Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Jan 30th 2009, 3:55 pm
#76
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
PG Tips is now the official recipient of the "Beating a Dead horse" award.
Enough already!
Enough already!
Jan 30th 2009, 3:57 pm
#77
...
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
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, 4:12 pm
#78
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Sidney, BC
Posts: 418
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Meh, it's OK here.
Jan 30th 2009, 4:17 pm
#79
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
Posts: 1,377
Jan 30th 2009, 4:42 pm
#80
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Jan 30th 2009, 5:36 pm
#81
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
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.[/QUOTE]
I'm proud of the fact that Britain has a voice on the international stage and unlike Canada it's heard.
I think you'll find that on issues such as the environment political views between Britain and the US differ greatly. They have been allies in many wars but I don't recall Britain invading Panama or fighting in Vietnam. Similarly Britain didn't need the US in The Falklands.
I always fealt sorry for Canadians because they have more interest in the US election than their own and they don't get to vote. Canada is the true 51st state, although the United States will never accept it because they believe Canada harbours the world's terrorists hense why they have tight border controls.
All that being said, I'm still looking forward to moving to Canada even though politically it is insignificant on the world stage it has lots of other merits.
I'm proud of the fact that Britain has a voice on the international stage and unlike Canada it's heard.
I think you'll find that on issues such as the environment political views between Britain and the US differ greatly. They have been allies in many wars but I don't recall Britain invading Panama or fighting in Vietnam. Similarly Britain didn't need the US in The Falklands.
I always fealt sorry for Canadians because they have more interest in the US election than their own and they don't get to vote. Canada is the true 51st state, although the United States will never accept it because they believe Canada harbours the world's terrorists hense why they have tight border controls.
All that being said, I'm still looking forward to moving to Canada even though politically it is insignificant on the world stage it has lots of other merits.
Last edited by JamesM; Jan 30th 2009 at 5:39 pm. Reason: editing
Jan 30th 2009, 5:38 pm
#82
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
PG Tips is now the official recipient of the "Beating a Dead horse" award.
http://thegrandnarrative.files.wordp...dead-horse.gif
Enough already!
http://thegrandnarrative.files.wordp...dead-horse.gif
Enough already!
Jan 30th 2009, 5:43 pm
#83
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
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
I'm proud of the fact that Britain has a voice on the international stage and unlike Canada it's heard.
I think you'll find that on issues such as the environment political views between Britain and the US differ greatly. They have been allies in many wars but I don't recall Britain invading Panama or fighting in Vietnam. Similarly Britain didn't need the US in The Falklands.
I always fealt sorry for Canadians because they have more interest in the US election than their own and they don't get to vote. Canada is the true 51st state, although the United States will never accept it because they believe Canada harbours the world's terrorists hense why they have tight border controls.
All that being said, I'm still looking forward to moving to Canada even though politically it is insignificant on the world stage it has lots of other merits.
I'm proud of the fact that Britain has a voice on the international stage and unlike Canada it's heard.
I think you'll find that on issues such as the environment political views between Britain and the US differ greatly. They have been allies in many wars but I don't recall Britain invading Panama or fighting in Vietnam. Similarly Britain didn't need the US in The Falklands.
I always fealt sorry for Canadians because they have more interest in the US election than their own and they don't get to vote. Canada is the true 51st state, although the United States will never accept it because they believe Canada harbours the world's terrorists hense why they have tight border controls.
All that being said, I'm still looking forward to moving to Canada even though politically it is insignificant on the world stage it has lots of other merits.
Jan 30th 2009, 5:51 pm
#85
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
I think the Iraq war shows that Britain under Labour is more of a lickspittle running dog lackey of the US than is Canada under the Liberals.
Jan 30th 2009, 5:59 pm
#86
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Valid point, but Canada knows it doesn't have to take part in these things because Uncle Sam will look after it anyway hense why the military spending in Canada has drastically declined over the last two/three decades.
Jan 30th 2009, 6:05 pm
#87
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
So how did the USA look after Canada's interest by invading Iraq?
Jan 30th 2009, 6:07 pm
#88
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
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.
I think you'll find that on issues such as the environment political views between Britain and the US differ greatly. They have been allies in many wars but I don't recall Britain invading Panama or fighting in Vietnam. Similarly Britain didn't need the US in The Falklands.
I always fealt sorry for Canadians because they have more interest in the US election than their own and they don't get to vote. Canada is the true 51st state, although the United States will never accept it because they believe Canada harbours the world's terrorists hense why they have tight border controls.
All that being said, I'm still looking forward to moving to Canada even though politically it is insignificant on the world stage it has lots of other merits.[/QUOTE]
I think history will show that the UK relied on the USA quite a bit during the Falklands conflict. And Chile.
Jan 30th 2009, 6:10 pm
#90
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 10
Re: Why are people so defensive about Canada ?
Hi
I am English and proud of it, I live here and work. I respect Canada and it is my home now.
But I will always be English and if circumstance change I would love to return.
I am gratefully for all the chances that my country gave to me in Education, travel and so much more. Without that help I wouldn't be where I am now.
All the people who like to run home down, should just remember what Brition gave to them, they may have found themselves stuck in a place which wasn't quite has helpful as home. In a country with no heathl care ,limit education few rights. It may not be perfect but just look around and travel to places like Burma etc.
But now Canada is my Home and I hope to be a good citizen but my heart will always call England home.
Call me sentimental or proud but I am English.
Chris
I am English and proud of it, I live here and work. I respect Canada and it is my home now.
But I will always be English and if circumstance change I would love to return.
I am gratefully for all the chances that my country gave to me in Education, travel and so much more. Without that help I wouldn't be where I am now.
All the people who like to run home down, should just remember what Brition gave to them, they may have found themselves stuck in a place which wasn't quite has helpful as home. In a country with no heathl care ,limit education few rights. It may not be perfect but just look around and travel to places like Burma etc.
But now Canada is my Home and I hope to be a good citizen but my heart will always call England home.
Call me sentimental or proud but I am English.
Chris