# I think I just spoke to the most ignorant one yet... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 4, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307 "2003-07-04T23:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/41 "2003-07-05T18:25:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*Oh hell. > > My dad and mom are in Alaska, working in Skagway. They have an RV and that’s what they’re doing for the summer. > > Anyhoo, they’re busy working in shops serving the cruise passengers. My dad says you will not _believe_ how many people ask if they can pay with American dollars. > > In Alaska. > > :rolleyes: \*\* Heh. I was just in Skagway about a month and a half ago, and that doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. The cruise ship phenomenon is truly amazing; I had no idea it was possible to travel without knowing _anything_ about the places you were going. Out of curiousity, are these people mostly foreign or American? (Not that it makes a hell of a lot of difference, as one should at least know what country one is in at any given moment – but not knowing that is _slightly_ less ignorant than not knowing what’s in one’s own country.) ---
**Author:** ![Kricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Kricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kricket)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/42 "2003-07-05T18:45:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Argatha \* > \*\*Is she blonde? \*\* Hey, I’m blonde!:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/43 "2003-07-05T19:13:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kricket \* > \*\*Hey, I’m blonde!:dubious: \*\* Ah, that explains it… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/44 "2003-07-05T19:20:42Z")
I forget who the PM of Canada is-is it Chretien? Or was that the France? (And don’t shoot me if I’m wrong!) Also, what IS the capital-I don’t remember that, either. But then, I can never remember stuff like this. But I remember the jingle word for word to a Toys R Us commercial from when I eight years old. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/45 "2003-07-05T19:45:40Z")
Pfft, everyone knows the PM of Canada is Celine Dion. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/46 "2003-07-05T19:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\*Heh. I was just in Skagway about a month and a half ago, and that doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. The cruise ship phenomenon is truly amazing; I had no idea it was possible to travel without knowing _anything_ about the places you were going. > > \*\* No, a lot of them are Americans. So, **Fretful** , if you stopped by a shop that sold costume jewelry and saw a 50ish woman with jet black hair wearing a Victorian era costume, that’s Step-Mom. If you stopped by a shop that sells knives and saw a 60ish man with a beard, that’s Dear Old Dad. ---
**Author:** ![7\_up\_yours](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/919ad9/32.png) [@7\_up\_yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7_up_yours)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/47 "2003-07-05T20:05:44Z")
> [@](#): > > everyone knows the PM of Canada is Celine Dion. Are you sure she’s not the one who wrote our national anthem? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/48 "2003-07-05T20:10:35Z")
I wonder: do any of the Canadians here have a theory on why so many Americans know the first two lines of your national anthem and no more? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/49 "2003-07-05T20:24:24Z")
Frankly, considering what _does_ happen when the US pays attention to a country (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Iraq, etc., etc., etc.), you Canucks should be _grateful_ the US _doesn’t_ pay much attention to you! 😉 And Canadian women _do_ rock! (Or at least the one I “knew” 😉 she was nearly fifty, looked nearly 40, and I’ve still got back problems from our little “encounter” that flare up now and then, and yeah, _it was worth it, baby!_ :D) ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/50 "2003-07-05T20:26:51Z")
This thread reminds me of what happened a couple of years ago. I was chatting with an Alabama friend of mine (we’ve since lost touch) on the US Thanksgiving. He asked how my Thanksgiving had gone; when I told him that it was a little too long ago to remember (ours being in October), he thought I was drunk. Then I clarified that our Thanksgiving was in October, NOT November. We had a good laugh about that, though! F\_X ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/51 "2003-07-05T21:24:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\* I had no idea it was possible to travel without knowing _anything_ about the places you were going. \*\* I can deal with people _going_ someplace new without any real knowledge of the place. It’s coming back without having learned anything about it that I find inexcusable. A few years ago there was a bus accident in Canada. My local (in NY) news anchor read the copy including the fact that the bus was filled with Sneiors on a sightseeing tour for the Thanksgiving holodays. He took it upon himself to correct the story on the air. Afterall, it was still October. “Of course that should read Columbus Day Holidays.” he said. He came right back after the commercial to correct his correction. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/52 "2003-07-05T21:35:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*I’m assuming you are referring to **Canada** Geese. Canadian geese require proof of citizenship. \*\* Not if they’re landed immigrants! BTW, we have two families of Canada geese nesting and raising young in the pasture behind our house. For those at a loss about matters Canadiuan, may I refer you to my [A Short History of Canada](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=65185&highlight=Canada). (Note: Though it neglects to mention long-time Canadian President Tim Horton, the remainder of it is up to the same high standards of accuracy!) ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/53 "2003-07-06T03:27:20Z")
Canada - the land due South of the North Pole. Population - Eskimoes. Sorry, but here in the Southern U.S. we hear as much aboot Canada as we do aboot Urp. Actually less. Kudos for your lack of PR! I hate PR. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/54 "2003-07-06T04:04:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by japatlgt \* > \*\*Canada - the land due South of the North Pole. Population - Eskimoes. Sorry, but here in the Southern U.S. we hear as much aboot Canada as we do aboot Urp. Actually less. Kudos for your lack of PR! I hate PR. \*\* Eh, we’re _all_ due south of the North Pole. [sub]And we’re all due north of the South Pole.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/55 "2003-07-06T09:25:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 5U1C1D3 \* > **1)we do live in igloos. > 2)the sun shines for several months straight. > 3)we don’t have cars, or bikes. We ride dog sleds, polar bears and occasional Moose. > 4)We have a treaty with beavers to build our damns and bridges. > 5) We have Tim Hortons for nice delicious hot coffee is winter and when the icebergs start to melt, we have iced-coffee…MMmmMmm…** 😕 Now I’m confused. I spent 5 weeks in ‘96 in what I _thought_ was Vancouver, BC. But I didn’t see none o’ that stuff. It looked just like a regular American city to me. (Except for the monopoly money.) Maybe the plane landed in Seattle by mistake? But why would Seattle use monopoly money??? Hmm… 😃 Actually, I loved Vancouver. I didn’t want to come home. ---
**Author:** ![Niggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/56 "2003-07-06T09:38:11Z")
Ahem… as a Vancouverite I take exception to my wonderful city being compared in any way to a “regular american city.” Seattle is about as close as any American city I’ve seen to this place and it doesn’t come close. So there. 😉 -n ---
**Author:** ![juji\_mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@juji\_mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/juji_mojo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/57 "2003-07-06T11:48:03Z")
As posted by acrossthe sea “Hey, I visited Toronto in 2000 and fell in love with it. i wanted to move there, except for the fact that I’d need a visa and a green card and stuff of that nature,” Sorry to hear that acrossthesea. Except we dont call them “green cards.” We dont have 401-K’s. We dont have Social Security numbers. We have things of a similar purpose but we don’s use the American names for them. The ironic (In the True “Allanis Morissette” meaning of the word) thing is, we can all translate those bits of USA jargon into a corresponding Canadianism. But I bet you wouldnt know what to do with a T-4 or a SIN card. (less fun than it sounds) And ha ha ha you sure dont have anything like a PHIN. Want a translation? Or would you rather just be jealous that Canadians all get SIN cards sometime in/around their early teens? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/58 "2003-07-06T14:50:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 7 up yours \* > So, this morning, she messages me and says “Happy Fourth of July.” I tell her thanks, but I’m from Canada so it doesn’t apply to me. I think you’re missing the point. The Fourth of July certainly does apply to you up there in Canadia. It’s simply the day between the third and the fifth. Perhaps she was simply wishing you a nice day. Like “Happy Tuesday,” or “Happy August 17th”? Golly, I know you Canadians are defensive about not being from the great US of A, but you don’t have to pretend the day does not exist. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/59 "2003-07-06T15:34:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flamsterette\_X \* > \*\*Oh, my… guess not everyone knows we’re not still a part of the States. (and that happened a LONG time ago, too…) \*\* Canada never was part of the States, ever. Please tell me that this post was intended to whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![parlo\_americano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b19c9b/32.png) [@parlo\_americano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parlo_americano)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307/60 "2003-07-06T15:45:56Z")
So, now that we are getting some edumecation on Canada… What is boxing day? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-just-spoke-to-the-most-ignorant-one-yet/186307.md?page=4)