AMERICA THE WEIRD
January 5, 2002 8:42 PM Subscribe
AMERICA THE WEIRD VISITING THE U.S. IS LIKE LANDING ON ANOTHER PLANET.
But we still like ya...
swamps where crocodiles like to eat people.
Ever heard of a football team called the Florida Crocodiles?
posted by Optamystic at 9:17 PM on January 5, 2002
Ever heard of a football team called the Florida Crocodiles?
posted by Optamystic at 9:17 PM on January 5, 2002
Attention, attention. US embargo on Cuba has little effect in rest of world.
Oh, but don't forget -- we're still responsible for all their poverty!
Anyway, I could say that visiting Toronto is just like visiting someplace that looks exactly like the US, but isn't.
posted by dhartung at 9:57 PM on January 5, 2002
Oh, but don't forget -- we're still responsible for all their poverty!
Anyway, I could say that visiting Toronto is just like visiting someplace that looks exactly like the US, but isn't.
posted by dhartung at 9:57 PM on January 5, 2002
I got this chain letter via email a few months ago, but it's pretty funny: "We're Crazier Than You"
"We made a sequel to Police Academy 5. We gave an award for singing to two guys who never even sang. We put little sweaters on dogs. We shot John Lennon six times and didn't even aim for Yoko Ono. We think Elvis is still alive. We put Braille on drive-up automatic teller machines. We think that a simple button on a web site that says "Do not click if you're under 21" will do anything but cause a person under 21 to click on it."
posted by owillis at 10:07 PM on January 5, 2002
"We made a sequel to Police Academy 5. We gave an award for singing to two guys who never even sang. We put little sweaters on dogs. We shot John Lennon six times and didn't even aim for Yoko Ono. We think Elvis is still alive. We put Braille on drive-up automatic teller machines. We think that a simple button on a web site that says "Do not click if you're under 21" will do anything but cause a person under 21 to click on it."
posted by owillis at 10:07 PM on January 5, 2002
We gave an award for singing to two guys who never even sang.
I should probably have done this in email, but what's this referring to?
posted by Doug at 10:22 PM on January 5, 2002
I should probably have done this in email, but what's this referring to?
posted by Doug at 10:22 PM on January 5, 2002
Attention, attention. US embargo on Cuba has little effect in rest of world.
Oh, but don't forget -- we're still responsible for all their poverty!
Huh? What's that all about?
Doug: Probably Milli Vanilli
posted by nikzhowz at 10:26 PM on January 5, 2002
Oh, but don't forget -- we're still responsible for all their poverty!
Huh? What's that all about?
Doug: Probably Milli Vanilli
posted by nikzhowz at 10:26 PM on January 5, 2002
Ugh. I hate Canadians almost as much as I hate the French. Yes, I know that the feeling is mutual. And yes, I know that you don't care.
posted by UrbanFigaro at 10:32 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by UrbanFigaro at 10:32 PM on January 5, 2002
If I'm not mistaken--and I'm not!--there are crocodiles in Florida, Optamystic. Ever hear of a football team called the Florida NowIreallyfeeldumbs?
posted by y2karl at 10:40 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by y2karl at 10:40 PM on January 5, 2002
As for you, UrbanFigaro, I love Canada. Now put on the dunce cap when Optamystic's done with it and go sit in the corner.
posted by y2karl at 10:51 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by y2karl at 10:51 PM on January 5, 2002
The author of the article has obviously never been to Windsor (that Canadian city just across the way from Detroit). There's a few bars there where you can hand off your bra for a free drink.
Oh, crazy Americans. What will we think of next?
posted by keli at 10:55 PM on January 5, 2002
Oh, crazy Americans. What will we think of next?
posted by keli at 10:55 PM on January 5, 2002
Maybe it's just me, but the linked article was rather, err, boring. I guess being a canuck (sp?) must be a fairly boring life judging by what the author thought was so "wierd". The picture in my mind of the author is that of the kid in grade school who missed half the school year because his home life was so antiseptic that the real outside world was something his frail pasty skinned body couldn't cope with. You Canadians need to get out more. I still like Loverboy, one of your country's finest exports.
posted by sharksandwich at 10:59 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by sharksandwich at 10:59 PM on January 5, 2002
Crocodylus acutus, however, does not appear to be a maneater.
posted by y2karl at 11:18 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by y2karl at 11:18 PM on January 5, 2002
The author of the article has obviously never been to Windsor
No, but he's been to Tulsa. Dang, I'm jealous.
It is cool that he's been to Cuba, though. Unless he means this Cuba.
Any country can seem crazy if you're not from there and decide to have selective perceptions.
posted by diddlegnome at 11:19 PM on January 5, 2002
No, but he's been to Tulsa. Dang, I'm jealous.
It is cool that he's been to Cuba, though. Unless he means this Cuba.
Any country can seem crazy if you're not from there and decide to have selective perceptions.
posted by diddlegnome at 11:19 PM on January 5, 2002
I don't care what the author says, New Hampshire has the best state motto, ever. Live Free Or Die! And while it might seem amusing, it was a motto that many Americans probably lived (or died) by, at the time of the revolution.
posted by insomnyuk at 11:24 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by insomnyuk at 11:24 PM on January 5, 2002
I haven't noticed much of a difference 'twixt Canada and Washington State, aside from our abundance of cops.
posted by rotifer at 11:36 PM on January 5, 2002
posted by rotifer at 11:36 PM on January 5, 2002
y2karl,
I lived in Florida for 28 years, all over the state. I've seen hundreds of alligators, and not one single crocodile, outside of a zoo. I was gently correcting Zach. No need to condescend, hombre. We're all in this together, no?
posted by Optamystic at 1:25 AM on January 6, 2002
I lived in Florida for 28 years, all over the state. I've seen hundreds of alligators, and not one single crocodile, outside of a zoo. I was gently correcting Zach. No need to condescend, hombre. We're all in this together, no?
posted by Optamystic at 1:25 AM on January 6, 2002
Milli Vanilli! And I just saw the Behind the Music about them. That was pretty dumb, when you think about it.
posted by Doug at 1:57 AM on January 6, 2002
posted by Doug at 1:57 AM on January 6, 2002
We're all in this together, no?
True enough--I shouldn't have harshed out on ya...
but UrbanFigaro's another story.
Yet, he's entitled to his opinion, too, silly as it may be.
posted by y2karl at 2:09 AM on January 6, 2002
True enough--I shouldn't have harshed out on ya...
but UrbanFigaro's another story.
Yet, he's entitled to his opinion, too, silly as it may be.
posted by y2karl at 2:09 AM on January 6, 2002
Ever since I learned that some of you are merely 13 years old, I've begun to imagine all of you as 13 years old.
Metafilter makes a lot more sense to me now.
posted by crunchland at 5:03 AM on January 6, 2002
Metafilter makes a lot more sense to me now.
posted by crunchland at 5:03 AM on January 6, 2002
As Rick Mercer, host of CBC's Talking to Americans says of his wide-eyed (and ignorant) interviewees in the states: " I think they stop and talk because, not only do Americans like to go on at great lengths on subjects they nothing about, they are also incredibly generous. And when they hear that I'm from Canada, they want to help out because, well, 'Canada, they're our friends. Plus, no one will see this, because we're from somewhere else.'" Mercer comes up with quirky and unbelievable questions, which he then poses to unsuspecting Americans, senators and governors included."
I adore Canadiana: Anne Murray, maple syrup, k.d. lang, Robert J. Sawyer, CBC, National Film Board, CFL, and "peace, order and good government."
posted by Carol Anne at 5:44 AM on January 6, 2002
I adore Canadiana: Anne Murray, maple syrup, k.d. lang, Robert J. Sawyer, CBC, National Film Board, CFL, and "peace, order and good government."
posted by Carol Anne at 5:44 AM on January 6, 2002
Ever since I learned that some of you are merely 13 years old, I've begun to imagine all of you as 13 years old.
Spoken like a 14 year old.
posted by y2karl at 5:56 AM on January 6, 2002
Spoken like a 14 year old.
posted by y2karl at 5:56 AM on January 6, 2002
I guess by being both French and Canadian my mere presence here must make UrbanFigaro cringe. And no, the feeling is not mutual. I can't be bothered to hate people I don't know.
That article was pretty dull but I do have to admit that I sometimes find myself thinking of the United States as the crazy uncle every family has. Plus, being French and Canadian that uncle can be pretty crazy!
posted by srboisvert at 8:01 AM on January 6, 2002
That article was pretty dull but I do have to admit that I sometimes find myself thinking of the United States as the crazy uncle every family has. Plus, being French and Canadian that uncle can be pretty crazy!
posted by srboisvert at 8:01 AM on January 6, 2002
How to confuse an American waiter, tip #46: Ask for HP sauce for your steak.
posted by djfiander at 9:05 AM on January 6, 2002
posted by djfiander at 9:05 AM on January 6, 2002
I grew up in Detroit, and lived for a while in St Catharines, Ontario, and it seems to me there's just as much weirdness in the Great White North as there is in the Lower 49. Bruce Steele and "What on Earth"? Gravy on French fries? Clubbing seal pups for fur? Windsor has nudie bars with male dancers, which we don't have in Detroit. Margaret Trudeau was at least as controversial as, say, Bill Clinton. The exhibition of the Dionne Quints as though they were circus freaks? Ever visit both the New York and Ontario sides of Niagara Falls? Notice the American side is primarily a state park, while the Canadian side is chock full of wax museums, fudge shops, and "take your photo going over the falls in a barrel" booths.
Methinks this writer should move out of his glass house before he starts chucking stones.
posted by Oriole Adams at 9:41 AM on January 6, 2002
Methinks this writer should move out of his glass house before he starts chucking stones.
posted by Oriole Adams at 9:41 AM on January 6, 2002
Methinks this writer should move out of his glass house before he starts chucking stones.
As a Canadian, I agree heartily with this sentiment. The author of this article is a bit of a twit. The two countries and their populace are far more similar than different.
posted by cCranium at 10:04 AM on January 6, 2002
As a Canadian, I agree heartily with this sentiment. The author of this article is a bit of a twit. The two countries and their populace are far more similar than different.
posted by cCranium at 10:04 AM on January 6, 2002
The two countries and their populace are far more similar than different.
Vive le difference!
posted by Carol Anne at 10:59 AM on January 6, 2002
Vive le difference!
posted by Carol Anne at 10:59 AM on January 6, 2002
UrbanFigaro:
It's not particularly helpful to any discussion to simply state "I hate XX" then not bother to give any reasons, even irrational ones. In fact, it verges on trollish behavior.
And no, I'm not eager to hear your reasons. No one ever enjoys a rant as much as the author does.
posted by argybarg at 11:00 AM on January 6, 2002
It's not particularly helpful to any discussion to simply state "I hate XX" then not bother to give any reasons, even irrational ones. In fact, it verges on trollish behavior.
And no, I'm not eager to hear your reasons. No one ever enjoys a rant as much as the author does.
posted by argybarg at 11:00 AM on January 6, 2002
No one ever enjoys a rant as much as the author does.
And usually only while ranting, hence the synonym venting. And once vented, one feels stupid and dirty. At least this has been my experience.
It is so easy to misread someone's comment in a bad mood and read into it, assume the worst and respond in assumed kind. I'm assuming UrbanFigaro was being jocular and the comment was made in a light spirit, as were mine above. Except for the I love Canada part, because I do for the reasons cited above, in part. That they are different at all in the face of our mass cultural onslaught says something for them as well.
posted by y2karl at 11:09 AM on January 6, 2002
And usually only while ranting, hence the synonym venting. And once vented, one feels stupid and dirty. At least this has been my experience.
It is so easy to misread someone's comment in a bad mood and read into it, assume the worst and respond in assumed kind. I'm assuming UrbanFigaro was being jocular and the comment was made in a light spirit, as were mine above. Except for the I love Canada part, because I do for the reasons cited above, in part. That they are different at all in the face of our mass cultural onslaught says something for them as well.
posted by y2karl at 11:09 AM on January 6, 2002
Ask for HP sauce for your steak.
Do this in California and you'll get printer ink and laser toner.
posted by kindall at 12:24 PM on January 6, 2002
Do this in California and you'll get printer ink and laser toner.
posted by kindall at 12:24 PM on January 6, 2002
We took a road trip from Detroit Michigan to Niagra Falls New York via Toronto and some of the most beautiful (Canadian) landscapes I've ever seen.
This made me laugh. This trip is, like: Detroit, Windsor, suburbs (much like the suburbs of Detroit), some farms, some nondescript towns, one really cool hill, suburbs of Toronto (much like the suburbs of Detroit), Toronto. If you could pick the one part of Canada that was most like the US midwest, it would be this one. Niagara Falls is nice, though.
posted by rodii at 1:01 PM on January 6, 2002
This made me laugh. This trip is, like: Detroit, Windsor, suburbs (much like the suburbs of Detroit), some farms, some nondescript towns, one really cool hill, suburbs of Toronto (much like the suburbs of Detroit), Toronto. If you could pick the one part of Canada that was most like the US midwest, it would be this one. Niagara Falls is nice, though.
posted by rodii at 1:01 PM on January 6, 2002
Eh, I had the same thought as rodii.
That's like a Torontonian taking a road trip through Buffalo en route to Cleveland. Not really the most scenic trip around. I drove up through Northern Ontario, through the Canadian Shield - now that is pretty scenary. One day, hopefully this year, I plan on driving across Canada AND the States - both have their own unique sites.
This article is nothing special. Some guy just making some observations about quirky US locations. It could be an American referring to weird Canadian locations... like the Big Apple - literally - on the 401; or Poutine - which is STILL weird to me - or the fact that there is about one Tim Horton's for every two people!
posted by mkn at 5:05 PM on January 6, 2002
That's like a Torontonian taking a road trip through Buffalo en route to Cleveland. Not really the most scenic trip around. I drove up through Northern Ontario, through the Canadian Shield - now that is pretty scenary. One day, hopefully this year, I plan on driving across Canada AND the States - both have their own unique sites.
This article is nothing special. Some guy just making some observations about quirky US locations. It could be an American referring to weird Canadian locations... like the Big Apple - literally - on the 401; or Poutine - which is STILL weird to me - or the fact that there is about one Tim Horton's for every two people!
posted by mkn at 5:05 PM on January 6, 2002
um...I don't get it. I read the article, but didn't see anything odd. Did the author have a point? If he wanted to claim that Americans were weird--that should be pretty easy to demonstrate. Why didn't he provide any examples?
posted by rushmc at 6:03 PM on January 6, 2002
posted by rushmc at 6:03 PM on January 6, 2002
We may be weird. But our weirdness subsidizes your affluence in Europe and Canada in SO many ways....
posted by ParisParamus at 6:52 PM on January 6, 2002
posted by ParisParamus at 6:52 PM on January 6, 2002
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Cuba? Okay maybe the rest of America would look at ya funny, but so far as I'm concerned you can vacation in Cuba all you want without my looking at ya funny, but why would anyone in their right mind vacation in Florida? The very fact that everyone wants to go there makes it the least favorable choice. Please someone take me to the most crowded theme park in the world where not only do you stand in line, you stand in line to make reservations for standing in a theoretically smaller line. Please direct me to the state that looks like a penis, and consists of beaches where hurricanes like to visit, and swamps where crocodiles like to eat people. Sign me up! Geez!
I was in Canada once. We took a road trip from Detroit Michigan to Niagra Falls New York via Toronto and some of the most beautiful (Canadian) landscapes I've ever seen. If it wasn't so damn cold up there I'd go back. But it's January 5th right now here in Texas and I'm upset with the fact I actually might need to wear a sweater this year.
...do they still make sweaters?
posted by ZachsMind at 9:05 PM on January 5, 2002