# "Canuck" - Slur, or harmless nickname? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 29, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555 "2001-06-29T03:04:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/21 "2001-06-29T13:02:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nocturne \* > \*\*“Wop,” I thought, was the term people used to use for Asians. … \*\* No, that’s “wog.” Maybe short for “golliwog.” Maybe an acronym for “Worthy Oriental Gentleman.” Sheesh, can’t you people keep your ethnic slurs straight? Back in MY day we knew–and used–'em all! 😉 And Matt Groening is from Portland, Oregon, USofA. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/22 "2001-06-29T13:20:31Z")
When I want to denigrate Canadians, I prefer to go with “frostback.” ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/23 "2001-06-29T13:23:51Z")
Ginger - Canuck is good whereas f\*\*\*ing Canadian or Canucklehead could be considered bad. One can call themselves “Canuck” and be proud. And as for that “from the north” thing… we are looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming Dopefest here in the city of Champions. You are coming aren’t you? People from India are Indians, I usually call them East Indians (if I don’t know their name) to avoid confusing people. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/24 "2001-06-29T13:25:12Z")
I never considered _Canuck_ to be an insult. Mind you, I’ve never considered it a compliment, either. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/25 "2001-06-29T13:26:23Z")
I too have always thought of it as affectionate, like yankee. I refer to myself as a canuck and have no problem with other pople doing it too (winterpegger really has to stop though). However to be fair, using the example of the Vancouver Canucks isn’t exactly justifying it, there are many teams who use names that you wouldn’t use outside of the stadium/arena, for example the Redskins. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/26 "2001-06-29T13:28:51Z")
I belive **Crunchy** is remembering wrong. I’ve heard clips of that bit and what Pryor says is “Get him! He’s all of 'em!” ---
**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:** [June 29, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/27 "2001-06-29T13:55:44Z")
**dropzone** , I have it on very good authority (office rumour) that I was working with Matt Groening’s cousin at one of my office jobs here in Calgary. So, if that’s a good enough source, I guess he has some kind of Canadian connection. I don’t find Canuck, Stubblejumper or Flatlander insulting, but I don’t like the stereotypes of all Saskatchewan people being stupid, backward hicks (you people from Toronto listening, here?) ( **Feynn** , when’s the Edmonton Dopefest? I have to go to Saskatchewan end of July, and we could swing through Edmonton.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/28 "2001-06-29T14:26:19Z")
If it makes you feel any better, feather, I think people from _Toronto_ are stupid, backward hicks. _j/k_d&r\* ---
**Author:** ![Mnementh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mnementh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnementh)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/29 "2001-06-29T16:00:44Z")
I’m one of those Canadians who takes any insult and turns it into a badge of hono **u** r. I love being called a Canuck. Makes me proud! And I gotta say, I like Frostback, too. 😃 Had me laughing out loud. Something new to use on Americans! > [@](#): > > If it makes you feel any better, feather, I think people from Toronto are stupid, backward hicks. That’s it, mister. You don’t get to see my ass when I come to Montreal. eh. ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/30 "2001-06-29T16:14:55Z")
I’ve never thought of “Canuck” as an insult either. In fact, I’ve probably used it to describe myself a few times. Oh, and [q]the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Redskins? Indigenous peoples to this continent get plenty mad about those names, though not all of them (I’m partly descended from two such tribes and I’ve nothing against 'em). [/q] There is a difference here: those teams have very little to do with North American Natives, whereas the Vancouver Canucks is a Canadian team representing a Canadian city, and was named by Canadians. I’ve never heard of anyone who was offended by that team’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/31 "2001-06-29T16:18:29Z")
Hmmmm… Have I forgotten how to quote on this message board? Ooooops… sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/32 "2001-06-29T16:23:42Z")
Let me try this again: > [@](#): > > the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Redskins? Indigenous peoples to this continent get plenty mad about those names, though not all of them (I’m partly descended from two such tribes and I’ve nothing against 'em). K… this should work. Just refer to my previous post to see how I addressed that one. _insert smiley here_ ---
**Author:** ![Many\_Crows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Many\_Crows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Many_Crows)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/33 "2001-06-29T17:59:59Z")
Happy Canuckle Day fellow Frostbacks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/34 "2001-06-29T18:09:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*I don’t find Canuck, Stubblejumper or Flatlander insulting, but I don’t like the stereotypes of all Saskatchewan people being stupid, backward hicks (you people from Toronto listening, here?) \*\* Are you kidding? No need to go elsewhere for material. There’s plenty to make fun of right here in Toronto. 😃 Like the mayor, for example. And back to the OP - I have no problems with Canuck. I’ve never thought of it as an insult. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555/35 "2001-06-29T18:43:14Z")
Don’t be so susceptible! The reason there are no ethnic slurs for Canadians is that as soon as we become aware of one, we adopt it proudly, change the connotation, and banalize it. It’s all part of our complex plot to remain _sane._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-slur-or-harmless-nickname/70555.md?page=1)