Feberrus@aol.com wrote:
>
> thanks alot for your help i am not really interested in the russian sleep
> machine however (not saying it's not worthwhile though)
Of course, no problem! My apolgies for not being able to assist better...
I'm afraid the LIDA (from Terry Bastian - which he freely provided to me)
was something I received of late and which I highly prize but I realize that we
all have different pursuits according to our interests... I shall try to locate
something more appropriate that may be of better use to you? I think I have
heard the 'Hendershot' term used before but am ignorant as to its usage / nature.
>i am glad your so helpful are most canadians this way or is it a stereotype.
I suspect, like most stereo-types there is truth and error in it, the same
as generlaizations made of Americans. From my experience Canadians do seem
typically more open and eager to resolve differences through dialogue than
Americans... but there are certainly regions within Canada where you could
find a good sampling of people and groups who would not be like this... in fact
some regions might have people who could appear quite rude, cool and aloof.
I have found that there are regions in the States that have large amounts of
people who do not fit the global pre-conception of the Amercian stereo-type either...
There are places in the States I feel quite comfortable being in, while others
put me very much on guard.... I have been to the States before and lived about 6 months
in Wichita, Kansas. Shortly I will be moving to Seattle for likely about a year.
I have heard a lot of cool things about Seattle and am rather excited to be going there!
I also really dig Vancouver and on weekends can 'fly home to Canada' sometimes
and enjoy hanging at some of the outdoor cafes and watch the chics! ;>
>in america canadians are viewed as overly friendly but that's probaly just do to the
> average americans sub-optimal friendliness
> thanks alot again
I find that Minnesotans are very similiar to Canadians, there seems to be a lot of similiar
characteristics, also their 'accent' seems similiar to ours and I cannot distinguish
much of a dialectic difference! In fact some even use the word 'eh' a fair bit!
The overly friendly characteristic you have observed or heard about is I believe, not generally
percieved quite that way by most Canadians as being a trait of ours... it is likely a
charactersitic of Canadians that appears as friendliness. Rather I believe it is likely
part of our philosophical outlook, in general, held collectively as a group of people.
Which is simply that of courtesy, deference and respect, we would simply rather
'get along' with others than fight them.... its much more comfortable, enjoyable,
and productive. It is important to get along, simply for the sake of getting along
and not for the sake of a hidden agenda to acquire something from someone or get an edge
or take someone off guard to 'get them, before they get us' type scenario.
I have noticed sometimes, when I was in the States, that when I made a friend they
seemed to view me with confusion at first, wondering if I was 'for real'. I think
sometimes it baffles them because they expect some sort of hidden agenda... once
they realized I wasn't trying to set them up or that I wasn't pretending they would
let their guard down and we would become fast freinds... I think this might be what
makes Canadians such good diplomats abroad... people sense that in us. A typical
cultural / media representation of Canadians are often 'Bob and Doug McKenzie' of
SCTV fame, from which John Candy originated also (SCTV that is). Bob and Doug appear
as two 'hosers' wearing toques and parkas sitting at an outdoor barbecue drinking
Canadian beer (which btw happens to be quite good! ;)) they basically just hangout,
crack jokes, fry back bacon and party with whoever they are hanging out with...
there is a lot of truth in that stereo type and there is likely a little bit of
'Bob and Doug' in most Canadians.... its often strange seeing John Candy on the
screen because he just seems like the average Canuk you'd meet on the street here....
or hang out in a bar, shooting darts with. Basically just happy go lucky people
who are laid back and would like to get along with others...