American Ignorance About Canada

American Ignorance About Canada

peapod

#1Jan 4th, 2005

Some of these comments I saw at a message board are hillarious.

question: When did the Canadians land on plymouth rock?

question: Is there thanksgiving the same as ours just on a different day ???
Answer:
Sorta. We all have turkey and other traditional foods. Then we go on the annual great northern Polar Bear hunt. Most years you get atleast one for each family but with global warming they are moving too far up north and you dont see too many of them in the
neighbourhood anymore. But other than that I think it is pretty much the same.

question: Polar Bear hunt
??? wtf
answer: What are you having problems understanding?
Filled with Turkey + Guns + Polar Bears = Polar Bear Hunt on Thanksgiving.

Hey everyone!
Just an update... I'm in Yellowknife atm... thats in the Northwest Territories... on my dads laptop in a Best Western with cable w00t!
Can't wait for tomorrow... I'm gonna git me a polar bear.
I think i'm gonna make a halloween costume out of it

So polar bear hunting is equivalent to deer hunting in say NC and VA. I am not really into hunting but the scenery there looks cool and I like snow. If I went hunting I would end up just f***ing around on a snowmobile and pissing everyone off. LOL

This is one of my favorites:
canadians are gay

HOLD THE PHONE BATMAN!
So it costs $50 to go on these hunts, and I get to keep the hide and all that good ****?
If so I'm crossing the border to Canada and I'm gonna knock me a polar bear

WTF I've been a Canadian for 26 years now and I've never heard of a polar bear hunt for thanksgiving..... maybe I live to far south in Ontario to understand this

So you telling me, I can cross over to Canada and kill a bear for $50 american?
No other costs involved?
You'll have trouble getting it over the border.. but people have done it before. Do a google search, you'll be able to get in touch with the right pepole

Detroit

#2 Top Rated Post

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Purpose of this thread was what?

Let me guess

To belittle Americans and call them ignorant?

Truth is most American don't know alot about Canada? Why because ,ost never go there, don't live close to Canada and to them is irrelevant.

peapod

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

The purpose of this thread is not to belittle americans, its just some humor, sorry if you are offended by it. Americans have their jokes about us to. Personally I take most of it in fun. I have no issues with americans, just some issues with their government. I have american friends, american relatives. Its just about assumputions thats all.

Reverend Blair

RE: American Ignorance Ab

Jan 4th, 2005

I don't buy that at all, Detroit. Most Americans that don't know about Canada and the rest world are like that because they have chosen to be ignorant. You can tell that it's a choice they've made because other Americans know about Canada and the rest of the world.

Something I've always found hilarious is that the Americans who have taken the time and effort to educate themselves are generally perfectly willing to let their countrymen make asses of themselves.

Mooseskin Johnny

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

By definition, half of the population has below average intelligence. That's a lot of dumb people out there. Ignorance is wide spread. Thinking is work and far too many people are too lazy to think. Most Canadians are just as dumb - alright, almost as dumb - as most Americans.

Rick van Opbergen

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Reverend Blair I believe that it is shortsighted to say that people have chosen to be "ignorant", not because it is true or not, but because every country in the world has its (large) share of the population who don't know anything about the rest of the world. It's not important where they live, because they are everywhere, whether they are in the US, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Japan or Australia. For me, that makes it a non-issue.

Ten Packs

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Quote: Originally Posted by Detroit

Purpose of this thread was what?

Let me guess To belittle Americans and call them ignorant?

Truth is most American don't know alot about Canada? Why because ,ost never go there, don't live close to Canada and to them is irrelevant.

Hi, Wing.........

got yourself a new place to bash Canada, eh?

Detroit

Re: RE: American Ignorance Ab

Jan 4th, 2005

[quote="Reverend Blair"]I don't buy that at all, Detroit. Most Americans that don't know about Canada and the rest world are like that because they have chosen to be ignorant. You can tell that it's a choice they've made because other Americans know about Canada and the rest of the world.

Trust me, most Americans don't know alot about Canada because they have no reason. When I stay in Cali my friends didn't know Canada had a prime minster, that some spoke French, well pretty much every. It's not because they are ignorant it's because it's not necessary. Most Americans that know Canadian politics either "A" have friends or family who are Canadians or "B" live in a state that borders Canada.

Something I've always found hilarious is that the Americans who have taken the time and effort to educate themselves are generally perfectly willing to let their countrymen make asses of themselves

Self-hating Americans is a better term

no1important

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Detroit

#10

Re: RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

America's schools only teach stuff and ram patriotism about the USA in the classrooms.Most countries teach you about the world and other countries but not america. Rah Rah were #1 is all they teach. Not too many americans I have met know anything about outside of america. They dont appear to teach that topic.

How many Americans did actually you meet in your life time? Hell, most Canadian never heard of Sir Lanka until the tsunami.

I met two from seattle on my sons soccer exchange and they never heard of the "Commonwealth" and even though we are about 150 -200 miles north of seattle they think we have snow year round?!?! We in Vancouver rarley get any recordable snow.

How old were they? 7, 8? It doesn't snow there all year? 80

That Ric Mercer is "talking to Americans" on CBC tomorrow. Ha Ha you really see how "smart" some are about issues outside of america. Some even think we are a 51 state or never knew we share a border with them.

They assk 400+ Americans question but edit it to make it seems like everyone is dumb. You wonder why America doesn't have a "Talking to Canadians". Why because no one will watch and the ratings will register a 0.1%. With the 0.1% being people sleep with their tv's on.

peapod

#11

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Don't just love his bait....he thinks he is a good fishermen

well why would they have anything canadian...they don't even know their own country...just watch david lettermen when he goes about the country asking basic history questions about america. ha ha ha.

Pycrete

#12

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Hate to say it, but ignorance is something that human beings have had to live with for a long time. There is simply too much information out there and too little time to learn it in. Many intelligent people do not have the time, or the interest to worry about international issues, or other countries, or indeed anything besides how to make enough money to buy a big screen TV, or please whatever god (if any) they worship. The sad truth is, i am quite well educated (BSC) and i couldn't name the state capitals or even the capital of Mexico off of the top of my head. I could find out easily enough if i had the time or inclination... but i don't. No matter how wise or knowledgeable you think you are, there are plenty who know more, and plenty they haven't even heard of. American ignorance was funny the first time... now its just boring, cause if anything it can only be said that some of them are marginally less well informed then some of us.

Reverend Blair

#13

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 4th, 2005

Quote:

Hi, Wing.........

got yourself a new place to bash Canada, eh? Rolling Eyes

It's funny....Mrs. Rev read his first post and said, "Oh that's that ******* Jim ***hole from Detroit, isn't it?"

We're maintaining a fiction here though Ten Packs...one of those odd polite things that never made any sense to me.

Quote:

Trust me, most Americans don't know alot about Canada because they have no reason.

Which is why you thought a permit from the phone company would allow you to bring a handgun into Canada and that there were vast tract of forest in Iceland, right Wing?

Quote:

Self-hating Americans is a better term

I don't suppose you'll ever actually take the time to do this, Wing, but get your scribe to read you what your founding fathers wrote. You'll quickly find that your version of how things oughtta be are closer to Joe Stalin than Ben Franklin or George Washington.

Funny how that works.

no1important

#14

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

I have met a lot of Americans over the years. We get so many American Tourists here, I met some for soccer exchanges and of course the late teens who are not allowed to drink in america. Most don't have a clue about Canada yet Canadians know a lot about America. They seem to thjink The RCMP still ride horses on Patrol and wear their red uniforms all the time.

Of course though that recent survey that was out showed American 15 year olds/grade 10 were nowhere near the top on marks. American kids did rather poorly.

moghrabi

#15

Re: RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Quote: Originally Posted by Detroit

How many Americans did actually you meet in your life time? Hell, most Canadian never heard of Sir Lanka until the tsunami.

Just a correction. Actually we heard of Sri Lanka but not Sir Lanka. This shows the level of ignorance.

Ten Packs

#16

Re: RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Quote: Originally Posted by moghrabi

Quote: Originally Posted by Detroit
How many Americans did actually you meet in your life time? Hell, most Canadian never heard of Sir Lanka until the tsunami.
Just a correction. Actually we heard of Sri Lanka but not Sir Lanka. This shows the level of ignorance.

Actually, I think Wing got confused, because he had erroneously heard that PauLanka has been knighted, like Elton and Mick.....

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ! ! !

moghrabi

#17

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Good one. Both ways they are ignorant and full of it.

Gabre34

#18

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

In my world......

50% of the american people as a whole, wherever they are, north or south, are completely ignorent and stripped of any knowlege of foreign entities, exept Britain, China and Mexico.

I lived 3 years of my life there. Oddly enough, that is the only conclusion I could make of this "Great America".

moghrabi

#19

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Gsabre. You are a very generous man to say 50% are ignorant. I have seen a higher range than that on this forum alone. LOL.

You know when you come down from Canada to, say Texas, by car. the wind shield of your car might get few rock chips. You could tell them that Indians where shooting at you with their arrows and bows and they will believe it.

Rick van Opbergen

#20

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

I would say: stop the bashing of America. It's just a non-issue, as I explained in my post. I don't see how it's such a big deal, and in that, I agree with Detroit. If you want to have a clear view of this American ignorance of the outside world, you should come with clear statistics that other countries on the planet score better on this part. Furthermore, I think it's logical that Canadians probably know more about Americans than Americans about Canadians; I bet the Dutch youth knows more about Americans than about our neighbors the Germans. That's just because America has always been the focus of attention, whether it is in the political corner, the cultural corner etc. We have MTV, we have CNN, we have American cartoons, we have McDonalds ...

And I don't know whether a spelling mistake moghrabi (Sir instead of Sri) is such a clear indicator of ignorance.

moghrabi

#21

Re: RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Quote: Originally Posted by Rick van Opbergen

I would say: stop the bashing of America. It's just a non-issue, as I explained in my post. I don't see how it's such a big deal, and in that, I agree with Detroit. If you want to have a clear view of this American ignorance of the outside world, you should come with clear statistics that other countries on the planet score better on this part. Furthermore, I think it's logical that Canadians probably know more about Americans than Americans about Canadians; I bet the Dutch youth knows more about Americans than about our neighbors the Germans. That's just because America has always been the focus of attention, whether it is in the political corner, the cultural corner etc. We have MTV, we have CNN, we have American cartoons, we have McDonalds ...

And I don't know whether a spelling mistake moghrabi (Sir instead of Sri) is such a clear indicator of ignorance.

The spelling mistake broke the ice for me. But i do disagree with you totally. I can sit with 4 Sri lankans and they can discuss the politics of your country. People around the world are more open to the world around the, Rick. They know about Europe, the Orient, the South East. They know the difference between Canada and the US. Not because of McDonalds. It is because they are not ignorant. They are open. They like to read and learn.

You call it US Bashing. I call it truth telling.

Rick van Opbergen

#22

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Quote: Originally Posted by moghrabi

Quote: Originally Posted by Rick van Opbergen" I would say: stop the bashing of America. It's just a non-issue, as I explained in my post. I don't see how it's such a big deal, and in that, I agree with Detroit. If you want to have a clear view of this American ignorance of the outside world, you should come with clear statistics that other countries on the planet score better on this part. Furthermore, I think it's logical that Canadians probably know more about Americans than Americans about Canadians; I bet the Dutch youth knows more about Americans than about our neighbors the Germans. That's just because America has always been the focus of attention, whether it is in the political corner, the cultural corner etc. We have MTV, we have CNN, we have American cartoons, we have McDonalds ...
And I don't know whether a spelling mistake moghrabi (Sir instead of Sri) is such a clear indicator of ignorance.The spelling mistake broke the ice for me. But i do disagree with you totally. I can sit with 4 Sri lankans and they can discuss the politics of your country. People around the world are more open to the world around the, Rick. They know about Europe, the Orient, the South East. They know the difference between Canada and the US. Not because of McDonalds. It is because they are not ignorant. They are open. They like to read and...
Quote has been trimmed

Look moghrabi, I can also find 4 Americans to discuss the politics of my country. I can also find 100 Americans who think the Netherlands is the capital of Denmark (once read that in an interview with an American popstar); but I bet I can also find 100 Sri Lankans, 100 Nigerians, 100 Russians, 100 Brits and 100 Brazilians who think that. On what do you base your conclusion that people around the world are more open to the world around them than Americans? Can we simply base that on certain personal experiences? Or should we really find out the truth and investigate with actual numbers and people? Have you ever gotten any scientific proof in your hands which stated that Americans know less about the world around them compared to other inhabitants of this planet? And if so, what were the reasons given for that?

moghrabi

#23

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

I am basing it on my own personal experiences. I don't know how mush travel you have done Rick. But I have been to the States and Europe. No need for numbers. Travel around and talk to people. I was talking to an Armenian yeterday. I was really impressed by his knowledge of what's going on around him. I haven'r seen that with a lot of Americans.

Rick van Opbergen

#24

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

But are personal experiences enough? Is it not that when you visit a country where the mothertongue isn't the same as yours, you tend to end up with people who have - in this case - enough knowledge of English, people who also tend to be the more intellectual ones? When you visit to Europe, how do you know you are talking to the average European? As a Dutchman I just know that there are just a lot of people here who don't know much about others and who actually just don't give a sh*t (sorry for being so rude). For my study, I've read a report about how much Germans know about the Netherlands and vice versa, and it's both humerous as it is shocking. That's why I am not convinced that we should especially focus on Americans when we talking about this kind of ignorance.

I'm not saying the "ignorant American" does not exist. I bet they do! (I'm positively sure). However, I'm not convinced whether this is not the same in other countries across the globe.

moghrabi

#25

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

I'll give you one example. Why is it that you and me have to speak English to an American and they don't bother to learn any Fu**ing forign language to communicate with others. Why when they go to China they expect Chinese to speak English to them and they don't bother learning Chinese to get by. Why is it that people have to live up to their standard and they don't have to yield to other people standards. Why do they have to enforce their values on others and not learn from the values of others.

Too many questions Rick. We need a whole thread for this.

PS. Not all Americans are included in this discussion.Some are very willing to learn and get involved. But the majority are simply too ignorant for me to deal with. It might be fine for you.

Rick van Opbergen

#26

Re: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

Quote: Originally Posted by moghrabi

Why is it that you and me have to speak English to an American and they don't bother to learn any Fu**ing forign language to communicate with others. Why when they go to China they expect Chinese to speak English to them and they don't bother learning Chinese to get by.

And Americans are unique in that in what way? Don't you think Germans speak German when they visit my country and Canadians speak English or French? How many people from the West who go on a trip to China actually try to learn Chinese? I totally agree that most Americans are that way, that they rather speak English than that they speak the local language when they visit a foreign country. But I don't see how that is so different from lets say Canadians or Dutchmen.

edgerunner

#27

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

As an American, living in a region of North America with the most highly Hispanic population living here, I have learned to speak Spanish.
Your generalization concerning me and my fellow country-folk is a big-fat-untruth, and a misconception and insult to those of us who respect the cultures of others'. I also speak German, but not Dutch. I would gladly sink to speaking German or English while visiting the Netherlands if it were to help me gain a more respectful oppinion from you in your Motherland.
As there is no Universal language, as of yet, English seems to be the most accepted in most areas and thus, the most practiced. Go figure.

Rick van Opbergen

#28

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 5th, 2005

I agree edgerunner. But I was wondering, was your post directed to me? Just wondering.

Reverend Blair

#29

RE: American Ignorance Ab

Jan 5th, 2005

You prove my previous point though, Edgerunner...

Quote:

Most Americans that don't know about Canada and the rest world are like that because they have chosen to be ignorant. You can tell that it's a choice they've made because other Americans know about Canada and the rest of the world.

Unfortunately a lot of the ignorant ones(including your president and a few right-wing radical pundits) are also the most vocal. They give your country a bad name.

Montana

#30

RE: American Ignorance About Canada

Jan 7th, 2005

As someone who was born and raised in the US, but moved to Canada where my roots are almost 5 years ago, I have had a lot of laughs listenening to some Americans explain what they think Canada is like, but they don't know any better because the media in the US doesn't talk about Canada at all. Here in Canada was have all kinds of US channels added to our Canadian channels, but the US channels are strictly US channels.

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