# Americans Who Think Differently Than I Do **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346 "2010-01-10T01:57:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/161 "2010-01-12T22:33:41Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > American Standard sucked - you go in, they talk at you for hours getting your numbers and plans while you bleed, And as a life long U.S. citizen, I’ve NEVER had that experience. Anecdotal evidence is not evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/162 "2010-01-13T01:37:08Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > IMO, most people have a lack of interest in the rest of the world unless some aspect affects them in some more or less direct way. Most people are busy trying to make a living and get on with life. Or on a more personal level, I have more important things to worry about than the kind of health coverage Germans have. > > I don’t think Americans are any more or less disinterested in any other people. I think Americans are less interested in the rest of the world. If you are a citizen of what you truly believe is the best country in the world, it isn’t a far step from that to not being very interested in what else is going on in the world. > [@tacoloco](#): > > And as a life long U.S. citizen, I’ve NEVER had that experience. > > Anecdotal evidence is not evidence. Yeah, it is, actually. It is a particular kind of evidence, useful for particular things. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/163 "2010-01-13T01:39:33Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Yeah, it is, actually. It is a particular kind of evidence, useful for particular things. It means nothing in this context. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/164 "2010-01-13T01:41:36Z")
Absence of anecdotal evidence is not evidence of the absence of anecdotes. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/165 "2010-01-13T01:49:00Z")
You ever notice that Canadians think like _this_ but Americans think like _this_? Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/166 "2010-01-13T01:53:05Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > And as a life long U.S. citizen, I’ve NEVER had that experience. > > Anecdotal evidence is not evidence. Did I not say “this is how I found it?”. I was trying to answer the question ‘why do you foreign types give a shit about US health care anways?’. I felt, perhaps erroneously, that having tried both for decades, I might have a perspective from which to shed some light on the question. The fact that you have never experienced this in US health care is - anecdotal. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/167 "2010-01-13T01:57:10Z")
To be fair, I lived in the US under standard insurance driven health care mostly in my 20’s, so I may have wound up going to the ER covered in blood more often then. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to the ER while covered in blood in Canada, although the night is young. - ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/168 "2010-01-13T02:23:37Z")
While its true that anecdotal evidence has its weaknesses, is isn’t entirely worthless either, especially in the aggregate. I more or less trust my fellow Dopers, by and large. If I hear from a fairly wide slice of Yurpeen Dopers, and they say very similar things, I’m certainly willing to admit that as evidence, if not definitive proof. I have always relied on the kindness of the strange. Worked well for me, so far. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/169 "2010-01-13T04:17:10Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > You ever notice that Canadians think like _this_ but Americans think like _this_? Why is that? Well on the one hand you have Canadian bacon and on the other hand you have American cheese… ---
**Author:** ![YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e0b2c6/32.png) [@YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoureBeingABinkyBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/170 "2010-01-13T08:16:51Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > I’m sorry, I’m Canadian. What’s the deal with Canada? I’ve heard people talk about it, but never really paid much attention. Is it it’s own country? Somebody told me it’s the place where they make all the crappy beer, and this one guy said there’s really nothing there except for Indian reservations. Oh, and they have Niagra Falls there now too. Overall all though, it sounds pretty sucky. Why would anyone want to be Canadian when there’s America? Just drive over, it’s right here. ---
**Author:** ![YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e0b2c6/32.png) [@YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoureBeingABinkyBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/171 "2010-01-13T08:34:38Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Except for: Korea (a place you had no reason to be) Zeke, you silly willy, Canada FOUGHT in the Korean Conflict! You should at least learn the basic 5th grade history of your own country before coming here to teach us about ours. Like they say: “Canada - America’s Hat” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/172 "2010-01-13T13:17:01Z")
[QUOTE=Attack from the 3rd dimension] …the military will by you **birth control glasses** and fix your teeth. [/QUOTE] Wow. All I’ve ever been able to get are prescription lenses. > [@](#): > > American Standard sucked - you go in, they talk at you for hours getting your numbers and plans while you bleed No doubt there are a fair number of people who believe this sort of fantasy. Of course that’s just anecdotal evidence on my part, but when it comes to health care that’s by far the best kind as we’ve found out. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/173 "2010-01-13T15:24:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Like they say: > > “Canada - America’s Hat” You might say that in America, but up here in Canada we say: " We’re bigger and we’re on top…if this was prison, you guys would be our BITCH!!!" ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/174 "2010-01-13T15:29:14Z")
> [@JFLuvly](#): > > You might say that in America, but up here in Canada we say: > > " We’re bigger and we’re on top…if this was prison, you guys would be our BITCH!!!" Look where Alaska is. Just be glad it isn’t shaped like Florida. We’re totally spooning. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/175 "2010-01-13T15:33:18Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Wow. All I’ve ever been able to get are prescription lenses. Birth control glasses are the really ugly frames the military will give you for free as part of their health care package. I believe if you pay the difference, you can get nicer ones as well. Not my term, but a perfect description. Like I said, I’ve only been covered in blood in the US ERs, so that’s the only scenario upon which I can comment. There was a lot of blah blah blah, but it was a long time ago - maybe it’s better now. To be fair, I did get out alive. Oh! I got excellent treatment in an ER in Rhode Island with my toddler once! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/176 "2010-01-13T15:36:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Wow. All I’ve ever been able to get are prescription lenses.No doubt there are a fair number of people who believe this sort of fantasy. > > Of course that’s just anecdotal evidence on my part, but when it comes to health care that’s by far the best kind as we’ve found out. Ya know, I could tell you about major surgery that cost me $200 and no paperwork hassles, and I could tell you about being taken to my 3rd choice of hospital because the first two couldn’t take me (the Alberta Advantage works!) and they’d be the same anecdote. But what every Canadian will tell you is that they don’t have to worry about being bankrupted by their premiums, they aren’t slaved to their employer via health insurance benefits, and they will never have their coverage revoked mid-treatment. That you allow yourselves to be taken advantage of so is pretty damned baffling. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/177 "2010-01-13T15:39:31Z")
> [@JFLuvly](#): > > You might say that in America, but up here in Canada we say: > > " We’re bigger and we’re on top…if this was prison, you guys would be our BITCH!!!" I usually say something closer to “those poor sods”. Reading stories about American Adventures in Health Care is like reading stories about Soviet Adventures In Lining Up For Toilet Paper. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/178 "2010-01-13T17:29:43Z")
> [@JFLuvly](#): > > " We’re bigger and we’re on top…if this was prison, you guys would be our BITCH!!!" Well, some of you would be saying it in french, though. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/179 "2010-01-13T17:42:45Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Ya know, I could tell you about major surgery that cost me $200 and no paperwork hassles, and I could tell you about being taken to my 3rd choice of hospital because the first two couldn’t take me (the Alberta Advantage works!) and they’d be the same anecdote. But what every Canadian will tell you is that they don’t have to worry about being bankrupted by their premiums, they aren’t slaved to their employer via health insurance benefits, and they will never have their coverage revoked mid-treatment. That you allow yourselves to be taken advantage of so is pretty damned baffling. Don’t forget the part where they make decisions about relationships based on healthcare insurance. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346/180 "2010-01-13T17:51:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Don’t forget the part where they make decisions about relationships based on healthcare insurance. I can’t, because I’ve never heard that part. I’m not surprised, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-who-think-differently-than-i-do/524346.md?page=10)