level. Americans just dont care about Canada and rarely talk about. There is a silly competition that many Canadians have with the US but Americans dont even realize it.
I'm perfectly aware that Americans don't focus on Canada. However I still say that there is NO inferiority complex in Canada. This is an illusion that seems to exist mainly in the minds of Americans, when Canadians defend, or dare I say, start to talk like Americans in regards to their own country
What you see as competition, I see as a defence against lies told about Canada. The healthcare debate is a prime example.
Are there some blind patriots in Canada? Sure. They exist everywhere, but I would bet that there are more in the US. Just look how blindly people followed Bush and his little war.
Actually, "cheque" is British spelling, NOT Canadian. Same with "colour," "centre," "labour," analyse," "paralyse," "oestregen, "whilst," "draught," etc. Some of these, Canadians use; for others, they employ American spelling (I guess only a certain number of American spellings are acceptable in the Canadian forums. Beyond that, one runs the risk of being snickered at (another Britishism)).
Though I have British parents and use Brit spellings occasionally, I actually think some of them are kind of pretentious and prefer the American.
Another American spelling that Canadians use. That one's acceptable, but gawd forbid one use the ghastly "check."
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