What are the differences in mentality between Canada and United States?

Question

shannondavis · Answer

Canadians in general are more polite. And less angry .

One of the things I like about Canada is the lost and found . 
If you accidentally forget something somewhere. The bus, a counter. They’ll keep it for you.  People are helpful.  
There is a huge volunteering culture.

GregT · Answer

Canada is way less competitive and ambitious and sports obsessed. Also we never worry about paying for health care, or that someone who is mad at us might have a gun. (Unless we are in the US of course).

GregT · Answer

Also way less people talk about or care about the military. And is Justin Trudeau a muslim? Probably not but that is something nobody talks or cares about.

kuzzy · Answer

Canadians are more polite, less aggressive and don't shove their noses into other folks business, unless of course they've spent time growing up in the states like my father then they act like Americans and tend to not fit in properly.

We're more laid back and mind our own business most times, however we usually get involved to help each other if anyone needs it.

We're more laid back and mind our own business most times, however we usually get involved to help each other if anyone needs it.

sd2003000 · Answer

America is more religious from what I’ve seen. Not to generalize or offend anyone, but American’s can come off as a bit rude, and Canadian’s are known for being more polite.

courtejester · Answer

...in Canada, we can:
1)  say sorry;
2) assume the car stuck in the snow doesn’t have a gun in the glove box, and help them;
3) think that our country is pretty good without demanding that everyone else agrees;
4) think a foreign accent is cool and not a threat to the very fabric of our society;
5) decide that laws made over two hundred years ago may need a bit of updating without going completely batshit at the very suggestion;
6) point out our country on a map...

“If the world was a party, the US would be the one puking beer and nachos off the end of the porch; Canada would be the one who still offers them a ride home.”

kuzzy · Answer

@courtejester The funny thing about this comment is it's true. and that's the sad part.

Nathan_Gale · Answer

Two fundamental differences:

1) Canada is still in the Commonwealth, i.e. subject to the British monarchy. I suspect that this influences their respect for authority. Also, may encourage them to follow “proper manners” like our English cousins. In the US, the president and celebrities like the Kardashians are our royalty. Their manners (or lack thereof) trickle into general society.

2) Canada is a divided country by nature of Quebec lying in the middle of it. They’ve done a pretty good job of promoting respect for culture, which probably also influences their general politeness, but once you dive into their national politics, it becomes apparent that their regional differences are much more profound than in the United States. Although the United States is polarized politically, most citizens have strong beliefs about the common national cause. I don’t see this much in Canadian society.

kuzzy · Answer

@Nathan_Gale Canada is not that much part of the british monarchy, that's fairly old news, we're very much independant and can make our own rules and laws without the queens say, we just stay in it because we like the queen and it'd be too much of a hassle to exit, especially since we're in charge of everything in our own country anyway so it doesn't bother anyone. Also we aren't keeping the "British way of speaking" or respect manners and authority because of it either, we keep it because it's the correct way to spell, and also like other countries we respect authority and have proper manners because it's chaotic otherwise, and every other country knows that little rules leads to chaos, America is the only one who does everything differently.

Every other 1st world nation respects each other, authority and proper manners, it's literally just America that is different.

Every other 1st world nation respects each other, authority and proper manners, it's literally just America that is different.

Nathan_Gale · Answer

@kuzzy45 I understand that Canada is fully independent, but officially it is a part of the monarchy and thus has a much closer relationship to the UK than the United States (or at least did, maybe recent developments have changed this). I think this has an affect on the psychology of the society, but it's just my opinion. 

As for spelling, I wish Webster had gone much further with his reformation of English orthography than he did, because it is the number one source of confusion for people learning English as a second or third language, but if he had done so I suppose there would be even greater confusion between those using the Queen's English and us wild folk in the U.S. As for respect for authority, I am quite conservative by nature, so I agree that preserving order is immensely important. Nevertheless, although I personally don't deal with chaos very well, I have to admit that the crazy, sometimes off-the-rails, laissez-faire form of capitalism that the United States has fostered for so long has produced the greatest wealth the world has every known, so I have to respect the people who have been able to harness that chaotic force.

I actually respect Canada and it's cultures quite a lot (which is why I have it listed as one of my interests and spend time trying to understand Canadian politics and history). I didn't mean to get into a conversation about how much better and more civil Canada is than the United States or vice-versa. We're just separate countries whose differences I think are too often overlooked.

kuzzy · Answer

@Nathan_Gale I understand but I wasn't implying Canada is better or the US is better I was just stating facts, also I had thought you were implying Canada was the only country who did things differently because we don't act like the states which is a common mistake Americans tend to make. sorry for the misunderstanding.

Nathan_Gale · Answer

@kuzzy45 no problem, unfortunately text is atonal, so I don’t always expect to be understood the first go around.

What are the differences in mentality between Canada and United States? See a translation

Canadians in general are more polite. And less angry . One of the things I like about Canada is the lost and found . If you accidentally forget something somewhere. The bus, a counter. They’ll keep it for you. People are helpful. There is a huge volunteering culture.

Canada is way less competitive and ambitious and sports obsessed. Also we never worry about paying for health care, or that someone who is mad at us might have a gun. (Unless we are in the US of course).

Also way less people talk about or care about the military. And is Justin Trudeau a muslim? Probably not but that is something nobody talks or cares about.

America is more religious from what I’ve seen. Not to generalize or offend anyone, but American’s can come off as a bit rude, and Canadian’s are known for being more polite.

@courtejester The funny thing about this comment is it's true. and that's the sad part.

@kuzzy45 no problem, unfortunately text is atonal, so I don’t always expect to be understood the first go around.

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What are the differences in mentality between Canada and United States?

Canadians in general are more polite. And less angry .

One of the things I like about Canada is the lost and found .
If you accidentally forget something somewhere. The bus, a counter. They’ll keep it for you. People are helpful.
There is a huge volunteering culture.