# Non-Canadian Dopers: What do you see as ridiculous Canadian propaganda? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 8, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947 "2014-05-08T02:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/21 "2014-05-08T16:07:34Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > I didn’t know the Canadians had propaganda until now. So you bought into the insidious Canadian disinformation campaign claiming that Canada is too nice to do propaganda? 😃 Mission Accomplished, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/22 "2014-05-08T16:11:50Z")
Back bacon is not bacon. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/23 "2014-05-08T16:42:03Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Maple syrup. It’s good, but not _that_ good. No, it’s actually the opposite: Maple syrup is so amazingly good, you won’t be able to accept anything else once you’ve had it. You’ll find yourself patronizing diners based solely on whether they have the real deal, or worse yet, you’ll start taking in your own maple syrup to otherwise acceptable places that cheap out with the colored corn syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/24 "2014-05-08T17:34:12Z")
We have Tim Horton’s around here. It’s just a donut shop, not particularly different from Dunkin Donuts or any number of indie places. Why is this place considered an icon of Canadian culture? (ETA: Dunkin Donuts has better coffee anyway 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/25 "2014-05-08T17:34:17Z")
I doubt that poutine is all that great, really. It sounds kinda gross. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/26 "2014-05-08T18:05:12Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > We have Tim Horton’s around here. It’s just a donut shop, not particularly different from Dunkin Donuts or any number of indie places. Why is this place considered an icon of Canadian culture? > > (ETA: Dunkin Donuts has better coffee anyway 😛 ) That’s a good question. I think they marketed themselves very well as an iconic Canadian business. The had commercials with dads taking kids to hockey practice, and stuff like that. They sponsor hockey teams and curling bonspiels. And they have a store strategically located just about anywhere in Canada, and are opening [500 more](http://business.financialpost.com/2014/02/25/tim-hortons-inc-to-open-800-new-stores/). > [@](#): > > Tim Hortons now has 4,485 restaurants, including 3,588 in Canada, 859 in the United States and 38 in the Gulf Cooperation Council, which it entered in 2011. I’m not a huge fan, but I don’t really eat fast food and I’d rather make a coffee at home for 15 cents than spend almost two bucks for one at the drive through. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/27 "2014-05-08T18:10:45Z")
Tim Hortons coffee is awful. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/28 "2014-05-08T19:17:26Z")
Does “Strange Brew” count as propaganda? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/29 "2014-05-08T19:21:17Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Does “Strange Brew” count as propaganda? Take off! ETA: Eh. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/30 "2014-05-08T19:36:26Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > I doubt that poutine is all that great, really. It sounds kinda gross. I used to doubt. Oh my god, good poutine is awesome. We went to La Belle Patate for dinner the other night. Yes, we had poutine as our main meal: **Mr. Mallard** had the vegetarian and I had the ground-beef-and-onion. So delicious. McDonald’s serves poutine here, though their version is not worth writing home about. The fact that I’ve even tried it probably says something, though. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/31 "2014-05-08T19:55:27Z")
_Ridiculous_ Canadian propaganda? That Canadian beer is better. Not even comparing mega brews. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/32 "2014-05-08T19:58:25Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > I doubt that poutine is all that great, really. It sounds kinda gross. I sound like a traitor, but I’m from Montreal, the poutine heartland, and… I find it gross too. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/33 "2014-05-08T20:38:56Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > We have Tim Horton’s around here. It’s just a donut shop, not particularly different from Dunkin Donuts or any number of indie places. Why is this place considered an icon of Canadian culture? Because they keep telling us so in their advertisements. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/34 "2014-05-08T21:21:37Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > That Canadians are greener than Americans. I think this was largely reinforced by Canada ratifying Kyoto and America not, but the exploitation of the tar sands should put this myth solidly to rest. Yes, we ratified Kyoto … and then didn’t even pretend to try to meet the targets. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/35 "2014-05-08T21:24:54Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > The whole idea that Canada is some kind of uniquely arctic paradise (“true north strong and free”) is kind of silly. It’s also not something that fits the OP, in that I am unaware of the government making any effort to convince us it is anything of the sort. In terms of silly things the government wants us to believe about ourselves that are not true, the list is pretty short: 1. That was have a world class health care system. It is not. It’s better than the USA, but inferior to many other First World systems. 2. That Canada’s UN peacekeeping efforts a major force for world peace; they are really of little positive consequence. Most other Canadian self-delusions, like the beer being stronger or better (it is not better, and that’s not a matter of opinion) are cultural ones help by Canadians themselves, not really government “propaganda.” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/36 "2014-05-08T22:36:38Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > Does “Strange Brew” count as propaganda? No, it counts as a documentary. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/37 "2014-05-09T03:06:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > That’s a good question. I think they marketed themselves very well as an iconic Canadian business. The had commercials with dads taking kids to hockey practice, and stuff like that. They sponsor hockey teams and curling bonspiels. And they have a store strategically located just about anywhere in Canada, and are opening [500 more](http://business.financialpost.com/2014/02/25/tim-hortons-inc-to-open-800-new-stores/). > > I’m not a huge fan, but I don’t really eat fast food and I’d rather make a coffee at home for 15 cents than spend almost two bucks for one at the drive through. Every time I visit Canada, I know I’ve arrived when I see my first Tim Hortons. It usually happens within a few minutes of the plane landing. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/38 "2014-05-09T04:58:11Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Every time I visit Canada, I know I’ve arrived when I see my first Tim Hortons. It usually happens within a few minutes of the plane landing. Given that many Canadian airports have a Tim Hortons in them, I’m surprised if you cannot find one within a few minutes of landing. 🙂 > [@RickJay](#): > > 1. That Canada’s UN peacekeeping efforts a major force for world peace; they are really of little positive consequence. I’ll agree that our federal governments (of all political stripes) have, over the past 30 or 40 years, stressed that “Canadians are peacekeepers.” This makes it sound like our troops are social workers, trying to get both belligerents to sit down and sing “Kum Ba Ya” while holding hands. This is not the case. Canada’s armed forces that are dispatched to the UN in a peacekeeping capacity, are well-armed, well-trained, and ready to insert themselves between two belligerents without taking either side. Further, they have no qualms about defending themselves, and local civilians, from either side militarily, should it become necessary. See for example, Canadian Forces’ Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, who commanded UN troops in Rwanda at the time of the Rwandan genocide. From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom%C3%A9o_Dallaire): > [@](#): > > Dallaire consolidated his contingent of Pakistani, Canadian, Ghanaian, Tunisian, and Bangladeshi soldiers in urban areas and focused on providing areas of “safe control” in and around Kigali. Most of Dallaire’s efforts were to defend specific areas where he knew Tutsis to be hiding. Dallaire’s staff – including the U.N.'s unarmed observers – often relied on its U.N. credentials to save Tutsis, heading off Interahamwe attacks even while being outnumbered and outgunned. Dallaire’s actions are credited with directly saving the lives of 32,000 persons of different races. It appears that “peacekeeping” is a lot more involved than social work, and in spite of what Canadians have been told, “peacekeepers” must be combat-ready soldiers, ready to react as such. That being said, I will agree with **RickJay** when he infers that there have been times when “UN peacekeepers,” including Canadian troops, cannot do much to keep the peace. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/39 "2014-05-09T13:44:18Z")
I have not seen any comments on sports. Are Americans ceding the high ground on ice Hockey and curling to Canada ? 😃 ---
**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:** [May 9, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947/40 "2014-05-09T14:55:46Z")
I must confess - I am bilssfully unaware of whatever “propaganda pieces” the Canadian government is attempting to sell its citizens.\* \*other than the “Canada is utter paradise and the U.S. is a hellhole” rants from Canadian letter writers to U.S. newspapers. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadian-dopers-what-do-you-see-as-ridiculous-canadian-propaganda/687947.md?page=3)