[Athens]

LOL now that I have your attention I gotta ask this question. As some of you know I work at a hotel in downtown Vancouver. Well last night I had a woman from Maryland call asking if we have Tolets in Canada. My first reaction was and after I explained to her that we do have tolets and plumbing I just felt like saying yes but they are made of ice to her anyways thats part one, part 2 is a guest from Texas that has been here for 3 days now screaming at me about getting a refund because he hasent seen any moose yet. Really mad that deer, moose and beavers dont stroll down main streets in the heart of a large city. My Question is this, WHAT THE HELL DO YOUR SCHOOLS TEACH YOU ABOUT CANADA!

[Luca Rescigno]

He's probably thinking it's supposed to be like the show Northern Exposure or something. That was Alaska, not Canada, but he's probably too stupid to know the difference anyway.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by Athens:
My Question is this, WHAT THE HELL DO YOUR SCHOOLS TEACH YOU ABOUT CANADA!

Nothing at all. Obviously.

[roberto blanco]

Originally posted by Athens:
Well last night I had a woman from Maryland call asking if we have Tolets in Canada.

what's a "tolet"?

[kemuri]

Americans. So many of them clueless to the extreme.

[storer]

Originally posted by Athens:
part 2 is a guest from Texas that has been here for 3 days now screaming at me about getting a refund because he hasent seen any moose yet. Really mad that deer, moose and beavers dont stroll down main streets in the heart of a large city.

we have problems like that with kangaroos and wombats.

[Athens]

Originally posted by storer:
we have problems like that with kangaroos and wombats.

Im sure you get it from every one though. I only get stupid questions from Americans. Granted British folk like to drive down the street in the wrong lang some times but you cant blame them LOL

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by Athens:
LOL now that I have your attention I gotta ask this question. As some of you know I work at a hotel in downtown Vancouver. Well last night I had a woman from Maryland call asking if we have Tolets in Canada. My first reaction was and after I explained to her that we do have tolets and plumbing I just felt like saying yes but they are made of ice to her anyways thats part one, part 2 is a guest from Texas that has been here for 3 days now screaming at me about getting a refund because he hasent seen any moose yet. Really mad that deer, moose and beavers dont stroll down main streets in the heart of a large city. My Question is this, WHAT THE HELL DO YOUR SCHOOLS TEACH YOU ABOUT CANADA!

I think they are just pulling your leg.

[AKcrab]

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
He's probably thinking it's supposed to be like the show Northern Exposure or something. That was Alaska, not Canada, but he's probably too stupid to know the difference anyway.

Yeah, we actually HAVE moose in the heart of our main city.
Neighborhood moose killed by kindness

[RAILhead]

Sucker.

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by kemuri:
Americans. So many of them clueless to the extreme.

meh...

There was that girl from Alberta on a trip in Québec: "Do Canadians stamps work in Quebec?"

Cluelessness is not a monopoly of Americans, as pretty much anyone can be ignorant of others and be bound to react stupidly once in awhile. Get over it.

[Mastrap]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
I think they are just pulling your leg.

I doubt it. I remember seeing a hotel documentary in London. One of the highlights was an American family arriving with a two weeks supply of canned microwavable food because somebody told them that the meat served in London hotels was mostly squirrel.

During a school exchange a friend of mine from New Zealand, who is half Maori, arrived at his American guest family. One of the first things the mother did was to explain to him what a washing machine was.

A friend of mine who works in a Detroit hotel was asked by a US guest on what date Canadians celebrate New Year. My friend explained to her that in Canada we follow the moon calendar and that therefore New Year falls onto the second of January.

I explained to two Americans in London once that you could see the tip of the Eiffel Tower from Hampstead Heath on a clear day. What they were looking at was the Transmission tower at Crystal Palace. Evil but fun.

Of course there are ignoramuses everywhere, but there appears to be a certain..insularity that is typical of the US tourist.

[Athens]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
meh...

There was that girl from Alberta on a trip in Québec: "Do Canadians stamps work in Quebec?"

Cluelessness is not a monopoly of Americans, as pretty much anyone can be ignorant of others and be bound to react stupidly once in awhile. Get over it.

Do Canadian Stamps work in Quebec? I wouldnt be surprised if they had there own

[kemuri]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:


Cluelessness is not a monopoly of Americans, as pretty much anyone can be ignorant of others and be bound to react stupidly once in awhile. Get over it.

Over what? That I perceive America to have more clueless people than anywhere else?

Nah, don't think so.


You are riight in that all nations have a certain number of dense folk, but I'm pretty content in thinking that the US holds a higher number than anywhere else.

My opinion, of course.

Oh, obligatory, " get over it" inserted.

[kemuri]

Originally posted by storer:
we have problems like that with kangaroos and wombats.

My wife is Australian, and I used to kid with her when we first met, that I thougt 'stralyans rode roos like they do bikes.

[d4nth3m4n]

when i lived in hawaii, i'd often come home to new york only to field questions regarding the exchange rate.

[ManOfSteal]

I blame Canada.®

[keekeeree]

Originally posted by Athens:

I agree. Every American should read this essay by Marc Zienkiewicz.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by Mastrap:
I doubt it. I remember seeing a hotel documentary in London. One of the highlights was an American family arriving with a two weeks supply of canned microwavable food because somebody told them that the meat served in London hotels was mostly squirrel.

During a school exchange a friend of mine from New Zealand, who is half Maori, arrived at his American guest family. One of the first things the mother did was to explain to him what a washing machine was.

A friend of mine who works in a Detroit hotel was asked by a US guest on what date Canadians celebrate New Year. My friend explained to her that in Canada we follow the moon calendar and that therefore New Year falls onto the second of January.

I explained to two Americans in London once that you could see the tip of the Eiffel Tower from Hampstead Heath on a clear day. What they were looking at was the Transmission tower at Crystal Palace. Evil but fun.

Of course there are ignoramuses everywhere, but there appears to be a certain..insularity that is typical of the US tourist.

That's the stereotype for sure. Odd though that I don't find Americans at home are as ignorant as people outside the US claim those who venture abroad are. Are we to believe that the ones who get passports and travel are self-selected as the most dumb, or is it possible that people overseas like to seek out comforting stereotypes?

It's also possible that when a "clever worldly foreigner" tells an outrageous lie to a "gullible tourist" the "gullible tourist" is playing along to be polite. After all, the patronizing European is also a stereotype.

Anyway, I really don't believe that any significant numbers of Americans are under the impression that Canada is a Third World country or that Moose wander its streets. That's obviously a joke being played. We all know that Canada is simply America Lite.

[analogika]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
We all know that Canada is simply America Lite.

As in, the prettier, dieting version, yes?

[Mastrap]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
or is it possible that people overseas like to seek out comforting stereotypes?

Stereotypes do need to originate from somewhere. And I've met enough US tourists in person to know that this particular one do have indeed a root in reality.

Don't see that as an anti US sentiment though. The very same is true for the Brits in Spain or the Germans in Italy. It doesn't mean that the entire country sucks, it just means that this particular subsection of society isn't all that well informed about matters outside their immediate, and personal, horizon.

[sugar_coated]

I think this is most importantly and precisely why Sir Bill of Gatesborough wants to change the education system at the high school level. I am sure if it were up to his Sir Billness he would enforce at least a third of the curriculum for students to learn about other countries besides the US starting with the great white frigid north. To cut the chase, he is not the only one who thinks so, you and I think so as well, that doesnt make us as smart as Sir Bill lets remind ourselves of that fact, I digress again..what I wanted to say is that I am sure if they dont know if toilets are available in other countries and and if they expect to find moose in downtown vancouver then they need help from where ever they can get. I can assure you that Sir Bill is not thinking about his deep pockets running empty any time soon on this issue due to lack of intelligent manpower, he can always get that from third world poor countries, I hope that this point alone convinces you of his good intentions and motivates you to act upon it by reaching out to your neighbor and making sure that he/she knows about canada as much as you may know for a start. If you can do this simple task you would contribute to the economy and peace all around and spare the anguish that can trigger such threads about gays, tolets and moose.

[James L]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
We all know that Canada is simply America Lite.

So, Canada would be the version of North American living after all the bad things have been removed and only the good things remain. I'll buy that.

...but, it IS often the bad things that we enjoy sooo much too!

[Apple Pro Underwear]

how are you posting this? canada has internet now?

[Mastrap]

^ We've strung a phone line to Buffalo. Don't tell the authorities.

[SamuraiDL]

yeah what the **** is a tolet?

[mitchell_pgh]

People from Canada remind me of people that have lived their entire life in California and then move to the east coast. Every conversation begins with "Well... in California..."

If you are considering education... (I realize there is more to education then simply being in college) you will find more Americans attending high school and going on to college as compared to Canadians.

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by SamuraiDL:
yeah what the **** is a tolet?

A new fangled outhouse... you know... for he rich people.

[ManOfSteal]

Originally posted by SamuraiDL:
yeah what the **** is a tolet?

Ask this guy...

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by kemuri:
You are riight in that all nations have a certain number of dense folk, but I'm pretty content in thinking that the US holds a higher number than anywhere else.

My opinion, of course.

Can you prove this? Or is your opinion based on prejudice only?

[kemuri]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
Can you prove this? Or is your opinion based on prejudice only?

Why would I want to prove my opinion? Why, do you wish to change it? \
I'm sure you have many opinions on a great many things, want to go over all of yours to see which my be prejudiced?

It's my opinion, so deal with it. It's your opion that mine is prejudiced, although you know nothing of how I came to my conclusions.

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
Can you prove this? Or is your opinion based on prejudice only?

a) it is his/her opinion. you can't change that.

b) i also agree that there is something about the geographic isolation of the U.S. that babies it's citizens into not knowing jack about other nations. it's just so... insular.

[kemuri]

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
a) it is his/her opinion. you can't change that.

b) i also agree that there is something about the geographic isolation of the U.S. that babies it's citizens into not knowing jack about other nations. it's just so... insular.

Also, who's to say I'm not an American?

I'll point out that in my initial comment, I made it clear I wasn't saying every American was clueless, just a fair amount.

[roberto blanco]

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by kemuri:
Why would I want to prove my opinion? Why, do you wish to change it? \
I'm sure you have many opinions on a great many things, want to go over all of yours to see which my be prejudiced?

It's my opinion, so deal with it. It's your opion that mine is prejudiced, although you know nothing of how I came to my conclusions.

True enough. The thing is when we use expressions like "so many", or from the observations of 2 or 3 individuals, a whole educational system gets under scrutiny to find faults and then create generalizations is akin to discarting the rest of the group on behalf of a few. I am well aware that you did not say "all", but using "so many" and "clueless to the extreme" is actually exactly painting yourself as "clueless to the extreme".

Don't get me wrong: I am not denyong you impressive experiences that lead you to that judgement, but there is a difference between a general statement covering a group of 350 millions people (of which are "so many clueless to the extreme") and establishing that you did meet 100 Americans throughout your life that appeared, at the time of the encounter (in a context that still requires further definition), "clueless in the extreme".

Wheteher you are prejudiced or not, I do not know, but I did use "prejudice" as define like so:

Negative beliefs, attitudes, or feelings about a person's entire character based on only one characteristic. This belief is often based on faulty information.

Myself I had started a crunchy morsel about Americans and wondered how I got to write such a drivel and what was my real understanding of the reactions of the people I was to judge in a context that deserve further examination. The truth is that we often judge people on sight, but we never try to understand where they come from, i.e. how they justify their reactions, not unlike the way we want to be understood, i.e. being able to explain what frame of mind we had before acting.

I think, in the end, that it is all about being fair to self and others. In the end, we all turn out to be "clueless to the extreme more often than not".

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by kemuri:

Also, who's to say I'm not an American?

Being prejudicial towards people of our own Nation is not contradictory. It is just as likely to happen.

[kemuri]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
True enough.

What's life if you can't laugh at yourselves?

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
People from Canada remind me of people that have lived their entire life in California and then move to the east coast. Every conversation begins with "Well... in California..."
...

I think that goes both ways, i.e., often times, when talking to someone from the East Coast they like to point out how odd/weird we Californians are and then backing up their point by saying things like, "back in New York, blah, blah, blah..."

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by kemuri:
What's life if you can't laugh at yourselves?

That too.



And that works as long as we laugh on occasions that include that "self".

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
If you are considering education... (I realize there is more to education then simply being in college) you will find more Americans attending high school and going on to college as compared to Canadians.

Really, eh? Per capita? (I'm assuming we all know America is 10x the population size of Canada.) That's an interesting statistic I didn't know about. Got any links for it?

greg

[Athens]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
That's the stereotype for sure. Odd though that I don't find Americans at home are as ignorant as people outside the US claim those who venture abroad are. Are we to believe that the ones who get passports and travel are self-selected as the most dumb, or is it possible that people overseas like to seek out comforting stereotypes?

It's also possible that when a "clever worldly foreigner" tells an outrageous lie to a "gullible tourist" the "gullible tourist" is playing along to be polite. After all, the patronizing European is also a stereotype.

Anyway, I really don't believe that any significant numbers of Americans are under the impression that Canada is a Third World country or that Moose wander its streets. That's obviously a joke being played. We all know that Canada is simply America Lite.

Hehe America lite, in more then one context

[Athens]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
People from Canada remind me of people that have lived their entire life in California and then move to the east coast. Every conversation begins with "Well... in California..."

If you are considering education... (I realize there is more to education then simply being in college) you will find more Americans attending high school and going on to college as compared to Canadians.

I don't think so

[Athens]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
True enough. The thing is when we use expressions like "so many", or from the observations of 2 or 3 individuals, a whole educational system gets under scrutiny to find faults and then create generalizations is akin to discarting the rest of the group on behalf of a few. I am well aware that you did not say "all", but using "so many" and "clueless to the extreme" is actually exactly painting yourself as "clueless to the extreme".

Don't get me wrong: I am not denyong you impressive experiences that lead you to that judgement, but there is a difference between a general statement covering a group of 350 millions people (of which are "so many clueless to the extreme") and establishing that you did meet 100 Americans throughout your life that appeared, at the time of the encounter (in a context that still requires further definition), "clueless in the extreme".

Wheteher you are prejudiced or not, I do not know, but I did use "prejudice" as define like so:

Myself I had started a crunchy morsel about Americans and wondered how I got to write such a drivel and what was my real understanding of the reactions of the people I was to judge in a context that deserve further examination. The truth is that we often judge people on sight, but we never try to understand where they come from, i.e. how they justify their reactions, not unlike the way we want to be understood, i.e. being able to explain what frame of mind we had before acting.

I think, in the end, that it is all about being fair to self and others. In the end, we all turn out to be "clueless to the extreme more often than not".

My opinion why it seems worse is because normal americans blend right in well, and stupid or arrogant americans stick out like a sore thumb. So what you have is a oversight of the normals and a focus on the stupid

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by Athens:
My opinion why it seems worse is because normal americans blend right in well, and stupid or arrogant americans stick out like a sore thumb. So what you have is a oversight of the normals and a focus on the stupid

"The fish is always the last one to know he is in the water"

Chinese proverb.

[Athens]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:


"The fish is alway the last one to know he is in the water"

Chinese proverb.

think you ment always

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by Athens:
think you ment always

Think you meant meant.

[Athens]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
Think you meant meant.

[thunderous_funker]

American tourists can be painfully ignorant and boorish. It was a pretty common occurance when I was growing up in Europe to run into Americans travelling abroad and be overcome with shame after conversing with them.

But having worked in national parks in the US, I can honestly say that tourists from every country tend to be the worst possible cultural ambassadors.

Quite often the people who can travel are precisely the people who shouldn't. The elitist in me likes to think that some kind of tourists screening process would go a great long way towards promoting world peace by preventing every nation from sending its worst stereotypes abroad.

[historylme]

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
American tourists can be painfully ignorant and boorish. It was a pretty common occurance when I was growing up in Europe to run into Americans travelling abroad and be overcome with shame after conversing with them.

But having worked in national parks in the US, I can honestly say that tourists from every country tend to be the worst possible cultural ambassadors.

Quite often the people who can travel are precisely the people who shouldn't. The elitist in me likes to think that some kind of tourists screening process would go a great long way towards promoting world peace by preventing every nation from sending its worst stereotypes abroad.

Truer words have not bee spoken. I worked in Three National Parks (NOCA, Alcatraz, and Gettysburg) and my views/experience is the same. In it seems "that only stupid people are breeding!"

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by ShortcutToMoncton:
Really, eh? Per capita? (I'm assuming we all know America is 10x the population size of Canada.) That's an interesting statistic I didn't know about. Got any links for it?

greg

Yes, per capita...

USA
Tertiary enrollment:
USA: 72.6 (2000) [1st_of_161]
CANADA: 60.0 (1998-2002) [10th_of_161]

But the US also has a higher illiteracy rate (most of which is from the densely populated areas).

--- a few others ---

Average years of schooling of adults:
USA: 12.0 (2000)
Canada: 11.6 (2000)

[b]Duration of compulsory education:
USA: 12 (2000)
Canada: 11 (2000)

http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ca/Education
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/us/Education

Naturally there are variances, but for the most part, the two countries are very similar. I simply get tired of Athens constant America bashing and pro-Canada rants.