Why do Canadians look down on Americans?

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Zabka said:
I keep seeing this line from Canadians and I can't tell if it's some kind of running joke or not. If you think this is true you must have never step foot in a US city.
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they actually mention the whole melting pot = america and mosaic = canada in school in canada. At least they did for me :P

I thought it was all BS mostly.
 
America is great. Blew my first load there. Problem with Canada is that we all have small dicks. Especially out fucking Prime Minister.
 
HI said:
Using the imperial system as insult
Haha damn you're reaching on that one

sick ass burn tho bro
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It's actually pretty valid as it's the most completely and incredibily backward thing the US has going, you're like the only country using it, just to appear hip or whatever. It's dumb and will always be.
 
Sapiens said:
America is great. Blew my first load there. Problem with Canada is that we all have small dicks. Especially out fucking Prime Minister.
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We have bigger dicks then they do bro. That penis chart proved it. You're right about Robo Harper though. He's whole policy since becoming PM has been about over compensating for something.
 
Zabka said:
I keep seeing this line from Canadians and I can't tell if it's some kind of running joke or not. If you think this is true you must have never step foot in a US city.
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It's part of our indoctrination.
 
You know what's my thing with America?. It's a great country. I envy them. I think they have everything they could hope for, beautiful and fertile lands, intelligent people, open society, lots of advancement and freedom, I think it's certainly made for greatness, but there are so many baffling things that happen only there that I can't help but think how much could be done if other people with less baffling ways of thinking lived there.

Now Canada doesn't have the same geographic benefits and lacks many things America has (even Canadian people vs American) but at the same time as some European countries, they are leaps over America in many aspects so their people just show me how much you can do with less. And that pains me.
 
Ahasverus said:
You know what's my thing with America?. It's a great country. I envy them. I think they have everything they could hope for, beautiful and fertile lands, intelligent people, open society, lots of advancement and freedom, I think it's certainly made for greatness, but there are so many baffling things that happen only there that I can't help but think how much could be done if other people with less baffling ways of thinking lived there.

Now Canada doesn't have the same geographic benefits and lacks many things America has (even Canadian people vs American) but at the same time as some European countries, they are leaps over America in many aspects so their people just show me how much you can do with less. And that pains me.
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Audrey-Hepburn-Pulls-Down-Glasses.gif


Excuse me? This is worse than a straight up insult. You're making it sound like the Americans are the underachieving star quarterback who couldn't make it into the NFL, and we're the overachieving water boy that did lol.
 
Heshinsi said:
Excuse me? This is worse than a straight up insult. You're making it sound like the Americans are the underachieving star quarterback who couldn't make it into the NFL, and we're the overachieving water boy that did lol.
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Eh no? The country has made great things, but many others have too, with far, far less resources; some poeple would say they are simply more advanced in many aspects.
Yes, You are the big bad boy. However you have it everything to be the big good boy.

Yet I can't believe you think I'm insulting lol, you guys in the g20 live in paradises on earth, as an outside guy I admire you greatly. But come on, step up your game. Think of your people. use your power for them, and for the world. For good.
 
Ahasverus said:
Eh no? The country has made great things, but many others have too, with far, far less resources; some poeple would say they are simply more advanced in many aspects.
Yes, You are the big bad boy. However you have it everything to be the big good boy.
Yet I can't believe you think I'm insulting lol, you guys in the g20 live in paradises on earth, as an outside guy I admire you greatly. But come on, step up your game. Think of your people. use your power for them, and for the world. For good.
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I'm not American lol I think you're insulting us Canadians by saying we're handicapped against the Americans but we somehow overcame it, and that it pains you seeing America not living up to its potential. We're not geographically handicapped lol I do think we're politically handicapped though. We could be so much greater and wealthier than we actually are.
 
Heshinsi said:
I'm not American lol I think you're insulting us Canadians by saying we're handicapped against the Americans but we somehow overcame it, and that it pains you seeing America not living up to its potential. We're not geographically handicapped lol
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Oh lol I'm sorry. Of course you aren't!! It's just that America has it almost all, it's unfair. Your climate is a problem, for example, in some parts agriculture is just not viable (for what I know). Of course you have an amazing land, but you gotta admit America has it easier! And I said, that speaks volumes on you. It's not insulting, far the contrary, it's great admiration.
 
CurseoftheGods said:
I am not Canadian or American, but I have lived in Canada for 8 years.

Whenever I bring up the US to my Canadian friends they always act condescending towards their neighbors.

Is there something that I am missing? I think that the two countries share a lot of the same values and have a lot in common.

Please enlighten this international student.
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Little Brother Syndrome.

Canadians are very insecure about their dependent relationship with America.

Edit: I love Canada - and Canadians - but I'm calling a spade a spade here.
 
Tabris said:
I think a lot of Americans are ignorant to how good Canadians have it. We make more money in the middle and lower income brackets (post tax + insurance as well), universal healthcare for all peoples, better education system for all peoples, cultural diversity (especially when in Vancouver or Toronto), more tolerant society, and our overall quality of life index is much higher.

Unless you are in the 10% income bracket or your family is, in America, you don't have it better than Canadians, on the things that measure ones quality of life.
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Canada has plenty of intolerant hicks. The percentage is probably the same as in the USA.
 
Ahasverus said:
It's actually pretty valid as it's the most completely and incredibily backward thing the US has going, you're like the only country using it, just to appear hip or whatever. It's dumb and will always be.
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I get everyone is on the metric system but the poster is reaching pretty far to draw a comparison from my post on other countries influences in there own when the only argument the poster has is a system of measurement.
 
Reg said:
Canada has plenty of intolerant hicks. The percentage is probably the same as in the USA.
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No they're not. Their intolerance is not just at an individual level, it's also institutionalised. Besides the way we've been treating our native population, you'd be hard pressed to say there's a system in places that affects minorities in much the same manner. We don't have that institutionalized injustice they do, not even close. Judicial system, correctional system, schooling, job opportunities, gender and sexual issues, sexual repression, the list goes on.
 
Reg said:
Canada has plenty of intolerant hicks. The percentage is probably the same as in the USA.
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As someone who has loved in the rural prairies, I really don't think so. There just isn't anything equivalent to that bible thumping, foreigner-decrying "speak English", "Adam and eve not Adam and Steve" redneck culture that was (is?) a part of the American landscape. Yes, I think our hicks are more tolerant than their hicks.

But in any case I know America has a boat load of tolerance going on (them coasts).
 
Tabris said:
Racial diversity is very different than Cultural diversity. America has greater racial diversity but it tends as a society to homogeneous cultures into "American", while Canada retains individual cultures to make up the tapestry that is "Canadian".

Best analogy is, America is a melting pot of crayons. Canada is a crayon box.
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A high school teacher (who was an American citizen born in Jamaica) explained the difference between American and European/Canadian diversity like this:

In the United States, various groups come together and add to the greater culture. American-style Pizza and hamburgers are absolutely American foods, being brought by immigrants and heavily influenced by the cooking techniques of the new country. Most American music is a pretty wonderful blend of African and European traditions, and American culture is generally very open to incorporating new influences, given that it's new and always-changing.

By contrast, in Europe (and Canada, due to being "part of Europe" for much longer) diversity involves various minorities living independently within the greater country, not always becoming "truly French/Italian/British" and being less well-liked by the native inhabitants. In some European countries it's quite difficult to become naturalized, and my teacher believed there was far worse anti-immigrant sentiment outside the US.
 
The hicks are slowly dying out in this country. I've grown in mostly rural areas and the way people have changed in regards to things like gay marriage since I was a kid 15 years ago is huge. It takes time but at least I am seeing progress in the tiny part of the world I live in.
 
BocoDragon said:
As someone who has loved in the rural prairies, I really don't think so. There just isn't anything equivalent to that bible thumping, foreigner-decrying "speak English", "Adam and eve not Adam and Steve" redneck culture that was (is?) a part of the American landscape. Yes, I think our hicks are more tolerant than their hicks.

But in any case I know America has a boat load of tolerance going on (them coasts).
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This is always my favourite typo. Don't change it.

I do think that there is a lot of that subtle racism in Canada. We are after all, subject to many of the same media influences. I know when I was a kid middle eastern kids would be teased with "terrorist" stereotypes and such things. Of course we don't really have the sort of "preaching" that America has. I think this might because of not just being maybe a bit more progressive, but also having a more polite / subdued culture. So even if we do have "intolerant hicks" they wouldn't be out there screaming at the clouds.
 
I’m Canadian and I love the States. Spend time there every year. But I know the reason a lot of Canadians look down on the USA.

There is a false stereotype of Americans in pretty much every country on the planet and Canada is no exception.

I’ve travelled the globe pretty extensively. Everywhere I go people love Canadians. When they see the Canada flag on my backpack or I tell them where I’m from, they welcome me with open arms and often invite me to go out and chill with them. On the other hand they complain about Americans as being obnoxious, arrogant, ignorant and uncultured (many actually are, but such is the case in every country.) It’s just the stereotype that non-Americans have in their heads.
 
I've pointed this out before, but my disdain for Americans doesn't come from any personal hate or resentment or jealousy, but comes from a kind of sadness, for lack of a better word. America is an amazing country and for the longest time has been a bastion of freedom and democracy that the world over should envy. As time has gone on though, the lunatic fringe has taken the country hostage and caused a bifrication between the blue and red states that seems to grow every year. I'm reminded of the "United States of Canada / Jesusland" picture which seems more and more relevant every year.

Americans are so complacent that they don't even realise that many countries not only outrank them in quality of life but also on the freedom index. Instead of using the absolutely insane and impressive ability to generate a groundswell of support from the people towards bettering the social, political and economic situation, people sit back and let big pharma, NRA and other lobby groups hijack their country. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the latest supreme court decision which removed spending caps on political donations which helped to at least create a thin veneer of fairness in the democratic process. The real shame is that American dream is dead, but the mass delusion that anyone can become a millionaire with enough hard work remains.

Canada certainly has its fair share of problems, but at least we don't have the absolutely offensive and easily fixable problems like religious indoctrination taking over schools, morbid obesity, gun control (or lack thereof) and the health care situation to name a few. As a Canadian, I am definitely glad to have America as a neighbour, but it's like having your rich uncle pauly next door who is a philandering alcoholic with a heart of gold. Unpredictable to say the least.
 
Onion_Relish said:
As time has gone on though, the lunatic fringe has taken the country hostage and caused a bifrication between the blue and red states that seems to grow every year. I'm reminded of the "United States of Canada / Jesusland" picture which seems more and more relevant every year.
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It's much less a state by state thing and more an urban/rural divide, if anything. There are plenty of activist lefties in the heart of the deep south and plenty of evangelical conservatives on the coasts. The cultural/political divide in the USA really isn't as pronounced as a lot of foreign and domestic media make it out to be -- and that can be both healthy and problematic, at times.
 
I watched trailer park boys and they seemed like dudes I would hang out with. Of all the neighboring counties Canada and America seem pretty damn similar.
 
Onion_Relish said:
I've pointed this out before, but my disdain for Americans doesn't come from any personal hate or resentment or jealousy, but comes from a kind of sadness, for lack of a better word. America is an amazing country and for the longest time has been a bastion of freedom and democracy that the world over should envy. As time has gone on though, the lunatic fringe has taken the country hostage and caused a bifrication between the blue and red states that seems to grow every year. I'm reminded of the "United States of Canada / Jesusland" picture which seems more and more relevant every year.

Americans are so complacent that they don't even realise that many countries not only outrank them in quality of life but also on the freedom index. Instead of using the absolutely insane and impressive ability to generate a groundswell of support from the people towards bettering the social, political and economic situation, people sit back and let big pharma, NRA and other lobby groups hijack their country. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the latest supreme court decision which removed spending caps on political donations which helped to at least create a thin veneer of fairness in the democratic process. The real shame is that American dream is dead, but the mass delusion that anyone can become a millionaire with enough hard work remains.

Canada certainly has its fair share of problems, but at least we don't have the absolutely offensive and easily fixable problems like religious indoctrination taking over schools, morbid obesity, gun control (or lack thereof) and the health care situation to name a few. As a Canadian, I am definitely glad to have America as a neighbour, but it's like having your rich uncle pauly next door who is a philandering alcoholic with a heart of gold. Unpredictable to say the least.
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So presumptuous.
 
DaBargainHunta said:
Little Brother Syndrome.

Canadians are very insecure about their dependent relationship with America.

Edit: I love Canada - and Canadians - but I'm calling a spade a spade here.
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Nah man, shit like this is where some of the resentment comes from:

One of the most controversial sections of the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement of 1988 was a promise that Canada would never charge the United States more for energy than fellow Canadians.
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Alberta sells oil cheaper to the United States than they do the rest of Canada.

In 1996, the gasoline additive MMT was brought into Canada by Ethyl Corporation, an American company. At the time, the Canadian federal government banned the importation of the additive. The American company brought a claim under NAFTA Chapter 11 seeking US$201 million, from the Canadian government and the Canadian provinces under the Agreement on Internal Trade ("AIT"). The American company argued that their additive had not been conclusively linked to any health dangers, and that the prohibition was damaging to their company. Following a finding that the ban was a violation of the AIT, the Canadian federal government repealed the ban and settled with the American company for US$13 million.
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Thanks to NAFTA, US companies challenge us on our own laws about things we don't want in our environment.

A book written by Mel Hurtig published in 2002 called The Vanishing Country charged that since NAFTA's ratification more than 10,000 Canadian companies had been taken over by foreigners, and that 98% of all foreign direct investments in Canada were for foreign takeovers.
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Walco? Bought by Walmart. The Hudson Bay company? Bought by Americans. Eaton's? Bought by Sears and shut down. CN Rail? 2/3rds owned by Americans. CCM? Bought by Reebok. ATI? Bought by AMD. There is so many to list. Even Timmy's was at one point owned by Wendy's. 51.8% of our manufacturing industry is foreign owned, and almost 50% of our oil industry is too. This has intensified under Harper. In 2005, there were 66 Canadian companies in Fortune's 500 list. By 2009, that number dropped to 52 due to foreign takeovers.

We bend over backwards for the United States on stuff that screws Canada over in the long run. It's not just a little brother syndrome, it's being in an economic relationship with someone who's only interest is their own, and we're expected to suck it up and take it. Can't wait when ownership of our waters becomes privatised and American and overseas companies buy up the rights. Most Canadians don't have a problem with the general AMerican population. Your government, that's a different story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreig...Canadian_Companies_acquired_by_foreign_owners
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement#Trade_balances
 
HI said:
Canada is probably just mad they have no identity as a country other than hockey and haven't been able to shake French or British influence for over 200 years.
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This makes the most sense because I seriously can't think of anything else.
 
Chezzymann said:
I think the real reason is that America is the big kid on the block and is always in the spotlight. Just like with celebrities, the more popular you are the more people will criticise you. If the US was just some random average country instead of a superpower I don't think anyone would care about our flaws as much as they do now.
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Pretty much this.

The big kid on the block will always be the one most criticized.

Just wait till China becomes the big kid on the block. Same shit.
 
collige said:
Because despite sharing a bunch of values, they have universal health care, better education, less obesity, less prison population, etc. It's kinda like America done properly (and I say this as an American).
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This.

I'm amazed yet not entirely surprised at the amount of ignorance displayed in this thread.
 
QuiteWhittle said:
Are...you sure that's true? Maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't think there are any laws explicitly banning other parties from advertising. Third parties are usually barred from political debates because those are handled by private entities with obscure prerequisites. That's a terrible barrier to success but, other than that, the largest issue to wide-reaching appeal is the lack of third-party campaign funds.
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Ross Perot was in the 1992 debates. He also paid for infomercials before the election. He did manage about 19% of the popular vote.

I could be wrong, but I believe third party candidates need to be polling somewhat well for the networks to invite them. Someone correct me if wrong.
 
Every time I hear someone arguing why America is better than Canada, I'm reminded of Newsroom's Will MacAvoy's outburst:
Will McAvoy: It's not the greatest country in the world, professor, that's my answer.

Moderator: You're saying...

Will McAvoy: Yes.

Moderator: Let's talk about...

Will McAvoy: Fine. Sharon, the NEA is a loser. Yeah, it accounts for a penny out of our paychecks, but he gets to hit you with it anytime he wants. It doesn't cost money, it costs votes. It costs airtime and column inches. You know why people don't like liberals? Because they lose. If liberals are so fuckin' smart, how come they lose so GODDAM ALWAYS!

Sharon: Hey...

Moderator: [turns to Lewis] And with a straight face, you're going to tell students that America is so starspangled awesome that we're the only ones in the world who have freedom? Canada has freedom, Japan has freedom, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, BELGIUM has freedom! Two hundred and seven sovereign states in the world, like 180 of them have freedom.

Moderator: All right...

Will McAvoy: And yeah, you... sorority girl. Just in case you accidentally wander into a voting booth one day, there are some things you should know, and one of them is: There is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we're the greatest country in the world. We're seventh in literacy, twenty-seventh in math, twenty-second in science, forty-ninth in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, third in median household income, number four in labor force, and number four in exports. We lead the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real, and defense spending, where we spend more than the next twenty-six countries combined, twenty-five of whom are allies. None of this is the fault of a 20-year-old college student, but you, nonetheless, are without a doubt a member of the WORST-period-GENERATION-period-EVER-period, so when you ask what makes us the greatest country in the world, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about! Yosemite?

Will McAvoy: [pause] We sure used to be. We stood up for what was right. We fought for moral reasons, we passed laws, struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and we cultivated the world's greatest artists and the world's greatest economy. We reached for the stars, acted like men. We aspired to intelligence; we didn't belittle it; it didn't make us feel inferior. We didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn't scare so easy. We were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed. By great men, men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.

Will McAvoy: [to moderator] Enough?
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jealousy. america is the home of the hamburger,hotdog, and the brave. canada is beat. like 2 slices of american cheese on wonder bread boring.
 
Speaking as someone born and raised in GTA, Ontario, Canada, we don't.

We just don't like the American arrogance. Otherwise we just want to be friends.
 
The situation will reverse as the planet realizes Canada is destroying the climate with tar sands oil extraction. At that point Canada will be invaded and Chelsea Clinton's daughter will give a mission accomplished speech in the center of a carpet bombed hockey rink.
 
Pandaman said:
australia is our warm southern hemisphere sister country.
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Which is my point. The quality of life between America and Canada is not the main reason for Canadians to look down on America. It may be one of them but definitely not THE reason. It's probably the stereotypical "all americans are assholes, stupid, conservative" idea. Like I said before (and some other gaffers have said it as well), the big kid on the block is the one who gets the most criticism, since they're in the spotlight.

I know next to nothing about Australia+Canada+USA relationship but it seems to me that Canada + USA would have a more similar lifestyle than Canada + Australia. Other than the whole United Kingdom thing, can't imagine how Canada and Australia is more alike than Canada and USA, who seem to be politically, culturally and geographically closer to each other. Again, I know next to nothing but that's what I perceive. Seems like both are two sides of the same coin. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Edit: If you're sister countries just because you're under the British umbrella and only because of that then that's rather silly, in my opinion. It's not like both countries depend on the UK for anything. It's definitely not like the situation I'm living in (Puerto Rico being fully dependent on the US). That would be like me feeling closer to people from Guam because we're both under the US umbrella and not feeling closer to countries like Dominican Republic or Cuba.
 
KillGore said:
Which is my point. The quality of life between America and Canada is not the main reason for Canadians to look down on America. It may be one of them but definitely not THE reason. It's probably the stereotypical "all americans are assholes, stupid, conservative" idea. Like I said before (and some other gaffers have said it as well), the big kid on the block is the one who gets the most criticism, since they're in the spotlight.

I know next to nothing about Australia+Canada+USA relationship but it seems to me that Canada + USA would have a more similar lifestyle than Canada + Australia. Other than the whole United Kingdom thing, can't imagine how Canada and Australia is more alike than Canada and USA, who seem to be politically, culturally and geographically closer to each other. Again, I know next to nothing but that's what I perceive. Seems like both are two sides of the same coin. Maybe I'm wrong though.
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I would have assumed Canadians and Australians are more similar than Canadians and Americans.
 
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