evenstar3 said:

Except you. You're gorgeous and geeky. You can build my computer empire with me.

I am so with you on that. I actually work a block from you at Macy's so I really understand . Tourists have this "Deer in the Headlight" look on their faces from Herald Square to Times Square. I must say, in spite of what I said earlier in the thread, I really do love NYC but we have our issues(as all cities do) and truth be told, I am a fast walker and almost everyday I nearly run into someone because people will suddenly stop in the middle of the street like it's nothing. Now that's rude to me as well, but I'll say sorry even if I'm not in the wrong. I just wish the slow people would go to the sides and let the faster people in the center of the sidewalks. That's all I want.

psychodelicide said:

Aww shucks. Thanks

Im from Manitoba where our licence plates even say "Friendly Manitoba".
I find there are rude people no matter where you go, I have always had a good experience when travelling in the US and Ive had some bad experiences here in Winnipeg so I think it just depends on the individual you deal with not the country you're in.
Our provincial motto has now been changed from "Friendly Manitoba" to
"Spirited Energy"....I think thats just a nice way to say we're all high!
Ive been told by alot of Americans who have visited Winnipeg that we are definetly one of the friendliest cities, I think its mostly cause we're very laid back and have a reputation for having a good time, we find alot of excuses to drink and celebrate things

evenstar3 said:

Except you. You're gorgeous and geeky. You can build my computer empire with me.

Im from Manitoba where our licence plates even say "Friendly Manitoba".
I find there are rude people no matter where you go, I have always had a good experience when travelling in the US and Ive had some bad experiences here in Winnipeg so I think it just depends on the individual you deal with not the country you're in.
Our provincial motto has now been changed from "Friendly Manitoba" to
"Spirited Energy"....I think thats just a nice way to say we're all high!
Ive been told by alot of Americans who have visited Winnipeg that we are definetly one of the friendliest cities, I think its mostly cause we're very laid back and have a reputation for having a good time, we find alot of excuses to drink and celebrate things

Spookymuffin said:

As long as it's an EVIL computer empire!

PurpleThunder said:

I lived in Winnipeg for a couple of years and met a lot of very friendly, cool people...and there is some serious eye candy in that city too.

evenstar3 said:

ugh. It was the hair wasn't it? curse my straight hair

Fauxie said:

don't you and spooky have basically the same hair style now since he's cut it?

meow85 said:

Are Canadian English and American English really that different ? I thought they sound pretty similar.

Some people were just raised as idiots. Every country has them.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I had to teach my mom, who didn't have a problem going off if she felt something was unfairly done, to stop yellin' at the sales rep. Just go straight to the manager but stop going off (unless she was treated unfairly). I worked retail for years and I always felt like it should be a requirement that ppl have to work on Christmas season to get a dose of it the maddness.

I worked for a retailer who didn't believe the customer was always right and it was a wonderful store to manage. If the customer was wrong, they are wrong. I loved it.

meow85 said:

Are Canadian English and American English really that different ? I thought they sound pretty similar.

There are rude people where ever you go. I try to be nice and polite to everyone, so to make a sweeping statement about Americans being rude, is actually rude in it's self

Interesting that you'd bring this up, meow. I was just talking about this to my wife yesterday.

I'm not sure what BCers are truly like (I visited Vancouver only once for a few days in 2000 and generally enjoyed the folk there), but I've been a bit suprised by Torontonians. Canadians do have the reputation of being nice -- almost to a fault, but I haven't found Torontonians to be particularly so. They are often really cool and giving, almost unusually so, if/when they have "business" with you, but I've found that if they don't know you, they don't speak... even when you say "hi" first. I've held doors for people, used "please" and "thank you," called people "sir" or "ma'am," and yet I can't tell you how many folk here -- male, female, black, white, young, old -- have looked me dead in the eye and kept going like I wasn't there. It's been a bit off-putting. (By the way, this doesn't characterize all Torontonians... but enough that I've noticed.)

I've chalked it up to a few possibilities: 1) Maybe they're rude because they can detect I am American (and, yes, there are noticeable differences); 2) maybe I look funny ; or 3) the differences in civility are regional. I think big city folk, in general, tend to be less cognizant of social graces. If I were in Thunder Bay, Ont., for example, aside from the shock of seeing a black guy , I bet they'd be more pleasant in the aggregate.

As Americans go, northerners -- and particularly coastal northerners -- are known for being less genteel than others... particularly southerners. But, again, I think that's oversimplified. It's more a regional thing: From what I've seen, folk from Georgia accept you as pretty much a cousin at "hello," whereas Texans, from what I saw, are a bit more suspicious. And, interestingly, I've never found New Yorkers to be rude, despite their reputation. But Bostonians, as much as I love their city (even considered a move there), are rude as hell!
[Edited 10/8/06 21:22pm]

Spookymuffin said:

As long as it's an EVIL computer empire!

evenstar3 said:

not really, he still has all of his hair, while mine is making a run for it

Fauxie said:

You're not growing old gracefully!