neilz0r

Alright, I was just reading the thread about how people percieve Americans and this made me curious. I'm from Canada, and I'd really be interested in knowing how people from various countries see Canadians.

Reading through the post about Americans I noticed several people referred to Canadians as Americans as well. I have to admit that this slightly upset me, as I feel we Canadians have a distinct culture of our own.

Do other people see Canadians as Americans? or do you see us as our own people? or just throw in anything you wanna say

Glory's Sun

I see Canadians as totally seperate people..I joke sometimes and call Canada America Jr. but it's all in jest.

Atanvarno

I have only met one Canadian really ... so haven't made up much of an opinino on the matter but I don't think of them as "United States of America ns"

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Memorization is a poor excuse for intelligence." - Cesar Martinez-Garza (1973 ->) -

I2icky

i'm Canadian and altho i agree that we're getting americanized (with all the american stores opening up here and american tv) i still think that we have a distinct culture of our own

and btw, we do not live in igloos or have polar bears instead of cars.

and o yes, we have a summer season. Quite hot actually too

madsenj37

Honestly, we know Canada is a beautiful place with a socialist government that seems to be working. In joking, we see Canada as Americas attic or full of people who say eh and aboot.

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"Only two things are certain: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe."
-- Albert Einstein

krwlz

Most of us see canadians as easy going people...Never do crime or anything, etc...

VirFighter

I have a canadian friend that gets very offensive when someone refers to them as americans or american like. On the outside they don't seem that different but when you look at the actual people there are some major differences. I think too it depends on which part of Canada they are from. A French-Canadian is most likely pretty different from say someone from Alberta.

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"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

GakFace

I kenw a French-Canadian, he was a cool guy. That was the first Canadian I spoke with on a MSGER list. Then i met about 3-4 in or around Alberta area. Yeah they are americanizING, but they're still Canadians. We just like to make fun of 'em, why? not a single clue. But most Canadians realize that its just a dumb joke, and that no harm was intended. Heck one of my Canadian friends calls Canada, Little America

Don't worry, You're not American, if you were then how else could we say, BLAME CANADA!!! hehehe.... thats how you know

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RoboBlaster:
Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

lafemmefatale

Quebec is pretty distinct in culture...they get all the money for it from the feds, meanwhile the west is suckered out of everything [only way to get fed support now is to win the winter olympics bid] Don't get me wrong I adore Quebec [currently fluent in french], but as a British Columbian, I find the fed gov't attitude really just awful, they make it so Ontario is basically a replica of America and think Quebec has enough culture for all the rest of the country. Meanwhile, the west is isolated and the maritimes' population is dwindlig down to nil. I'm not blaming Quebec, I'm blaming the feds, just because they live in central Canada doesn't mean all the money should stay there. [begin plug] Vancouver is a great place with tons of talented artists, a spectacular environment, it's got the healthiest ppl in all of Canada...it attracts a lot of tourism...[end plug] and it would attract more if there was more money for it. So...quit hoggin' the $$$

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-poor is the man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another-

onodrim

Well, I've never met a Canadian, nor been to the country. Yet somehow, I have a love for the place, as if going there would solve all my problems. Can't explain it, at all. I guess you just exude goodness.

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"The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides"
-Carl Sagan

Mango

I'm Canadian. I see Canadians as a mixed bag of everything. The area I live in has a lot of '60s draft dodgers who you would not ever think of as Americans. We have loud mouthed rednecks & soft spoken rednecks, we have loud mouthed budgies (new aged hippies) and soft spoken budgies. When I go down to the states I notice the biggest difference is the American in your face patriotic attitude and the "It's my right to do what ever the hell I want, I'm an American." attitude. I'm not saying that all Americans are like that but the ones that are standout so boldly that they make up for the majority of the "normal" people.

warrrreagl

I think perceptions of Canadians are region-specific. Growing up in the Southern United States, I regarded Canadians as not much different than rich Yankees passing through in big Buicks on their way to Florida. We could always count on Canadians to stop at the "alligator farms." In fact, someone once said that there wouldn't have been any reptile farms in the South if it hadn't been for Canadians.

I welcome this thread, and I hope you don't have any paper-thin-skinned Canadians responding indignantly the way a few redneck seppos responded to mine.

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Living is easy with eyes closed.

Glory's Sun

Vancouver rocks.. the best city in Canada as far as I'm concerned

neilz0r

That's awesome
Seriously, that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside
heheheh...

Yeah, Vancouver is pretty sweet, i lived there for a while.... GReat skiiing . But my home is on the east coast and i love it here too.

keep up the responses, I'm lovin it

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Beware the fury of a patient man...

pangavan

Ive spent alot of time in Canada,(B.C.,Ontario, and Quebec), IMHO the countryside is beautiful, the cities are cleaner, and on average the people are friendlier. The only times I ever had a problem up there I started it. I dont want to start trouble in here so I wont mention politics.

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He is, moreover, a frequent drunkard, a glutton, and a patron of ladies who are no better than they should be.

Fly

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.



a friend once told me that(now there's no offence here whatsoever)

canada is bigger and we are on top.

I AM A CANADIAN

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BASTARD

SterlingStudios

neilz0r

ROFL oh man I never heard that one before
Stay proud flyman

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Beware the fury of a patient man...

Janie

I've lived for a long time in Vancouver, and the city is great. I'd love to visit the east coast sometime, I hear it's one of the most beautiful places on earth.

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cheers to the motherland

Fly

proud as proud can be....

CANADA RULES

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BASTARD

SterlingStudios

Double D

I'm a Canadian who has lived in the States since age six. My family has a summer home on a lake about 100 miles north of Toronto, and my entire extended family lives in Ontario, so I still have pretty close ties to Canada. I spent all my summers up there with my extended family. My cousins used to call me a *yankee,* which I always resented.

At one point in my adulthood, I got sick of not being able to vote in the American elections and I obtained the paperwork needed to apply for US citizenship. I was humming along, filling things out, when I got to the part where I had to *renounce* Canada ( in case the US & Canada ever went to war against each other). I couldn't do it. I would have felt like a complete traitor.

Interesting sidenote for a Canadian obtaining American citizenship. Canada still recognizes you as a Canadian, i.e. allows you to have duel citizenship, but the US does _not_ recognize you as a Canadian. I find that pretty funky.

I always find visiting Ontario, intriguing though. Canadians _are_ different. They are absolutely more polite and not in-your-face patriotic. I think American tourists sometimes come off as rude & loud, and not just in Canada. I can't figure out why you guys do that- guess it's just more acceptable here.

I love both countries- my husband & kids are Americans- and I think of myself as a Canadian/American.

ghostbuster

ok well.. I am canadian... and i call it little america.. I really dont see the differences in the two countries... yes the americans go to war more, but thats all ive seen.. there is violence here too, something in the news localy is double murder suspect kills himself, last year my school had 3 bomb threats (we didnt even leave the building... bullshit i say!!) and false fire alarms for about two weeks straight.. there was a big gang fight by my school last month, between white people and east indians.. so yeah... its very peacful you know.. they only used the soft kinds of chains with big steel hooks on the end... our dollars worth less, but going up, and we are above the us... i dont know about american government agencies but canadian ones are lazy and are all assholes

GakFace

oh, we spend a couple grand on toilet seats!!!

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RoboBlaster:
Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

guthmund

Never been to Canada myself, but my Grandmother married a Canadian after her first husband died.

He once told me.."If you live a good life and do well by others you might get to go to Canada....else you'll have to settle for Heaven."

Canada seems to be the quiet neighbor of the world.

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Frowning Budah

I am like onodrim. For what ever reason I kind of see Canada as a Utopia. Maybe because we never hear anything really bad abt Canada.

gibber71

I'm a Canadian but I don't think that way,patriotically speaking. I have spent alot of time in the states and love it down there,especially in New England. They have got to have the friendliest people in the world and the best lobster. Of course we Canadians have much better beer.

Mondak

I used to think Canada was our ally and our friend. Now I think they are becoming more and more self interested and less interested in the common good. It disapoints me.

As far as actual folks from Canada, I like 'em. Every one I have met has been a pretty good egg.

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All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

bullgoose

Living in central New York as I do, I know what ALL central New Yorkers know; CANADIANS ARE TRYING TO TAKE THE UNITED STATES OVER!!
They send us the horrible winter weather we suffer through 8 months out of the year; they come across the border and act all friendly-like, but WE KNOW!! They want to enslave us; force us to consume maple syrup at every meal, worship beavers and watch nothing but hockey on tv. Oh, yeah and wear nothing but flannel shirts nd end evey sentance with "eh?", even if we're NOT asking a question!
DARN YOU CANADIANS!! DARN YOU TO HECK!!!!

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"If I had it to do all over,
I'd do it all over you."

Tirian

That's funny bullgoose.

I'm sitting in my office right now, having had maple syrup on my french toast for breakkie, looking at my red flannel shirt hangin' on the hook, and lookin' forward to the start of the Stanley Cup finals. Am I Canadian eh ?

splck

I think Canadians and Americans have some similarities, but we have many differences. You won't find much flag waving, in your face patriotism, but don't let that think we are not proud of our country and for what it stands for. I really like the fact that we are recognized around the world as a peaceful, caring, welcoming society with all the freedom to do what we want and when we want to do it. Every country has its warts, and we certainly have ours, but overall I can't think of a place I'd rather call home.
Thanks Mom and Dad for immigrating here!


Imagine that... a country exercising it's sovereignty. Last time I checked we were a free and independent country, able to do what we like for any reason we want. (Much like your country does). It makes me happy.

I feel the same way towards your folks

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nice line eh?

suviko

The french speaking canadians seem to be culturally separated from both americans and other canadians, but otherwise an average canadian seems pretty much like an american in my eyes. A bit less patriotic perhaps and a bit less agressive.

The climate and nature (in souther part of Canada) are some what similar in Finland & Canada so I think finns feel more connected to canadians then americans.

Double D

I know this is your opinion Mondak, but I feel I have to comment.

It sounds as if your comment is based on Canada's desire to avoid engagement in the Iraq invasion.
This in no way reflects Canada's lack of interest in the *common good,* just lack of agreement with the US.

Canada is the biggest importer of US goods and vice-versa. We need each other.

IMO, the US could not ask for a better neighbor than Canada.

Double D

I thought you Americans already worshipped beavers.

And I'd rather watch an exciting, fast-paced hockey game than boring old baseball.

Miekle

Canadians do have thier own distinct culture neilz0r. The thing about America is that it has almost every culture is mixed in it from around the world. I live in Michigan so I see canadians every now and then since they are our neighbors, but when I do and they are down here I consider them American because they have to abide by the same rules while down here. And they might not even just be visiting they could be living here theres no true way to tell. A person doesn't just change because he moved and is American all of a sudden, he just gets certain freedoms and laws that he didn't have where he used to live.

Mondak

I am in on the Sovereignty argument. I like it when countries think for themselves. We have great neighbors to the North and I can't think of too many border nations that have a better relationship. I just kinda think that the decision making process was flawed by emotion, but then again most of them are.

/ flamebait/ I have to admit that every once in a while I wonder if the continent would be better off if we had fufilled the Manifest Destiny. / flamebait/

Double D

If we Canadians ever expressed our true feelings in re: SOME Americans, there wouldn't just be flames, there'd be an inferno!

But we are too polite for that.

splck

All I can say to that is I'm very glad it wasn't fufilled

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nice line eh?

bullgoose

You know, as I was typing that, I just KNEW someone would have to comment; Yes, it's true, the patriotic American male DOES worship the beaver, but NOT beavers that are smeared with maple syrup!! (whipped cream IS acceptable, though). As far as baseball vs. hockey , it's obvious that the Canadian mentality is incapable of understanding the subtlties of baseball (like the designated hitter rule); if I ever figure them out, I will be sure to post them, eh? And how come it's always CANADIAN bacon? I propose that true Americans only eat NORTH AMERICAN bacon.

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"If I had it to do all over,
I'd do it all over you."

Double D

You _do_ eat North American bacon. One cannot get real Canadian bacon in the States, it's some kind of weird ham-like product instead.

And in re: American sports: You play football funny.

neilz0r

I'd say you hit the nail right on the head
first of all, the maritimes has better lobster, don't fool yourself hehehhe
And yes, Canadian men are much hotter

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Beware the fury of a patient man...

bullgoose

Wait a minute; you're telling me that bacon comes from PIGS?!?!? I thought it GREW; on a PLANT, and you're saying it comes from cute little PIGGIES?!?! Oh, my God, have you Canadians no SHAME??? What do you do with the rest of the pig, make footballs so you can play your perverted CANADIAN version of FOOTBALL?!?!?! You people are worst than AUSTRALIANS; at least Australian rules football has lots of blood an mayhem.

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"If I had it to do all over,
I'd do it all over you."