Pop Vs. Soda Debate

[Carlawarla 1]

and my waiting for Treble to ask a waitor for a refill on her soda, I am genuinel intrigued by the different terms in each areas of the world for items. I am even more enthralled by peoples rejection and refusal to conform to the cultural norm.

Why would I want to conform to the cultural norm when for over 20 years of my life, this was not my culture? It's like asking someone who is British to not say "bangers and mash" or not eat "beans on toast". That is not rejecting the cultural norm, that is just people's natural reactions to speech pathology and all they know.

For me, while it is the above it is also about the preservation of my culture and my heritage. I moved here and gave up everything, can't I at least keep my upbringing? Not to mention, I love our Canadianisms and they make me feel unique here in a melting pop of "sodas", "bathrooms" and people leaving their shoes on in my house.

I understand that because I have come under attack from people from other American dialect belts who do not say "Where is it at?", which is mostly a Chicagoland/Upper Great Lakes thing. In fact, it makes them very annoyed and almost angry to hear it. Until I read a raging, angry, knock down debate about this on another forum I am on, I never knew there was anything wrong with saying that and I'll be damned if I am going to quit. It is seriously not that big of a deal. People need to get over it.

That's funny. My husband and his family of course are all born and raised in Chicago. They always says things like "do you want to go with". The first few times I waited, thinking they were still going to add something to the sentence, but no, didn't happen.

[Reba 2]

The State of New Jersey and I think Washington (somewhere out west anyway) have a law that does not allow consumers to pump their own gas, the gas monkeys have to do it. Every other state is pretty much self - serve, and I kid you not, I had NEVER pumped my own gas before I moved down here. NEVER. And I'd been driving for well over 20 years I always lived and worked near to a full service station and figured I could afford the extra half a penny for someone else to pump it. The smell makes me nauseous even still :

One time I went to rent a car here in town and asked my hubby if he'd go fill it up for me before I left (was driving out to see a friend and he needed my truck to get to work). The lady behind the counter asked if I was from New Jersey, I said "Nope, Canada, I've never had to pump my own gas before " She thought it was rather a novel idea to have someone pump gas for you.

I have yet to find a full service station in this state. People keep telling me they're around here somewhere, but I can't find 'em.

[Sprailenes 47]

I have never seen a self serve gas pump in NJ. My mother in law doesn't even know how to pump her own gas.

When my husband lived with me in Canada, he just sat there at a self serve gas station once and I told him he had to pump it himself. So he gets out of the car and starts to walk into the gas station and I asked him what he was doing. He replied: "I am going in to tell them how much I want"

I just let him go. Of course he came out and looked really confused by the fact that they accept the honesty policy and you pump your gas and then go in and pay. But gas stations do get screwed in Canada more than you know, people pump and run a lot of the time.

[Carlawarla 1]

There is no full service stations here in St. Louis. I really miss them. Especially in the winter. I also like it when others check my oil and wash my windows. It's a very dirty job!

When we were in Saskatchewan last, during our "dating", Gene and I pulled into a FasGas. The guy came out, and I had to go inside, so I just said to Gene...tell him we want a fill. Gene stood by while the guy pumped the gas, checked the oil, and did the windows. Gene was so impressed! Then he went into his pant pocket and pulled out a toonie and gave the guy the money. Later, when he told me what he'd done, I said, a tip? lol Cute! He said, the guy looked at him REALLY weird! I guess he did!

I know that in Saskatchewan at least, it not only is nice to have someone else pump your gas and stuff, but it really provided job opportunities for those that were intellectually challenged. Quite a few stations hired these individuals, paid them minimum wage like anyone else, and really helped build a sense of dignity. I think there are many jobs that can be filled this way. Kudo's to those employers!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yes, not many full service gas stations around the DC area. I actually don't recall seeing any,but I sure they must exist??

I ALWAYS prefer to gas my own vehicle! hate driving in New Jersey (on way to RI) and have to stop for gas,and let them pump it. See some interesting customers working there!!

I pumped gas for a few yrs in Prince Albert SK. rarely got tips, maybe I was a bad gas pumper,lol. What i hated, and only happened a few times was someone say put $20 in, THEN when you goto collect the $$, they stated they only asked for $10!! So they got $10 in free gas!! cheap, lying %^%$%!

[trailmix 77]

Yes, not many full service gas stations around the DC area. I actually don't recall seeing any,but I sure they must exist??

I ALWAYS prefer to gas my own vehicle! hate driving in New Jersey (on way to RI) and have to stop for gas,and let them pump it. See some interesting customers working there!!

I pumped gas for a few yrs in Prince Albert SK. rarely got tips, maybe I was a bad gas pumper,lol. What i hated, and only happened a few times was someone say put $20 in, THEN when you goto collect the $$, they stated they only asked for $10!! So they got $10 in free gas!! cheap, lying %^%$%!

And you will be pumping gas again if you don't get studying

In Calgary 99% of places are self serve now.

[warlord 72]

Oregon and New Jersey are the two states that it is illegal to pump your own gas and must be done by a certified attendent. Forgot the reasoning behind that, but my old friend from NJ told me a long time ago why that was.

On the Ice Tea thing, yes I never drank it until I moved here, so I was only accustomed to the unsweatend tea, and would only buy that on my road trips all over. When in Canada I didn't realize they only had sweetend tea and I was surprised one time getting ice tea (not asking for sweet tea) and taking a monster gulp because I was so thirsty and then promptly spit it all out on the floor. Felt like I had just injested liquid sugar it was so strong and gross...

[OBX 51]

I was told that the law intended to protect the "small" gas station business.

I prefer to pump my own but only at stations that have "pay-at-the-pump" service. If I have to walk into the store to pay it defeats the convenience of self-serve for me.

BTW how does one become a " certified attendent"

Edited December 17, 2008 by OBX

[jundp 191]

So even if it's not Coke, some people call all pop, coke?

Yep. You say "I'd like a coke please" (little "c") and the server says "What kind?"

I've been in the north for 8 years now and I said "pop" the other day. Scared the beejezus out of me. I've become Yankeeized!

On the Ice Tea thing, yes I never drank it until I moved here, so I was only accustomed to the unsweatend tea, and would only buy that on my road trips all over. When in Canada I didn't realize they only had sweetend tea and I was surprised one time getting ice tea (not asking for sweet tea) and taking a monster gulp because I was so thirsty and then promptly spit it all out on the floor. Felt like I had just injested liquid sugar it was so strong and gross...

Hee hee. There's a difference between Iced Teac (non-sweetened) and Sweet Tea. Poor thing!

[Dr. Obvious 49]

That's funny. My husband and his family of course are all born and raised in Chicago. They always says things like "do you want to go with". The first few times I waited, thinking they were still going to add something to the sentence, but no, didn't happen.

I do say that too. That one is from the German influence on the language. I say it when I am fairly sure the person I am speaking to does know what is otherwise going on. If I didn't think they did, I would continue the sentence to make it more specific.

[DeadPoolX 9]

This is extremely fascinating. I have never seen anywhere in the U.S. that forces full services, but... I've never been to Oregon or New Jersey. I have been nearly everywhere else, so maybe that explains it. In Texas, most people prefer self-serve, but then again, it might just depend on the person. I've known some people who never pump their own gas, despite self-service being cheaper.

I know this isn't a "BC thing," I've seen some places here that only offer full service. I thought they were joking, but they weren't. Why would someone make a law -- in the U.S. or Canada -- that requires full service? It's not exactly rocket science.

[warlord 72]

This is extremely fascinating. I have never seen anywhere in the U.S. that forces full services, but... I've never been to Oregon or New Jersey. I have been nearly everywhere else, so maybe that explains it. In Texas, most people prefer self-serve, but then again, it might just depend on the person. I've known some people who never pump their own gas, despite self-service being cheaper.

I know this isn't a "BC thing," I've seen some places here that only offer full service. I thought they were joking, but they weren't. Why would someone make a law -- in the U.S. or Canada -- that requires full service? It's not exactly rocket science.

Just did some research on it and turns out NJ enacted it in 1949 and Oregon in 1951 for reasons of saftey and needing trained people handling flamable material. Also they stated it would save money because there would be less accidents. Both states have tried to over turn the laws saying they're out of date right now and how pumping gas is now safe compared to way back then. People with disabilities have voted against removing that as they claim everywhere else you never see full serve gas stations and it's all pump yourself which many feel they won't be able to do, so they want the laws to continue.

Now we all know. Interesting...

[OBX 51]

This is extremely fascinating. I have never seen anywhere in the U.S. that forces full services, but... I've never been to Oregon or New Jersey. I have been nearly everywhere else, so maybe that explains it. In Texas, most people prefer self-serve, but then again, it might just depend on the person. I've known some people who never pump their own gas, despite self-service being cheaper.

I know this isn't a "BC thing," I've seen some places here that only offer full service. I thought they were joking, but they weren't. Why would someone make a law -- in the U.S. or Canada -- that requires full service? It's not exactly rocket science.

Just did some research on it and turns out NJ enacted it in 1949 and Oregon in 1951 for reasons of saftey and needing trained people handling flamable material. Also they stated it would save money because there would be less accidents. Both states have tried to over turn the laws saying they're out of date right now and how pumping gas is now safe compared to way back then. People with disabilities have voted against removing that as they claim everywhere else you never see full serve gas stations and it's all pump yourself which many feel they won't be able to do, so they want the laws to continue.

Now we all know. Interesting...

Very interesting - thanks for the info.

Edited December 18, 2008 by OBX

[thetreble 19]

NOT BEING ABLE TO PUMP YOUR OWN GAS SUCKS!!

I find it a nightmare at times because gas attendants will continue to pump gas until they get an easy, even amount. (ie 20.00)

I have had those swindlers sometimes pump 3 dollars more because they could not pump an even amount! I find it irritating that I have often had to wait 10 minutes for someone to come over to me if the station is busy. I find it awful that on a number of occasions, we have asked someone to pump $15 dollars worth and they pump $20 and then say we said $20. These people, especially int he more urban areas of Jersey, are far from honest!

There is one particular gas station that my husband called the police on a few years ago because they kept pumping more then he had asked them to. They hardly spoke English.