Although this thread does not function under the same strict guidelines as the USPMT, it is still a general practice on TL to provide a source with an explanation on why it is relevant and what purpose it adds to the discussion. Failure to do so will result in a mod action.
Canada can not attract young, talented, ambitious, hard working immigrants when the economic opportunities do not exist. Canada can attract scum though.
I'd like to address an issue that a rather ill informed poster in the USA Poli thread made about Iranians living in Canada. He expressed some form of disbelief it was possible for me to have an Iranian friend. Let's have ChatGPT take over from here. PROMPT
between 1995 and 2011 if i lived in Mississuaga, Waterloo and worked in Markham and worked near the gay village in Toronto what is the chance i'd meet an iranian? i worked crappy retail jobs then moved up to making database software apps in xBase and then in C#.
ChatGPT Response. If you lived that lifestyle from 1995 to 2011, I'd say the chance you met at least one Iranian is extremely high—well over 95%, and quite possibly over 99%.
Mississauga already had a growing Iranian community by the late 1990s and 2000s. Markham became a major hub for technology companies, engineering firms, and skilled immigrants, including many Iranians working in technical professions. The area around Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village is in downtown Toronto, where people from across the GTA regularly work, socialize, and attend events. It's not specifically associated with the Iranian community, but it greatly increases the number and diversity of people you'd encounter.
Also consider the time span:
15 years is a long time. You'd likely interact with hundreds or even thousands of coworkers, clients, cashiers, restaurant staff, neighbours, service providers, and other people. Even if Iranians made up only a small percentage of the people you encountered, over that many years the probability of never meeting one becomes extremely small.
One caveat is the word "meet." If you mean:
Had at least one conversation or workplace interaction: I'd estimate well above 95%. Became friends or knew someone well: The probability is lower because friendships depend on many personal factors, but it's still quite plausible over 15 years.
So given the combination of living in Mississauga, working in Markham, and spending time in downtown Toronto during that period, it would have been unusual—not impossible, but unusual—to go those 15 years without ever interacting with an Iranian.
Just west of Toronto's gay village at Yonge and Wellesley you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Iranian restaurant. It is google verifiable. I'm sure the MODs on TL can verify i've made 100s if not thousands of posts from that area both on my smart phone and over a Rogers land line IP address. As we all know Net Effect Internet Cafe, the best SC PC Bang in Canada ever, was right beside the Gay Village.
Anyhow, shout out to all of the 100,000+ Iranians in the Greater Toronto Area and Happy Canada Day to them all! Don't worry about some guy living in rural Alberta who has no clue you exist.
On July 03 2026 22:21 KwarK wrote: It's not the Iranian part that is so unbelievable, it's the friend part.
Bit harsh lad
I mainly play video games while others are with me. If you've read my posts you'll know I hang out at FreePlay. During my SC years it was PCBangs. My wife and I play Borderlands and other games together.
I guess for someone who games alone in their room that way of social gaming might seem strange...
These days, I prefer to play games standing up and moving. Sitting down staring into a glowing cube sitting 60cm from your face is unhealthy.
On July 03 2026 22:21 KwarK wrote: It's not the Iranian part that is so unbelievable, it's the friend part.
Keyamoon and I have been hanging out since Red Alert 3 on GR.org in 2009. We ran the ConquerCup and CraftCup together. It is documented. Are you a computer science/software engineering/math nerd?
Because if you do not love those things you probably can't wrap your head around how friendships form around those subjects.
Whatever that guys name is... It is 100% clear who knows almost nothing about math and computer science and the sociology around those who love those subjects. So the guy is close minded. Meh.
That is why you'll see such a motley crew of people who are pals at the University of Waterloo. So many of them love coding. And, if you do not understand it... That is ok. But do not try to pretend it does not exist.
On July 03 2026 22:21 KwarK wrote: It's not the Iranian part that is so unbelievable, it's the friend part.
Bit harsh lad
Truth can be harsh. JJR seems to think it’s believable that he has a friend, she is an Iranian who works for US naval intelligence and therefore can not be available to come on and talk to someone. But simultaneously shows up to agree with JJRs craziest hot takes just moments after he posts. Then after a thread was created to discuss how wild that is and JjR talks to the big bosses of TL, magically disappears to never post again.
And this after his super great fastball, career criminal youth spanning multiple felonies, amazing sales career, so and so forth.
And all that is just silly, but the problem is he uses to sneak his awful, often hate filled takes. As if his obviously made up anecdote proves it.
On July 04 2026 00:17 Billyboy wrote: And all that is just silly, but the problem is he uses to sneak his awful, often hate filled takes. As if his obviously made up anecdote proves it.
Excuse me but actually ChatGPT confirmed his story.
On July 04 2026 00:17 Billyboy wrote: And all that is just silly, but the problem is he uses to sneak his awful, often hate filled takes. As if his obviously made up anecdote proves it.
Excuse me but actually ChatGPT confirmed his story.
Not to make this the JJR thread, but - JJR, have you been tested for whether or not you're on the spectrum? I don't ask from a place of hate, I'm just curious if that's something you'd even allow of yourself. If 10% of what you've said about yourself is true you've done okay for yourself in life and that's great... It's just you living (at least in these spaces) in a parallel universe with regards to social interactions, along with having all kinds of funky compulsive obsessions... it does make me wonder.
On July 04 2026 02:43 Fleetfeet wrote: Not to make this the JJR thread, but - JJR, have you been tested for whether or not you're on the spectrum? I don't ask from a place of hate, I'm just curious if that's something you'd even allow of yourself. If 10% of what you've said about yourself is true you've done okay for yourself in life and that's great... It's just you living (at least in these spaces) in a parallel universe with regards to social interactions, along with having all kinds of funky compulsive obsessions... it does make me wonder.
Obsessions? about what?
a lot of my "success" is blind luck or god given luck. i'm pretty lazy man. my success with encryption software and language compilers is primarily due to god given talent. i can't take credit for that. i will take credit for picking out a great wife.
Parallel universe? My opinions of Canada reflect the general public opinion of Canadians. 120,000 Canadians left in 2025. That is 50% higher than the rate that Canadians left from 1980 to 2015. 50% of those 120,000
It didn't take much of a genius to see Canada going into a decline. Any how, I hope Canada returns to its former glory.
I've ragged on and on about how Ontario and Toronto are no longer the economic hotbed of Canada. its sad man, it used to be so easy to find great work in Toronto. This isn't some hate-filled irrational perspective. Check the #s. It is sad man. I made great cash in Toronto as a teenager and young adult before the province went into the sewer.
Again though, that's all blind luck. I was very lucky to be born in Mississauga and have Hazel Mccallion, Mike Harris, and Jean Chretien as my leaders. 3 absolute geniuses. the great economy and great living environment made it easy for me to get cool software development work.
Have I done well? sure I have. most of it is luck.
On July 04 2026 00:17 Billyboy wrote: And this after his super great fastball, career criminal youth spanning multiple felonies, amazing sales career, so and so forth.
And all that is just silly, but the problem is he uses to sneak his awful, often hate filled takes. As if his obviously made up anecdote proves it.
my 80 MPH fastball is equal to the average college high school varsity pitcher in the USA. There are 16,600 high school varsity baseball teams in the USA. When i was at the pinnacle of my amazing baseball career i was probably somewhere between the 45,000th best and 60,000th best 18 year old pitcher in North America. I was not even the best pitcher on my team.
my baseball team was prolly in the 75th percentile. IOTW I played on the 12,000th best high school varsity team in NA.
I should clarify my previous statement about taking anyone over 6 feet tall and training them in a year to throw at 80MPH off of a mound. I meant any AMERICAN because it was in the US Politics thread. I did not make that clear. I am now. And you see Americans play baseball when they are children. I can't take someone who has never held a baseball and train them to throw off of a mound at 80 MPH in just 1 year.
The highest I've ever been measured is 85MPH. In 2005, there were tens of thousands of high school pitchers throwing harder than that.
On July 04 2026 02:43 Fleetfeet wrote: Not to make this the JJR thread, but - JJR, have you been tested for whether or not you're on the spectrum? I don't ask from a place of hate, I'm just curious if that's something you'd even allow of yourself. If 10% of what you've said about yourself is true you've done okay for yourself in life and that's great... It's just you living (at least in these spaces) in a parallel universe with regards to social interactions, along with having all kinds of funky compulsive obsessions... it does make me wonder.
120,000 Canadians left in 2025. That is 50% higher than the rate that Canadians left from 1980 to 2015. 50% of those 120,000
I don't want to interrupt you trying to humble brag about hurting women's cervix's and stuff (or whatever the rest of this post is) but that number includes permanent residents(so not Canadians).
Wow, 50% greater outflows, except you know we have something like x2-x4 the permanent resident inflows that we did from the 1980s to the early 2010s?
Can I ask if you think it's reasonable that we would have a substantial number of outflows given the greatly increased inflows experienced in the last 5-8 years?
Sorry I might be a little out of it, I constantly hit my head on door frames even though only 3 rooms (~8%) in my house have door frames that are at 6'6, the rest are 9' and above.
On July 04 2026 02:43 Fleetfeet wrote: Not to make this the JJR thread, but - JJR, have you been tested for whether or not you're on the spectrum? I don't ask from a place of hate, I'm just curious if that's something you'd even allow of yourself. If 10% of what you've said about yourself is true you've done okay for yourself in life and that's great... It's just you living (at least in these spaces) in a parallel universe with regards to social interactions, along with having all kinds of funky compulsive obsessions... it does make me wonder.
120,000 Canadians left in 2025. That is 50% higher than the rate that Canadians left from 1980 to 2015. 50% of those 120,000
Wow, 50% greater outflows, except you know we have something like x2-x4 the permanent resident inflows that we did from the 1980s to the early 2010s?
Can I ask if you think it's reasonable that we would have a substantial number of outflows given the greatly increased inflows experienced in the last 5-8 years?
Sorry I might be a little out of it, I constantly hit my head on door frames even though only 3 rooms (~8%) in my house have door frames that are at 6'6, the rest are 9' and above.
you can try to dance around this basic reality if you like...
For the first time in modern history Canada's population is declining. Canada's fasting growing city now has a declining population. Now, the question is, who is moving and why? It is young people in the prime of their career. They are moving for better work... elsewhere.
Canadian teenagers today experience a level of economic opportunity a mere fraction of what I experienced. Sad man... just sad.
Can I ask if you think it's reasonable that we would have a substantial number of outflows given the greatly increased inflows experienced in the last 5-8 years?
When you have a vibrant society you will just keep on growing and growing and growing... as Mississauga did for many decades. Because more and more and more solid jobs are available and people want a better life.... so they just keep piling in!
It's kind of funny to see Trump always bitching and whining about how "terrible" Canada is and how difficult they are to deal with.
Like, I don't even doubt it when he says that Canada is the most difficult country he has dealt with.
Trump's whole "Art of the Deal" is just having the benefit of being in some unearned position of strength and using that to bully the other guy until he gets what he wants. It's all zero sum with him where a mutually beneficial 'deal' is less important than one where he 'wins'. In the past, he was able to bully contractors and city workers as a developer and now he has been handed the weight of the world's largest economy to swing around as if it's something he has earned the right to wield.
But in Canada he has encountered a country that knows its strengths, doesn't abide a bully, and isn't scared of a fight. It's a pretty big part of the Canadian identity, imo.
To badly quote a great song: "You're too fuckin' nice? Yeah we got manners but fuckin' buddy'll still fight and fuckin' swear and fuckin' drink all night".
On August 26 2026 00:16 Flaccid wrote: It's kind of funny to see Trump always bitching and whining about how "terrible" Canada is and how difficult they are to deal with.
Like, I don't even doubt it when he says that Canada is the most difficult country he has dealt with.
Trump's whole "Art of the Deal" is just having the benefit of being in some unearned position of strength and using that to bully the other guy until he gets what he wants. It's all zero sum with him where a mutually beneficial 'deal' is less important than one where he 'wins'. In the past, he was able to bully contractors and city workers as a developer and now he has been handed the weight of the world's largest economy to swing around as if it's something he has earned the right to wield.
But in Canada he has encountered a country that knows its strengths, doesn't abide a bully, and isn't scared of a fight. It's a pretty big part of the Canadian identity, imo.
To badly quote a great song: "You're too fuckin' nice? Yeah we got manners but fuckin' buddy'll still fight and fuckin' swear and fuckin' drink all night".
You're not wrong, people misinterpret polite for push-over. Very big part of Canadian culture is being nice to a point, and going along to get along up until its not just about compromising or letting things that you don't find important slide just to avoid conflict.
We don't really like conflict. We don't seek it out. But if trouble comes, so be it. It frankly takes a lot to cross a line with most Canadians. But once its crossed, who boy.
The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”.
The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.
We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms.
Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.
Look, I don't care WHAT your political affiliation or opinion is of the PM right now, we can all agree that the line about "hydronyms" is high brow comedy at its finest.
The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”.
The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.
We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms.
Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.
Look, I don't care WHAT your political affiliation or opinion is of the PM right now, we can all agree that the line about "hydronyms" is high brow comedy at its finest.
EPT
![[image loading]](https://heise.cloudimg.io/v7/_www-heise-de_/imgs/18/5/1/5/5/7/2/5/Maps_Lake_Inline-e0111e45ed9eefee.png?force_format=avif%2Cwebp%2Cjpeg&org_if_sml=1&q=70&width=763)
