NationStates Jolt Archive

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Beer!

According to one of my lecturers, ANZACs.

A diverse, vibrant, multicultural country. Unfortunately, partly due to Paul Hogan, Cronulla and a number of other things, I think most of the outside world view us as a land of backward bogans.

Beer!

According to one of my lecturers, ANZACs.

*is interested*

It's amazing that the identity our film industry (and other industries) choose to project is exactly what people see!

*takes notes* ;)

People who use really long knives to put a funny jelly on their toast while surfing on a CROCK!

*is interested*

It's amazing that the identity our film industry (and other industries) choose to project is exactly what people see!

*takes notes* ;)

On a serious note though, have you ever seen that Aussie film called Bliss?

I find it rather interesting that Australians have a long history of wondering what the rest of the world thinks of them. ;)

I seem to recall this creating a bit of a stir at one point:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/871/oznotboringtbdje3.jpg

Speaking as a Frenchman who's lived in Australia, I remember Australians as

1) being a remarkably diverse bunch;

2) being, on the whole, very friendly and helpful people;

3) having, in many cases, a definite anti-intellectual tinge which struck me as distinguishing Australia from France.

People who use really long knives to put a funny jelly on their toast

Oh, god. I've tasted one bite of Vegimite in my life, and that was more than enough.

Ironically, it was an Indonesian friend (in Australia) who persuaded me to try it.

*shudders*

On a serious note though, have you ever seen that Aussie film called Bliss?

No, actually. Linky?

People who use really long knives to put a funny jelly on their toast while surfing on a CROCK!

Vegemite is so good. I'm allergic so I have to have this shitty rip-off.

Edit: Oh, and it sort of has the consistancy of paste rather than jelly. It's a little bit more solid than peanut butter. It's quite hard to spread.

I find it rather interesting that Australians have a long history of wondering what the rest of the world thinks of them. ;)

I seem to recall this creating a bit of a stir at one point:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/871/oznotboringtbdje3.jpg

Speaking as a Frenchman who's lived in Australia, I remember Australians as

1) being a remarkably diverse bunch;

2) being, on the whole, very friendly and helpful people;

3) having, in many cases, a definite anti-intellectual tinge which struck me as distinguishing Australia from France.

Ugh, that's so true, and that annoys me.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

From the antipodes, kangaroos, khaki shorts and rugby. The Australian equivalent of "pizza mandolino moustachio".

Oh, and Ayer's Rock instead of the Tower of Pisa.

The worlds greatest accent.

And my nation! (http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z107/Kain1235/Untitled.jpg)

No, actually. Linky?

http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=101283

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

When I think of Australia, I think of the Sydney Opera House, the late Steve Irwin, Aborigines, and Ayer's Rock (or whatever it is). And the fact that you're all the spawn of a BUNCH OF STINKIN CRIMINALS FROM ENGLAND!! lol jk on that last one

Beer!

Yep. Beer and easy women. But that's only because I've visited a couple times.

I think the Platypus sums up Australians well in the fact that they both lay eggs and primarily inhabit the east coast

but really your just Englishmen with silly hats:)

I love the Aussies-and they love Americans! Nowhere have I been feted so well, nor treated as an equal so readily. Australia is the one place where the vision of the Founding Fathers has been realized so happily. I can only hope for their acceptance as States, as their input into Congress should stifle that entity's more restrictive activities. Among all the nations I have visited, none has welcomed me so whole-heartedly as Australia, and I have fonder memories of no other place.
BTW, there is no place more spiritual than Uluru, and may only pilgrims who respect it ever trod there.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/c/ce/300px-Allaussietitle.jpg

I worked with this Aussie bloke once, for a solid year. Him and his girl friend come to blighty for a years work so that they could take oodles of cash back home. A nice guy, but it was about 2 months before he asked me if I was takin' the piss when I called him mate!

Naa mate, I sed, that's how we talk over here, I'm not sure if he ever belived me.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/c/ce/300px-Allaussietitle.jpg

:p

LOL, I remember that show. (for those that don't know, it was a send-up of a traditional "bush whacker" show).

Crikey mate! All this earbashing when we could be chatting up the Sheila's and chucking some tucker on the barbie.

Bonza!

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqe7JhujLkA)

Well, I have to admit, my experiences of Australia are severely limited... I mean, for someone who lives here, you'd THINKI I'd have a better understanding than just metropolitan and suburban Melbourne... But whatever. What I've seen, is a bunch of usually fairly good people, who do anything to get out of work, with a few nutjobs that get blown completely out of proportion by the sensationalist commercial media... but most people I know realise this, and partake in the very available (mostly)un-biased media. Many of those nutjobs get elected to Parliament.

I take great pride in the accent too. Not the really nasal, bogan version, but just the general, everday Australian accent. I believe it encompasses everything about Australia. It is laid back, relatively slow, often replacing big words with made up words to save confusion (somehow that works, despite being so illogical :p). But its decipherable, not like some other versions of the accent (Yes, I'm looking at you Jamaica).

Clearly, I also am NOT an embodiment of Australia. That was too long winded.

I love the Aussies-and they love Americans! Nowhere have I been feted so well, nor treated as an equal so readily. Australia is the one place where the vision of the Founding Fathers has been realized so happily. I can only hope for their acceptance as States, as their input into Congress should stifle that entity's more restrictive activities. Among all the nations I have visited, none has welcomed me so whole-heartedly as Australia, and I have fonder memories of no other place.
BTW, there is no place more spiritual than Uluru, and may only pilgrims who respect it ever trod there.

Lolwut?

It is all an elaborate hoax, Australia does not exist.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

A bunch of crooks that were chucked out of England because England didn't want them. At least New Zealand was founded by socially progressive people that were willing to work hard to improve themselves and create a better society than what they left behind.

Of course, Australia is just in reality the West Island Region of New Zealand - we just let them have a high level of autonomy

A bunch of crooks that were chucked out of England because England didn't want them. At least New Zealand was founded by socially progressive people that were willing to work hard to improve themselves and create a better society than what they left behind.

Of course, Australia is just in reality the West Island Region of New Zealand - we just let them have a high level of autonomy

You know, that clause in the constitution allowing you to become the 7th State is still there... :p

You know, that clause in the constitution allowing you to become the 7th State is still there... :p

Yes, I know about that; but everything is backwards, you know that really it is about West Island being the seventh province of New Zealand (after Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago). :p

Uhh, Mad Max?

No one mentioned the sport yet!!! surely number1 in terms of culrural export... all those Ashes beatings - the Rugby.

Then there is the people those irrespessable loveable ozzy's themselves... they get everywhere - can you tell an Ocker from a Brisbanian?

Do Soaps count as culture?

Not much on the abbos yet (its when good neighbours become good friends)

Sorry, the team that is best at Rugby is

http://www.savethechildren.org.nz/new_zealand/htmlimages/allblacks_logo_web.jpg

Of course, that team comes from the six home provinces :p

Australia doesn't exist. Everyone knows that.

Like there's some 'mystical' land, 'down under' where they have completely different animals, magical sticks that come back to your hand when you throw them and so on. Like, really. Has anyone ever actually seen Australia with their own eyes? I know I haven't.

Australia? People willing to go to any lengths (http://youtube.com/watch?v=WdN3PDeErvw&feature=related) for beer. :p

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?According to pop culture, Aussie=Texan

Uhh, Mad Max?

yeah, the strange bald guy that writes books, and bizarre computer games that the UN then comes and declares a threat...

Racist.

THIS!:D
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc206/dudesautoparts/thecroccodilehunter.jpg

Vegemite.

http://images.wikia.com/simpsons/images/9/9c/Bartandboot.jpg

Australia is characterised by two main aggressive species:

-Baby stealing Dingos

and

-Drop bears.

Kangaroos, aborigens, great beaches, strange capital, funky opera house.

But I have never been even close to Australie, never met anyone from there and most information i gained from Jules Verne's book Children of Captain Grant.

Australia is characterised by two main aggressive species:

-Baby stealing Dingos

and

-Drop bears.

Don't forget angry, neurotic plathypus.
http://www.mrgeko.com/images/plathypus.jpg

-Wierd animals.

-Friendships bordering to man-love.

-"Cricky!!!"

-The excessive use of the word "mate".

3) having, in many cases, a definite anti-intellectual tinge which struck me as distinguishing Australia from France.

Yes that one does irk me a bit and it is not just being intellectual but succeeding in life. It is called the Tall Poppy Syndrome something which is huge in Australia, I have been a victim of it on both the receiving end and the giving end.

Oh BTW Ariddia I was thinking of you the other day (not in that way you perves) but I was trying to remember that guy from France who had lived in Australia for some time, and I had an excellent discussion on the plight of Aborigines last year and it must have been you.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Everything I know about Australia, I learned from Kylie.

Yes that one does irk me a bit and it is not just being intellectual but succeeding in life. It is called the Tall Poppy Syndrome something which is huge in Australia, I have been a victim of it on both the receiving end and the giving end.

It might be even bigger in the United Kingdom. It's ridiculous, so pointlessly destructive.

It might be even bigger in the United Kingdom. It's ridiculous, so pointlessly destructive.

Really? Gee I wasn't aware of that, most essays and features just talk about Australia (of course they are Ozzie centric) maybe that is where we got it from. Good information nice to know

I suppose the strongest impression I had prior to visiting was that Ausies are outdoorsy and sporting. When I visited for a couple of months, the thing that came across most was a fierce desire to be not-English although, apart from the weather, I could have been in England much of the time.

Southern US - anger + tons of deadly creatures = Australia

Australia:

http://professorgeradin.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/22/acdc.jpg

What more can be said?

i like the accent the animals and the weather there.
I had a kangaroo burger the other day, and it was good.
Only problem is, it's a few thousand miles away.
I also have this image of loads of surfer dudes being there, but i'm sure that's just a stereotype played up by some of the soaps i've seen.
oh and according to neighbours, everyone knows everyone, and everyone has at some point had a tragic incident, car crash, lover trying to kill or hurt them and a BBQ. I somehow doubt the reality of the show.

i like the accent the animals and the weather there.
I had a kangaroo burger the other day, and it was good.
Only problem is, it's a few thousand miles away.
I also have this image of loads of surfer dudes being there, but i'm sure that's just a stereotype played up by some of the soaps i've seen.
oh and according to neighbours, everyone knows everyone, and everyone has at some point had a tragic incident, car crash, lover trying to kill or hurt them and a BBQ. I somehow doubt the reality of the show.

Its true its all true in every Australian street every few years or so a major incident happens that kills off half the residents. Ours happened only 9 months ago there was an earthquake and people were crushed it is always the most popular to, only last week in the street across from us there was a mass murderer who took vengence on his ex and all of her friends and I hear some evil guy named Paul came back too, ours is still in sydney.

Its true about the BBQ, there is at least one every weekend in every suburb in Australia

What does the world see as Australia's national identity?

Guys like this:

YouTube - Best Street Party Ever - Parents Yet To Find Out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc0CB6URrV0)

Its true about the BBQ, there is at least one every weekend in every suburb in Australia
BBQs are the epitome of social interaction...
infact, you can feed yourself all week by just swinging yourself an invite to a BBQ each night...

"That's not a knife."

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Yar, Im aussie, and it pisses me off whenever a foriegn person says "G'day Mate" in one of those accents that sounds nothing like us...

I hate crocodile dundee, false impression of us. Some books of us are pretty normal, music, I like our music, including waltzing matilda in fact... i dont know the words so i improvise


Waltzing Matilda
Who F-ing killed her
Lying on the grass
With a dagger up her arse
all the birds and the bees
and the bloody aborigenees
Who'll come waltzing matilda with me?

Ned Kelly!!!

Bloody convicts. Obviously.

In more serious straits, I imagine Australia to be reasonably consistent with that portrayed in "The Lost Continent".

What does the world see as Australia's national identity?

Guys like this:

YouTube - Best Street Party Ever - Parents Yet To Find Out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc0CB6URrV0)

I've seen that far too many times for it to reasonably expect to win a laugh, but I still find it hilarious.

A culture that takes much from the culture of the British Isles, yet has its own unique aspects as well, owing to the fact that culture is shaped by environment. Naturally, Australians are as varied as any other people, but the culture seems to have some holdovers from a frontier mentality.

My opinion, obviously has been affected by the media and the few Australians I've met.

shrimps, barbies and sheilas. is there anything else? oh, spiders, sheeps and vegemite. and an opera house that is more famous for existing than the shows it puts on.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Given my extremely limited experience with Aussies, I will say the *one* I met in person was:

Intelligent
Fun
A Partier
dedicated to her job
interested in sport
Of the opinion that Fosters' in the US was MUCH BETTER than Fosters' at home (different taste, apparently, and she thought domestic Fosters was swill).
Amused by the differences in English v. US English (and had me check her spelling).
Generous
Witty

I bet they ride around on kangaroos and use koalas as currency.

Granted, my experience is with an extremely limited demographic, however, in person and many times online, I have encountered an overwhelmingly large number of extremely easy-going and friendly Australians. Though I am not so idealistic to believe that EVERYONE is that way, I can say that I would love to visit, not only for the sites, but for the people.

That and yes, Mad Max, and these: http://http://www.australiagift.com/cgi-bin/ustorekeeper.pl?command=goto&file=Kangaroo_Scrotum_Pouches.html

Uh...kangaroos and Steve Irwin...

Identical to Southern California in spots, massive useless sandbox throughout most of the rest. Trees a few places. Sharks and other angry animals (even the platypus can kill you I guess). Lots of sunburned white people who would've been sent to New England if we'd lost the Revolutionary War. :p

Outback Steak House and Foster's Beer.


Ok ok Im kidding.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Based on my experiences, Aussies:
can be pretty danged ocker
are straight talkers, and will tend to speak their minds
usually have a pretty good sense of humor
drink lots of beer, but (almost) universally don't drink Fosters
tend to be socially more liberal than people from the US
are more likely than not to have smoked dope
don't usually toss around "'g'day, mate" or "toss another shrimp on the barbie"
do use a fair number of other interesting expressions
shorten many common nouns and add -o or -ie to the end
incorporate a fair bit of Cockney rhyiming slang into their speech
may on occassion refer to Brits as "whinging poms"
often like surfing
for the most part believe in a "fair go"
distrust "tall poppies"
may have Greek, Lebanese, or other heritage, instead of British or Aboriginal
usually like Aussie Rules footie
like to warn people about the drop bears

Something else that I just remembered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_AfVS0IWY

1) being a remarkably diverse bunch;

2) being, on the whole, very friendly and helpful people;

3) having, in many cases, a definite anti-intellectual tinge which struck me as distinguishing Australia from France.

Yeah, good point about the anti-intellectual thing. (And also whoever mentioned easy going had a good pointr as well.)

I love the Aussies-and they love Americans! Nowhere have I been feted so well, nor treated as an equal so readily. Australia is the one place where the vision of the Founding Fathers has been realized so happily. I can only hope for their acceptance as States, as their input into Congress should stifle that entity's more restrictive activities. Among all the nations I have visited, none has welcomed me so whole-heartedly as Australia, and I have fonder memories of no other place.
BTW, there is no place more spiritual than Uluru, and may only pilgrims who respect it ever trod there.

A bit over the top there, but I think you're on the right track. I've lived the expat life for seventeen years, and I definately tend to get on best with the Aussies.

According to pop culture, Aussie=Texan

More than one Aussie's told me that.

Yes that one does irk me a bit and it is not just being intellectual but succeeding in life. It is called the Tall Poppy Syndrome something which is huge in Australia, I have been a victim of it on both the receiving end and the giving end.

Oh BTW Ariddia I was thinking of you the other day (not in that way you perves) but I was trying to remember that guy from France who had lived in Australia for some time, and I had an excellent discussion on the plight of Aborigines last year and it must have been you.

My sense is that TPS is a bit different - more of a thing against being successful in general. But the two are related aspects of Aussie culture.

Most of the answers are exactly what I expected:
Ocker
Mateship
Beer
Sport
Steve Irwin/Crocodile Dundee
Strange animals
Outback
Tall poppy syndrome

That's what gets put into our films, and therefore what other people see.

From the antipodes, kangaroos, khaki shorts and rugby. The Australian equivalent of "pizza mandolino moustachio".

Oh, and Ayer's Rock instead of the Tower of Pisa.

Uluru.

When I think of Australia, I think of the Sydney Opera House, the late Steve Irwin, Aborigines, and Ayer's Rock (or whatever it is). And the fact that you're all the spawn of a BUNCH OF STINKIN CRIMINALS FROM ENGLAND!! lol jk on that last one

Uluru.

And you'll find a lot of people aren't descendents of English convicts.

I think the Platypus sums up Australians well in the fact that they both lay eggs and primarily inhabit the east coast

but really your just Englishmen with silly hats:)

LOL, Platypi are really rare.

Yep. Beer and easy women. But that's only because I've visited a couple times.

Haha, you clearly visited tacky places.

I love the Aussies-and they love Americans! Nowhere have I been feted so well, nor treated as an equal so readily. Australia is the one place where the vision of the Founding Fathers has been realized so happily. I can only hope for their acceptance as States, as their input into Congress should stifle that entity's more restrictive activities. Among all the nations I have visited, none has welcomed me so whole-heartedly as Australia, and I have fonder memories of no other place.
BTW, there is no place more spiritual than Uluru, and may only pilgrims who respect it ever trod there.

Hahahaha, the majority of Australians aren't fans of Americans, but I guess Australia does tend to open our arms to Western or European tourists.

But, it's great that you loved Australia. I haven't been to Uluru. I want to go, though.

According to pop culture, Aussie=Texan

That's strange. Can you give me an example? Because I'm an Australian film student and I fail to see the connection.

Racist.

Australia = multicultural.

There's racism in lots of countries.

Southern US - anger + tons of deadly creatures = Australia

I still fail to see the connection to the South.

I still fail to see the connection to the South.

Climate, terrain?

Lifestyle in the outback maybe?

Most of the answers are exactly what I expected:
Ocker
Mateship
Beer
Sport
Steve Irwin/Crocodile Dundee
Strange animals
Outback
Tall poppy syndrome

That's what gets put into our films, and therefore what other people see.



And really hot women. Who are often wearing scant clothing, with really hot accents.

According to one of my lecturers, ANZACs.

I think they taste pretty awful.

And really hot women. Who are often wearing scant clothing, with really hot accents.

I think it is moreso really hot accents wearing scant women.

That's what gets put into our films, and therefore what other people see.


Are there a bunch of great Australian films we just haven't seen around the world yet? I saw the one with the kids running from The Man, but that was the first in a *long* time. I'm sure there are some good ones, and not just Mad Max and the Paul Hogan series, but I can't recall any offhand.

Most of the answers are exactly what I expected:
Ocker
Mateship
Beer
Sport
Steve Irwin/Crocodile Dundee
Strange animals
Outback
Tall poppy syndrome

Slouch hats?

Australia has a horrible lumpenprole problem which neither party is willing to deal with, and as a result the crime and anti-social behavior from these 'communities' is atrocious. I personally support civil conscription of all Bogans into some kinda of massive forced labor program.;)

Most of the answers are exactly what I expected:
Ocker
Mateship
Beer
Sport
Steve Irwin/Crocodile Dundee
Strange animals
Outback
Tall poppy syndrome

That's what gets put into our films, and therefore what other people see.

Some of those may be over played and exagerated (like Stever Irwin's playing up his 'Strine), but most of it's fairly true.

Hahahaha, the majority of Australians aren't fans of Americans, but I guess Australia does tend to open our arms to Western or European tourists.

I've very rarely run into an unfriendly Aussie, but I have met a fair number of others with anti-American sentiments.

A telling commnent: I just looked at my "quick input phone book" on my cell phone, people I email at least once a week, and it is indeed dominated by Aussies. 4 Aussies, 3 USAmericans (two of whom are family), 2 Canadians, and 1 Japanese.

That's strange. Can you give me an example? Because I'm an Australian film student and I fail to see the connection.

Big wide open spaces, freindly laid back people, ranching is a big industry, both places love drinking beer, both have outlaw images...

Another similarity is the demographic history of the settlement of both - both were places where people went to get a new start on life. Oz had free settelment, as well as the convicts. Around the same time, Texas was see by many in the US Midwest and South as a place to escape from problems
- see GTT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_to_Texas).

Also, and both had mineral strikes that attracted get rich quick dreamers - Texas in oil and Oz in gold.

Australia = multicultural.

Indeed it is.

There's racism in lots of countries.

Indeed so.

IIRC, Queensland has the only branch of the KKK outside of the US. That and the "White Australia" policy, the treatment of the Aboriginies, and the Redfern and Cronulla riots all have shaped Australia's image. That being said the Aussies I've met (admittedly a biased sampling - almost all are expats) have almost universally not been racist.

I still fail to see the connection to the South.

I'll agree with you there, except that at least some Aussies I know refer to Queensland as "the Deep North", in a direct reference to the Deep South.

I personally support civil conscription of all Bogans into some kinda of massive forced labor program.;)

Well that would be a waste of government resources. :p

Reminds me of John Howard saying racism isn't a problem in Australia during the Cronulla riots...

Australia = multicultural.

There's racism in lots of countries.



Don't try to sugar coat it or use excuses, We have terrible race problems. You go anywhere more than an hour from a city and you will see the issues standing out! Neither side of the fence is trying to build a bridge though, A large proportion of aborigines abuse substances regularly and make no effort to change, while a large number of European* Australians spend the time either ignoring the problem or contributing to it. Or of course fighting in amongst themselves.

*By European Australians I mean to involve all non-aborigine Australians

[For the record, I am a patriotic Aussie, but I also hope that I am one that is also able to recognise our problems]

Oh BTW Ariddia I was thinking of you the other day (not in that way you perves) but I was trying to remember that guy from France who had lived in Australia for some time, and I had an excellent discussion on the plight of Aborigines last year and it must have been you.

Yes, I remember you. :)

I bet they ride around on kangaroos and use koalas as currency.

"That six-pack'll be one and a half koalas, mate."

"Alas, Fuzzy, I must now cut you in half! It's for beer, you understand."

*chop*

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Surfing and sexy accent.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

Barbeque's on the beach.

And lots of animals that will kill you.

...Another similarity is the demographic history of the settlement of both - both were places where people went to get a new start on life. Oz had free settelment, as well as the convicts...

I don't entirely agree with you. There are, IMO, two major differences in the make-up of the nations.

1. Modern America (as opposed to indigenous America) was founded largely by religious people with a chip on their shoulder from persecution. The bloody minded American religiosity is quite alien to Australians.

For the first 150 years Oz was settled by Irish Catholics and British Protestants who loathed each other. The two groupings resolved their conflict by making the discussion of religion a social taboo. When mass immigration began after WW2, the whole facade fell in a heap, the Anglo-Celt rivalry vanished and, with it, religious practice collapsed. The story is, of course, more complicated than that - it can also be argued that, with Anglicanism being the official state religion for so long, the Australian anti-establisment character encouraged us to be anti-religious as well.

In the USA it's the kiss of death for a politician not to express their religious beliefs publicly. In Oz it's the kiss of death if they do.

2. The USA was the promised land, the land of milk and honey. From this came the myth of the individual succeeding against the wilderness. Australia is the land of the "dead heart". Those foolish enough to try to make it alone were destroyed sooner or later by the environment. From this grew a much stronger collective ethic than exists in the USA. If you didn't band together in Oz you didn't survive.

The role of trade unions in Oz is an essential facet of our history. Not so in the USA. Consider also our universal health system and our pharmaceutical benefit scheme. Unlike the USA there are only a couple of private universities in Oz. The list of differences is endless.

On a less favourable note in Oz, philanthropy is much less significant. The general perception is that the appropriate way to help people is through the welfare system - which is collective philanthropy, in a sense. I remember asking the Turkish immigrant owner of a small kebab shop in a Melbourne suburb how business was going. He said, "Australia is a fantastic place. If you work hard you can succeed but if you have bad luck the government will look after you."

An example of the difference is shown in last year's federal election. The Howard neo-conservative government was defeated largely because it tried to liberalise labour laws - the infamous "Work Choices". The rhetoric was classical USA rhetoric - the individual was paramount. Not only did the government get thrown out of office but Howard lost his own seat. The voters viewed the legislation as isolating them and thereby weakening them. The new Labor Government has largely repealed the legislation.

Barbeque's on the beach.

And lots of animals that will kill you.

Q. Which animal kills more Australians each year than any other?

A. The ordinary, every-day, garden variety honey bee.

That kinda puts things in perspective.

Q. Which animal kills more Australians each year than any other?

A. The ordinary, every-day, garden variety honey bee.

That kinda puts things in perspective.

No doubt another fictitious 'Australian' animal - I bet Australian honey bees are supposedly six foot long and kill people by sitting on them.

No doubt another fictitious 'Australian' animal - I bet Australian honey bees are supposedly six foot long and kill people by sitting on them.

No. Allergic reactions. Australians mistake them for European wasps and die of heart attacks.

No doubt another fictitious 'Australian' animal - I bet Australian honey bees are supposedly six foot long and kill people by sitting on them.

Psssht, to kill people the bees have to be at least 19 feet long. Anything less than that and its just a slight maiming. We're hardass.

Ka-snip!

Nice one. It could be my institutionalised education-induced blind acceptance of what's put in front of me, but that sounds pretty right.

(Actually, I'm pretty sure that's high quality stuff you got there).

Location: Under the Swanston St. Bridge, Melbourne.

Hey, that's a nice piece of real estate.

Hey, that's a nice piece of real estate.

I reckon. Just don't try to post anything there. I have some... er... issues with anonymity...

By the way, I'm really happy that windstorm died down. I had to replace my box TWICE that day.

I reckon. Just don't try to post anything there. I have some... er... issues with anonymity...

By the way, I'm really happy that windstorm died down. I had to replace my box TWICE that day.

With interest rates the way they are I hope you can afford the mortgage on the cardboard.

...rugby...

After finishing blowing steam out of my ears I have this to say...

Most Australians couldn't give a flying f*ck for this ridiculous game played by stupid men with fat necks.

No one mentioned the sport yet!!! surely number1 in terms of culrural export... all those Ashes beatings - the Rugby...



Grrr.

For those who don't know, rugby is followed in just two states. Count that - two. Not six. Two. That is why New Zealand finds it so easy to beat the Australians. For them, it truly is a national sport.

After finishing blowing steam out of my ears I have this to say...

Most Australians couldn't give a flying f*ck for this ridiculous game played by stupid men with fat necks.
For those who don't know, rugby is followed in just two states. Count that - two. Not six. Two. That is why New Zealand finds it so easy to beat the Australians. For them, it truly is a national sport.
You are obviously Victorian/SAian... You wierd southerners with your quaint AFL... (most ridiculous game ever invented)... It must be the vitamin D deficiency getting to you...

also, I want to put a few sassy and humorous remarks here calling you incestuous, but I can't think of anything overly witty to say atm...

I don't entirely agree with you. There are, IMO, two major differences in the make-up of the nations.

1. Modern America (as opposed to indigenous America) was founded largely by religious people with a chip on their shoulder from persecution. The bloody minded American religiosity is quite alien to Australians.

Note the reply was to this exchange:
According to pop culture, Aussie=Texan
That's strange. Can you give me an example? Because I'm an Australian film student and I fail to see the connection.[/QUOTE]

Point the first: I was speaking to specific similarities between the demographics of the settlement of Texas, not the US. Note that I'm not saying there aren't differences between the two, but rather pointing out a number of similarities. Of course there are differences. But, Australia has much more in common with Texas than New York.

Point the second: Your above comment shows an utter ignorance of the settlement of North America. A great number of early settlers (a quarter, by many estimates) were convicts. An additional large number were "indentured servants" (ie Irish, Scottish, and Scots-Irish slaves).


For the first 150 years Oz was settled by Irish Catholics and British Protestants who loathed each other. The two groupings resolved their conflict by making the discussion of religion a social taboo. When mass immigration began after WW2, the whole facade fell in a heap, the Anglo-Celt rivalry vanished and, with it, religious practice collapsed. The story is, of course, more complicated than that - it can also be argued that, with Anglicanism being the official state religion for so long, the Australian anti-establisment character encouraged us to be anti-religious as well.

In the USA it's the kiss of death for a politician not to express their religious beliefs publicly. In Oz it's the kiss of death if they do.

While I'll agree that Australians are, by and large, anti-religious, you over do the religiousity of the US and Texas in particular. East Texas, being Southern (note: thats Southern, not southern), is part of the Bible Belt. But most of Texas is not.

2. The USA was the promised land, the land of milk and honey. From this came the myth of the individual succeeding against the wilderness. Australia is the land of the "dead heart". Those foolish enough to try to make it alone were destroyed sooner or later by the environment. From this grew a much stronger collective ethic than exists in the USA. If you didn't band together in Oz you didn't survive.

The role of trade unions in Oz is an essential facet of our history. Not so in the USA. Consider also our universal health system and our pharmaceutical benefit scheme. Unlike the USA there are only a couple of private universities in Oz. The list of differences is endless.

On a less favourable note in Oz, philanthropy is much less significant. The general perception is that the appropriate way to help people is through the welfare system - which is collective philanthropy, in a sense. I remember asking the Turkish immigrant owner of a small kebab shop in a Melbourne suburb how business was going. He said, "Australia is a fantastic place. If you work hard you can succeed but if you have bad luck the government will look after you."

An example of the difference is shown in last year's federal election. The Howard neo-conservative government was defeated largely because it tried to liberalise labour laws - the infamous "Work Choices". The rhetoric was classical USA rhetoric - the individual was paramount. Not only did the government get thrown out of office but Howard lost his own seat. The voters viewed the legislation as isolating them and thereby weakening them. The new Labor Government has largely repealed the legislation.

Again, I'll point out that I was pointing to specific similarities, and that there are of course differences. But my point that there are significant geographic, cultuiral, and historical similarities still stands.

[Various well-reasoned arguments.]

I was making my points by using exaggeration.

I understood you were referring to Texas but I really wanted to indulge in a Australia v America rant.

The comparison between Australia and Texas galls because as a native of cosmopolitan and multicultural Melbourne I flatter myself that we are much better than that.

Late edit: And I will agree that the 2 countries have much in common, possibly explaining why they've been allies in so many wars, even bad ones.

Conversation between two former rugby teammates...

Sean (Kiwi flyhalf): You used to play rugby league, didn't you?
Rich (Aussie openside flanker): Yeah, how'd you know mate?
Sean: Well, you're a bit stupid.

I'm not sure what this says about Australia, Australians, Kiwis or the two different codes of rugby, but it was funny at the time. And quite brave on Sean's part. We could hear Rich tackling opponents forty yards away.

Modern America (as opposed to indigenous America) was founded largely by religious people with a chip on their shoulder from persecution. The bloody minded American religiosity is quite alien to Australians.

That is very true which is why I always laugh when the media gets all uppity about some religious group expressing an opinion and how the churches and religions are taking over Parliament.

For those who don't know, rugby is followed in just two states. Count that - two. Not six. Two. That is why New Zealand finds it so easy to beat the Australians. For them, it truly is a national sport.

If you want to talk about that Aerial ping pong you Vics invented well go ahead I can only laugh at the weakness of the game, some guys gets a tap in the back oh free kick, and if you miss the goal that's all right you get a point anyway for having a good try, oh we are so proud of you you kicked the ball but we are all winners here so you get to have a point. Play real football pussies

I was making my points by using exaggeration.

I understood you were referring to Texas but I really wanted to indulge in a Australia v America rant.

I'll remember that the next time I wanna yeall at an Aussie... :P

The comparison between Australia and Texas galls because as a native of cosmopolitan and multicultural Melbourne I flatter myself that we are much better than that.

Oohhh. So you Melbournites are all high falutin fancy-shmancy, are ya'll? :::see's your cosmopolitan multicultural cirty and rases you Dallas and Houston::: (Seriously, don't under estimate Houston (http://www.houston.org/whyHouston/international.asp)!)

Late edit: And I will agree that the 2 countries have much in common, possibly explaining why they've been allies in so many wars, even bad ones.

Indeed.

That is very true which is why I always laugh when the media gets all uppity about some religious group expressing an opinion and how the churches and religions are taking over Parliament.

Too bad it's not really true. Oz was founded largely because the Crown lost it's dumping ground for it's convict and slave "scum", like my Scots-Irish ancestors, when we rebelled.

If you want to talk about that Aerial ping pong you Vics invented well go ahead I can only laugh at the weakness of the game, some guys gets a tap in the back oh free kick, and if you miss the goal that's all right you get a point anyway for having a good try, oh we are so proud of you you kicked the ball but we are all winners here so you get to have a point. Play real football pussies

Heheheh. I can hear Amor Pulchritudo cringing now...

If you want to talk about that Aerial ping pong you Vics invented well go ahead I can only laugh at the weakness of the game, some guys gets a tap in the back oh free kick, and if you miss the goal that's all right you get a point anyway for having a good try, oh we are so proud of you you kicked the ball but we are all winners here so you get to have a point. Play real football pussies

Oohhh. So you Melbournites are all high falutin fancy-shmancy, are ya'll? :::see's your cosmopolitan multicultural cirty and rases you Dallas and Houston:::

Cripes. People are going to think we're a right bunch of pansies here in the Queen City of the South.

Cripes. People are going to think we're a right bunch of pansies here in the Queen City of the South.

A buncha pansies in the Queen city? OK, I'll take your word on that. And here I thought Fred Nile's favorite Mardi Gras parade was in Sydney... (BTW, point against the religious claims there...;) Ya'll have your very own version of Fred Phelps in Parliament.)

Too bad it's not really true. Oz was founded largely because the Crown lost it's dumping ground for it's convict and slave "scum", like my Scots-Irish ancestors, when we rebelled.

Sorry mate I can be a bit of a drongo at times, too bad what is not really true? that we don't have the same religious hang ups as the Yanks, or are you just taking the piss.

Heheheh. I can hear Amor Pulchritudo cringing now...

lol yeah I bet he is, a bit of interstate rivalry is allways good fun. (well mostly)

Cripes. People are going to think we're a right bunch of pansies here in the Queen City of the South.

Oh but you are Errinundera, jk

I was making my points by using exaggeration.

I understood you were referring to Texas but I really wanted to indulge in a Australia v America rant.

The comparison between Australia and Texas galls because as a native of cosmopolitan and multicultural Melbourne I flatter myself that we are much better than that.

Late edit: And I will agree that the 2 countries have much in common, possibly explaining why they've been allies in so many wars, even bad ones.


Better than that? Many of the statements made here about Australia have been humorous in intent (Mad Max, Croc Hunter, Paul Hogan, etc) and clearly stated as such. Though I understand the humor implied in the many stereotypes (and some not humorous at all) of Texas = large Caddies with horns on the hoods, tall blonde promiscuous air-headed women, men with giant belt-buckles and large hats who quite often 'reckon' while not having any real education and spitting dip on the floor, and children/majority of adults when not riding in said Cadillacs who ride horses to school, regular shootouts at the 'saloon' after bull ridin', cross burnings and hangin's of a certain color of people, I see the stereotypes go both ways yet appear not to be recognized as such. The stereotypes, if true, would gall many people, and do so even from those who live in the North (i.e. northeast coast, U.S.) who fear Texas without ever having visited Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, etc. Are there places in Texas that fit the stereotype? Yes. Are there places in any country/state that fit the negative stereotypes (i.e. are all New Yorkers like 'people in New York City'/'The Bronx’? ) yes and not necessarily. However, before one is galled I ask that they ask themselves first if they too aren't giving in to stereotypes, assuming they aren't joking/taking a light-hearted approach as most of the entries in this thread appear to be.

From my experience, Houston appears to be a very metropolitan city. The oil industry, involving many countries from around the world, brings in such peoples and cultures (oil isn't just from Texas-in Texas, as Texas mostly imports) which, in turn, influence the city as a whole. NASA brings in many Europeans, and Russians, many of who work in the area and add to the tapestry. Visit local apartment complex pools and restaurants and listen to the languages spoken there...nope, not "reckon," "ain't," "I wanna marry my sister," here. There are also huge Hispanic populations, the result of which has caused many locals to joke as to their TV stations are becoming all Spanish (as opposed to watching Dallas reruns, John Wayne movies, or Urban Cowboy). Sorry folks, Gilley's (the bar, that is) went out of business years ago http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/hoffman/3886677.html. There has been an explosion of Japanese restaurants, quite a few Mediterranean restaurants, Indian restaurants, Tex-Mex restaurants, Central American restaurants, Italian restaurants, Ethiopian restaurants, etc. etc--not just Outback Steakhouses (thus 'edumucatin' ' local folks on them gosh dern wacky foreign folk). The stereotype of a fat America, especially a fat Texas is not helped by the variety, quantity, and quality of the restaurants. Of course, there are the museums, the 'art theatres', the cultural festivals....speaking of that, I have heard of Austin being labeled as The San Francisco of Texas. I would not recognize many places in Houston, nor Austin, nor San Antonio, nor Dallas as stereotypically (in a negative way) Texas, East Texas, or The South.

Texas also did not start out as part of America, for those with the seemingly world-trendy aspirations of America-bashing lately (it's cool to bash America now, so it seems). Rather, it was a part of Mexico, then, for ten years, was it's own country (and still should be, in my own bias). That has contributed to a very proud, but polite, attitude as far as positive stereotypes are concerned. This also contributed to furthering that "frontier" attitude and thusly stereotypes that people were attributing to Texas and Australia. The point here is, not ALL stereotypes are bad ones, and some should even be embraced. Roll with those, have fun with them (when meant in jest), ESPECIALLY the good ones.

So, in good spirits, come on 'round to Texas and I am sure Texans will greet you with a loud "Howdy!", spend the entire time talkin' 'bout who really killed J.R., why everyone else who isn't a good Southern Baptist is going to hell, and will be happy take you to a good Outback Steakhouse to remind you of home, watch some Mad Max (darn good shoot 'em-up), then go bull ridin' and chewin' some dip, after which you'll hop in a saddle, shoot random objects at random places/things/people (Southern=racist/Xenophopic/KKK after all, right?) all-the-while hoot-n-hollerin' "yeeehaww", while drinkin' Fosters out of respect. Texans will learn ya good! Gosh darn tootin' good time, you'll have. You know, metropolitan. :p

Sorry mate I can be a bit of a drongo at times, too bad what is not really true? that we don't have the same religious hang ups as the Yanks, or are you just taking the piss.

What wasn't true was that bit about the US being settled exclusively by religious dissenters. While they were part of it, they weren't all of it. Characterising the people who settled in the American colonies as "religious people with a chip on their shoulder from persecution" ignores the aforementioned quarter of settlers who were transported convicts, as well as the "indentured servants" (effectively British born slaves) and African slaves. And that's not to mention the fortune hunters (as like to the free settlers in Oz), aristos, and others.

lol yeah I bet he is, a bit of interstate rivalry is allways good fun. (well mostly)

And yeah, ya'll got that right. I give and take my share of friendly rivalry. :) (And just try and imagine when I explain to my old friends back in Texas why I'm an ice hockey fan and not a football fan... It's been known to make heads explode...)

Sorry, the team that is best at Rugby is

http://www.savethechildren.org.nz/new_zealand/htmlimages/allblacks_logo_web.jpg

Of course, that team comes from the six home provinces :p

You're absolutely right. The way they put the french to the sword and then won the World Cup.........oh dear, I can see my mistake now :D

Remind us all when the All Blacks last won anything significant, something that involved beating more than one team :D:D

You're absolutely right. The way they put the french to the sword and then won the World Cup.........oh dear, I can see my mistake now :D

Remind us all when the All Blacks last won anything significant, something that involved beating more than one team :D:D

The 2007 Tri Nations?

Australia's national identity?

Sheep, the Outback, CROCODILES, poisonous spiders and snakes, koalas, platypus, dingos-

So basically sheep farms and exotic wildlife.

What wasn't true was that bit about the US being settled exclusively by religious dissenters. While they were part of it, they weren't all of it. Characterising the people who settled in the American colonies as "religious people with a chip on their shoulder from persecution" ignores the aforementioned quarter of settlers who were transported convicts, as well as the "indentured servants" (effectively British born slaves) and African slaves. And that's not to mention the fortune hunters (as like to the free settlers in Oz), aristos, and others.

Yeah good point I suppose that is true. I was just saying that Australians don't have the same religious hangups as in America, and it is funny when you hear the media reporting about it happening in Australia, because it will never happen

Outback Steak House and Foster's Beer.


Ok ok Im kidding.

Have any Brits noticed that US Outbacks are not only cheaper (I find the price in dollars corresponds in pounds in the UK), but also better? You get free bread, better service, and somehow the food's just better.

Hardly fair.

You're absolutely right. The way they put the french to the sword and then won the World Cup.........oh dear, I can see my mistake now :D

Remind us all when the All Blacks last won anything significant, something that involved beating more than one team :D:D

Sorry, but I disagree. Much as I do think Dan Carter might have learnt to dropgoal before now, I would expect New Zealand to beat any other side in world rugby in 80 or 90 percent of matches at present. That each group of players seems to reach its zenith two years before each world cup, and that they always lose to a side with an atypically strong defence, is a different matter.

I can't speak for the world, but I've always wanted to visit and see for myself. Any opinion I have before I do that is strictly hearsay and conjecture.

-snip-

How'd I miss that one last night? Well said.

Yeah good point I suppose that is true. I was just saying that Australians don't have the same religious hangups as in America, and it is funny when you hear the media reporting about it happening in Australia, because it will never happen

Oh really?

The Christian Democratic Party exists in Australia to see Christians represented in government at every level - Local, State and Federal - by seeing Christian candidates endorsed and elected across the country.

The CDP seeks to support and promote pro-Christian, pro-family, pro-child, pro-life policies for the benefit of Australia. The CDP seeks to ensure that all legislation is brought into conformity with the revealed will of God in the Holy Bible, with a special emphasis on the ministry of reconciliation.
http://www.cdp.org.au/



Australia's national identity?

Sheep, the Outback, gator's, poisonous spiders and snakes, koalas, platypus, dingos-

So basically sheep farms and exotic wildlife.

Yeah, that old Steve Irwin show Gator Hunter was really gre... wait a minute. (:P)

Australia that place who's leader salutes the president of the US and often does what the president tells him to do.

as such Australia should be considered a territory of the US(not refined enough for state hood)

Have any Brits noticed that US Outbacks are not only cheaper (I find the price in dollars corresponds in pounds in the UK), but also better? You get free bread, better service, and somehow the food's just better.

Hardly fair.

I've never seen one here in Oz. Looking on their website it seems there is one in Sydney and one in Windsor, to the west of Sydney.

It seems to me they originated overseas. I doubt if you could say they are fair dinkum Australian.

How'd I miss that one last night? Well said.



Oh really?


http://www.cdp.org.au/





Yeah, that old Steve Irwin show Gator Hunter was really gre... wait a minute. (:P)

Oh crap...

did I really type that?!

WTF was I thinking!

*lashes self for horrible typo*

Crocs! I meant Crocs...honest!

Climate, terrain?

Lifestyle in the outback maybe?

Still, from what I've interpreted from films about Texas, the "Southern country" life is quite different to the "country/outback" life depicted in Australian films, but I suppose if you're not really looking, you might see a bit of a connection.

I think they taste pretty awful.

Please, please tell me this is sarcasm.

And really hot women. Who are often wearing scant clothing, with really hot accents.

Thanks?

Are there a bunch of great Australian films we just haven't seen around the world yet? I saw the one with the kids running from The Man, but that was the first in a *long* time. I'm sure there are some good ones, and not just Mad Max and the Paul Hogan series, but I can't recall any offhand.

Umm, I've actually never seen Mad Max, and I've never sat all of the way through a Paul Hogan film!

Beneath Clouds is a great film. Australian Rules is good too. Candy, Lantana and Gettin' Square are good too. Japanese Story was Australian... The first ever feature length film was Australian too (a little bit of film-nerdiness showing there...). I might make a list of good Australian films and post them.

Australia has a horrible lumpenprole problem which neither party is willing to deal with, and as a result the crime and anti-social behavior from these 'communities' is atrocious. I personally support civil conscription of all Bogans into some kinda of massive forced labor program.;)

1. This has nothing to do with the OP.
2. What "communities" do you speak of?

Some of those may be over played and exagerated (like Stever Irwin's playing up his 'Strine), but most of it's fairly true.

Well, not, it's not really true. It's a created identity. No sort of stereotypical description can every really be true of citizens of a country - everyone's different.

Plus, what I was talking about was supposed to be the illusion we portray, and Steve Irwin was the epitome of one of those illusions, and it most definitely created character traits that are now considered typical of Australians.



I've very rarely run into an unfriendly Aussie, but I have met a fair number of others with anti-American sentiments.

... There are plenty of un-friendly Aussies, but I'm glad you haven't encountered one.

A telling commnent: I just looked at my "quick input phone book" on my cell phone, people I email at least once a week, and it is indeed dominated by Aussies. 4 Aussies, 3 USAmericans (two of whom are family), 2 Canadians, and 1 Japanese.

It's really not that telling.

Big wide open spaces, freindly laid back people, ranching is a big industry, both places love drinking beer, both have outlaw images...

Well, I suppose that's the image that films about both places portray but personally I wouldn't really draw a similarity between the two. I can see it a little bit more though, especially with Western films.

IIRC, Queensland has the only branch of the KKK outside of the US. That and the "White Australia" policy, the treatment of the Aboriginies, and the Redfern and Cronulla riots all have shaped Australia's image. That being said the Aussies I've met (admittedly a biased sampling - almost all are expats) have almost universally not been racist.

I live in Queensland and I am yet to encounter a member of the KKK, but I'm not denying there are racists, it's just not in image that we necessarily portray, with the exception of the treatment of indigenous people: Many films have dealt with this issue, and have shown the racism that surrounded that time. Racism towards indigenous people is still a problem today, and I will not deny that.

The "White Australia" policy is over, FYI...

The Cronulla riots, while they were undeniabley to do with race, were caused by gang mentality and stupidity.



I'll agree with you there, except that at least some Aussies I know refer to Queensland as "the Deep North", in a direct reference to the Deep South.

That's totally weird.

I've never heard that.

I hope I never do.

Reminds me of John Howard saying racism isn't a problem in Australia during the Cronulla riots...

John Howard was a racist and was against multiculturalism. That's why he's not PM any more (or did you miss that?).

Don't try to sugar coat it or use excuses, We have terrible race problems. You go anywhere more than an hour from a city and you will see the issues standing out! Neither side of the fence is trying to build a bridge though, A large proportion of aborigines abuse substances regularly and make no effort to change, while a large number of European* Australians spend the time either ignoring the problem or contributing to it. Or of course fighting in amongst themselves.

*By European Australians I mean to involve all non-aborigine Australians

[For the record, I am a patriotic Aussie, but I also hope that I am one that is also able to recognise our problems]

I didn't sugar-coat it or use excuses, so don't you dare attack me.

We are a multi-cultural country. There is racism in other countries. I'm not denying the presence of racism here.

Oh, and you're clearly racist: "A large proportion of aboriginies (oh, by the way, if you didn't realise, that term is both mispelled and politically incorrect) abuse susbtances regularly and make no effort to change" and "European Austalians... [=] non-aborigine Australians". You attacked me for sugar-coating, but what you've done is much worse: ignorance-coating!

I don't even know if there's a point arguing with you.

1. Not all non-Aboriginal Australians are European.
2. Not all Aboriginal people have susbtance abuse problems.
3. Many non-Aboriginal people have substance abuse problems.
4. Some (perhaps many) Aboriginal people do have drug and alcohol problems, and they need to be helped and respected.
5. I'm pretty sure lots of people would have drug problems if they were treated the way that some Aboriginal people are treated.
6. There is racism toward Aboriginal people and we as a country need to make an effort to educate ourselves.
7. It's not that easy for someone to "make an effort to change" when they're poor/homeless/addicted.
8. Many non-Aboriginal people need to make an effort to change their attitudes.
9. Everything the Government seems to be doing is simply wrong: throwing money (and they're not throwing much, mind you) won't fix the problem. We need to build town halls in remote Aboriginal communities, we need to put addicted people into treatment, we need to ensure everyone has an oppertunity to be educated, we need to ensure there are truly equal rights, and we need to educate non-Aboriginal people about our true history.

No. Allergic reactions. Australians mistake them for European wasps and die of heart attacks.

1. Heart attack =/= allergic reaction.
2. Bee =/= wasp.
3. People can die of wasp stings anywhere in the world.
4. People can die of bee stings anywhere in the world.
5. It's not like people go "oh a wasp, I'll sit here because it's not a bee!"
6. You're ignorant.

I'll remember that the next time I wanna yeall at an Aussie... :P

I'm not quite sure was a "yeall" is, but if it's anything like a "yell"... :rolleyes:


Too bad it's not really true. Oz was founded largely because the Crown lost it's dumping ground for it's convict and slave "scum", like my Scots-Irish ancestors, when we rebelled.

1. Aus, not Oz. Our country isn't a drug-fucked ex-rocker.
2. The convict past of Australia seems largely irrelevent in today's society.



Heheheh. I can hear Amor Pulchritudo cringing now...

I like AFL, but I'm not a big follower. I support Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide. I can't stand Rugby League or Rugby Union.

Sorry mate I can be a bit of a drongo at times, too bad what is not really true? that we don't have the same religious hang ups as the Yanks, or are you just taking the piss.

You. Out of my country. Stop enforcing stereotypes.




:p



lol yeah I bet he is, a bit of interstate rivalry is allways good fun. (well mostly)

I have a clitoris.

I can't speak for the world, but I've always wanted to visit and see for myself. Any opinion I have before I do that is strictly hearsay and conjecture.

Considering that the OP was about the identity you currently see (based on films etc), hearsay and conjecture is fine for this purpose.

Australia that place who's leader salutes the president of the US and often does what the president tells him to do.

as such Australia should be considered a territory of the US(not refined enough for state hood)

44 posts? I hope they weren't all as ignorant as this one.

Do you even know who the PM of Australia is?

And yeah, ya'll got that right. I give and take my share of friendly rivalry. :) (And just try and imagine when I explain to my old friends back in Texas why I'm an ice hockey fan and not a football fan... It's been known to make heads explode...)

Ice hockey is teh gay in Australia. There just isn't enough hype or support surrounding it... not that I'm really a fan, but I used to be a skater.

…
2. Not all Aboriginal people have susbtance abuse problems.
3. Many non-Aboriginal people have substance abuse problems.
4. Some (perhaps many) Aboriginal people do have drug and alcohol problems, and they need to be helped and respected.
5. I'm pretty sure lots of people would have drug problems if they were treated the way that some Aboriginal people are treated.
6. There is racism toward Aboriginal people and we as a country need to make an effort to educate ourselves.
7. It's not that easy for someone to "make an effort to change" when they're poor/homeless/addicted.
8. Many non-Aboriginal people need to make an effort to change their attitudes.
9. Everything the Government seems to be doing is simply wrong: throwing money (and they're not throwing much, mind you) won't fix the problem. We need to build town halls in remote Aboriginal communities, we need to put addicted people into treatment, we need to ensure everyone has an oppertunity to be educated, we need to ensure there are truly equal rights, and we need to educate non-Aboriginal people about our true history.

Canada is pretty multicultural too, and has these same problems. Probably every post-colonial country does.

Canada is pretty multicultural too, and has these same problems. Probably every post-colonial country does.

Are those problems specifically to the Indigenous people? Because, that's basically what it's like here. There's also racism toward people of Asian, Indian or African descent (and even people of European descent), but it's not as prevelant as racism toward Aboriginal people.

Are those problems specifically to the Indigenous people? Because, that's basically what it's like here. There's also racism toward people of Asian, Indian or African descent (and even people of European descent), but it's not as prevelant as racism toward Aboriginal people.

Well, there's other racism too here, of course. But alchoholism, drug abuse, regular abuse, and obesity are pretty prevalent in indigenous communites, largely because of the poverty there. And things aren't getting a whole lot better, because of racism, ignorance, and lack of government involvment.

Well, there's other racism too here, of course. But alchoholism, drug abuse, regular abuse, and obesity are pretty prevalent in indigenous communites, largely because of the poverty there. And things aren't getting a whole lot better, because of racism, ignorance, and lack of government involvment.

:(

Oh really?


http://www.cdp.org.au/

Yes really, allow me to clarify it will not become big, sure they may be a small handful of people but it will never be a major issue like in the states

Beneath Clouds is a great film. Australian Rules is good too. Candy, Lantana and Gettin' Square are good too. Japanese Story was Australian... The first ever feature length film was Australian too (a little bit of film-nerdiness showing there...). I might make a list of good Australian films and post them.

The Club
Storm Boy
Pruberty Blues
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The Castle
Babe
The Piano
Moulin Rouge
Chopper
Rabbit Proof Fence
Romulus, My father
Happy feet
Gallipoli
Mad Max
Crocodile Dundee
Shine
As you mentioned the first feature film in the world; The True Story of the Kelly Gang

Of course these are just some and not all are based in Australia, but there are all Australian.

And don't forget TV Australia has produced some excellent TV shows over the past 40 years or so.

The Cronulla riots, while they were undeniabley to do with race, were caused by gang mentality and stupidity.

I wonder if you have had to live amongst the bad Lebanese? (That's not saying all Lebanese are bad) With all the drugs and when your 12 year old daughters are gang raped because she is not a Muslim and is showing to much skin, after all a Mufti said they deserved to be raped, or when the local police station is shot up after because a gang leader was arrested for dealing drugs.

John Howard was a racist and was against multiculturalism. That's why he's not PM any more (or did you miss that?).

Actually that is not the reason

1. Aus, not Oz. Our country isn't a drug-fucked ex-rocker.

Chill mate

I like AFL, but I'm not a big follower. I support Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide. I can't stand Rugby League or Rugby Union.

That says a lot about you :p How can you support two teams in the same league?

I have a clitoris.

What?

Do you even know who the PM of Australia is?

I think he might as it was the current PM who saluted the President.

Aussies are descended from convicts banished from the British ilse's for cutting purses and throats on the streets of London town. These days most aussies are inbred racist drunks who long ago destroyed most of their continent country by parading invasive species throughout the land. The people of Australia take pride in their cultural diversity and celebrate it every chance they get through such gatherings as the Sydney Race Riots which they reenact every year. In fact, Australia recently changed their national motto to "1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a race war" in honor of this event.

Australian cuisine, consisting entirely of Vegemite, a delicious salty black yeast extract, is stored and served in koala and kangaroo assholes and spread on curly yellow toe nail clippings which also happen to be Australia's main export as a cheap subsitute for Fritos.

Think of Australia as the Brits' deep, deep south.

As a side note, Australia has an almost unique distinction of being one of a very select few nations to have its own mini-clone. Australia Jr. is like its larger counterpart in every way except it's about 1/8 the size and so are all the mens' dicks.

I considered cracking a joke about how native Australians spear-headed a musical renaissance during the 70s but it seemed in bad taste.

Crocodile Dundee.

You're absolutely right. The way they put the french to the sword and then won the World Cup.........oh dear, I can see my mistake now :D

Remind us all when the All Blacks last won anything significant, something that involved beating more than one team :D:D

Actually, we would have won, except the All Blacks were up against sixteen people; fifteen French players and one very biased ref.

Also, yep, the ABs won the 2007 Tri Nations

44 posts? I hope they weren't all as ignorant as this one.

Do you even know who the PM of Australia is?

Mr. Rudd if i am not mistaken. wow I fear you Aussies(if you are indeed Aussie) do not have a sense of humor at all. I was brining up the incident where Mr. Rudd took flack in the media for saluting bush. If anything Mr. Rudd is against blind support of American policies, now his predecessor Mr. Howard could be argued to be much closer to blindly supporting American policy.

Mr. Rudd if i am not mistaken. wow I fear you Aussies(if you are indeed Aussie) do not have a sense of humor at all.

we do, but what you said not funny to us and lot of us would tell you what you said to put it where the sun don't shine

we do, but what you said not funny to us and lot of us would tell you what you said to put it where the sun don't shine

I found it funny because the current PM is about as far from kissing the U.S.'s ass as any Pm in the last 20 years has been. but maybe it is just something poli sci majors get.

I found it funny because the current PM is about as far from kissing the U.S.'s ass as any Pm in the last 20 years has been. but maybe it is just something poli sci majors get.

it's Howard fault the way he was leading us,we could have ended up as a state to the US, an that left a bad taste in our mouths

it's Howard fault the way he was leading us,we could have ended up as a state to the US, an that left a bad taste in our mouths

Funny how that drama played out in Oz. Hardly a notice here in the states. Which leads me to believe it was a lot about nothing.

No. Allergic reactions. Australians mistake them for European wasps and die of heart attacks.

1. Heart attack =/= allergic reaction.
2. Bee =/= wasp.
3. People can die of wasp stings anywhere in the world.
4. People can die of bee stings anywhere in the world.
5. It's not like people go "oh a wasp, I'll sit here because it's not a bee!"
6. You're ignorant.

I was joking, taking the piss, being ridiculous, having fun. You know, sorta like drop bears, etc. The next two posters understood.

I have a clitoris.

In a jar?

Funny how that drama played out in Oz. Hardly a notice here in the states. Which leads me to believe it was a lot about nothing.

it's Funny how you pointed out it was played out Here and that you are in the States,Which leads me to believe you would not know nothing about how it played out as it hardly going to be in your news would it now

WTF is that ? Sounds dreadful. Can't be worse than SA, though. I served with an Aussie in the US military. We were the only two who had our citizenship questioned ( if you were born anywhere else and attempt to join the US military, be prepared for that constant hassle). He was a great guy, though, and he got along better in Texas than I did (I'm a Jewish city boy). So, from what I gathered, Aussies are more like people in the US or Canada than they are from any Commonwealth folk. Which is good, because I really do think Americans and Canadians are some of the most misunderstood people in the world.

I think they taste pretty awful.

I love them, they're my favourite biscuits.

Yes, I remember you. :)



"That six-pack'll be one and a half koalas, mate."

"Alas, Fuzzy, I must now cut you in half! It's for beer, you understand."

*chop*

How much for a slab then?

You are obviously Victorian/SAian... You wierd southerners with your quaint AFL... (most ridiculous game ever invented)... It must be the vitamin D deficiency getting to you...

also, I want to put a few sassy and humorous remarks here calling you incestuous, but I can't think of anything overly witty to say atm...

Try Vic, SA, WA, Tas or NT.

You're pretty much isolated in NSW & Qld with your love of thick necks & bum sniffing. ;)

Aussies are descended from convicts banished from the British ilse's for cutting purses and throats on the streets of London town. These days most aussies are inbred racist drunks who long ago destroyed most of their continent country by parading invasive species throughout the land. The people of Australia take pride in their cultural diversity and celebrate it every chance they get through such gatherings as the Sydney Race Riots which they reenact every year. In fact, Australia recently changed their national motto to "1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a race war" in honor of this event.

Australian cuisine, consisting entirely of Vegemite, a delicious salty black yeast extract, is stored and served in koala and kangaroo assholes and spread on curly yellow toe nail clippings which also happen to be Australia's main export as a cheap subsitute for Fritos.

Think of Australia as the Brits' deep, deep south.

As a side note, Australia has an almost unique distinction of being one of a very select few nations to have its own mini-clone. Australia Jr. is like its larger counterpart in every way except it's about 1/8 the size and so are all the mens' dicks.

I considered cracking a joke about how native Australians spear-headed a musical renaissance during the 70s but it seemed in bad taste.

What a well reasoned post. :rolleyes:

Congratulations.

*snip*

I considered cracking a joke about how native Australians spear-headed a musical renaissance during the 70s but it seemed in bad taste.

I'm racking my brain trying to connect Aboriginal music with Punk, but I'm not getting anything. Perhaps you mean Rap, but it still doesn't make any sense.

If the point seems "in bad taste" to you, I guess it's "rantingly insane" to any other poster ...

Actually, we would have won, except the All Blacks choked, just like they did in 2003 and 1999 and just like they will in 2011 which will be even funnier because it will be at home.

Also, yep, the ABs won the 2007 Tri Nations

Fixed your typo.

I'll give you the Tri-Nations even though it only really means beating South Africa, even England can beat Australia :D

I'm racking my brain trying to connect Aboriginal music with Punk, but I'm not getting anything. Perhaps you mean Rap, but it still doesn't make any sense.
Perhaps you've heard of "ABBO"?

People who use really long knives to put a funny jelly on their toast while surfing on a CROCK!

Heehee...

I actually don't think of Australia as much as I do other countries. It's just sort of a mystery to me, I suppose. I think of it as a vibrant, sunny place, and I think more of the wildlife than I do of the people, admittedly. I have sugar gliders (Australian equivalent to a possum, in both role and physiology, if I'm not mistaken), so I occasionally think of where they'd be living if they'd been born there, and...I dunno. It strikes me as tough, but healthy.

(after reading the previous posts) o.o; Sorry to interrupt the arguing...don't mind me.

it's Howard fault the way he was leading us,we could have ended up as a state to the US, an that left a bad taste in our mouths

didn't realize you ozzies had such a bad taste in your mouth. In which case I apologizes if my humor offended you.

it's Funny how you pointed out it was played out Here and that you are in the States,Which leads me to believe you would not know nothing about how it played out as it hardly going to be in your news would it now

Funny how you assume I don't know shit about what is going on in the rest of the world. I have damn near every sat channel available to man. I also watch probably to much BBC. Which as you know covers Ozz. Also with the Internet at ones disposal hardly any nations news is national anymore. Don't assume next time young man.

Perhaps you've heard of "ABBO"?

Mein gott, ain't seen a punk'n like that in some time.

1. Aus, not Oz. Our country isn't a drug-fucked ex-rocker....or a penitentiary.
BTW - you knew about him snorting red ants, right?

I have a clitoris.

AMEN to that!!!!!! :)

didn't realize you ozzies had such a bad taste in your mouth. In which case I apologizes if my humor offended you.

If it helps, I thought it was clearly humorous, if a little... vulgar. I mean, you could at least have made the reference oblique. I dunno, maybe its because the salute thing was so over-publicised here that you could have made a much more subtle reference and got the point across.

Fixed your typo.

I'll give you the Tri-Nations even though it only really means beating South Africa, even England can beat Australia :D

Nope, in 1999, we did choke, in 2003, we lost discipline, but in 2007, the game should have been ours. That game was only denied to us because of Wayne Barnes the Bastard and his shoody referring decisions (which included giving a yellow card to the ABs for an offence, and looking the other way when the French committed the same offence ten minutes later). In fact, it would probably be similar to 1995 where underhanded tactics made the ABs lose the RWC (in 1995, Suzy poisoned the squad).

Also, let us not forget that the All Blacks are one better than all other teams in this respect - no other Rugby team can say that they have beaten all their opponents over the years more than half the time.

Mein gott, ain't seen a punk'n like that in some time.
I'm still here, folks!

You have to admit it was good.

If it helps, I thought it was clearly humorous, if a little... vulgar. I mean, you could at least have made the reference oblique. I dunno, maybe its because the salute thing was so over-publicised here that you could have made a much more subtle reference and got the point across.

but then the mass majority of Yanks would not have know anything about it.
my understanding is where the PM is from a salute is almost like a hand shake...
so i was trying to play off of typical American misinterpretation of things.

but then the mass majority of Yanks would not have know anything about it.
my understanding is where the PM is from a salute is almost like a hand shake...
so i was trying to play off of typical American misinterpretation of things.

If you mean that a salute is the equivalent of a handshake in Australia, then you are quite wrong. They are most definitely not the same thing.

I'm still here, folks!

You have to admit it was good.
Well, i did make some feeble attempt at invocation over it, so yes, you moved me. :p

Yes really, allow me to clarify it will not become big, sure they may be a small handful of people but it will never be a major issue like in the states



The Club
Storm Boy
Pruberty Blues
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The Castle
Babe
The Piano
Moulin Rouge
Chopper
Rabbit Proof Fence
Romulus, My father
Happy feet
Gallipoli
Mad Max
Crocodile Dundee
Shine
As you mentioned the first feature film in the world; The True Story of the Kelly Gang

Of course these are just some and not all are based in Australia, but there are all Australian.

And don't forget TV Australia has produced some excellent TV shows over the past 40 years or so.

I probably wouldn't group all of those under "good" films.



I wonder if you have had to live amongst the bad Lebanese? (That's not saying all Lebanese are bad) With all the drugs and when your 12 year old daughters are gang raped because she is not a Muslim and is showing to much skin, after all a Mufti said they deserved to be raped, or when the local police station is shot up after because a gang leader was arrested for dealing drugs.

Uh, I wonder if you realise that girls get raped by nice little white boys too?



Actually that is not the reason

That's part of the reason.


That says a lot about you :p How can you support two teams in the same league?

Because my family is well known for playing for Port.



What?

Oh, sorry, sweetheart, don't you know where yours is?

I was implying that I wasn't a male. Perhaps you didn't get it... mate.

Aussies are descended from convicts banished from the British ilse's for cutting purses and throats on the streets of London town. These days most aussies are inbred racist drunks who long ago destroyed most of their continent country by parading invasive species throughout the land. The people of Australia take pride in their cultural diversity and celebrate it every chance they get through such gatherings as the Sydney Race Riots which they reenact every year. In fact, Australia recently changed their national motto to "1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a race war" in honor of this event.

Australian cuisine, consisting entirely of Vegemite, a delicious salty black yeast extract, is stored and served in koala and kangaroo assholes and spread on curly yellow toe nail clippings which also happen to be Australia's main export as a cheap subsitute for Fritos.

Think of Australia as the Brits' deep, deep south.

As a side note, Australia has an almost unique distinction of being one of a very select few nations to have its own mini-clone. Australia Jr. is like its larger counterpart in every way except it's about 1/8 the size and so are all the mens' dicks.

I considered cracking a joke about how native Australians spear-headed a musical renaissance during the 70s but it seemed in bad taste.

LOL. FAIL.

In a jar?

Yep, and it's on the same shelf as the jar that holds your balls.

Funny how you assume I don't know shit about what is going on in the rest of the world. I have damn near every sat channel available to man. I also watch probably to much BBC. Which as you know covers Ozz. Also with the Internet at ones disposal hardly any nations news is national anymore. Don't assume next time young man.

Hahaha, you think that satellite TV makes you wordly? That's so funny.



AMEN to that!!!!!! :)

Indeed.

Yep, and it's on the same shelf as the jar that holds your balls.


Perhaps I'm also female. You have made the same assumption that upset yourself earlier.

But yes, I used to have balls. I was wondering where they got to.

Any chance of mailing them to me?

I probably wouldn't group all of those under "good" films.

No neither would I was merely making a list of Australian films.

Uh, I wonder if you realise that girls get raped by nice little white boys too?

Yes I do as do Aboriginals, Asians, Africans. However I was referring to those communities which have been torn and put in a state of fear and high crime, due to an increase in Muslims who have decided to break the law and keep the other people living there in a state of terror.

I wonder if you have ever had to live in one on those neighbourhoods?

That's part of the reason.

No it is not, just because you may not have voted for him because of that doesn't mean that is why he was voted out. Remember he gained a lot of public support for those views.

Because my family is well known for playing for Port.

Really? I would ask who they are but I suppose you want to keep some sort of anonymity on here.

Oh, sorry, sweetheart, don't you know where yours is?

I was implying that I wasn't a male. Perhaps you didn't get it... mate.

Actually I did get that bit, but I thought you were referring to something deeper, as in What was the significance of saying that?

Most of us are a lot more laid back than the people in this thread.

Australia produced Steve Irwin, so it's very cool. Unfortunately, his legacy will eventually fade, forcing them to move Australia to the mid-atlantic (http://www.satirewire.com/news/jan02/australia.shtml). :(

........yadda yadda yadda.....Also, let us not forget that the All Blacks are one better than all other teams in this respect - no other Rugby team can say that they have beaten all their opponents over the years more than half the time.

Except when it matters.

If the ABs were that good then a dodgy decision or two against them (and lets not forget how many seem to go in their favour) shouldn't have made a difference.
They are the world's best in the years between World Cups but seem to have this bizarre view that the Webb Ellis trophy is theirs by right and they just need to turn up to win it.
Much as it pains me to say it England gave a perfect example of how to win in 2003, be the best team in the world for the 18 months before the RWC, beat everyone home and away and aim to peak at the right time, not two years away from the finals.

Except when it matters.

If the ABs were that good then a dodgy decision or two against them (and lets not forget how many seem to go in their favour) shouldn't have made a difference.
They are the world's best in the years between World Cups but seem to have this bizarre view that the Webb Ellis trophy is theirs by right and they just need to turn up to win it.
Much as it pains me to say it England gave a perfect example of how to win in 2003, be the best team in the world for the 18 months before the RWC, beat everyone home and away and aim to peak at the right time, not two years away from the finals.

Actually, I would argue that the All Blacks tend to peak in the year of the Rugby World Cup; the only year that they did horribly that was a World Cup year was 1991. I suppose the other thing that doesn't help is that the All Blacks always end up with horrible pools (I mean, the strongest opponent we usually get at pool stage is Italy). Each of the World Cups, you have to admit, something goes wrong and it isn't because of poor peaking. In 1995, it was food poisoning, in 1999, they just fell apart, in 2003, discipline went down the tubes, and in 2007, it was dodgy referring. The score that day should have been 23/25-13 to the All Blacks - it wasn't just a couple of dodgy decisions, it was several dodgy decisions and big ones too. Missing a forward pass is pretty difficult for a ref to do (especially when surrounded by millions of touch judges), as well as not yellow carding the French when they committed the same error as the All Blacks had ten minutes earlier

Actually, I would argue that the All Blacks tend to peak in the year of the Rugby World Cup; the only year that they did horribly that was a World Cup year was 1991. I suppose the other thing that doesn't help is that the All Blacks always end up with horrible pools (I mean, the strongest opponent we usually get at pool stage is Italy). Each of the World Cups, you have to admit, something goes wrong and it isn't because of poor peaking. In 1995, it was food poisoning, in 1999, they just fell apart, in 2003, discipline went down the tubes, and in 2007, it was dodgy referring. The score that day should have been 23/25-13 to the All Blacks - it wasn't just a couple of dodgy decisions, it was several dodgy decisions and big ones too. Missing a forward pass is pretty difficult for a ref to do (especially when surrounded by millions of touch judges), as well as not yellow carding the French when they committed the same error as the All Blacks had ten minutes earlier

The ABs have been on the receiving end of an awful lot of poor decisions that went in their favour as well, don't see anyone in a black shirt complaining about that. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Look at England Wales in this years 6 Nations. First Half England were all over us, We were whinging and giving away penalties by the bucketful, with the result 50/50 decisions went against us. Second half we stopped moaning and got on with playing rugby, disregard the dodgy calls and score more points than the opposition. Your point about the pool matches is what exactly? You don't do well because the opposition is too easy?
I dmit something has happened each world cup since 87 to upset the kiwifruit cart, but maybe there's a common factor there let's all see if we can identify it. Oh look, it always happens to the All Blacks.
This time South Africa were without a doubt the best team in the Tornament and Bryan Habana was the player of the tournament, in 2003 (Grits teeth) England were the best team, Jonny Wilkinson was the golden boy and Martin Johnson was the most influential player in the team, in 1999 it was the Australians by a long way, in 1995 the All Blacks were a one man team, and once the Yarpies worked out how to contain Lomu there didn't seem to be a plan "B" apart from more of Plan "A" and when that didn't work oh I don't know, let's try plan "A" again.
I said it before but it's worth repeating, England 2002-2003 showed a masterclass in winning the competition. They had a game plan that could be adapted to change in whatever situation they found themselves, look at the quarterfinals against us. All of a sudden we find ourselves on the plane home and the blokes in white carry on. Look at us again in 2007 against Fiji. Same trick again, we try chucking the ball about when we should have stuck it in the forwards and sat on it for the last 25 minutes.
Now look at the All Blacks, as soon as it doesn't go according to plan it all goes tits up. Having read Anton Oliver's autobiography I think the problem is in the All Blacks culture, no one was allowed to question the way it's done. No one was expected to have ideas if they hadn't got 25 caps. The French played off the cuff in 1999 and 2007 and stuffed the ABs both times.
Successful World Cup teams don't let the opposition dictate the style of play, and have a gameplan that can adapt to the conditions.
That's why the Webb Ellis trophy has not been to Wellington since 1987, not some perceived refereeing bias or chapters of ill fortune.

But yes, I used to have balls. I was wondering where they got to.

Any chance of mailing them to me?

Sure, what's your address?

Yes I do as do Aboriginals, Asians, Africans. However I was referring to those communities which have been torn and put in a state of fear and high crime, due to an increase in Muslims who have decided to break the law and keep the other people living there in a state of terror.

I wonder if you have ever had to live in one on those neighbourhoods?

No one really has to live anywhere.



No it is not, just because you may not have voted for him because of that doesn't mean that is why he was voted out. Remember he gained a lot of public support for those views.

Well, cleary it was part of it, because my reasoning isn't exactly exclusive.

Really? I would ask who they are but I suppose you want to keep some sort of anonymity on here.

I'd really prefer it if all of NSG didn't know my last name.


Actually I did get that bit, but I thought you were referring to something deeper, as in What was the significance of saying that?

I think you're over analysisng.

Most of us are a lot more laid back than the people in this thread.

The lesson of this whole exercise is that you can't generalise. Everybody's different.

No one really has to live anywhere.

While I disagree with that statement you are just trying to deny the issue, I could give you a few scenarios but I won't, I will rearrange the question. Have you ever lived in one of those neighbourhoods?



Well, cleary it was part of it, because my reasoning isn't exactly exclusive.

I would be willing to bet that you didn't vote for him in 2004 or 2001 or at the very least didn't support him, like a lot of other people who have your non exclusive reasoning. So no he was not voted out for the reason you gave, and this information comes from two well respected political scientists, both of whom have based most of their work on why people vote they way they do.

I'd really prefer it if all of NSG didn't know my last name.

That is what I figured. Well done to the boys who managed to win their first game on the weekend, If your family played I hoped they played well, I thought it was a good game all round from the team


I think you're over analysisng.

It is just a strange thing to say especially in regards to the post I made which you quoted, that is why I was all WTF?

Cheaters!!!!!!

Because my family is well known for playing for Port.

YAY, a true person

roo's, road trains, and the null arbour.

(also diges and the rabbit proof fence)

when i was little they were still paying people to move there. or so i was told at the time. i wish i'd been one of them. especially BEFORE viet nam.

=^^=
.../\...

While I disagree with that statement you are just trying to deny the issue, I could give you a few scenarios but I won't, I will rearrange the question. Have you ever lived in one of those neighbourhoods?



No, I'm not trying to deny the issue. I just think you're whining about something that has nothing to do with the OP.



I would be willing to bet that you didn't vote for him in 2004 or 2001 or at the very least didn't support him, like a lot of other people who have your non exclusive reasoning. So no he was not voted out for the reason you gave, and this information comes from two well respected political scientists, both of whom have based most of their work on why people vote they way they do.

Didn't I just say it was part of the reasoning?

And I didn't vote for him in 2004 or 2001 because I wasn't old enough to vote, so when it came to my decision to pick a party, so you can't say that absolutely nobody voted for Kevin Rudd (partly) because John Howard is against multiculturalism.

It is just a strange thing to say especially in regards to the post I made which you quoted, that is why I was all WTF?

You called me a "he".

I was implying that I am, in fact, a "she".

I can't really see why you're confused.

Perhaps it's because...
[you]can be a bit of a drongo at times

No, I'm not trying to deny the issue. I just think you're whining about something that has nothing to do with the OP....

You brought it up, I was mearly responding.

Didn't I just say it was part of the reasoning?

And I didn't vote for him in 2004 or 2001 because I wasn't old enough to vote, so when it came to my decision to pick a party, so you can't say that absolutely nobody voted for Kevin Rudd (partly) because John Howard is against multiculturalism....

I knew you may not have been old enough thats why I said support him, I am assuming that you had an interest in politics before you became 18.

I am not saying that nobody voted for Kevin Rudd (Labor Party) because John Howard is against multiculturalism. What I am saying is that that is not the reason why John Howard was not voted out many of the people who voted Labor because John Howard is against multiculturalism voted Labor in 2001 and 2004 for that reason, thus Howard lost no votes as they didn't vote for him before, so the reason why John Howard lost the 2007 election was not because he was against multiculturalism.

You called me a "he".

I was implying that I am, in fact, a "she".

I can't really see why you're confused.

Perhaps it's because...

Haha yes I am, ok I didn't see that I called you a he.

You brought it up, I was mearly responding.

No, you brought up the "bad suburbs" conversation.



I knew you may not have been old enough thats why I said support him, I am assuming that you had an interest in politics before you became 18
I am not saying that nobody voted for Kevin Rudd (Labor Party) because John Howard is against multiculturalism. What I am saying is that that is not the reason why John Howard was not voted out many of the people who voted Labor because John Howard is against multiculturalism voted Labor in 2001 and 2004 for that reason, thus Howard lost no votes as they didn't vote for him before, so the reason why John Howard lost the 2007 election was not because he was against multiculturalism.

You should re-assess your logic, because as I said, I wasn't someone who voted Labor because Howard was against multiculturalism: I was a NEW voter.

Anyway, this discussion is over.

Haha yes I am, ok I didn't see that I called you a he.

:rolleyes:

roo's, road trains, and the null arbour.

(also diges and the rabbit proof fence)

when i was little they were still paying people to move there. or so i was told at the time. i wish i'd been one of them. especially BEFORE viet nam.

=^^=
.../\...

?

Vintners. Australia's wine is starting to challenge the best in the world. France is no longer (if it ever was) the gold standard.

Violent theft and, not coincidentally, legendary drinking abilities.

No, you brought up the "bad suburbs" conversation.

No you brought up the whole Cronulla riots incident and I was going on from that as to why the incident that started this broke the camels back, after all the other problems that had been going on because of Muslim Lebanese


You should re-assess your logic, because as I said, I wasn't someone who voted Labor because Howard was against multiculturalism: I was a NEW voter.

Anyway, this discussion is over.

I don't think so, I may have misread your posts and thought that you voted for Labor because Howard was against multiculturalism. So in acknowledging that, my logic (in regards to those who never did support him, so Howard didn't lose votes from those people even if they did vote against him because they thought he was racist, he never had they votes so how could he lose their support) is correct. And even if it is wrong the reason why Howard was voted out was not because he was against multiculturalism. Now this conversation is over

That big rock next to China where the people say "mate" and are prone to ignoring blatant facts during legal procedures *Cough* Chamberlains *Cough*

Jews. Lots of Jews. Dirty, smelly, money grubbing Jews.

JEWS!

No you brought up the whole Cronulla riots incident and I was going on from that as to why the incident that started this broke the camels back, after all the other problems that had been going on because of Muslim Lebanese

No, I didn't bring up Cronulla. Someone else did. You really need to learn to read before you speak.




I don't think so, I may have misread your posts and thought that you voted for Labor because Howard was against multiculturalism. So in acknowledging that, my logic (in regards to those who never did support him, so Howard didn't lose votes from those people even if they did vote against him because they thought he was racist, he never had they votes so how could he lose their support) is correct. And even if it is wrong the reason why Howard was voted out was not because he was against multiculturalism. Now this conversation is over

Maybe you need glasses... Or patience. Or intellect?

You still dont understand. If someone is a new voter, John Howard didn't have or not have my vote. My vote didn't exist. When it came to my decision, I voted Rudd partially in order to vote Howard out because he's against multiculturalism. He lost my vote, because it was a vote that either party could have earned. Therefore, Howard was voted out partially (albeit only a portion of the overall reasoning) because of his racism.

No you brought up the whole Cronulla riots incident and I was going on from that as to why the incident that started this broke the camels back, after all the other problems that had been going on because of Muslim Lebanese

No, I didn't bring up Cronulla. Someone else did. You really need to learn to read before you speak.




I don't think so, I may have misread your posts and thought that you voted for Labor because Howard was against multiculturalism. So in acknowledging that, my logic (in regards to those who never did support him, so Howard didn't lose votes from those people even if they did vote against him because they thought he was racist, he never had they votes so how could he lose their support) is correct. And even if it is wrong the reason why Howard was voted out was not because he was against multiculturalism. Now this conversation is over

Maybe you need glasses... Or patience. Or intellect?

You still dont understand. If someone is a new voter, John Howard didn't have or not have my vote. My vote didn't exist. When it came to my decision, I voted Rudd partially in order to vote Howard out because he's against multiculturalism. He lost my vote, because it was a vote that either party could have earned. Therefore, Howard was voted out partially (albeit only a portion of the overall reasoning) because of his racism.

No, I didn't bring up Cronulla. Someone else did. You really need to learn to read before you speak.


Yes but you gave your misguided reasoning behind them, I gave you why those riots started. While it may not have much to do with the OP it was brought up in this thread and so will be discussed. Perhaps you should listen to your own advie as you said I brought up the bad sububs conversation, which was part of the cornulla riots, which as you say someone else brought up


You still dont understand. If someone is a new voter, John Howard didn't have or not have my vote. My vote didn't exist. When it came to my decision, I voted Rudd partially in order to vote Howard out because he's against multiculturalism. He lost my vote, because it was a vote that either party could have earned. Therefore, Howard was voted out partially (albeit only a portion of the overall reasoning) because of his racism.

Your vote didn't count mate, trust me I know you are new to this but believe me unless you are sitting in a very marginal seat your vote means little as a whole. Now you by yourself (and a few others like you) did not vote him out I know you are a new voter but he lost due to the swinging voters who voted in the previous election (I know this because the biggest swings came from age groups who were obligated to vote in the 2004 election). It is those votes who changed the government, and it was not because he was against multiculturalism, if you disagree take it up with Dean Jeansch and Dr Haydon Manning.

All I know about Australia i learnt watching the simpsons episode where they go to Australia :D

All I know about Australia i learnt watching the simpsons episode where they go to Australia :D

Yes but you gave your misguided reasoning behind them, I gave you why those riots started. While it may not have much to do with the OP it was brought up in this thread and so will be discussed. Perhaps you should listen to your own advie as you said I brought up the bad sububs conversation, which was part of the cornulla riots, which as you say someone else brought up

Pfft, how is saying it was because of gang mentality misguided? Even if it was based on race/poverty/bad suburbs/global warming they still had a gang mentality.




Your vote didn't count mate, trust me I know you are new to this but believe me unless you are sitting in a very marginal seat your vote means little as a whole. Now you by yourself (and a few others like you) did not vote him out I know you are a new voter but he lost due to the swinging voters who voted in the previous election (I know this because the biggest swings came from age groups who were obligated to vote in the 2004 election). It is those votes who changed the government, and it was not because he was against multiculturalism, if you disagree take it up with Dean Jeansch and Dr Haydon Manning.

1. Every vote counts. There is no whole without the one.
2. He still could have had my vote & you don't seem to be able to grasp that concept.
3. Don't embarrass the country by not putting a comma before "mate".



Your anger makes me LOL.

What do you see as Australia's national identity/culture/character based on Australian films, television, art, literature, music etc? What qualities do you assume an Australian possesses?

It doesn't matter, we're all going to die anyway.

ANZAC Day tomorrow. Howard was very big on ANZAC spirit & banging on about the diggers. I haven't heard as much from Rudd about it this year. I'll be interested to see what, if any, effect that has on the national consciousness of it.

Personally, I'm going to the 'G tomorrow to watch the Mighty Pies (http://collingwoodfc.com.au/) smash (fingers crossed) Essendon. :)

They're expecting a crowd of 90,000 plus.

Pfft, how is saying it was because of gang mentality misguided? Even if it was based on race/poverty/bad suburbs/global warming they still had a gang mentality.


More to do with the stupidity bit, they didn't do it because they were stupid but because they had, had enough.



1. Every vote counts. There is no whole without the one.
2. He still could have had my vote & you don't seem to be able to grasp that concept.
3. Don't embarrass the country by not putting a comma before "mate".

Your anger makes me LOL.

1. Well what ever helps you sleep at night. If I hadn't voted the same person would be the representative in my electorate and the same party would hold the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.

2. No I understand that of course are you saying that in the lead up to the last election he changed his tune to multiculturalism then you would have been more inclined to support him (I know that wasn't the only issue that affected your reasoning), what you seem not to understand is that he was not voted out because he was against multiculturalism as you claim.John Howard was a racist and was against multiculturalism. That's why he's not PM any more (or did you miss that?). It doesn't matter if it was part of your reasoning or a few others it was not the main reason why he was voted out, if fact this issue was low on the scale of what was important in making their decision.

3. I may just be showing the world my poor education, you can thank the state for that.

I am not angry about anything, I just hope that you will understand why John Howard and the Liberal Party were voted out.


ANZAC Day tomorrow. Howard was very big on ANZAC spirit & banging on about the diggers. I haven't heard as much from Rudd about it this year. I'll be interested to see what, if any, effect that has on the national consciousness of it.

Personally, I'm going to the 'G tomorrow to watch the Mighty Pies (http://collingwoodfc.com.au/) smash (fingers crossed) Essendon. :)

They're expecting a crowd of 90,000 plus.

Yeah he hasn't said much at all remember he was the man who wanted Sunrise to fake a dawn service on ANZAC day last year. Some people have no respect.

ANZAC Day tomorrow. Howard was very big on ANZAC spirit & banging on about the diggers. I haven't heard as much from Rudd about it this year. I'll be interested to see what, if any, effect that has on the national consciousness of it.

Personally, I'm going to the 'G tomorrow to watch the Mighty Pies (http://collingwoodfc.com.au/) smash (fingers crossed) Essendon. :)

They're expecting a crowd of 90,000 plus.

I think Rudd's relative silence on the matter is in many ways indicative of his lack of militaristic pride. He seems to be taking a more "military is not the answer, so I don't really feel the need to bang on about about a bunch of decent guys who died for no reason" stance. It's hard to get across what I mean (late night last night...) but we've consistently seen that he has a sort of apathy or maybe just a disengagement with the military. He's selected a non-military governor general, he didn't attend the HMAS Sydney service (something Howard would DEFINATLEY gone to) and he hasn't made all sorts of pompous speeches about respecting the fallen.


Also, Go Bombers!

They're quirky, in that characteristic British commonwealth sort of way.

*snip*

Yeah he hasn't said much at all remember he was the man who wanted Sunrise to fake a dawn service on ANZAC day last year. Some people have no respect.

I did say I haven't heard as much from Rudd about it this year.

Rudd has been very quiet about it in the lead-up to it this year. In past years, Howard would have been talking about if often, from about Februaury-March onwards.