What's With "That 70's Show?"

LADSKATER · 01-24-2003, 03:05 AM

Okay - I know Americans and Canadians are sort of "at odds with one another" at the moment, but really what's with the latest American past time of "bashing" Canadians?

I don't know if any one here is a big fan of "That 70's Show" - I only watch it occasionally. I happened to tune in tonight and Kitty the mother of Eric (the main teenage character) uttered the line - "Canadians don't matter" (very subtle humour) after Eric stated "Everyone knows about his breakup with Donna, even Canada (this is after Donna gets a job in a radio station).

We Canadians are good at laughing at our ourselves and even "get a kick" out of the lack of knowledge most Americans in general have about Canada (ever watch Rick Mercers' programs about what the average American knows about us?).

Anyway, I did not appreciate the line - I don't know about any other Canadians here. I know it was supposed to be funny - but as Queen Elizabeth would state: "We are not amused!!"

Ladskater

WindSpirit5 · 01-24-2003, 12:22 PM

IMO we all tend to get offended (more or less) if someone says something not quite positive (I'm being careful here

) about our countries. It's very hard to define what's OK and what is not. We laugh at jokes we probably would not find funny at all if they were about us. So, yes, I think every person has the right to feel a little (or more, depending on the joke) offended if they hear jokes about their country, etc., but at the same time we all have the right to tell jokes. IMHO that one wasn't offensive (but I'm not Canadian).

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>We Canadians are good at laughing at our ourselves and even "get a kick" out of the lack of knowledge most Americans in general have about Canada (ever watch Rick Mercers' programs about what the average American knows about us?).[/quote] Here you basically say that Americans are stupid, so don't be surprised if they find it offensive. Not the best way to illustrate your point.

Btw some time ago I watched the episode of Spin City where the mayor was going to give a speech about tolerance. If I were British or French I would find it offensive a bit, yes, but at the same it was funny - because it made fun of people who used stereotypes.

Aloft02 · 01-24-2003, 12:46 PM

Ladskater, I don't watch the show, but maybe you could consider the source...I may be doing a grave disservice here, but my guess is "That 70's Show" probably isn't lofty thinking at the best of times??

Anyway there's a fair amount of USA jokes on your "Air Farce" show that I certainly don't think reflect a balanced viewpoint of Canadian opinion, so I don't take them to heart. Some of it's pretty funny.

I personally dislike the needling done by both sides, but it may be important to note that it is by *both* sides? That said, I think it encourages cartoon sterotypes and generalizations that can lack a solid foundation and be hurtful to both.

I'd like to make a point here about your comment about Americans and Canadians being at odds. Can we distinguish the difference between being at odds with US policy/ government and being at odds with Americans as a group of people? Half of us are 'at odds' with our own government policies at any given time I think. I know I am right this minute, (don't get me started :x ...)

Last Christmas I had a BC school teacher stay with us and we played a board game in which she attributed the Yukon as being part of Alaska, which she didn't know was a state. This was ignorance of both countries, where does that fit in to your analysis? Did I think this reflects on the average Canadian? Nope. I think it would be self-important of me to think everyone in your country should know the details of mine. I'd rather you know that we are a large and generous group of people from a wide background whose views are not always represented by international politics or even our own governmental policies. Thanks for thinking about this. ~Sharon~

SteveKmetko374 · 01-24-2003, 03:14 PM

One canadian friend of mine accidentally sent me an email joke bashing americans -- the basic message was "canadians good, saintly and smart - americans bad, evil and not-to-mention stupid" and then she wrote a second email saying "Oops, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to send that to you" -(I guess she was saving that one exclusively for all her 'other' friends) <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif" />). I just wrote back "Don't worry, we're used to it." Now I'm not saying we're all saintly and geniuses - we do have our fair share of morons, I should know as I have to deal with several of them on a daily basis, but we're not all that way <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif" /> We seem to be expected to know everything about every other country, just because other countries think they know alot about us - thanks to American TV and movies.

Basically, Americans are used to being bashed and are generally expected to "take it" or be labeled "oversensitive" and lacking any sense of humor about themselves. But say one word or joke about someone else's nationality and watch out <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif" />

The way I see it, if a person of any nationality is going to be that sensitive, they also need to be sensitive and understanding to other people's pride, sensitivity, lack of sense of humor (whatever you way you want to look at it) as well, or otherwise it is sheer hypocrisy. In the same right, if a person jokes about or bashes other nationalities, they have to be able to "take it" in return.

I think its perfectly understandable to be hurt or offended by such a joke though, as we are all entitled to our feelings.

I think the "tension" spoken of seems to be mostly on the Canadian side, as I have never heard a bad word or mention of Canada - ever - by normal working american people, in fact, I don't think Canada is usually on the mind of the average American and perhaps this is what really causes unrest among Canadians regarding Americans, that we don't seem to think of you guys enough. All I see is the very occasional joke on television or the once in the blue comment by a random polititian who I never heard of before. I know Lad, you have been upset by Pat Buchanan and I tell you, honestly, you are wasting your time and energy on him - he is never on the local news here and nobody I know follows or listens to him or even has any idea of anything he's said in the past 2 years, half the people probably don't know or care who he is either.

I think he's on CNN sometimes, but likely its just for ratings, kind of like the Howard Stern/Jerry Springer phenomena. pure shock value.
<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/eyes.gif" />

FetalAttraction · 01-24-2003, 07:51 PM

Be glad Americans deign to mention Canadians in perfectly justified condescension.

megsk8z · 01-25-2003, 10:22 AM

......is set in Wisconsin. Wisconsin abounds with Canada jokes (I used to live in Wisconsin). I think it's just a misguided way to set "atmosphere" of a small Wisconsin town.
At least they didn't break into South Park's "Blame Canada"

Kzarah · 01-26-2003, 09:44 PM

The show should be cancelled.
Daniel and Little Lulu

LADSKATER · 01-27-2003, 10:12 PM

Kzarah:

I agree!! Anyway, it's all "small potatoes" compared to what is going on in the world. At least Canada is not in a hurry to go to war like the US (or is it just President Bush - don't want to offend any Americans here!).

Ladskater

LADSKATER · 01-27-2003, 10:17 PM

Fetal:

As always, I take your responses with a "grain of salt." At least, we settled our independence with Britain peacefully - no lives were lost - unlike the American Revolution. It may have taken us longer, but we believe in "Peace - not War.!"

Be glad you have us as neighbours! "Peace, Man!!!"

Ladskater

JOHIO2 · 01-28-2003, 07:12 AM

hi meg,

the cleveland jokes about canada tend to refer to swimming across the lake - erie, that is.

FetalAttraction · 01-28-2003, 11:27 AM

America: Rules the world.

Canada: Deferrer to old British hag who clings to life by drinking blood.

Winner: America, duh!

SteveKmetko374 · 01-28-2003, 04:46 PM

as a French friend of mine told me - the french make fun of the Belgians and the Belgians make fun of the Swiss -- its all part of human nature - so it is no surprise is Wisoconinites would make fun of Canadians - I'm sure Canadians spend a fare share of their time badmouthing the US - I think the main point to remember is that "That 70's Show" is a just a Comedy -- get it? Watch with a sense of humor, or why bother? It's just a TV show.