WIP Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 I have never been a hockey fan, or a fan of any sport for that matter. Recently, I was told I am a "poor Canadian" because I don't watch hockey. A poor Canadian? Let's see: I have voted in every election since I was 18 (that's 40 years now). I have been politically active. I have volunteered with youth for 21 years. I do a lot of other volunteer work as well. I fly the Canadian flag on my home all the time. I am a "poor Canadian"? Some armchair athletes think that becuase I don't watch a game that determines how good a Canadian I am? Shake your heads. I am a better Canadian than many of them. I used to be a hockey fan...but I've totally lost interest since the late 80's/early 90's.....I just never watch the games anymore, and glance at the scores around playoff time so I can pretend that I'm paying attention. Maybe it was too many teams; too much bump and grind/ neutral zone trap-style of hockey...or just plain too much dirty playing....there seems to have been a tradeoff over the years, as players are now wearing plastic suits of armor and face stiffer penalties for fighting, there seems to have been an increase in the cross-checking, spearing, slashing etc.. I'm glad I'm not the only one who flips the channel for something else to watch when a game is on! Quote Anybody who believers exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist. -- Kenneth Boulding, 1973
Shwa Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 Nope. I am no armchair (or stadium seat) athlete. That's interesting, to each their own. Hockey and a few other sports or athletes in Canada provide an outlet for the expression of the Canadian spirit which is firmly entrenched in our culture. It is unavoidable even though often misplaced as an indication of overall Canadian-ness. So I can understand your distaste at the comment. Do you watch the news? Quote
kimmy Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 When I watch a Canucks home game and see all the brown faces cheering the Canucks, to me that's the benefit of something like hockey. It's meaningless, it has nothing to do with what our country really stands for... but it's something for everybody to rally around. A common cause, a shared experience, something that transcends differences. I think there's some value in that. -k Quote (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
Jack Weber Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 (edited) I like FOOTBALL!!!!! Kiddo has his 2nd spring and summer football tryout this Sunday!!! Hockey?? Do they still play that??? Edited February 23, 2011 by Jack Weber Quote The beatings will continue until morale improves!!!
scouterjim Posted February 23, 2011 Author Report Posted February 23, 2011 That's interesting, to each their own. Hockey and a few other sports or athletes in Canada provide an outlet for the expression of the Canadian spirit which is firmly entrenched in our culture. It is unavoidable even though often misplaced as an indication of overall Canadian-ness. So I can understand your distaste at the comment. Do you watch the news? Everything except the sports. Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
scouterjim Posted February 23, 2011 Author Report Posted February 23, 2011 (edited) Nope. I am no armchair (or stadium seat) athlete. Just not interested. Edited February 23, 2011 by scouterjim Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
Black Dog Posted February 24, 2011 Report Posted February 24, 2011 This is the result of a national identity built around what August1991 refers to as "kitsch". We're a country with no common ancestry, no common culture, increasingly little common history... and in an effort to invent some sort of national identity in the absence of these things, people grasp at meaningless symbols-- kitsch. Canadians love hockey, maple syrup, donuts, coffee, toques, flannel, Cape Breton fiddle music, bad sketch comedy, and public broadcasting. That's Canada! That's kitsch. -k Yes, if only we were more like the mother country with its non-kitschy signifiers of national identity like football, tea, fish'n'chips, the Queen, bowler hats, stiff upper lips, bad sketch comedy and public broadcasting. Or our neighbours to the south with their baseball, Ford trucks, apple pies, bald eagles, jazz music, McDonald's, bad situation comedy and guns. The implication that "kitschy" or popular symbols of national identity are illegitimate is demonstrably wrong. When I watch a Canucks home game and see all the brown faces cheering the Canucks, to me that's the benefit of something like hockey. It's meaningless, it has nothing to do with what our country really stands for... but it's something for everybody to rally around. A common cause, a shared experience, something that transcends differences. I think there's some value in that. -k What do you mean by "it has nothing to do with what our country really stands for"? I don't think anyone pretends that it is anything but "a common cause, a shared experience, something that transcends differences." Therein lies its value. Quote
scouterjim Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Posted February 24, 2011 Yes, if only we were more like the mother country with its non-kitschy signifiers of national identity like football, tea, fish'n'chips, the Queen, bowler hats, stiff upper lips, bad sketch comedy and public broadcasting. Or our neighbours to the south with their baseball, Ford trucks, apple pies, bald eagles, jazz music, McDonald's, bad situation comedy and guns. The implication that "kitschy" or popular symbols of national identity are illegitimate is demonstrably wrong. What do you mean by "it has nothing to do with what our country really stands for"? I don't think anyone pretends that it is anything but "a common cause, a shared experience, something that transcends differences." Therein lies its value. Well, I guess I am a "poor Canadian" since I am bored stiff by the game. Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
Black Dog Posted February 24, 2011 Report Posted February 24, 2011 Well, I guess I am a "poor Canadian" since I am bored stiff by the game. How you got that from all that you quoted is beyond me. Quote
scouterjim Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Posted February 24, 2011 How you got that from all that you quoted is beyond me. that whole "common cause" thing. Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
Black Dog Posted February 24, 2011 Report Posted February 24, 2011 that whole "common cause" thing. It's not compulsory. Quote
scouterjim Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Posted February 24, 2011 It's not compulsory. It seems to be, according to some. Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
Shwa Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) It seems to be, according to some. According to some yes. But no different than the arm-chair generals, the arm-chair politicians, the arm-chair journalists, arm-chair historians and any other person who observes and comments on events of one kind or another. Hockey is just another series of events to follow, like other sports, news, television programming, film or whatnot. Heck some would even suggest comic books and their portrayal of events. Criticise our requirement for sending our young men and women to their deaths in Afghanistan and see how the arm-chair generals question your Canadian-ness. Etc. Edited February 25, 2011 by Shwa Quote
Smallc Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 Yes, if only we were more like the mother country with its non-kitschy signifiers of national identity like football, tea, fish'n'chips, the Queen, bowler hats, stiff upper lips, bad sketch comedy and public broadcasting. Or our neighbours to the south with their baseball, Ford trucks, apple pies, bald eagles, jazz music, McDonald's, bad situation comedy and guns. The implication that "kitschy" or popular symbols of national identity are illegitimate is demonstrably wrong. What do you mean by "it has nothing to do with what our country really stands for"? I don't think anyone pretends that it is anything but "a common cause, a shared experience, something that transcends differences." Therein lies its value. Very, very nicely put. The idea that symbols and shared experiences are ludicrous are meaningless. The idea that Canada has to make anything up in order to have an identity is also ludicrous. This country has a unique identity, just like every other country in the world. People trying to criticize their own symbols aren't going to take away from that. Quote
jefferiah Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) I have never been a hockey fan, or a fan of any sport for that matter. Recently, I was told I am a "poor Canadian" because I don't watch hockey. A poor Canadian? I don't know the details of the situation you are relating here. But if somebody said something like that to me, I wouldn't take it very seriously. I happen to be a hockey fan, though. To me it seems reasonable that someone could jokingly say "What kind of Canadian are you, you dont like hockey?" Edited February 25, 2011 by jefferiah Quote "Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it." Lao Tzu
scouterjim Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Posted February 25, 2011 I don't know the details of the situation you are relating here. But if somebody said something like that to me, I wouldn't take it very seriously. I happen to be a hockey fan, though. To me it seems reasonable that someone could jokingly say "What kind of Canadian are you, you dont like hockey?" It was said seriously. He said,"You don't like hockey? You must be a poor Canadian to not like hockey! All true Canadians like hockey." Well, I am a great Canadian, but I don't care for hockey. Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
Black Dog Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 It was said seriously. He said,"You don't like hockey? You must be a poor Canadian to not like hockey! All true Canadians like hockey." Well, I am a great Canadian, but I don't care for hockey. Cool story bro. Quote
Jack Weber Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 It was said seriously. He said,"You don't like hockey? You must be a poor Canadian to not like hockey! All true Canadians like hockey." Well, I am a great Canadian, but I don't care for hockey. I can say with certainty that I have had to deal with this attitude more than a few times... These are usually simpletons that require extreme public shaming... And I'm just the guy to do it!!! Quote The beatings will continue until morale improves!!!
scouterjim Posted February 25, 2011 Author Report Posted February 25, 2011 I can say with certainty that I have had to deal with this attitude more than a few times... These are usually simpletons that require extreme public shaming... And I'm just the guy to do it!!! Bravo! Quote I have captured the rare duct taped platypus.
August1991 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Posted February 27, 2011 (edited) This is the result of a national identity built around what August1991 refers to as "kitsch".Surely Canada is more than kitsch. At least, we're "rocks, trees and endless sky."I have never been a hockey fan, or a fan of any sport for that matter. Recently, I was told I am a "poor Canadian" because I don't watch hockey.I stopped watching hockey when I saw the 1972 Russia-Canada Series on a DVD. But I'm old.---- I sometimes skate on frozen ice with young kids, who shout to me - an incompetent, "Passe-moi la donc." No joking. Edited February 27, 2011 by August1991 Quote
The_Squid Posted March 2, 2011 Report Posted March 2, 2011 Recently, I was told I am a "poor Canadian" because I don't watch hockey. A poor Canadian? Let's see: I have voted in every election since I was 18 (that's 40 years now). I have been politically active. I have volunteered with youth for 21 years. I do a lot of other volunteer work as well. I fly the Canadian flag on my home all the time. blah blah... vote.... blah blah... volunteer.... Don't like hockey? Not a real Canadian. Quote
Black Dog Posted March 2, 2011 Report Posted March 2, 2011 I fuckin' hate hockey. But you would too if you were an Oilers fan. Quote
kimmy Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 I fuckin' hate hockey. But you would too if you were an Oilers fan. I know exactly how you feel. But at least we had 2006... -k Quote (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
M.Dancer Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 I know exactly how you feel. But at least we had 2006... -k I know how you feel, I am a devotee of Les Glorieux. But at least we had (1915–16, 1923–24, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1992–93) Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
kimmy Posted March 3, 2011 Report Posted March 3, 2011 I know how you feel, I am a devotee of Les Glorieux. But at least we had (1915–16, 1923–24, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1992–93) I'm betting you remember most of those. I vaguely remember the Oilers' wins in 1988 and 1990, although I was very young at the time and it didn't really have much significance. 2006 was especially exciting for me, because I was dishing out drinks in a Whyte Ave pub at the time. -k Quote (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
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