Where is everyone from??

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

the English seem to come across as complete prudes who are interested only in cricket and the weather;

Feigning surprise, Fea cries out...

You're not?!?!? For the English stereotypes I have no personal basis for: Cricket, horseback riding, tea-time, and everything prim and proper. For the stereotypes that I have good reason for having developed: I tend to view the English as having a sheer (and generally bewildering) prejudice against muscle cars. Also, they like their pubs.

German sterotypes have been completely bashed for me, in that my best friend spent some number of weeks living in Germany this year with friends of her family, and was thus shown that German kids are much like American kids. I still picture a number of castles though, as well as... dare I admit it? The little German boy on the Simpsons... "Don't pop me, I'm full of chocolate." Amazing what television can do to a person.

I still maintain that New York is the best place in the world. Fea fishes for stereotypes of New Yorkers...

Fea

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Aman

the English newspapers are just ruffled because the Germans get up at four in the morning to steal the sunbeds

Actually, in my experience, it is the English who are the worst offenders on that score.

Now, let me see:

Frequent lengthy conversations concerning weather and cricket: check
Scones: check (with butter, cream and strawberry jam, of course)
Tea: Can't abide the stuff myself, but appreciate its cultural importance, so check
Pinkies: Assuming you mean outstretched little finger when one is drinking, naturally, so check
Silly phrases: Tally ho! and toodlepip, old bean check
Neatly furled umbrella under one arm: check
Daily Telegraph under the other: Well, it's not the Telegraph, but it's a broadsheet, so check
Bowler hat: No, but the idea appeals check
Prim and proper: check
Prejudice against muscle cars: Assuming you mean the ridiculously large American variety, check
Pubs: Most definately check

Hmm, it would appear that I am in fact the stereotypical Englishman.

Although, like many here, I have Celtic roots, Welsh in my case, on my father's side. However, it seems to me that Tolkien appeals more to those aspects which I see as having been inherited from my mother, and her family is of Italian descent. Perhaps it's the Catholic influence.

[the phantom]

Hmm, it would appear that I am in fact the stereotypical Englishman.

Well, if I ever make it to England you'll have to teach me how to be like you. I'd love to add British charm to my lengthy list of attractive attributes.

Fea fishes for stereotypes of New Yorkers...

New Yorkers ride around in cabs and throw garbage at sports teams from other states while shouting 100 curse words per minute.

The only time they get quiet is when a group of mafia thugs walks by (about every two minutes).

Except for Central New Yorkers- they're all unemployed, angsty high schoolers who don't have a drivers license, haven't read Morgoth's Ring, and can't draw worth anything. They survive only by leeching off their parents and flashing their attractive legs to get discounts.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Except for Central New Yorkers- they're all unemployed, angsty high schoolers who don't have a drivers license, haven't read Morgoth's Ring, and can't draw worth anything. They survive only by leeching off their parents and flashing their attractive legs to get discounts.

I can too draw!

Prejudice against muscle cars: Assuming you mean the ridiculously large American variety, check

Detect my meaning? Those English that I know much prefer the variety of automobile that not only cost more than my life, but are impossible for an average sized person to get in and out of. Picture a normal car where you get in. Now picture the attempt of getting into a vehicle by the following means: First you must squat low to the ground, and slide one leg into the car. Follow this uncomfortable movement by shifting horizontally until you have about half of yourself inside. You must then perform contortionist activities until your knee is within and inch of your nose, and then slide that leg in next to the other one. Now that you are actually in the car, you can proceed to wonder how on Earth to get out of the car without help. Not that I have anything against MGs...

Fea

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Ooooh, I just love stereotypes. Just to make sure that my own land is not left out I present the following questionnaire:

Are You an Honourary Canadian?

Are you neat?

Are you always scrupulously polite, to the point of not saying things you want to say, for fear of being rude?

If somebody asks you politely to get out of the pool, do you get out?

Do you wait in lines patiently, or impatiently but pretending to be patient?

Do you have coffee and donuts for breakfast at least once a week?

Do you watch hockey?

Do you feel ambivalent about Americans? That is, you like having them come to your country and spend their money, you like going to their country and buying their cheap gas, but you don't like meeting them in other countries?

Do you own a heavy winter coat of any variety (not necessarily a parka)?

Do you consider a five hour drive between cities the norm?

Do you spell the following words thusly: honour, colour, centre?

Does Z rhyme with "head"?

Do you think Thanksgiving is in October?

Do you drink beer?

A lot of beer?

Does your beer have more than %5.0 alcohol content?

Do you have more than one official language?

Has your country never lost a war?

And finally. . .

Have you ever been on a canoe trip longer than one day?



If you answer "yes" to 10 or more of these questions then congratulations, you are an Honourary Canadian. Go to the nearest Canadian embassy and claim your maple leaf toque!

[Bêthberry]

Ah, Fordim, I see you have left off the best defining canoe joke. Just as well I guess. Save that one not for the Honourary Canucks but for the real MacPap.

[The Saucepan Man]

Hmm, it would appear that I am an Honourary Canadian as well as a Stereotypical Englishman.

Then again, most of those apply to the British at least as much as they do to Canadians, or in some cases apply to Canadians precisely because they apply to the British. (Obviously, I'm excluding the hockey, Thanksgiving, five hour drive and canoe ones. They're just wierd. )

I suspect, however, that there may be a significant difference between the stereotypical French-Canadian and the stereotypical British-Canadian.

[the phantom]

got up early to lay their towels on the sunbeds

Somebody want to explain the whole sunbed thing?

I can too draw!

I don't know if I should believe you. Draw something, scan it, and let us see it. Then I'll give you my final verdict.

And since that's the only thing you protested I guess the rest must've been right.

I'm from Baden-Würtemberg, do you know where this is?

But of course. Right next door to those stereotypical Bavarians.

And Fordy, I answered "yes" to six of the questions (and "half-yes" to two, for a total of seven). Do I get anything for that?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Ah, Fordim, I see you have left off the best defining canoe joke. Just as well I guess.

I did think about it, but the B-W wouldn't be able to reprimand me fast enough should I have dared. . . 'nuff said.

Saucy, delighted you qualify for Canadian citizenship. I rather suspected that you might. As to the French/English question, I believe that it is equally applicable to anglos (such as myself) and my francophonie brethren. Any quebecois(e) on the site can correct me.

As to those of you who scored just below the required 10 -- well, I'm sorry, but you are just not Canadian enough. You can be from the Netherlands though!