[kEiThZ]

I find it bewildering because I don't really think the people in Vancouver and Toronto are all that different. Big city residents tend to have more in common with each other than with their home regions. I am fairly sure that to a resident of Barrie, Torontonians and Vancouverites are equally cold.

Personally, the only place in Canada, I have been to where I have actually noticed the friendliness of the locals is the Maritimes. Everywhere else, it would seem to me that the regular Canadian civility is the norm.

On a side note, I often wonder if non-Torontonians consider Toronto foreign to them in at least some part because of our diversity. I certainly get that sense sometimes when I talk to people who bitch about Toronto. Quite often, they'll go on and on about how they find it hard to get around, too crowded and "not like they remember" when they were kids visiting TO.

 

[urbandreamer]

^Other than the Main St/Mount Pleasant area (aka Toronto-lite), Vancouver feels quite different than Toronto. Arguably, Vancouverites have more in common with Barrie folk than Toronto folk. They're friendlier and more relaxed in both Barrie and Vancouver, and both communities sort of feel like waterfront resorts. Toronto has this grim, perhaps cold, overlay that is distinctly lacking out west. It's possible it has to do with the vast ethnic ghettos throughout the GTA, as opposed to the triad of neighbourhoods in the GVA.

In Toronto, I have an idea that may warm ppl up: "Please Keep your eyes off the sidewalk" imprinted in city sidewalks....

 

[gristle]

^Other than the Main St/Mount Pleasant area (aka Toronto-lite), Vancouver feels quite different than Toronto. Arguably, Vancouverites have more in common with Barrie folk than Toronto folk. They're friendlier and more relaxed in both Barrie and Vancouver, and both communities sort of feel like waterfront resorts. Toronto has this grim, perhaps cold, overlay that is distinctly lacking out west. It's possible it has to do with the vast ethnic ghettos throughout the GTA, as opposed to the triad of neighbourhoods in the GVA.

In Toronto, I have an idea that may warm ppl up: "Please Keep your eyes off the sidewalk" imprinted in city sidewalks....

Can we get over these kinds of generalizations? The people of this city are hardly a homogeneous bunch.

When Coors finally figures out how to make beer, I'll start laughing at their ad copy.

 

[TrickyRicky]

While perhaps an interesting story to share some banter over here on the forum, I can't believe anyone would take this in the least bit serious. The facts are clear, this was a highly successful targeted media stunt by a Toronto Ad agency.

Urbandreamer, I don't know about you but I look everyone I pass on the street directly in the eye. Especially if they are female and hot! The funniest thing is sometimes you pass a couple, look directly in their eyes and this is the outcome: Look at the man, he avoids your gaze instantly. Look at the woman, she holds your gaze with an air of desperation!

 

[urbanboom]

. It's possible it has to do with the vast ethnic ghettos throughout the GTA, as opposed to the triad of neighbourhoods in the GVA.

In Toronto, I have an idea that may warm ppl up: "Please Keep your eyes off the sidewalk" imprinted in city sidewalks....

I didn't realize that the word "ghetto" had replaced the word "neighbourhood" in Toronto. Well, I'm off to jog in the millionaire's ghetto...er.... I mean Rosedale.

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

I didn't realize that the word "ghetto" had replaced the word "neighbourhood" in Toronto. Well, I'm off to jog in the millionaire's ghetto...er.... I mean Rosedale.

damn elitists! think you're so damn special because you can stand upright!

 

[Mystic Point]

I don't know anyone in Toronto who gave a rat's ass about this ad.

It's states the obvious. We know people in Toronto are cold. We live in Toronto. It's not a friendly place. It's a fucking disaster. It's filthy, congested, shabby, has no civic pride and half the people here don't even speak English.

People from other places should try and live here and see how long they can maintain a friendly disposition. By 11 AM, 80% of the population are so angry at each other they're ready to kill.

To outsiders, the ad is probably very amusing. But here in the city, it means nothing.

It's like telling us the sky is blue.

 

[AKS]

umm...wow someone is cranky. I grew up in Toronto but I think I'm an easy going friendly person. I've met people who are friendly as well. Let's not generalize.

 

[Tewder]

People in Toronto are cold, for the most part, but then again so are Canadians in general. By and large the people serving in restaurants, stores and even hotels are ambivalent and often worse. It's a shame but it's part of our culture and the attitude of entitlement that prevails in our over-taxed socialist nanny state.

 

[Mystic Point]

In this over taxed Nanny State, public schools teach children it's debasing to work in a service industry. Which I think explains the low level of service all around. The children of Toronto are taught service is beneath them.

But as awful as it is here, wait until you visit Nova Scotia.

 

[Mystic Point]

But I digress. This thread was about the Budwieser billboards and Torontonians being cold. And it's true. So big fucking deal. You want warm and fuzzy go elsewhere. You want mean, come here.

 

[lordmandeep]

Well I must admit I went to Quebec City once and it felt like a another World compared to the rest of Canada.

 

[Mystic Point]

What happened in Quebec City? Was the service outstanding?

 

[Roy G Biv]

People in Toronto are cold, for the most part, but then again so are Canadians in general. By and large the people serving in restaurants, stores and even hotels are ambivalent and often worse. It's a shame but it's part of our culture and the attitude of entitlement that prevails in our over-taxed socialist nanny state.

I find the exact opposite. The reason we lag behind in the industry is due to an almost overly-comfortable approach to customer service. The Asians and Europeans seem to approach customer service more professionally and efficiently. North Americans tend to forget that they represent their employer.

Your last point is odd. Calling Canada an "over-taxed socialist nanny state" is complete hyperbole, relative to the social nets of other industrial Western countries. You argue that a nanny state (again, which we are not) spawns a society that expects everything, and is responsible for nothing. I could just as easily hypothesize that the nature of a nanny state instills the virtues of compassion and altruism. Finally, I don't see how an entitled society is a cold one. Instead, I imagine the scenerio where no one will pass the mashed potatoes around the table at the bi-monthly Libretarian dinner party...amid cries of "Do it yourself!".

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

Finally, I don't see how an entitled society is a cold one. Instead, I imagine the scenerio where no one will pass the mashed potatoes around the table at the bi-monthly Libretarian dinner party...amid cries of "Do it yourself!".

LOL!‡


‡royalties for using english language paid to her majesty queen elizabeth II. no free rides.