Yeah, that’s how we feel, until we actually go to America and interact with Americans. There is a stark difference between the cultures that isn’t actually apparent until it’s met face to face.
Americans are a unique combination of arrogant, loud, and stupid. Not all of them of course, but it’s a large enough amount that you notice a difference when you cross the border.
I’d say that it’s a culture where if you decide to be arrogant, loud and stupid, it’s accepted. It’s one of the archetypes of how to be American that’s generally accepted. It doesn’t mean that every American is like that, or that those kinds of people are loved and celebrated by other Americans. But, if you’re a young loud, arrogant and stupid person, you’ll find a lot of role models. You even get a lot of loud, arrogant smart people who play stupid because people like that more.
I think Canada tends to emphasize humility a lot more than the US. Probably a trait borrowed from the way the upper classes were supposed to behave in the UK. So, you get a lot of skilled people who are humble: Wayne Gretzky, Ryan Reynolds, Keanu Reeves, Steve Nash, Georges St. Pierre, Christine Sinclair, David Suzuki, etc.
Meh, my family’s from upstate NY. Canadians have a rep there for being smug and very rude. Definitely not humble.
I don’t think the difference in culture is all that big but people want to feel unique very badly. I mean NYers also have a rep for being rude. They probably have more in common with Canadians than Texans
I honestly think some Americans aren’t used to passive aggression, indirectness or sarcasm. That’s why some of you don’t get Canadians aren’t particularly ‘nice’.
IME they’re always saying sorry and apologizing, but like the brits they don’t actually mean it most of the time. In fact, sorry can mean fuck you, depending on the context. From what I understand, the whole ‘bless your heart’ thing in the American South is similar. That whole thing is also incredibly condescending and smug.
I have been to Seattle, Montana, Portland, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Las Vegas, New York, Washington, Arizona, I think a few other states or cities that are escaping me right now. I’ve also lived in tourist towns (I end up working in them when I have to work away, I work construction) and have met many Americans in those places too. Every time I’ve gone to the states I’ve had at least one super negative incident with an American or a group of Americans that’s left a bad taste in my mouth.
Yeah, that’s how we feel, until we actually go to America and interact with Americans. There is a stark difference between the cultures that isn’t actually apparent until it’s met face to face.
Americans are a unique combination of arrogant, loud, and stupid. Not all of them of course, but it’s a large enough amount that you notice a difference when you cross the border.
I’d say that it’s a culture where if you decide to be arrogant, loud and stupid, it’s accepted. It’s one of the archetypes of how to be American that’s generally accepted. It doesn’t mean that every American is like that, or that those kinds of people are loved and celebrated by other Americans. But, if you’re a young loud, arrogant and stupid person, you’ll find a lot of role models. You even get a lot of loud, arrogant smart people who play stupid because people like that more.
I think Canada tends to emphasize humility a lot more than the US. Probably a trait borrowed from the way the upper classes were supposed to behave in the UK. So, you get a lot of skilled people who are humble: Wayne Gretzky, Ryan Reynolds, Keanu Reeves, Steve Nash, Georges St. Pierre, Christine Sinclair, David Suzuki, etc.
Meh, my family’s from upstate NY. Canadians have a rep there for being smug and very rude. Definitely not humble.
I don’t think the difference in culture is all that big but people want to feel unique very badly. I mean NYers also have a rep for being rude. They probably have more in common with Canadians than Texans
I honestly think some Americans aren’t used to passive aggression, indirectness or sarcasm. That’s why some of you don’t get Canadians aren’t particularly ‘nice’.
IME they’re always saying sorry and apologizing, but like the brits they don’t actually mean it most of the time. In fact, sorry can mean fuck you, depending on the context. From what I understand, the whole ‘bless your heart’ thing in the American South is similar. That whole thing is also incredibly condescending and smug.
Curious to hear where you went in the US that gave you that impression.
I have been to Seattle, Montana, Portland, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Las Vegas, New York, Washington, Arizona, I think a few other states or cities that are escaping me right now. I’ve also lived in tourist towns (I end up working in them when I have to work away, I work construction) and have met many Americans in those places too. Every time I’ve gone to the states I’ve had at least one super negative incident with an American or a group of Americans that’s left a bad taste in my mouth.
If you get the chance check out Minnesota or Wisconsin, the people there are pretty similar to the Canadians I know. Super nice people.