Why do Americans make fun of Canadians?

Question

like implying they're stupid or below them

Answer 1

Because they can?

Answer 2

As a people we Americans have many fine traits, but we also have our imperfections. Among them are that we can be a bit conceited about our place in the world. SOME Americans see us as the biggest, strongest, and best and then much like a school yard bully they seek to lord it over whomever they can.

Still others (and I have to admit I have been guilty of this from time to time.) just don't always use the best judgment in their humor.

However I think you will find that MOST Americans (myself included) have a very favorable opinion of our neighbor to the north. As for the "biggest, strongest, best" attitude, I think that most Americans probably feel that way, but exhibit it in terms of a healthy national pride, as opposed to trying to put other people down with it.

Finally I do have to point out in all fairness that Canadians have their own guilty pleasures. I'm sure there are more than a few jokes on both sides of the "English-French" thing, and I KNOW that more than a few Canadians enjoy telling "Newfie" jokes about people from Newfoundland. I know that more than a few do it because I know or have known more than a few Canadian offenders. Anyway I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I don't make fun of Canadians. I am curious about them, actually. They must be doing something right because they seem never to be embroiled in controversy and things appear to run pretty smoothly over there. Also, they don't have the death penalty, which I am zealously opposed to. And they have socialized healthcare. I suppose the quality of such care could be debated, but it can't be argued that it isn't better than no healthcare at all. Canada is a beautiful country and I was privileged to visit once. So, in answer to your question not all Americans make fun of Canadians any more than all Canadians make fun of Americans.

Answer 4

Wow-I didn't know we made fun of Canadians, but I live in the southwest U.S. I have always liked Canadians a lot. I played hockey in college and we played against Canadian teams--you almost always beat us, btw. I know how to play curling. Canada has given us some great actors and comedians. I love the Canadian people I've met on several fishing trips to Canada. I greatly admire the Canada foreign policy. The only thing that puzzles me about Canadian politics is the attitude towards Quebec, but that's truly just my own ignorance about the desire for Quebec to be independent or autonomous--not really sure what the province of Quebec wants from the rest of Canada. My father fought along side Canadian soldiers on D-Day in WWII and told me the Canadian soldiers were the bravest of our allies. Any American who makes fun of a Canadian accent has never been to NYC or Mississippi.

Answer 5

I think it's just been like a running joke for years. That Cananda is a second tier United States. But I think most Americans look at Canadians as pretty much the same as them. Sometimes Canada feels like it's another state instead of a country. A lot of successful famous people in the US are Canadians. I don't think a lot of Americans realize that.

Answer 6

not all Americas do make fun of Canadians, but the ones who do do it for the same reason people make fun of the French, welsh, Germans etc because the are small minded and don't truly understand the reason people are different or have any kind of clue that in-fact we are so similar. just let them think what the want to think cause you know that's what there saying is not true and only said through jealousy, stupidity or what they have be brought up to think just be true to you and your history, beliefs and don't act like them. :-)

Answer 7

Because people like to make fun of people who are different than them. I'm willing to bet that Canadians make fun of Americans, too.
I don't make of Canadians, though, nor I do think they are stupid. After all, Margaret Atwood, Carol Shields, Anne Marie MacDonald, Sarah McLachlan, and Joni Mitchell are all from Canada!

Answer 8

I've never had that happen. When I have vacationed in the states there have been some places I have felt unwelcomed when I've revealed I'm Canadian. I don't worry about it. I like being educated about other countries. I bet I know more about the states than some Americans do.

Answer 9

It's our American ignorance and arrogance. I'm in Michigan and visit Canadian friends often. Americans are, for the most part, jaded and unsophisticated and have been raised thinking we're the top of the heap. Remind them that you don't have the crime, the national debt, the global enemies, etc that we have.

And I'm willing to bet you know more about America than most Americans know about Canada! How many states can you name? Ask an American to name more than a few provinces.

Here's a good one: What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bi-lingual!! What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Tri-lingual!! What do you call someone who speaks one language? An American!!

Answer 10

No offense-but it's funny, in a really crude way. I guess for the most part we don't really don't believe you're there and Canadians are one subject matter that both blacks and white Americans have some agreement about.

Answer 11

I never make fun of Canadians in a way that belittles them, but I had a teacher in high school who would say his o's weird and occasionally let an "eh." My fellow students and I would giggle about that from time to time.Of course, I also make fun of people from Minnesota for that.