I've lived in British Columbia all my life and I believe it is a wonderful place to live. But the best place on earth? Really? According to who? Us? And by us I mean British Columbians who had something to do with the idea to put up that sign (and the campaign that goes with it) and by association the rest of us British Columbians who didn't have that idea. It seems more than a tad absurd, naive, or at worst conceited. Although stupid comes to mind as well.
I have not traveled all that much in my life, but I've seen some nice places. Oregon seems great, Cape Cod was pretty cool, and Yellowstone Park seems like a pretty special place. Where do we get off saying we live in the Best Place on Earth? Even if it is true, it's pretty rude to go telling everyone. Am I right? I say bring back "Beautiful British Columbia" or "Supernatural British Columbia", or come up with something new like "A Great Place on Earth", but it is time to put this current slogan on the shelf.
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It's a failed sales pitch. It's no better than the restaurant that advertises that it serves the world's best fries. The best places don't have to brag; qualityf speaks for itself.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you all the way on this one, Jack.
I totally agree with you too, colleague. Cheers, xelA.
ReplyDeleteWhat an embarrassment. It sounds like a combination of Disneyland's and Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus's slogans.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem mainly lies in the innate boastfulness and presumptuousness. It's just not in our Canadian nature. There used to be a vegetarian restaurant in Toronto's Kensington Market called the "OK Health". I loved that. It didn't aim too high; it didn't offer false promises. "Mediocre health can be yours if you eat here!"
Underachieving is underrated.
Too much agreement here. The best places don't have to brag, sure, but that doesn't mean they can't or they shouldn't. And it doesn't mean they're not the best if they do brag. Others can disagree that BC is the best place on earth. That's fine. And we can laugh at them and look down at them for thinking their place is better.
ReplyDeleteGuy MacPherson, The Best Curmudgeon on Earth.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious problem is how does one define "Best?" Let's see the criteria. Let's compare it to other places on the planet. Enough of the silly sales pitches; gimme some stats/facts, dammit.
ReplyDeleteI still don't like it. It's too much pressure for us British Columbians. To do my part, I feel like I'd always have to be super-polite to tourists--no matter how inane their question--and be an ambassador for my province when I'm travelling. Forget that! I've always said that the #2 position is much better (and easier) than the #1 position.
ReplyDeleteA statement like "The best curmudgeon in the World" cannot be made anoynmously! It's great, take ownership of it! Cheers, xelA.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, what are we the best at? Or what attributes of the geography make us the best?
ReplyDeleteGimme some ammo, you proud BCers!
Uh, I'm the one being positive here. How is that curmudgeonly, Sue? Er, I mean, Anonymous. All these people putting down a fine slogan engineered by the best minds in the best place on earth, and I'm a curmudgeon? Maybe in Bizarro world.
ReplyDeleteGuy MacPherson, The Most Sarcastic Person in the Room.
ReplyDelete... on Earth!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the slogan is "un-Canadian" and boastfull. But having spent quite a bit of time in government offices I know that that this slogan and campain likely employed more than 100 people for many months and trickled tens of thousands of dollars (or more) to companies who contributed to the political party of the day.
ReplyDeleteIn an effort to prop up the BC economy, our fine government should appoint a committee to continue to work on improving the slogan and keep spending money on this marketing campain.