You don't think people were being that nasty? Reread the first few comments. I've been reading Chud for years and the place is full of people who enjoy laughing at others' miseries.
When I cross over into Maine once a month, I go to a small town that is the same size as mine and has the same rural culture as mine. People are completely different. They are more ignorant and crude. They yell at each other in crowded stores. Once, I was in a checkout line and a woman who was right next to me started screaming at her kids when they were about 50 feet from her. She was literally yelling in my ear. Of course there are people in Canada and other countries who are like that, but unfortunately, when I go to the States I'd say it's the norm.
If you look at alot of the comments made by many of the people here who are Americans, and look at what some of the soldiers have been doing in Iraq, you'll notice a psycological similarity. Obviously your actions aren't similar, but there is a callousness that is common in your country.