# I am starting to dislike Canadians. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 28, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904 "2003-06-28T02:34:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![vivian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@vivian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivian)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/101 "2003-06-29T20:59:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*Exgineer, it really isn’t nice to pick on a people who have to live out in the snowy woods year round and wear those red and black plaid LL Bean buffalo shirts and eat moose meat. \*\* we don’t have LL BEAN up here, thankyouverymuch. We’ll stick to ROOTS. ---
**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 30, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/102 "2003-06-30T04:51:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*What a **stupid** thread\ \*\* Yes. Yes, it is. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/103 "2003-06-30T05:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exgineer \* > \*\*How’s this then? > > Fuck off. > > If you happen to be hypersensitive and choose to be offended by a series of posts so full of hyperbole that any reasonable person with two brain cells to rub together _could not possibly take them seriously_ you go right ahead. Just don’t expect me to feel responsible for your blood pressure, you humorless whiner. > > Seriously, fuck off. \*\* Two things. First, thank you for proving my point. Second, do you kiss your mother with that mouth? **Lola** : I personally don’t think every American fits that stereotype. I’ve been to the States enough to know that it’s as unfair a stereotype as the one of the “Canadian” who speaks only French, eats moose meat, and lives in an igloo year-round. But when people fly off the handle the way Mr. Ex did and choose to slur an entire country because of one guy, it does nothing to diminish the stereotype. As to the double-standard, it has long been my experience that being the top dog makes you a target and shooting back only makes things worse. I agree that there are double-standards all over the place, mostly set up to protect the little guy. I don’t always like them, but I have come to accept them. Finally, as a general comment, I actually find it kinda gratifying that I’ve finally posted something that someone – anyone – noticed and responded to. And it only took 350-odd posts. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/104 "2003-06-30T05:37:57Z")
Speaking as a Western Canadian, if Ex is serious about the minefields I’d be happy to contribute $20.00. American. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/105 "2003-06-30T12:33:16Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by LolaCocaCola_ > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by gex gex_ > > Y’know, I don’t get Americans (those United Statesians, I mean). They’ve got this great big country there, all those people, that big economy, they invented almosy all of the great styles of music from the last century, they’ve kicked the arse of pretty much every country they could get their hands on, and there’s people like Exgineer and that still feel they’ve got to shit on people like Canadians. > > There are probably hundreds of ‘slam the US’ threads on this message board, and more than a few Canadians (not necessarily on this board) make a sport of US-bashing! > > But, God forbid the tables should be turned. > > Can you say DOUBLE STANDARD??? > (not to say that any bashing is right) Hey, I’m not Canadian. I just saw an American had pretty much given me carte-blanche to bash citizens of his country (under the guise of sarcasm), and I was childish enough to take up the offer, with, admittedly, about as much wit and panache as the OP’s criticism of Canada. I mean, you know, America, great place, great people many of whom, despite all stereotypes, have an excellent grasp of geography. But when someone leaves themselves open like that, you can’t really bitch when they get what’s coming to them. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/106 "2003-06-30T17:57:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamish \* > \*\*Well, I have to agree with you **Exgineer**. You have a very good country down there! Yes, you do, and you should feel very, very proud! > > Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a very busy couple of days ahead. I have take a walk down my (safe, almost firearm-free) street to go to my (paid-for-by-the-state) medical checkup. > > Along the way, I’m sure to see cars with same-sex couples returning from Toronto’s gay pride event, with “Just Married” signs and tin cans hanging off the back (my congratulations to queers in the US, by the way, on winning the right to NOT be dragged out out of your home and thrown in jail for making love to your boyfriends and girlfriends!). > > Maybe I’ll see some people relaxing and smoking a doobie on the way (by the way, how _is_ that war on drugs going?) > > And then it’s off to work, where I’ll happily be speaking French! I’m so glad to know another language, instead of reacting to it with prejudice and fear. \*\* Best. Post. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/107 "2003-07-01T02:44:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*There are probably hundreds of ‘slam the US’ threads on this message board, and more than a few Canadians (not necessarily on this board) make a sport of US-bashing! > > But, God forbid the tables should be turned. > > Can you say DOUBLE STANDARD???\*\* When Canada is mentioned in your media, 90% of the time it’s in terms of moose/mountie/lumberjack-stereotyping, patronizing, pat-us-on-head obnoxiousness. Canada-bashing? I’ve heard plenty. We all heard some just recently from your ambassador to our country, Paul Cellucci, who felt the need not only to threaten us over our stance on the Iraq war, but also such purely internal policy decisions as decriminilizing marijuana. Within our country, we get Canada-bashing from _Canadians_ all the time. I don’t mean humility, or the self-deprecating humour that makes up most of our comedy – I mean people like a _National Post_ columnist named David Bond who once used the word Canadian to mean “economically backward compared to the United States.” I mean that small-but-vocal group of Canadians – the Aspers, the Blacks, the Francises – who scream from the tops of our mostly-monopolized media about how we should do things like erasing the border, adopt American currency, and avoid legalizing pot or gay marriage because it will make your country _upset_. I’ve said it before on this board, and I’ll say it again – Canada is in the middle of a cultural war, and in the shared space of the Internet there tends to be a lot of friendly fire. It’s not that we hate you guys, but in spite of all appearances, our two countries are very, very different. Some people want to change that – most of us don’t. But those few tend to be our most powerful citizens, and they have a lot of help from your corporations who see Canada as nothing more than a big, rich market – once those wasteful public services and Canadian-content regulations are cleared out of the way. Struggling to keep a hold of Canadian values in the face of an economic and political onslaught against those values has made a lot of us very bitter about America. That’s what comes across in posts by Canadians as America-bashing. ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/108 "2003-07-01T02:46:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spiff \* > \*\*Best. Post. Ever. \*\* :o Thank you. I didn’t think it was my best work, though. I saw some things I wanted to change after posting. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/109 "2003-07-01T03:46:20Z")
**Ex** claims that his original post was sarcasm, hyperbole – as if this explanation negates the emotional tones of his first posts. I think Ex has confused sarcasm and hyperbole with _satire_. _Satire_ is associated with irony and humor. Sarcasm and hyperbole are often used to injure, whereas satire is often used to inform. **Ex’s** posts do not inform, educate, or enlighten. His posts are not humorous. His explanations are not credible, and it is reasonable to question his honesty. Perhaps he is a misunderstood genius. Perhaps he merely lacks comedic training and talent. It is more likely that he knows that he posted something really stupid, but can’t admit it. It’s everything we would expect from someone who works in “telecommunications”. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/110 "2003-07-01T04:50:50Z")
I think we need something to distract us from this futile country bashing. How about we take that minefield idea and run with it, only instead of separating the US and Canada, let’s work together to enclose Quebec. -FK ---
**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:** [July 1, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/111 "2003-07-01T06:03:33Z")
Want to take it outside, buddy? ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/112 "2003-07-01T06:51:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fuji Kitakyusho \* > \*\*I think we need something to distract us from this futile country bashing. How about we take that minefield idea and run with it, only instead of separating the US and Canada, let’s work together to enclose Quebec. > > -FK \*\* Great idea ! As soon as it is operational, I will take you tap-dancing in it. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![whatshallIuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9de0a6/32.png) [@whatshallIuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatshallIuse)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/113 "2003-07-01T08:05:20Z")
Yup, get Quebec, then France. Good start. Where do I sign up. BTW, Spiff I speak English, German and Latin. It’s not a matter of the French language, it’s the matter of the French from what I’ve seen here (The country, not Francophones) ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/114 "2003-07-01T11:48:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whatshallIuse? \* > \*\*Yup, get Quebec, then France. Good start. Where do I sign up. > > BTW, Spiff I speak English, German and Latin. It’s not a matter of the French language, it’s the matter of the French from what I’ve seen here (The country, not Francophones) \*\* You speak English? Judging by your writing (lack of “?” at the end of a question, mis-placed comma after BTW, dubious claim to speak Latin, inappropriate use of capitalization within a paranthetical phrase) it’s apparent that you have not yet mastered English. Perhaps you should have posted in Latin. Your entire last sentence (“It’s not a matter…not Francophones”) is incomprehensible. In other words, your contribution fits in perfectly with most the the other posts to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904/115 "2003-07-01T15:29:44Z")
Enough of this stupid bullshit. Country bashing. I thought the general populace of the SDMB was intellectually above such nonsense. Apparently, I was wrong. Some people in this thread have truly surprised me, and not in a good way. Joking about the odd stereotype, that’s to be expected. But there IS a line between a friendly jab about moose or hockey, and downright xenophobic obnoxiousness. And I’m saddened that a lot of seemingly intelligent posters fail to see that distinction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-starting-to-dislike-canadians/184904.md?page=5)