Canadians are not bratty and they are told, my parents went on tons of tours around the world and were told to make sure they show something they are Canadians and not Americans and so they did/do that.

cherryfizz, growing up in the same border city as you, it took me a few years after moving to Toronto to remember to convert temperature to Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, gas to litres instead of gallons, and distance to Kilometers instead of miles.

I think growing up in a border city accounts for us being strongly connected to the everyday happenings of our American neighbours to the south, while still maintaining a fierce patriotism to our own country. I'm proud that I can sing the Star Spangled Banner as well (meaning all the words, not hitting all the notes, lol) as our own anthem!

Snidely managed to get everyone to snipe at each other, no doubt his original intention. He wins.

I don't dislike Americans at all, but when you travel people just assume you are American. Would you always like to be mistaken as another nationality every time you travel, I think not. I am so connected to the United States I just have to walk 3 blocks and can actually wave at someone in the USA. Much of my family is American, my paternal Grandfather emigrated to the US as did my maternal Great Grandparents where they lived most of their lives. Aunts, Uncles and Cousins are Americans. It is hard to keep what uniquely Canadian culture we have left especially living where I do. Rob when I was a kid I used to sing America the Beautiful all the time in music class. I always thought as North Americans we were considered to be Americans as well as people from the United States. haha now don't get us started on who won the War of 1812

Pickyshopper, I think we studied more American history in Grade School than we did Canadian History. What helps me sleep at night is reciting all the States in alphabetical order and their capital cities. So there! haha

People who say "I'm moving to Canada" are ignorant of Canada's laws governing residency, work, and sponsorship. So if you plan on leaving in November, you best be packing.....CASH.

Pickyshopper - I think you phrased your post exceptionally well. And you're right - as a US citizen I've never been mistaken for a different nationality. I can easily see why a Canadian would be disappointed that many assume they're American because of our common language.

Rob333- I have always felt that we have usurped the word 'American' especially since there are so many other countries on this land mass. There just isn't any other easy term to use - uh - United Statesmen? that's awkward.

And I had to look up 'Murican' - I've never heard that one before.

As had been discussed here a few years ago, I posted a photo in which I wore a shirt with a Canadian emblem on a European trip. Some KT discussion indicated that perhaps I wore the emblem to identify myself as "not American." This reaction puzzled me very much. It would never occur to me, personally, to ensure that people knew that I wasn't an American. The question I have is, can I not simply be a Canadian and wear whatever I wish when I travel, as long as I am not casting aspersions on the nationality of other people? I think that nationality is sometimes a means of connecting with people. For example, right now I'm in Paris, and Canada happens to have a long history with France. We are an officially bilingual country, as many will know. If I wore Canadian identification, it's possible that a discussion would ensue about our countries. I could proudly say that my granddaughters are fluently bilingual and in fact gave me French lessons to prepare me for my trip (but Grandma was an abysmal language student!)

Of course you can, Stacey. I don't think anyone is offended by people taking pride in their nationality.

But if someone said, "I don't wear an American flag because I'm patriotic. I wear it because I don't want anyone to think that I'm Canadian" people from Canada might be a little offended.

Not going to argue, I've said I was offended and that's that. But 2 things come to mind:

I have visited many cities in the USA. Not once have I come across a rude American (except that one rude, lying, hotel desk clerk in Herndon, VA). Everyone is polite, friendly, etc. My husband is in a wheelchair and people often rush to hold doors and elevators for us, give us tips on where to park, find the accessible entrances, etc. I even had a New Yorker pay for my bus fare because I couldn't find the bus pass I had purchased. I was so embarrassed.

Arriving at the airport in London we got a cab to our hotel. The cabbie was chatty and when we were talking he said "You're from America", a statement, not a question. I said "No, we're Canadian". His response? "Decaffeinated Americans". I had to laugh at that.

Yes, the reason for wearing our Canadian flag is so that Canadians don't get mistaken for Americans.

Some of you completely missed my intended point, thanks to others who realized the message wasn't all that deep or important. If the habit I've noticed over the years is common, it's nothing more than a chuckle. And maybe a bit telling.

I'm visiting national parks in western states. More foreigners than Americans, that's great. People from all over the world. Still the only flags I'm seeing are Canadian, these must be sold at Canadian airports?

A special thanks to rhoder for silly critical comments glenda could "Like".

PS - I think pride in one's own country is normal, no matter how terrific or mediocre one's home country is. People are people and those from industrialized countries are usually well traveled. When I travel and talk to locals, as well as when I lived abroad, most care little to talk about where visitors to their country are from. And most understand that the people of a given country and the government of the same country are two different things, one with little responsibility for what the other does and vice versa.

Snidely, your initial post was outrageously offensive. Don't attack Rhoder or Glenda in your attempt to backpedal.

And most understand that the people of a given country and the
government of the same country are two different things, one with little
responsibility for what the other does and vice versa.

Very true. Fortunately MOST understand and live accordingly.

marie_cate, that was my "mostly". I truly think American has been usurped. But, I have to agree, I don't particularly care for USian, the other one I see. Can't we all be Americans, regardless on which side of the "border" we live?

When i was in The Netherlands, a lot of people asked "In America, do you....(fill in the blank)?" and it was OFTEN even with the lapel pin on and the big maple leaf on my t-shirt. So my answer to my Dutch family and friends was "In Germany, do you....(fill in the blank)?" and the answer from them would be "we aren't German, we're Dutch." And I would get a face that said, "holy crap you're stupid! And I would say that Canada and the US are two different countries. While I can almost 99% answer that question by telling them what Americans do, I Am Canadian. So I tell them I don't know. Australians don't want to be mistaken for New Zealanders. English don't want to be mistaken for Irish or Scottish and heaven help those who mistake a Welch person for a British person. I've gotten an ear full for that. So, if you're insulted you don't want me to be mistaken for American, that's fine. I am not American. I am a very proud Canadian. I like visiting the US. I have yet to have a bad experience in the US. But I would never live there.

My final 2 cents. :)

We've also noticed that many of the national parks such as Yellowstone and Great Sand Dunes appear to attract more foreigners than Americans of US descent. I never noticed the Canadians, but maybe that was because I was in awe of the many Europeans that I met.

rob333 - No, we can't all be Americans because being American is identified as being from the United States of America and I'm not from there. I am born north of the border making me Canadian.

This is a really hard discussion to have without having voice and facial inflections which would probably involve more smiles and laughter than frowns.

I'm really kidding here... so you've divested yourself of the American name. Got it. YES, smiles and laughter!!!

rob333 - Just got back from my run and was thinking about this and between all the other continents and their countries (Europe, Central America, South America, Africa, etc) our 2 countries as North America, probably have more in common than the other countries within their own continents. Oh boy - does that make sense?

So now, what was the discussion about - oh yea, being proud of our countries - something we both definitely have in common.

"So now, what was the discussion about - oh yea, being proud of our countries - something we both definitely have in common." ~ AGREED blfenton :)

I look at being misnamed while out and about in the world, along the same lines as my family being annoyed with my Grandfather who couldn't/didn't care enough to remember our 4 names.. Apparently whether you were Cindy or Sally or Bobby..he couldn't be bothered to remember that. As a Canadian, I like to sell myself as just that: Canadian.

Wouldn't you like to be known as the wonderful American ambassadors you can be, and not as "Well..Canadian or American..either way..it doesn't matter"? Our roots are where our homes are, no matter what side of the border or world. I may fight with my family, dislike some of their ways, or not involve myself in their day to day lives, but we're family. :) And now, back to your regularly scheduled posts and positions! :)

Snidely....using the word "bratty"?? I love, love visiting Canada as it is clean and the people are ALWAYS very nice!

Debbie_ab, I always thought you were from Alabama. Woops.

Debby....I thought you lived in Holland Park here in Colorado. Must be another Debby, the same age and looks just like you...? Doppelganger?

I meet a lot of people with Canadian citizenship living here in Colorado. Very nice people!

Meh. It's how we roll, fam.

When we're not buying gems online.

Next.

Yuan, you're having fun on these forums, which are new to you, huh?

Lived in Europe and traveled a lot of countries while over there, went back in 2009 to France and Germany. I only felt unsafe once, because I was an American. When I was stationed there, rude French guy at a Volksmarch, loud and saying how those Americans need to leave. It was a in a little town in France, just over the German border. His friend kept shushing him while he ranted at me. I was alone. I sat down after the hike to eat a little something, this guy started his rant, so I ate quickly and left. I've met a lot of rude people from other countries, not just the U.S., loud, obnoxious, pushy. So, not sure where the rude American thing comes from. Going back to Spain this June! Can't wait. Last time I was in Germany, a waitress at one of the restaurants we ate at asked us where we were from and how we liked Germany, then she said she hoped we would come back. Regarding the original post, I did think it was rude of Snidley, but not surprised by his post. I don't really care if Canadians wear a flag pin...not my business, even if it is because they don't want to be seen as American. I don't think it's going to protect you from ISIS or whoever, because they want all of us dead.

been here for a while

HAHAHA! That's funny, a few of you thought I lived in the US. I'm in Calgary Alberta which is why my nickname here is Debby Ab (AB short for Alberta). We are home of the worlds largest rodeo, gateway to the Rocky Mountains, largest city in the province, home of the most US head offices (If I remember right, 8% of the city's population is Amercian). I would love to visit Alabama one day, but would LOVE to go to Georgia (our over night cashier is from a tiny little town there, it starts with a b, I think Black___ something.) And the closest I've come to Holland Park is when I was in a Park in Holland: Europe. :)

I was "made in Holland" but born and raised in Calgary, leaving the city for a few years to live in British Columbia.

From the bits I read here and there by Snidely, he seems to know absolutely nothing about Canada, so his perspective is no surprise.

Snidely is a man?

-Two week driving trip exploring Quebec with wife and kids, went from Montreal to Saguenay River, Laurentians to lakes around Magog

-Two other 4 day trips to Montreal

-Two day trip to Toronto

- Ten day trip to Rockies (two years ago) - Calgary to Jasper and back, incl Banff and Lake Louise among other things. Snow cat ride on the glacier on Icefields Parkway (if that's the right name)

- Five day visit to Whistler, the year before the Olympics (2009)

Edit to add

Left off 2 day visit to Vancouver after an Alaska cruise

Ummm........right! And that gives you a good perspective on travelling across Canada, not on how Canadians travel and/or behave as travellers!

Linda, just to bring my involvement here to an end.:

I lived for 2.5 years in a much visited capital city in Western Europe. I've traveled to Europe dozens of times, for multiple weeks at a time. I've been to the Far East, Australia and NZ. My observations are just that and nothing else,

Most people don't tend to advertise their nationality when they travel but Canadians seem to. I was reporting my observations on my current trip and many other trips, about travelling Canadians. Not an opinion, not an assessment, nothing else.

"Bratty" seems like an opinion and an assessment.

Snidely, I see you've said your involvement ended with your last post. But just in case you do check back, I'm hoping I can clarify what you don't seem to be understanding, and then put this thread to bed.

Basically, your claim that your words are "Not an opinion, not an assessment, nothing else" is not quite accurate. You titled your thread with the assessment that some Canadian tourists can be a bit "bratty" and closed your original post with the assessment that (referring to tourists who wear some kind of Canadian insignia) "...it seems to be a silly national tendency."

I get your point that you notice a tendency, more among Canadian tourists, to wear some kind of national insignia. That would merely be your observation. But I think you should realize that your added assessment of this tendency as "bratty" and "silly" is what is offensive. Hope that clarified it for you.

I'm late to the party so no need to go into some of the hotter parts but can't resist an observation of my own: Rather humorous how some always want to shout from the treetops their mantra that mama taught then to not say anything if they can't say anything "nice" and it seems it's always the precursor to debase and deride someone. Hmm. Apparently their mamas didn't teach them too well or their definition of "nice" varies based on need and desire. Maybe I should insert six or seven exclamation points and a pig-nose happy face so I'm not misinterpreted. Naw. I'll risk mama's wrath.

I guess it's only in rose gardens where starting with manure leads to beauty later. Here, the initial offensive post drew (imho justifiable) criticism, and the criticism is drawing further criticism.

On the other hand, I've never been a big 'mama' fan, I think that the concept of justice is best served by those who speak up when they see something amiss.

It's the Murrcans pretending to be us.

Or is it.

So trippy, Yuan Gong. What an existentialist you are.

Why can't Snidely have his opinion? It's his, that's that. I think all of us can tend to be bratty tourists. I try my hardest to not be seen as an obnoxious American and I'll get another chance in 6 weeks when we go to Kryzgyzstan and Croatia. I didn't spell K-stan right but it always confuses me. But I was that obnoxious American after over-imbibing whilst jet-lagged. We went to a pub when visiting DS in Berlin and I had two delicious apple ales which went down like water. When walking out a couple of German patrons had their two little dogs with them, and they reminded me of my own two little dogs at home. So I picked up one of them and kissed it, and realized I made an egregious mistake. The Germans were not too happy with the drunken American. My son was very embarrassed by his crass mother, but we still laugh about it today. What's accepted here is not accepted everywhere. Who knows, some Americans might be offended if I did that here! I blame the jet lag combined with the ale, lol.

tldr

"Why can't Snidely have his opinion?"

And we can have our opinion of his opinion, as well.

To be honest Yuan, I'd never pretend to be a Canadian. For multiple reasons.

rob333 - And why would you? I'm not offended by that and so I don't get why some are offended by the fact that I don't want to be mistaken for being an American.

I am Canadian and want to be seen as such. I don't want it automatically assumed, because of how I speak, that I am American. I'm not. I was born north of the 49th.

Hey,

Wasn't Snidley Whiplash a Canadian in the old Dudley Do-Right cartoons?

(Or was he a REALLY ugly American?) :)

blfenton, mostly because I am not ashamed to be who I am. I think I represent the US well. I am who I am and won't be anyone else. Same as you, it sounds like!

;)

Just to clarify, Debbie_ab, the Welsh are British but not _English_. Like Albertans are Canadian but not Québécois. :-)

I think part of the reason to not be identified as an American is that in this day and age, Americans abroad can be a target for terrorism, which isn't something I'd want to be.

interesting