Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity - Page 671

Acajack · #**13401** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 5:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

Nice backpedal.

Go back to the "tape" and check!

Acajack · #**13402** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nashe

I'm not convinced it (Anglo-Saxon) is really MEANT as a slur, but man, is it ever a weird, meaningless term to use, especially for a "hip" society like France.

Maybe it isn't as "hip" as I thought it is? Hmmm... maybe I should stop saying "hip" cuz that is also anachronistic. Groove on.

Fairly recently, one of my kids was in a relationship with a French exchange student for about a year.

Totally unrelated to this forum, but one time we were walking down Ste-Catherine in Montreal near McGill and Concordia, and in reaction to all of the people speaking English on the street, literally said: "You know, it's surprising how many Anglo-Saxons there are in Montreal. It's not something I would have expected at all."

And this was a well-travelled bright person just over 20 years old.

So it's not just New Brisavoine.

Acajack · #**13403** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

At least four people on this thread have the impression that when NB uses the term "Anglo Saxon", he is knowingly using it in a derisive manner.

Why is there such pushback?

Assuming that that's true... who cares? Is the minor detail really that important to the discussion?

People make snide (or worse) comments about people all the time on here.

MolsonExport · #**13404** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:16 PM**

We care, otherwise we wouldn't raise the issue.

Are you the arbiter of what people should find offensive?

harls · #**13405** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Fairly recently, one of my kids was in a relationship with a French exchange student for about a year.

Totally unrelated to this forum, but one time we were walking down Ste-Catherine in Montreal near McGill and Concordia, and in reaction to all of the people speaking English on the street, literally said: "You know, it's surprising how many Anglo-Saxons there are in Montreal. It's not something I would have expected at all."

And this was a well-travelled bright person just over 20 years old.

So it's not just New Brisavoine.

Cool story, Acajack.

Acajack · #**13406** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

Cool story, Acajack.

Yes, I just made that up. Just like I make up every single thing I post on here. You got me.

New Brisavoine · #**13407** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Câlisse.

Ireland is not an Anglo Saxon country, neither is Canada, or the US, or even the UK for that matter.

The Anglo Saxons existed during the Middle Ages.

Like honestly, lol

That's your opinion and you happily share it with yourself, but that's not how the Europeans view it. You may choose to ignore the outside world, but then don't feel surprised if you don't understand the Europeans.

Acajack · #**13408** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

We care, otherwise we wouldn't raise the issue.

Are you the arbiter of what people should find offensive?

Cool. Then can I change my position and now say that I am truly offended by being called "French", especially since it's a name for us from centuries ago that derisively diminishes the legitimacy of my presence here in Canada, as if I actually belong in another country far across the ocean as opposed to here in Canada?

There you go. Happy now?

niwell · #**13409** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:22 PM**

If anyone has started watching the latest season of White Lotus this actually comes up - a Quebecois character takes offence at being referred to as "French". She clarifies that she's from Quebec and hence Canadian.

New Brisavoine · #**13410** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Would this be a good time to mention that the island of Ireland is one of the "British" Isles?

Exactly. Not to mention the "Orangemen" of Northern Ireland, which much puzzle the Dutch...

Acajack · #**13411** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by niwell

If anyone has started watching the latest season of White Lotus this actually comes up - a Quebecois character takes offence at being referred to as "French". She clarifies that she's from Quebec and hence Canadian.

Cool story, Niwell. Never happened.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**13412** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

That's your opinion and you happily share it with yourself, but that's not how the Europeans view it. You may choose to ignore the outside world, but then don't feel surprised if you don't understand the Europeans.

I implore you to take a trip to Ireland, call them Anglo Saxons, and get back to us.

It’s not my opinion, or bias… it’s historical fact. The Anglo Saxons existed during the Middle Ages. If you want to use whacky terms, go ahead, but it’s an incredibly ignorant look on you.

This isn’t a hill worth dying on…

Curmudgeon · #**13413** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

Exactly. Not to mention the "Orangemen" of Northern Ireland, which much puzzle the Dutch...

It shouldn't puzzle them. After all the Orangemen are named for William of Orange, from the Netherlands, who became William III after the Glorious Revolution. Hey, that's a great term to adopt after the next federal election!

New Brisavoine · #**13414** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I implore you to take a trip to Ireland, call them Anglo Saxons, and get back to us.

It’s not my opinion, or bias… it’s historical fact. The Anglo Saxons existed during the Middle Ages. If you want to use whacky terms, go ahead, but it’s an incredibly ignorant look on you.

This isn’t a hill worth dying on…

It's not about ME. But I don't think you're interested in an honest conversation anyway. So the end for me on this theme. You choose to believe whatever you want to believe, but 500 million Europeans will continue to use the vocabulary they are used to, whether you like it or not.

EnvisionSaintJohn · #**13415** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Brisavoine

It's not about ME. But I don't think you're interested in an honest conversation anyway. So the end for me on this theme. You choose to believe whatever you want to believe, but 500 million Europeans will continue to use the vocabulary they are used to, whether you like it or not.

Prochaine.

New Brisavoine · #**13416** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

It shouldn't puzzle them. After all the Orangemen are named for William of Orange, from the Netherlands, who became William III after the Glorious Revolution. Hey, that's a great term to adopt after the next federal election!

Orange is a French city anyway.

So in this case I call both the Dutch and the Irish Protestants thieves.

harls · #**13417** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Cool story, Niwell. Never happened.

You used to be affable, Acajack. What happened?

Acajack · #**13418** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harls

You used to be affable, Acajack. What happened?

I was joking. Wrong emoji I guess.

EDIT: And you're the one who was implying I was lying with my story about Ste-Catherine. Is subtly calling people lying what passes for "affable", now?

Truenorth00 · #**13419** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

At least four people on this thread have the impression that when NB uses the term "Anglo Saxon", he is knowingly using it in a derisive manner.

Why is there such pushback?

They need to protect the foreign troll. They get satisfaction out of him pissing everyone else off.

P'tit Renard · #**13420** Posted **Feb 28, 2025, 6:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

On the other hand, when NB uses "Anglo-Saxon", I'm fairly sure there is a hidden slur implied. It's kinda like if you call a Pakistani person "Paki", I'm fairly sure you're not just strictly referring to their ethnicity. I would think with all the high snob language discussions in this thread, most would be intelligent enough to understand implied and inferred meanings.

I doubt there's connotation of a slur, but I do sense NB has a strange infatuation for Anglosphere culture, almost the same way that Canadians obsess about America (the good and the bad). The way he hangs word for word about what the Financial Times and British press have to say is interesting to say the least. Canadians don't even think about the Brits that much.

Afterall, unlike most French citizens, NB has lived in America, UK and is fluent in English, so in practice he's an Anglophile amongst the French.