# Some American tourists are flagjacking; Canadians are not amused **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 23, 2025, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323 "2025-09-23T02:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/21 "2025-09-23T07:23:15Z")
I imagine real MAGAs would be assholes where ever they are. You oughta try living around a few. At least you have the pleasant feeling they will go away eventually. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/22 "2025-09-23T10:59:03Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > > [@BigT](#): > > > > Is it about shame? I was always told it was for practical reasons, claiming American tourists would be mistreated due to stereotypes about them. > > I’ve met four American tourists in the past year (that is, met to speak to beyond ‘hello’ - three while we were out hiking in this country and one when we were in France). All of them managed to work in ‘we didn’t vote for Trump’ into the early part of the conversation. I am about to travel internationally. I’m not very worried about being mistreated for being American. Even in Denmark, the airplane officials were very helpful and pleasant. (Denmark, a nation we directly threatened. And i needed help because my flight was messed up, but that certainly wasn’t about me, the whole airport was full of people affected by it.) The group I’m going to visit mostly know me. The ones who don’t… They’ll probably learn that I’m frightened to be an American right now. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/23 "2025-09-23T11:02:49Z")
Back when America was bombing Afghanistan, and was very unpopular internationally, i did consider trying to pass myself off as a Canadian, although i never actually did so. (I certainly didn’t apply a fake-to-me flag to my gear.) But America was still a solid ally to Canada, then, even if we had some disagreements. Now that America is threatening Canada, i feel that would be weird and creepy, in a way it didn’t feel back then. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/24 "2025-09-23T12:00:14Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Now that America is threatening Canada, i feel that would be weird and creepy Sort of like we’re just helping ourselves to something of theirs, w/o asking, for our benefit, because they’re conveniently there. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/25 "2025-09-23T14:19:49Z")
We just spent 11 days in western Canada, and never saw or felt any anti-US sentiment at all. Never felt a need to pretend to be Canadian or even mention politics. Canadians were almost universally friendly and welcoming. You know, unlike here (and on Reddit), most people aren’t obsessed with politics. They get on with their lives and interact in a human manner. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/26 "2025-09-23T14:38:48Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I thought “flagjacking” had a whole different meaning that I won’t get into here. My first thought was that there was a problem with tourists who were stealing flags. > [@Spoons](#): > > 1. Not including bowling alleys, what is a gutter? > … > 2. An eavestrough. > [/spoiler] What about gutters that are between a street and the kerb, rather than high on the side of a building? > [@Spoons](#): > > Crisp. This one has me thoroughly baffled. > [@Orwell](#): > > You know, unlike here (and on Reddit), most people aren’t obsessed with politics. The only thing worse than a discussion about politics is a discussion about religion. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/27 "2025-09-23T14:42:19Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I thought “flagjacking” had a whole different meaning that I won’t get into here. [![](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/40a/3b9/b22ae3001f142a69a0b671243386797f15-29-president-trump-american-flag-cpac-20.rsquare.w400.jpg) ](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/40a/3b9/b22ae3001f142a69a0b671243386797f15-29-president-trump-american-flag-cpac-20.rsquare.w400.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/28 "2025-09-23T14:46:24Z")
ISTM If Americans want to go abroad and don’t want people to know they are Americans all they have to do is be unfailingly polite and courteous, and dress conservatively. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/29 "2025-09-23T14:51:10Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > > [@Spoons](#): > > > > Crisp. > > This one has me thoroughly baffled. It’s from an [old TV commercial for a candy bar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXTyLAymlVE) that I don’t think you have in the US. Older Canadians would probably get it, but younger ones would probably be clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/30 "2025-09-23T15:01:10Z")
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” ---
**Author:** ![IkesAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ikesacolyte/32/19012_2.png) [@IkesAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IkesAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/31 "2025-09-23T15:05:56Z")
“…that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” That quote is often very misused. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/32 "2025-09-23T15:20:50Z")
I must say that all of these questions are very much contextually coded for a Canadian …of a certain generation. Ask any of them to someone from Quebec or anyone under 50-ish and you’ll get blank stares. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/33 "2025-09-23T15:24:44Z")
Heck, I’m a Canadian of a certain generation and I’d flunk a bunch of them. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/34 "2025-09-23T15:26:36Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > between a street and the kerb, rather than high on the side of a building? That’s the only meaning of gutter that I recognise. 😁 (Plus bowling, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/35 "2025-09-23T15:40:53Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > We need to a quiz to expose these flagjacking bastards. What are five questions only a true Canadian could answer? Pretty sure you could ask the average American “Who is the Prime Minister of Canada?” and they wouldn’t be able to answer you. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/36 "2025-09-23T16:10:28Z")
You’re probably right…took me a minute. But if you asked who is minister of foriegn affairs? Or who was the first Prime Minister? Fuggedaboutit. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/37 "2025-09-23T16:22:27Z")
There’s probably a good percentage of Americans who couldn’t answer “Who is the President of the United States?” ---
**Author:** ![IkesAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ikesacolyte/32/19012_2.png) [@IkesAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IkesAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/38 "2025-09-23T17:24:55Z")
I always die a little inside after seeing those videos online of people failing to name all 7 continents. Clearly the interviewees are cherry picked, but those cherry picked people can still vote, and it counts the same as you or I. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/39 "2025-09-23T17:28:56Z")
If I was going to hazard a guess, it is less a case of stealing the Canadian flag and more a case of hiding behind it out of shame. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323/40 "2025-09-23T17:36:39Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’m pretty sure the Americans who sew Canadian flags on their gear don’t think America is the greatest country on earth. Exactly, and I would hazard a guess that they _never_ thought that > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Personally, I’m ashamed to be American right now. I’m not. I’m ashamed of some of America’s official actions lately, but it’s a big diverse country, full of a lot of different people, and I’m happy if people realize we are not all MAGA devotees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-american-tourists-are-flagjacking-canadians-are-not-amused/1023323.md?page=3)