What do Americans think of Canadians generally?

[shecky]

Exactly, and the same thing can be said about us French Canadians not being very fond of the rest of Canadians, a sad fact but true.

This is simple to understand, French Quebecers people's ancestry comes from the French while the rest of Canada was an English colony just like the US was originally.

So there are huge difference in cultures because of that, i think we might even get along better if Quebec was finally separated from Canada.

I have been to Quebec a couple times. I speak passable French, though not quite what Quebecois believe to be French. I was treated like I was purposely assaulting the language. I tried and was given no credit for it.

I have to admit that my distaste (in general, not pointed to you Stef) of Quebecois is from childhood. They descended in droves on the beaches of Maine and acted as if they owned the place. It was off-putting, to say the least.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

unfortunately Americans generally seem to think they are the center of the universe and that all the other countries are a background for movies or something.

And we tend to see Americans as being a war oriented nation

American people are really good hearted people and very welcoming as long as you don't step on their toes and just go along their line of thoughts so to speak.

I get into soooo much crap for saying these things!!


Good luck with it, tell me how it works out for you

 

[Stef1966]

Canadians have no regard for the rules of the road. (Very aggressive drivers)

That is so very true, the police officers here are very laid back on the speeding laws (at least here in Quebec) on the highways, on the other hand they are being sometimes overzealous on rural roads and in cities.

So people tend to drive fast on the highways here with a wild attitude.
We use the two lanes as described:
right lane: "used if you wanna drive slowly"
Left lane: "used to drive fast, if you wanna drive slow, get the f*ck outa the way cause youre blocking the fast drivers and this is considered an offense and people will flash their lights and honk at you".

Also, our restaurants and foods show both sides of the spectrum, we have fine cuisine like the French and Europe, and we also got Fast food like McDonald's Burger King and such...

 

[Parker36]

Also, our restaurants and foods show both sides of the spectrum, we have fine cuisine like the French and Europe, and we also got Fast food like McDonald's Burger King and such...

We do have food other than McDonalds down here, you know

 

[Stef1966]

I have to admit that my distaste (in general, not pointed to you Stef) of Quebecois is from childhood. They descended in droves on the beaches of Maine and acted as if they owned the place. It was off-putting, to say the least.

That is sad, probably just a bunch of ******* that wanted to look tuff...

And you know, i have heard countless stories of people from the states crossing over and raiding the bars on our side, acting also.. as complete asses... *LOL*

Maybe it's a completely human thing to when being in a foreign country, to act like nobody will know you anyways... so it's like being anonymous in a way.

I think this could be a big part of such an attitude

 

[CBBaron]

Don't know many French Canadians but the Canadians I have met are generally very similar to Americans. Not saying Canada is an American state or mini-US but just that the cultures have more in common than they have different. In fact I think Midwesterners and the Canadians across the border are more similar in culture than Americans from areas like the South or the West coast.

What i don't understand is why there is still a movement to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada after all this time. I see the differences as more made up than real.

Craig

 

[Stef1966]

We do have food other than McDonalds down here, you know

*LOL* you are right, im sorry, badly put, my bad...

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

We do have food other than McDonalds down here, you know

We have a Burger King here too!

 

[Stef1966]

This thread is fun so far...

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

This thread is fun so far...

Canadians all suck, and I hate the way they suck. They are ugly too! Especially Celine Dion......


Oh yeah, you all smell funny.

 

[Fingers]

It's pretty hard to stereotype two nations as large as ours. Canada has the second largest land mass in the world so there are bound to be profound regional variations in population 'cultures' and customs. The US has over 300 million people and is fairly vast in itself, so ditto.

Some Canadians might say 'aboot', but I don't know any. We don't all use eh? at the end of every sentence any more than every American uses y'all instead of you yet the impression persists. Even the time of year can play a role. I live in a town where we get overrun by tourii every summer. That really pisses some people off so they get cranky. When they get cranky the tourii get cranky and each thinks the other is being a ******. Good days, bad days...

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Ummmm, people are people no matter what country they come from. Seriously, even people from extremist muslim nations, communist dictatorship run countries. It always surprises me when people try to group a large segment of the population in a box and say, "People from xyz country are like 'blah blah blah'". It's totally dependent on the sample size, and what you find if you have a big enough sample is that there are good ones, bad ones, fat ones, skinny ones, nice ones, a$$holes, religious ones, atheists, stinky ones, hot ones, and the list goes on. I try to meet people individually with no expectations or preconceived notions about what they "should" be like based on their country of origin, color, or accent.

That being said, Canadians are a bunch of weirdos for living up there in the dam tundra! Except for those who race dirt bikes on the ice...those guys are OK. :rockin:

 

[menschmaschine]

I saw a Simpsons the other night where they went to England and Homer was talking about Canada:

But we Americans are England's children! I know we don't call as often as we should, and we aren't as well behaved as our goody-two-shoes brother, Canada. Who by the way has never had a girlfriend. (whispers) I'm just sayin'…

I've only been to Montréal and near Niagara and had overall good experiences. I found the French Canadians to be much more amiable than the French.

Americans in general are overly ethno-centric. I wish more Americans would, or would have the opportunity to, travel abroad... if anything to remind us that the world doesn't revolve around us. It's strange, compared to other countries, how many Americans don't have a passport.

 

[Stef1966]

What i don't understand is why there is still a movement to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada after all this time. I see the differences as more made up than real.

It is the different background, different History and culture that makes it that it just doesn't work for Canadians and French Canadians.

The Canadians are pissed at us for insisting on our cultural differences (French speaking being one), while we on our part, always feel like we're not really wanted and welcomed within Canada.

I know it looks goofy, but the differences are real.

 

[JVD_X]

We think enough of Canadians not to invade.

 

[Parker36]

IIt's strange, compared to other countries, how many Americans don't have a passport.

I think this may be for two reasons:

1) Our country is so huge and diverse you can see almost every environment possible without leaving the country
2) Our Passports are ugly as hell

 

[Stef1966]

Canadians all suck, and I hate the way they suck. They are ugly too! Especially Celine Dion......


Oh yeah, you all smell funny.

*LMAO* +1 on making me blow out beer from my nose, i never experienced that before

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

What? No love for Canadian strip clubs???

 

[JVD_X]

I saw a Simpsons the other night where they went to England and Homer was talking about Canada:


I've only been to Montréal and near Niagara and had overall good experiences. I found the French Canadians to be much more amiable than the French.

Americans in general are overly ethno-centric. I wish more Americans would, or would have the opportunity to, travel abroad... if anything to remind us that the world doesn't revolve around us. It's strange, compared to other countries, how many Americans don't have a passport.

I always meet Americans when I travel - no matter where I am... so I think it's rather a myth that Americans don't travel as much. Also, we are not talking apples to apples here. Traveling from Switzerland, to Germany, to Belgium is like going from Maryland to DC to Virgina in the US.

A lot of Europeans are forced to take time off of work... so they travel or vacation during that time - its amazing how much more you can do with an extra 3-4 weeks off in a year and to boot a lot of people outside the US travel to find work.

 

[shecky]

What? No love for Canadian strip clubs???

OK, OK, Windsor FTW:rockin:

 

[olllllo]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vgVj3P7cwI]YouTube - Celine Dion & Anastacia You Shook Me All Night Long Live Divas Las Vegas[/ame]

 

[Parker36]

I'm fairly positive Celine Dion has some undiagnosed mental disorder. The sad thing is, nobody will ever say anything because they think she is just "eccentric"

 

[Stef1966]

Celine Dion...
The lady sure has a voice, but unfortunately... being ugly as F...

 

[shecky]

Celine Dion...
The lady sure has a voice, but unfortunately... being ugly as F...

That and the fact that she married her grandfather.

 

[Parker36]

Celine Dion...
The lady sure has a voice, but unfortunately... being ugly as F...

And crazy as a loon. Which reminds me, your money has super, ultra gay names

 

[arturo7]

There is too much diversity among the Canadian people to make any judgments about the group as a whole.

 

[menschmaschine]

I always meet Americans when I travel - no matter where I am... so I think it's rather a myth that Americans don't travel as much. Also, we are not talking apples to apples here. Traveling from Switzerland, to Germany, to Belgium is like going from Maryland to DC to Virgina in the US.

A lot of Europeans are forced to take time off of work... so they travel or vacation during that time - its amazing how much more you can do with an extra 3-4 weeks off in a year and to boot a lot of people outside the US travel to find work.

I agree with all of that... except for the myth that Americans don't travel outside the country as much. I've run into Americans abroad as well, although not that many because I tend to stay away from the tourist traps. But I run into a lot more Americans here that, when asked where they're going on vacation, answer: Disney World. I'm not saying it's not understandable considering how relatively isolated we are and how much there is to see in this country alone, but I think there is definitely a correlation between American's renowned ethnocentrism and the percentage of passport holders.

 

[shecky]

I run into a lot more Americans here that, when asked where they're going on vacation, answer: Disney World. I'm not saying it's not understandable considering how relatively isolated we are and how much there is to see in this country alone, but I think there is definitely a correlation between American's renowned ethnocentrism and the percentage of passport holders.

I'll take this as correct from somebody who has traveled abroad. I'm 40 and just got my first passport a few months ago to go to, wait for it, Toronto.

 

[CATFISHER74]

Never had a problem myself, but my neighbor that grew up in Detroit hates French Canadians.

 

[Stef1966]

There is too much diversity among the Canadian people to make any judgments about the group as a whole.

Indeed.

And Im sure it must be the very same thing for American people, People from Texas vs people from New York or whatnot.... like your famous South Vs North war, a living proof that there are a lot of different views and cultures among the very same country.