Vash the Stampede

Some excerpts from this book, painstakingly copied out by myself during a marathon typing session this evening:

I own this book myself, and would recommend it to anyone.

Buzzy--Bee

Thank you for taking the trouble to post this Vash. You are obviously stereotypically eccentric

Cheers

Buzzy

moneypenny20

I love that Sums up Australians to me Loved the bit[QUOTE ]Nothing is sacrosanct. An Aussie introduced his frail, 60-year-old mother who had limited vision, with the remark: "This is me mum, she don't look so good."[/QUOTE] my sort of humour.
I will attempt to send K but imagine I will get the spreading message so you may have to imagine it

tonyk38

You have the patience of a saint Vash if you sat down and typed all this out! Thanks for bothering as it was very entertaining!

Sir Les Patterson

hi vash thanks for that ...the mother in law who lives on the gold coast bought me that book when i went to visit in 2003 ..... love the bit about the national dish being meat pies and 50,000,000 flies can't be wrong lol

kiwichild

Sounds great vash but the bit on work and holidays etc might need updating in light of the new IR laws also, aussies DO tend to over focus and equally salivate at the though of money, power and status. They might cut down 'tall poppies' but in another sense seem to aspire to be one themselves.

Vash the Stampede

Ooops, you're right - I completely forgot about it!

Sorry folks - and sorry, Pollyanna!

For those who managed to read it before it was edited out - I hope you found it informative.

Wendy

I did. It was a good read.

I do think I must be Australian, cos most of it sounded just like me

Vash the Stampede

Yeah, that's what my mother says too.

Vash the Stampede

For some reason, that doesn't surprise me.

Vash the Stampede

I wasn't aware that the new IR laws were aimed at reducing our holidays. Is that what you're saying?

Everyone salivates at the thought of money, power and status - that's human nature.

The point that this book makes is that - unlike some other nations - money, power and status are not held up in Australian society as the be-all and end-all of a person's existence, or even as the only goals to which a person should aspire.

Yes, Australians have aspirations - and there's nothing wrong with that.

As for the infamous "Tall Poppy Syndrome", in which anyone successful is allegedly scorned, derided and generally snubbed... well, I take a skeptical view on this subject. I don't actually believe it exists - at least, not in the form of the popularly accepted definition.

Contrary to popular myth, Aussies do appreciate achievers. They admire, respect and support other Australians who do well; heck, they even admire, respect and support Australians who fail, provided that enough effort was put into the attempt!

What Australians don't appreciate is people who let their success go to their heads. People who thrive on publicity, and look down on others after achieving the goals that they worked for, are (justifiably IMHO) cut down to size.

Hutch

Alive and well in the UK. Build 'em up ... and knock 'em down ... the self-perpetuating cry of the British media...

Vash the Stampede

If you're looking for an excellent overview of Aussie culture, history and society, Convict Creations is arguably the best place to start. (It also has an excellent "Yanks/Aussies" comparison page, for those interested in the differences and similarities of both nations.)

For a more detailed analysis of the Australian psyche (with particular reference to social attitudes) click here.

Jonahs_mummy

My mum bought it for my hubby (Sir Les) - it is very funny!

BadgeIsBack

Bang on the money. Vash.