NationStates Jolt Archive

Has anyone ever been able to tell the diffrence between an American or Canadian tourist, resident, or traveller? Has any American travelling in Canada ever felt greatly out of place or alien? Did you think of something as "Fine Canadian [Product]?" And do you ever find other people trying to imitate their accent in derogatory and inaccurate manners? How often do you think of Canada as a non-canadian? (If you are an American with access to CBC or with other networks airing Canadian comedy, which probably accounts for the majority of Americans, and likely means you take to their masterful television and movie comedies, dont bother answering. I can just find the CBC schedule.) Do you know any major Canadian military victories of the 20th century? Can you name a famous Canadian scientist other than Alexander Graham bell.

If you cant say that you notice Canadians much, just grunt and say so. It will give a sense of proportion compared to the amount of non-canadians who do pay Canada the attention it deserves.

At one point when I was in Europe, to hide the fact that I am an American from a fairly vehement group of drunks I pretended to be a Canadian. It worked to say the least.

If you stare at a Canadian long enough he'll come up to you and politely greet you, If you stare at an American long enough he'll come up to you and politely spit on you and say "yo what the f**k you lookin at fag! wanna start somethin huh!!" there ya go thats the fundamental diference right there :)

Canada helped us with D-Day. . . .That's all I got.
And Bell was a Canadian? Wow. . . . I just had a wicked funny joke about that, but this isn't the right thread for it.

If you stare at a Canadian long enough he'll come up to you and politely greet you, If you stare at an American long enough he'll come up to you and politely spit on you and say "yo what the f**k you lookin at fag! wanna start somethin huh!!" there ya go thats the fundamental diference right there :)

Err, maybe the reason I fail to notice this is because the Americans here are like your description of Canadians. Where in America are you anyway? Dear lord, tell me that it isnt Iowa.

Err, maybe the reason I fail to notice this is because the Americans here are like your description of Canadians. Where in America are you anyway? Dear lord, tell me that it isnt Iowa.

The cold bloody streets of New York City. Nuff said ;)

Err, maybe the reason I fail to notice this is because the Americans here are like your description of Canadians.Really? In Canada Americans are percieved as nice people that say 'Howdy' a lot?
Wow. . .
We have so much in common!

I certainly HOPE no-one notices me. As a Canadian tourist in foreign lands, I just quietly enjoy myself and let the loud Americans piss off the locals. The best situation is dealing with shopkeepers or other 'front-line' staff after they've had to contend with an outgoing herd of braying, demanding Yanks. Just by being myself, I usually receive top-of-the-line treatment.

The meek may just inherit the Earth, eh? Heh-heh-heh.

They are easy to pick out.

Just have them say the work about. "Aboot"

;)

Easily. The flapping mouths and beady little eyes are a giveaway.

They are easy to pick out.

Just have them say the work about. "Aboot"

;)

or get an American to say "word" ;)

Well, for Canadian Military Victories, Vimy ridge in WWI certainly stands out, more victories than the Americans in that war :)

Canadians prefer to blend into the crowd . . . Americans tend to stick out like an obnoxious sore thumb. Sorry, I had to say it. Most of the nice Americans I've met have been from Maine . . . the further south you go . . . the more American you get :(

And why are Americans so bad at Geography?
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/11/20/geography.quiz/

If 11% of Americans between 18 and 24 cannot even locate THEIR OWN COUNTRY on a map, what makes you think they could recognize a Canadian, or even where Canada is?

Psssst It's that big country to the North.

Many Fluffles! :fluffle:

:)

How interesting. Apparently we must be talking of the more northerly canadians and the more southerly americans, other than that I dont see how this is really all that possible.

or get an American to say "word" ;)

Word!

:P

Actually I rarely if ever use that. It's a generation thing! ;)

And why are Americans so bad at Geography?
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/11/20/geography.quiz/

If 11% of Americans between 18 and 24 cannot even locate THEIR OWN COUNTRY on a map, what makes you think they could recognize a Canadian, or even where Canada is?I don't know why. In my Social Studies class we all took a test on naming countries. There were 24 questions. I got 23. The second highest was 14. The majority was 3-6.

Ask them what they think about Muslims. Americans will go for one of two options either the whole "I HATE THEM ISLAMOBASTARDSDC GARHHHh!!!! FUCK YOU OSAMA" or they'll bust out the whole "Well it's everybody's right to choose their won religion and as long as we dont try and force our beliefesa but we can mix and some. *mumble incoherently*" Canadians are like "Whatever."

Do you know any major Canadian military victories of the 20th century?
Juno Beach D-Day(WW2) , *Vimy Rigde, Hill 70, Amiens, Ypers, Passchendaele, Lens, Regina Trench*(WW1), the list of Victories for WW1 and 2 go on and on.

In World War 1 the Canadian Corp went from a army of greens to the most feared allie force, and why are the only nation in the enter war to go a year with out a single loss or retreat. And Canada it's self went from a British minoir nation to a peer on the war counsil.

In WW II are main comintment went was on the sea but we did one !?% of the D-Day landings (Juno: as mentioned earlier, there were 5 landings), and were the frist nation to reach Rome, (but are American Commanders oders us to stop at the site of Rome then the Canadians had to stop and sit and watch as the US force marched into the site and claimed are Victory.)

I find it hard to beleave that america could could fail so bad and Im from Texas and i think any .....well ..hmm;) i think a part could fing iraq but i still dont think americans could do so badly

I'm Canadian and I can't even tell the difference between us and Americians, we are basically all on culture, there's no distinguishable charateristics between us and Americians, besides the occasional eh?

Canadians are far more likely than Americans to say "Meh" in RL face-to-face conversation. They are also more friendly.

I also associate maple syrup with Canada, and I have indeed had "Fine Canadian maple syrup".

as a Canadian my opinion is biased, but i can name dozens of famous Canadians that Americans would be suprised to hear are Canadian:

*ahem*
-Guglielmo Marconi (invented AM Radio)
-Graeme Ferguson,
Roman Kroitor
and Robert Kerr (invented IMAX)
- Alexander Graham Bell (telephone)
- Reginald A. Fessenden (Television)
- Gideon Sundback (zipper)
- James Naismith (Basketball)
- Charles Best (Insulin)
- James Gosling (inventor of the programming language JAVA)
- Roy Brown (shot down the Red Baron in WW1)
- Sanford Fleming (invented Time Zones)
- Joe Shuster (designed the "Great American Hero"... yes, Superman)

and dozens more here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/taniah/Canada/things/
here:
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa090100a.htm
and here:
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/inventorscanadian.htm

now, that list is definately not complete, and the list of Canadian inventions is ever growing

and heres a "Did you know" fact: other than the United states, Canada has contributed the most time, materials and manpower to the construction of the international space station

as for wars... well, we canadians are a peace loving country through and through, we'd rather buy you a beer and settle it with a handshake and a goodbye than fight you(you as in, anybody)

that being said, Cold Lake AFB in Canada is the premier fighter pilot training facility in the world and trains pilots from all NATO countries, a pilot trained there is considered to be on par with even the best ace pilots.

and, this is from memory, but 3 years ago in wargames between Canada and the states, we slipped 3 Deisel submarines past a fleet of vessels and sunk an aircraft carrier(we didn't actually "sink" it, but you never actually do damage in wargames purposely)

and just one last thing to contribute:
in Toronto, the CN Tower stands at 1,815 feet and 5 inches high. It was completed in 1975 and is the tallest freestanding structure in the world(even 5 years ago)

I can tell that one editor on my school paper is Canadian . . . he wore a sweater today saying 'Can(adian) I am!'

Canadians are far more likely than Americans to say "Meh" in RL face-to-face conversation. They are also more friendly.

I also associate maple syrup with Canada, and I have indeed had "Fine Canadian maple syrup".

Well, I guess that means I act on my canadian half :p

Well, for Canadian Military Victories, Vimy ridge in WWI certainly stands out, more victories than the Americans in that war :)

Canadians prefer to blend into the crowd . . . Americans tend to stick out like an obnoxious sore thumb. Sorry, I had to say it. Most of the nice Americans I've met have been from Maine . . . the further south you go . . . the more American you get :(

And why are Americans so bad at Geography?
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/11/20/geography.quiz/

If 11% of Americans between 18 and 24 cannot even locate THEIR OWN COUNTRY on a map, what makes you think they could recognize a Canadian, or even where Canada is?

Psssst It's that big country to the North.

Many Fluffles! :fluffle:

:)

Because people are morons; morons!

Canadians are unarmed Americans with health care. Also, we wouldn't ever elect George Bush.

11% don't know where is THIER OWN COUNTRY -_-
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

And 49% (not sure) don't even know where is new york... come on. Look im a frech canadian (yeah quebeker) (wow I speak english) (here finish the ()) n i dont even know anybody who don't know where is new york (at least the city)

Word!

:P

Actually I rarely if ever use that. It's a generation thing! ;)

No, it's a stupid white suburban thing - where the kids think they're from the "streets."

I can sometimes tell from the accent. One of my profs is Canadian, and says "oot and aboot" and uses "zed" for z.

Canadians are unarmed Americans with health care. Also, we wouldn't ever elect George Bush.

Yeah if the whole world likes you cause you don't act like d*icks, why buy a huge military? Like 50 countries would help Canada. i might move to Canada someday (people aren't morons or at least not totally)
OOC: In history class me and some African American kid who just ventured a guess were the only ones who knew who Harriet Tubman was. (Underground Railroad) And a large percentage think old Abe (Lincoln) was our first President.
I'm :confused: and :( about this country.

Canadians are far more likely than Americans to say "Meh" in RL face-to-face conversation. They are also more friendly.

I also associate maple syrup with Canada, and I have indeed had "Fine Canadian maple syrup".


Come down here for some Southern Hospitality. Seriously, my grand-folks from Jersey are always shocked when people around here say "hello" to to them....

Yeah if the whole world likes you cause you don't act like d*icks, why buy a huge military? Like 50 countries would help Canada. i might move to Canada someday (people aren't morons or at least not totally)
OOC: In history class me and some African American kid who just ventured a guess were the only ones who knew who Harriet Tubman was. (Underground Railroad) And a large percentage think old Abe (Lincoln) was our first President.
I'm :confused: and :( about this country.

Please tell me you're in kindergarten...or at least Alabama

Do I notice Canadians? Only when they say things like "Beauty, eh?" :)

I can tell Canadians cos they speak French, but in a non-French accent.

i myself am a canadian and I can tell all you that we are better at hockey and we have smarter mooses. Ay!

i myself am a canadian and I can tell all you that we are better at hockey and we have smarter mooses. Ay!

And I, myself, am an intelligent Canadian. I never say 'aboot', although roof rhymes with poof, not woof. And I also know that the plural of 'moose' is neither 'mooses' nor 'meece' but simply 'moose'.

And I will never, for the life of me, understand why some people don't get that.

When I was in Switzerland I heard some nasty comments about les Goddams (UK) behind my back (when I was wearing plaid or otherwise underdressed) and about Damyanks (when I was impatient, which is to say, rude by Swiss standards). As long as a Canadian is not drunk, he or she is more likely to be taken for British, or possibly a sober Australian/New Zealander. Drunk, they are just another lot of puking, fighting yahoos.

The Dutch and Germans seem to be able to tell Canadians from the other Anglo-American nations better than most nationalities. And Canadians earned a reputation for being bloody-minded savages during WWII. Ask a German. As the cliché goes, you have to watch out for the quiet types.

There are some substantial and subtile differences, which become more noticeable as the distance between the individuals increases, but along the border they are muted to the point that most Americans and most Canadians would be difficult to sort out. Mind you, I found that about half of the population of Europe is generic European--they have to open their mouths for you to be able to tell what nationality they are.

My accent is always taken for something slightly unfamiliar to the person who remarks upon it: American, Canadian, Australian, British .... I've been taken for all of these and sometimes by natives. This is a common psychological effect--remember "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"? Every witness claimed to hear shouting in a different language.

When I returned from a two year stay in Europe, the people in my native county sounded like Americans to me. Yikes!

And boy were they fat and ugly! But then, I knew that when I left. ;)

The Americans I've met are just as nice as Canadians - maybe less polite/subdued. I've met some from Nebraska, Washington state, North and South Carolina, and other places. The main difference I've noticed is accents. I love southern accents!

Aboot? We all say about. Americans must say it like abowwt as in ow! or cow.

I'm from Ireland, and have travelled extensively in Europe and, in almost all countries, people assume I'm English when they hear me speak.

They then regard me with suspicion and, honestly, a little bit of latent hatred.

Then when I tell them I'm Irish, I suddenly become the centre of the party, because everyone seems to love the Irish! Not so much the British though..... :p

Has anyone ever been able to tell the diffrence between an American or Canadian tourist, resident, or traveller? Has any American travelling in Canada ever felt greatly out of place or alien? Did you think of something as "Fine Canadian [Product]?" And do you ever find other people trying to imitate their accent in derogatory and inaccurate manners? How often do you think of Canada as a non-canadian? (If you are an American with access to CBC or with other networks airing Canadian comedy, which probably accounts for the majority of Americans, and likely means you take to their masterful television and movie comedies, dont bother answering. I can just find the CBC schedule.) Do you know any major Canadian military victories of the 20th century? Can you name a famous Canadian scientist other than Alexander Graham bell.

If you cant say that you notice Canadians much, just grunt and say so. It will give a sense of proportion compared to the amount of non-canadians who do pay Canada the attention it deserves.

I can't help but notice Canadians, as about 50% of my co-workers are Canadian. Also, a large number my friends and associates are Canadian.

In general, I like Canadians. Nice friendly people for the most part.

I haven't been to Canada, but would like to go.

Examples of "fine Canadian products": maple syrup, salmon, beer, and marijuana.

Canadian accents are a staple joke, even among the Canadians I know. But so are everyone elses accents. That's what happens in a multi-national environment like the foreign community in Japan.

I know Canada participated in both world wars and in the Korean war. They saw heavy fighting, and I know they were in on most of the western front campaigns, but I'd be pressed to say Canada has had any major miliutary victories by themselves. I do know Arthur "Roy" Brown shot down the Red Baron. :)

I can't think of any famous Canadian scientists. Here's a list. (http://schwinger.harvard.edu/~terning/Canadians/) I knew a few names on that list.

Most of the well known Canadians are entertainers, especially comedians.

According to this bio (http://www.gardenofpraise.com/ibdbell.htm), Bell wasn't Canadian. He was born in Scotland. He was a US citizen. He did spend time in Canada (a few years), but to claim he was Canadian is a stretch.

That brings me to one negative impression of Canadians: Canada has "little brother syndrome". The only other negative impression I have of Canadians is that many can be a bit whiney.