Why are Canadians often condescending of Americans?

[Samof94]

What makes Canadians condescending of Americans??? I easily see their healthcare and gun situations are obviously much better, but I’m talking about in areas that are more subtle.

[Estrella]

Why are Americans often condescending of everyone else?

[mileslunn]

I think its pretty common for a country that is right next door and very culturally similar but much smaller to look down on larger neighbor.  No different than how Irish view British in many ways.  Heck even in sports you see it a lot with biggest rival being team in same state.  Think San Francisco vs. Los Angeles or Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh and not just with sports but in general a lot in those cities look down on other one.  I don't think Canadians hate Americans but are perhaps maybe puzzled on some issues.  You see this internally in US too as a lot in Middle America really look down on people on Coasts and vice versa so somewhat akin to that.

I would argue health care and guns are the biggest areas Canadians look down on US and perhaps more recently on COVID-19 as while Canada hasn't been stellar like Australia or New Zealand, our death rate has been a lot lower than US and we've generally had stronger public health restrictions.  But even on guns, surprisingly, Canada actually has a very high gun ownership rate and many Canadians do own guns.  Its more we see them as tools for hunting or sports shooting not for self protection or as a God given right.  On other issues, I think its more because Canadians are so similar to Americans in many ways, we have to justify and find reasons why we are different so we play those up.  I also find that attitude is more in English speaking parts of Canada as opposed to Quebec.  Quebec is quite culturally distinct from US and any anti-Americanism there is more about protecting language and English dominance and they apply it equally to rest of Canada. 

And to be fair I think in US you have a certain element that is condescending towards others.  Maybe not so much Canada is we are too small too matter, but a lot of Americans, especially on right quite condescending and look down on Europeans and often associate Canadians is being more European like. 

So in summary, I don't think what you see in Canada is totally unusual.  I think its quite common for people in every part of world and even within countries of other regions to have a certain area they look down on.  Yes there is a minority in Canada who truly do dislike Americans and United States, but I think most Canadians have no issues with Americans and there may be aspects of the US we dislike or find puzzling, but don't by any means think country is a horrible one.  I think if Canadians had a choice between living in China or US, overwhelming majority would chose US.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

To be fair, Americans often make it really hard not to be condescending towards them.

[CumbrianLefty]

To be fair, Americans often make it really hard not to be condescending towards them.

Yeah, was going to respond to the thread title with "aren't most people?"

[Samof94]

I think its pretty common for a country that is right next door and very culturally similar but much smaller to look down on larger neighbor.  No different than how Irish view British in many ways.  Heck even in sports you see it a lot with biggest rival being team in same state.  Think San Francisco vs. Los Angeles or Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh and not just with sports but in general a lot in those cities look down on other one.  I don't think Canadians hate Americans but are perhaps maybe puzzled on some issues.  You see this internally in US too as a lot in Middle America really look down on people on Coasts and vice versa so somewhat akin to that.

I would argue health care and guns are the biggest areas Canadians look down on US and perhaps more recently on COVID-19 as while Canada hasn't been stellar like Australia or New Zealand, our death rate has been a lot lower than US and we've generally had stronger public health restrictions.  But even on guns, surprisingly, Canada actually has a very high gun ownership rate and many Canadians do own guns.  Its more we see them as tools for hunting or sports shooting not for self protection or as a God given right.  On other issues, I think its more because Canadians are so similar to Americans in many ways, we have to justify and find reasons why we are different so we play those up.  I also find that attitude is more in English speaking parts of Canada as opposed to Quebec.  Quebec is quite culturally distinct from US and any anti-Americanism there is more about protecting language and English dominance and they apply it equally to rest of Canada. 

And to be fair I think in US you have a certain element that is condescending towards others.  Maybe not so much Canada is we are too small too matter, but a lot of Americans, especially on right quite condescending and look down on Europeans and often associate Canadians is being more European like. 

So in summary, I don't think what you see in Canada is totally unusual.  I think its quite common for people in every part of world and even within countries of other regions to have a certain area they look down on.  Yes there is a minority in Canada who truly do dislike Americans and United States, but I think most Canadians have no issues with Americans and there may be aspects of the US we dislike or find puzzling, but don't by any means think country is a horrible one.  I think if Canadians had a choice between living in China or US, overwhelming majority would chose US.

True. Of course. It is easy for a country so similar to the USA to act this way.