Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Jan 30th 2009, 2:36 pm
#61
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Salisbury
Posts: 170
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I have lived in Britain a good number of years now. I was born here, immigrated to Australia when I was 14 months old, came back when I was 3, went back to Oz, when I was 4, came back when I was 5. Stayed here until I was 8, went to Oz until I was 13, came back and stayed until I was 15 and moved to Malta at that point. Stayed there until I was 18 and have been back here ever since.
Very complicated I know, but my parents couldn't settle. My mum is Australian and spent the most of her life there, all her family still live there. My dad on the other hand was born here and tried to settle in both places!
Jan 30th 2009, 2:45 pm
#62
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I have lived in Britain a good number of years now. I was born here, immigrated to Australia when I was 14 months old, came back when I was 3, went back to Oz, when I was 4, came back when I was 5. Stayed here until I was 8, went to Oz until I was 13, came back and stayed until I was 15 and moved to Malta at that point. Stayed there until I was 18 and have been back here ever since.
Very complicated I know, but my parents couldn't settle. My mum is Australian and spent the most of her life there, all her family still live there. My dad on the other hand was born here and tried to settle in both places!
Very complicated I know, but my parents couldn't settle. My mum is Australian and spent the most of her life there, all her family still live there. My dad on the other hand was born here and tried to settle in both places!
Jan 30th 2009, 2:46 pm
#63
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I know for a fact my wife would not agree either. In the 7 years she was teaching in the far east she said she didnt meet a single englishman she didnt think was a complete arse and too full of themselves by half, a view she said was shared by the majority of other non British ESL teachers there...
She very nearly didnt date me simply on the grounds I was English.
Only a one person poll...just throwing it out there
She very nearly didnt date me simply on the grounds I was English.
Only a one person poll...just throwing it out there
The ones I've met in North America are very different.
Jan 30th 2009, 2:49 pm
#64
Banned
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Location: Beautiful BC
Posts: 1,106
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I have read through many post on this website and also contributed to many.
One thing that strikes me is how defensive those Brits who have moved to Canada have become about Canada. If anybody says anything that contradicts their belief of the Canadian Utopia they have moved to they are beaten down, ridiculed, post deleted, called names like troll. Where has that Brit sense of humour gone, that British pride.
Brits make their homes all over the world and one thing the world likes about Brits is their Britishness and pride.
Reading through some post I am starting to think Canada is kinda like a 'Stepford Wives' kind of society. Anybody who does not follow the strict rules and has any other opinion is to be exterminated.
Why is it that the Brits who have emigrated to other parts of the world are still proud to be british yet the ones who have moved to Canada slag Britain off at the nearest opportunity ?
One thing that strikes me is how defensive those Brits who have moved to Canada have become about Canada. If anybody says anything that contradicts their belief of the Canadian Utopia they have moved to they are beaten down, ridiculed, post deleted, called names like troll. Where has that Brit sense of humour gone, that British pride.
Brits make their homes all over the world and one thing the world likes about Brits is their Britishness and pride.
Reading through some post I am starting to think Canada is kinda like a 'Stepford Wives' kind of society. Anybody who does not follow the strict rules and has any other opinion is to be exterminated.
Why is it that the Brits who have emigrated to other parts of the world are still proud to be british yet the ones who have moved to Canada slag Britain off at the nearest opportunity ?
Jan 30th 2009, 2:49 pm
#65
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,152
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I really don't get this thread. Discussion of respecting the country we may have lived in previously or what did such and such a country ever do for me?
The people that mainly frequent this forum are here because they are looking forward to moving to Canada or on the whole quite enjoy it here. I don't think it's a big love-in for Canada but naturally if people are enjoying their time here then they aren't going to attack it, now are they? The moving back to the UK forum is the place for that!
I don't look at it in terms of respecting Britain. It's the place I spent my first forty years in and I definitely miss it. Respect it? I don't know what that means. Respect what exactly? It's a decent enough place with good and bad things about it. What did it do for me? I've no idea. Was it supposed to do anything? I liked living there and I felt safe enough. I quite like living here and likewise feel safe enough but homesickness (just can't shake it off!)takes the shine off of it.
We're all individuals that make decisions based on hoping to improve our lot in life and I don't see that as being disloyal or anything really.
The people that mainly frequent this forum are here because they are looking forward to moving to Canada or on the whole quite enjoy it here. I don't think it's a big love-in for Canada but naturally if people are enjoying their time here then they aren't going to attack it, now are they? The moving back to the UK forum is the place for that!
I don't look at it in terms of respecting Britain. It's the place I spent my first forty years in and I definitely miss it. Respect it? I don't know what that means. Respect what exactly? It's a decent enough place with good and bad things about it. What did it do for me? I've no idea. Was it supposed to do anything? I liked living there and I felt safe enough. I quite like living here and likewise feel safe enough but homesickness (just can't shake it off!)takes the shine off of it.
We're all individuals that make decisions based on hoping to improve our lot in life and I don't see that as being disloyal or anything really.
Jan 30th 2009, 2:52 pm
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Salisbury
Posts: 170
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
so did you and your family ever take advantage of the free (at the point of delivery) education and haelthcare? Did you learn to read, basic maths, etc, in a UK primary school? There are a great many countries that you could have grown up in where this kind of stuff is not available to the majority of the population. Add to that for all the UK's problems it is a stable, peaceful, fucntioning democracy with a safety net for the less fortunate in society, features which are again absent in huges swathes of the world - so the question might be: in addition to this, what would you like Britain to have done for you?
Jan 30th 2009, 3:07 pm
#67
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Yorkshire, UK but dreaming of Canada
Posts: 95
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Brits make their homes all over the world and one thing the world likes about Brits is their Britishness and pride.
I think people overseas do like the britishness about people from the UK, whatever that means but their pride? I don't know anyone who is really proud to be British anymore, people laugh at the British, we have become a dumping ground with not a lot to be proud of. The only people I see who are proud to be British are drunken yobs, even most of the immigrants are going back to the country they came from.
I think people overseas do like the britishness about people from the UK, whatever that means but their pride? I don't know anyone who is really proud to be British anymore, people laugh at the British, we have become a dumping ground with not a lot to be proud of. The only people I see who are proud to be British are drunken yobs, even most of the immigrants are going back to the country they came from.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:15 pm
#68
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Location: Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
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Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Hmm, talk about painting with extremely broad strokes. So many wild generalisations in one post its hard to take it seriously.
I am still proud to be British, but also prepared to defend Canada from wild generalisations, or being cast in a particular light on the basis of one persons experience when I know many people who have experienced the opposite. Some people leave the UK for Canada because they dont like what the UK has become, so you would not expect them to be pro UK. Others come because of what Canada offers, others yet to be with canadian spouses. Wild generalizations in my opinion just make people look narrow minded.
The truth is that Canada is so vast that there is always the potential for wildly different immigration experiences, and that makes for conflicting opinions of the place. Generalisations dont work, and you couldnt be more wrong about the "Stepford Wives", there are posters here who present there views from both the pro and con side of the fence, and personally I think this is a pretty tolerant and civil forum and will do my best to keep it that way.
As for the last part of your post, you obviously need to spend more time in the Oz forum..no shortage of people prepared to rip into the motherland there!
No post gets deleted because its anti Canada, post are deleted for trolling, or if they are going to adversely affect the relatively friendly and helpful nature of this forum. Trouble makers here just to start arguments wont be tollerated for long though.
I am still proud to be British, but also prepared to defend Canada from wild generalisations, or being cast in a particular light on the basis of one persons experience when I know many people who have experienced the opposite. Some people leave the UK for Canada because they dont like what the UK has become, so you would not expect them to be pro UK. Others come because of what Canada offers, others yet to be with canadian spouses. Wild generalizations in my opinion just make people look narrow minded.
The truth is that Canada is so vast that there is always the potential for wildly different immigration experiences, and that makes for conflicting opinions of the place. Generalisations dont work, and you couldnt be more wrong about the "Stepford Wives", there are posters here who present there views from both the pro and con side of the fence, and personally I think this is a pretty tolerant and civil forum and will do my best to keep it that way.
As for the last part of your post, you obviously need to spend more time in the Oz forum..no shortage of people prepared to rip into the motherland there!
No post gets deleted because its anti Canada, post are deleted for trolling, or if they are going to adversely affect the relatively friendly and helpful nature of this forum. Trouble makers here just to start arguments wont be tollerated for long though.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:35 pm
#69
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Location: Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
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Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Have you forgotten about the things the UK has done for you and your family, including past generations. Maybe a lot have you have forgotten about Britains role in the second world war. How history is soon forgotten 
You don't have to like the UK to respect its standing in the world.
You don't have to like the UK to respect its standing in the world.
My Canadian father volunteered at the age of 18 to fight in the Canadian Forces. He met my mother while on service in the UK. I have both Canadian and British Citizenship. I lived all my life in England until August 2007 when we moved to Vancouver Island. If I wish to comment on the current state of the UK then I most certainly will. Unfortunately it is NOT the country it was 20 years ago
As a matter of interest what exactly do you mean by "respecting" the UK?
Jan 30th 2009, 3:45 pm
#70
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Location: Calgary
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Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Why is a guy living in the Caribbean asking about posts on a Canadian forum.
The OP reminds of this kind of question:
"So, when did you stop beating your wife?"
Nothong good can come of answering or denying a question like that!
The premise, context and phrasing of the question are wrong.
The OP reminds of this kind of question:
"So, when did you stop beating your wife?"
Nothong good can come of answering or denying a question like that!
The premise, context and phrasing of the question are wrong.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:46 pm
#71
...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Not slagging off the place, also appreciating the step up the ladder the country has provided for you. Think back and I am sure the UK has done a lot to improve your lot, and made it easier for you to live in different places around the world.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:49 pm
#72
...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Why is a guy living in the Caribbean asking about posts on a Canadian forum.
The OP reminds of this kind of question:
"So, when did you stop beating your wife?"
Nothong good can come of answering or denying a question like that!
The premise, context and phrasing of the question are wrong.
The OP reminds of this kind of question:
"So, when did you stop beating your wife?"
Nothong good can come of answering or denying a question like that!
The premise, context and phrasing of the question are wrong.
I live between the Caribbean and Britain, but travel all over the world and have been to Canada on several occassions.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:51 pm
#73
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Have you forgotten about the things the UK has done for you and your family, including past generations. Maybe a lot have you have forgotten about Britains role in the second world war. How history is soon forgotten
You don't have to like the UK to respect its standing in the world.
You don't have to like the UK to respect its standing in the world.
I agree I don't have to like the UK, but I do like it. Just not enough to move back there by choice. As for respecting the UK's standing in the world, what standing. It's seen as a soft touch for welfare, it's a magnet for criminals from the newer countries which have joined the EU, and the UK hasn't been a world power for years.
I'm told that being one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council (along with the US, Russia, China and France) makes the UK a world power. They're joking, right! The world's five biggest arms dealers in charge of security. The UK is often jokingly referred to as the 51st State. The UK government will always follow the US.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:52 pm
#74
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 801
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I'll chip in my response to the original question, despite arriving somewhat late to the party.
1. It's not about Canada.
Read any of the forums here (especially the moving back to the UK one!) and you'll find people falling over themselves to justify their decisions by pinning them onto the merits (or otherwise) of the country they are headed to/vacating.
The most vociferous stuff is all about self-validation, as previous comments have suggested. There's little surprising in that, emigrating is just about the biggest upheaval one can put oneself through.
2. This is the internet. If a large percentage of human communication is non-verbal / non-written word, you're not likely to catch very many subtleties or nuances in a forum post. Things that would pass off just fine down the pub can come across as brash and provocative.
3a. It's also the case that we have single forums here for each of several large and diverse nations; simplistic postings about how "rubbish" country x is compared to country y, or any local opinion masquerading as universal fact (so very frequent) are usually quite rightly derided.
3b. No-one ever likes to admit to a cock-up, it's easier to blame the country.
After seeing many posts of the 3a, 3b ilk, regular forum posters are often quick to the boil. This may well come across as defensive and, if I am an offender, I resolve to try harder next time.
1. It's not about Canada.
Read any of the forums here (especially the moving back to the UK one!) and you'll find people falling over themselves to justify their decisions by pinning them onto the merits (or otherwise) of the country they are headed to/vacating.
The most vociferous stuff is all about self-validation, as previous comments have suggested. There's little surprising in that, emigrating is just about the biggest upheaval one can put oneself through.
2. This is the internet. If a large percentage of human communication is non-verbal / non-written word, you're not likely to catch very many subtleties or nuances in a forum post. Things that would pass off just fine down the pub can come across as brash and provocative.
3a. It's also the case that we have single forums here for each of several large and diverse nations; simplistic postings about how "rubbish" country x is compared to country y, or any local opinion masquerading as universal fact (so very frequent) are usually quite rightly derided.
3b. No-one ever likes to admit to a cock-up, it's easier to blame the country.
After seeing many posts of the 3a, 3b ilk, regular forum posters are often quick to the boil. This may well come across as defensive and, if I am an offender, I resolve to try harder next time.
Jan 30th 2009, 3:53 pm
#75
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Are you looking at immigrating to Canada? Most of the questions have probably already been answered if you use the search function.