Cultural boredom in Canada
Aug 4th 2011, 11:14 pm
#47
Peter Darwin
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 502
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Funny about this English accent thing, because I've lived here in Ottawa with my Lincolnshire accent and wherever I've worked it's always the guys that make a bit of mocking fun out of it, but nothing too serious, and women who say, "But I really adore your accent". I thought, 'you taking the p*ss, or what?", but eventually realized they were being genuine. It appears 'sophisticated' to them, apparently.
What is more annoying is that every time - and I mean absolutely every time, without fail - when it rains, somebody just has to say, "must remind you of home". Still haven't worked out a good comeback for that one yet.
What is more annoying is that every time - and I mean absolutely every time, without fail - when it rains, somebody just has to say, "must remind you of home". Still haven't worked out a good comeback for that one yet.
Aug 4th 2011, 11:30 pm
#48
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Dear God, we are Brits. Have we got so precious than we can't cope with a bit of banter.
On the very few occasions anyone has taken the p*ss out of my accent I just laughed with them and said, "it's not my fault, I can't help where I was born." Situation diffused never to be repeated.
On the very few occasions anyone has taken the p*ss out of my accent I just laughed with them and said, "it's not my fault, I can't help where I was born." Situation diffused never to be repeated.
Aug 4th 2011, 11:59 pm
#50
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Banter is good. It's a bit of back and forth chit chat, having a laugh, but that's not the way they do it. They really think they're being funny when they're really just being ****s, but when you give it back to them they get all offended.
Aug 5th 2011, 12:12 am
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Location: Essex
Posts: 38
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
I've been in Toronto for almost a year now and I can't wait to leave. I've found it to be a mediocre place that has an overinflated view of itself in comparison to other world cities. Get a bit more life in it (and I don't mean more people) and perhaps it can start talking that way.
It looks like a thriving, bustling city, but the only hustle and bustle is between 5 and 5.30pm at Union station. Hell, you can't even buy alcohol from the store beyond 9pm (10pm at very few stores). You can't even buy it from the supermarket or corner shop. The average price in the bar for a pint is around $6 (not including tip, which is a ridiculous system. TIP? For what?).
I've got two Canadian friends, which isn't as many as I'd hoped when I first came here last September, and they only have personalities because they've either lived in the UK or Ireland or have British and Irish friends, so the sense of humour has rubbed off on them, thankfully. Then again, I've met a lot of Canadians (male and female) and haven't had any urge to become friends with them, even if you paid me. SO boring. Real, genuine characters are hard to come by. The best people I've come across have been the travellers in the hostel that I stayed at - French, German, Brazilian, English, Irish - but Canadians have been a different breed that I can't get on with.
Sure, Canada is pretty in terms of scenery, but there's not a lot of substance to it. Toronto SEEMS like any other North American city, but dear oh dear, it's so generic and average. It's very easy to come here and live, which is probably its strongest point, but the lack of character is a definite weakness in my point of view. Even listening to my colleagues in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for a few mins is enough to induce a coma.
With the debate about accents, my English accent (East End of London but with the mispronounciations ironed out; thank you university) has gone down pretty well. It's the foreigners who are from elsewhere and are still learning English that have loved my accent though, not those from Canada. Most foreigners have told me that they prefer British/Irish accents to Canadian/American accents. Don't know why this is, but I'm not going to knock it.
It looks like a thriving, bustling city, but the only hustle and bustle is between 5 and 5.30pm at Union station. Hell, you can't even buy alcohol from the store beyond 9pm (10pm at very few stores). You can't even buy it from the supermarket or corner shop. The average price in the bar for a pint is around $6 (not including tip, which is a ridiculous system. TIP? For what?).
I've got two Canadian friends, which isn't as many as I'd hoped when I first came here last September, and they only have personalities because they've either lived in the UK or Ireland or have British and Irish friends, so the sense of humour has rubbed off on them, thankfully. Then again, I've met a lot of Canadians (male and female) and haven't had any urge to become friends with them, even if you paid me. SO boring. Real, genuine characters are hard to come by. The best people I've come across have been the travellers in the hostel that I stayed at - French, German, Brazilian, English, Irish - but Canadians have been a different breed that I can't get on with.
Sure, Canada is pretty in terms of scenery, but there's not a lot of substance to it. Toronto SEEMS like any other North American city, but dear oh dear, it's so generic and average. It's very easy to come here and live, which is probably its strongest point, but the lack of character is a definite weakness in my point of view. Even listening to my colleagues in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for a few mins is enough to induce a coma.
With the debate about accents, my English accent (East End of London but with the mispronounciations ironed out; thank you university) has gone down pretty well. It's the foreigners who are from elsewhere and are still learning English that have loved my accent though, not those from Canada. Most foreigners have told me that they prefer British/Irish accents to Canadian/American accents. Don't know why this is, but I'm not going to knock it.
Aug 5th 2011, 12:44 am
#52
Soulless bureaucrat
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 361
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Funny about this English accent thing, because I've lived here in Ottawa with my Lincolnshire accent and wherever I've worked it's always the guys that make a bit of mocking fun out of it, but nothing too serious, and women who say, "But I really adore your accent". I thought, 'you taking the p*ss, or what?", but eventually realized they were being genuine. It appears 'sophisticated' to them, apparently.
What is more annoying is that every time - and I mean absolutely every time, without fail - when it rains, somebody just has to say, "must remind you of home". Still haven't worked out a good comeback for that one yet.
What is more annoying is that every time - and I mean absolutely every time, without fail - when it rains, somebody just has to say, "must remind you of home". Still haven't worked out a good comeback for that one yet.
I did this once when having a grumpy day of one too many people saying "must remind you of home" and sent them the links to the Weather Network site.
Then I felt like a humourless twat who had stolen a child's toy.
Some Canadians just like to say stuff like that, the same as they like to comment on your accent.
I've realized that 99% of the time this is actually just people's way of attempting to bond with you or break the ice when they can`t think of anything else to say.
And I feel grateful that my accent apparently makes me sound smart, because it means I can get away with saying dumb crap more often when I feel like it.
Imagine being a genius from South Carolina, with everyone thinking you're a moron because of your southern drawl.
Could be a lot worse, I say.
Aug 5th 2011, 12:52 am
#53
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,088
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Dear God, we are Brits. Have we got so precious than we can't cope with a bit of banter.
On the very few occasions anyone has taken the p*ss out of my accent I just laughed with them and said, "it's not my fault, I can't help where I was born." Situation diffused never to be repeated.
On the very few occasions anyone has taken the p*ss out of my accent I just laughed with them and said, "it's not my fault, I can't help where I was born." Situation diffused never to be repeated.
Aug 5th 2011, 12:54 am
#55
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,088
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
I've been in Toronto for almost a year now and I can't wait to leave. I've found it to be a mediocre place that has an overinflated view of itself in comparison to other world cities. Get a bit more life in it (and I don't mean more people) and perhaps it can start talking that way.
It looks like a thriving, bustling city, but the only hustle and bustle is between 5 and 5.30pm at Union station. Hell, you can't even buy alcohol from the store beyond 9pm (10pm at very few stores). You can't even buy it from the supermarket or corner shop. The average price in the bar for a pint is around $6 (not including tip, which is a ridiculous system. TIP? For what?).
I've got two Canadian friends, which isn't as many as I'd hoped when I first came here last September, and they only have personalities because they've either lived in the UK or Ireland or have British and Irish friends, so the sense of humour has rubbed off on them, thankfully. Then again, I've met a lot of Canadians (male and female) and haven't had any urge to become friends with them, even if you paid me. SO boring. Real, genuine characters are hard to come by. The best people I've come across have been the travellers in the hostel that I stayed at - French, German, Brazilian, English, Irish - but Canadians have been a different breed that I can't get on with.
Sure, Canada is pretty in terms of scenery, but there's not a lot of substance to it. Toronto SEEMS like any other North American city, but dear oh dear, it's so generic and average. It's very easy to come here and live, which is probably its strongest point, but the lack of character is a definite weakness in my point of view. Even listening to my colleagues in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for a few mins is enough to induce a coma.
With the debate about accents, my English accent (East End of London but with the mispronounciations ironed out; thank you university) has gone down pretty well. It's the foreigners who are from elsewhere and are still learning English that have loved my accent though, not those from Canada. Most foreigners have told me that they prefer British/Irish accents to Canadian/American accents. Don't know why this is, but I'm not going to knock it.
It looks like a thriving, bustling city, but the only hustle and bustle is between 5 and 5.30pm at Union station. Hell, you can't even buy alcohol from the store beyond 9pm (10pm at very few stores). You can't even buy it from the supermarket or corner shop. The average price in the bar for a pint is around $6 (not including tip, which is a ridiculous system. TIP? For what?).
I've got two Canadian friends, which isn't as many as I'd hoped when I first came here last September, and they only have personalities because they've either lived in the UK or Ireland or have British and Irish friends, so the sense of humour has rubbed off on them, thankfully. Then again, I've met a lot of Canadians (male and female) and haven't had any urge to become friends with them, even if you paid me. SO boring. Real, genuine characters are hard to come by. The best people I've come across have been the travellers in the hostel that I stayed at - French, German, Brazilian, English, Irish - but Canadians have been a different breed that I can't get on with.
Sure, Canada is pretty in terms of scenery, but there's not a lot of substance to it. Toronto SEEMS like any other North American city, but dear oh dear, it's so generic and average. It's very easy to come here and live, which is probably its strongest point, but the lack of character is a definite weakness in my point of view. Even listening to my colleagues in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for a few mins is enough to induce a coma.
With the debate about accents, my English accent (East End of London but with the mispronounciations ironed out; thank you university) has gone down pretty well. It's the foreigners who are from elsewhere and are still learning English that have loved my accent though, not those from Canada. Most foreigners have told me that they prefer British/Irish accents to Canadian/American accents. Don't know why this is, but I'm not going to knock it.
Aug 5th 2011, 12:59 am
#56
Island life at last
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: BC
Posts: 2,715
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Ribbing can be fun, sarcasm can be great fun, but only if it is done well and both parties see the joke.
Maybe they misunderstand what being humorous is to British people. On TV here there are lots of funny accents done by comedians for laughs, so maybe they have seen these kind of shows and are just trying to emulate that and failing? I am not sure why anyone would take the mickey out of something you cannot help, like an accent, in any way other than gentle ribbing or just a clumsy attempt to bond, as Lemonfish says. I have encountered Canadians asking me to say "aluminium" repeatedly, which I am sure could become extremely annoying if it happened more than a handful of times but I don't think they are taking the p***.
Or maybe some of them are just "being ****s", as Oink says. You get them in every country and Canada is no exception, but I think anyone who has the strength of character to go abroad and be among foreigners can hack it with some good old British sarcasm anyway. It will either go right over their heads or they will get it and hate you. Either way, if they really are such idiots, would you care?
Stiff Upper Lip, chaps!
Aug 5th 2011, 1:01 am
#57
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
Dear God, we are Brits. Have we got so precious than we can't cope with a bit of banter.
On the very few occasions anyone has taken the p*ss out of my accent I just laughed with them and said, "it's not my fault, I can't help where I was born." Situation diffused never to be repeated.
On the very few occasions anyone has taken the p*ss out of my accent I just laughed with them and said, "it's not my fault, I can't help where I was born." Situation diffused never to be repeated.
Aug 5th 2011, 1:21 am
#58
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 112
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
For the repeat offenders who don't take a hint, maybe ask them if they know who Bill Engvall is? (For those who don't know, his well-known punchline is "here's your sign").
Aug 5th 2011, 1:24 am
#60
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Cultural boredom in Canada
This is one of the most annoying things about living here. Being involved in the local community; seeing a bear; reading about the neighbours cat getting eaten by a coyote on a hydro pole? Fck that, I want to buy booze at the supermarket like in a civilized country. It's not much to ask is it? Well apparently it is. Wankers.