Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hello!...I have been in Sydney now for 3 weeks and all seemed to be going fairly well apart from the incredible homesickness that I had been suffering from. Last night I went out with some people from work, we all probably had a little too much to drink and someone who I haven't really clicked with made a comment about me and the brits that was really rude. Has anyone else found this?

I have never had this before and so it made me even more homesick :(

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Homesick for all those rude people back there? I'm sorry, but rude people are everywhere (especially when drunk). Racial prejudice is equally ubiquitous. It crops up here often enough!

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

As I`ve lived in both countries, and am Australian, I can honestly say that there has always been more animosity in Aus against the English than there is in the UK against the Aussies. I don`t know exactly why, but I think also that alot of those truly hateful people (as opposed to the people who are just taking the `p` and having a joke) are actually of Italian, Greek etc origin/descent. Again, I don`t know why.

Put it this way. In the UK you could paint an Aussie flag on the roof of your car and no-one would mind. In Aus if you painted a Union Jack on the roof or bonnet your car would be vandalised within a month... probably within a week.

I`m ashamed of this particular attitude of my countrymen who have forgotten their roots. Maybe it`s jealousy as the UK has alot more history and culture, or historical because of Gallipoli. Whichever, I`m proud of being Australian, and also proud of my English and Scottish heritage.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

U sure it wasnt said tongue in cheek? theres often some banter between aussies and brits - just look at some of the posts on this forum - its mostly good natured :beer:

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hubby works with a broad range of people, including Asians, Somalians etc he was amazed at the race remarks that goes on between the different races.
The difference he says is that to a certain extent they are made in fun and are taken as such. If the remarks were made in the UK he said most people would take offence. He has learnt to be taken fun of and now understands that it is somehow a way of life here that we all live together and can take the mickey out of each other.
Dunno if this helps or explains anything, being here is certainly an eye opener, Steve's old boss constantly took the mickey, but was a great guy, he actually said he rips him to bits so much as a pom because the British didn't do a good enough job of cleansing Australia they way they did Taz! I don't think the English get it half as bad as the aboriginal race over here.

Jenny

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

I would be more worried if it was someone I had clicked with. I got alot of barbed comments when I was in Britain about being Australian. Some people just can't see the person behind the nationality regardless of where it is. Sometimes the hardest thing about being in a new country is being defined by where you come from rather than by who you are. That person is rude and you will be glad you don't have to try and click with them in future!!

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Cheers for that folks.

It was definitely not said in a "fun" way. I get the normal banter at work and this was something very very different, and I think I felt worse because I was in an area of Sydney I don't know and just wanted to go back to the UK after that. Its now made me want to stay and show them even more!!! I had heard off lots of people that some aussies can be abrupt and rude and racist but I think it was my first taste of it.

Just have to grow hard shoulders!! Cheers again

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

That's the spirit!

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

yeh give it a traditional British Stiff upper lip!!!!;)

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hmmmmmm....:confused:

We've been here for 2 years, socialise a lot, have loads of Aussie mates, & I work in the building trade.
I can honestly say that we've never once had and snide remarks or animosity directed towards us by any Australians.
If anything it's been the opposite. Aussies proudly claiming that they had a Scottish Great Granny or something!

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

you've hit the nail on the head with that one!

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

I've found if you have a Welsh,Scottish or Irish accent they'll ask/tell you of their old roots and how they're Welsh,Scottish or Irish,if you're English they treat you like dirt,well In Victoria anyhow..........

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Perhaps you had not about you the scent of HomeLonging that excites low instincts.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Very poetically put, but you're right.:)

We've had our share of bad breaks since we came over, (including my back!), but we've never once been homesick.
Australia is our home now, & I reckon we've faded into the Australian ambience
like chameleons...:D

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

l think if your feeling homesick and perhaps looking for a reason to go home you may imagine there an anti- British sentiment and take jokes seriously or be offended over minor things.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

DID you ever get out on the grog in the UK, and happen to make the odd remark about" PAKI,S or CURRY MUNCHERS", in oz would be taken with a "pinch of salt" we have very easy going society, its called "Adapt or die". .. ;) :beer: mm

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Not all, but a good percentage of Aussies love to pom bash. A feeling of hatred passed through the generations. I guess it seemsto them that the Brits took one look at OZ and decided it was only fit for criminal scum. I mean thats a unique start to a countries history. Anything that doesnt praise OZ as a living paradise is herecy to Aussies, so that starts the chip on the shoulder process. Deep down Ausralia is very insecure of itself, I believe its called the colonial cringe.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

An irksome duty for some in your case, I fear.

Will you cringe in later years when reading back this drivel or will the Horse Widdle get to you first, I wonder.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Nasty sods everywhere, give em a mega watt smile and move away from them!

M :D

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

What a lot of pish. :rolleyes:

Not saying it doesn't happen but by no means is it "a good percentage"

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Been here 3 months now and have witnessed absolutely none.

Not conclusive but a good start eh ?

Perhaps I haven't met Mr. Bruce Good Percentage yet ;)

Besides, the truth is that not many of the original settlers were criminals in the true sense of the word, more victims of the society they lived in.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

I'm sorry you faced this, and that it made you feelings of homesickness worse.
Personally, I have not come across any form of negative or nasty/snide comments - in fact everyone I have met have been extremely helpful, friendly and kind - maybe I've been lucky, or you are just unlucky to have come across this attitude before I have.
I suppose that there are good and not-so-good people everywhere.

Cas

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

True, and most of those 'victims' were of irish/scots/welsh descent. Hence the lack of abuse nowadays to those who have those accents. Whereas the english get dogs abuse.

Having just pulled my nose out of another great history book about Ned Kelly (Ned Kelly - A Short Life by Ian Jones, great read), you've got to understand in generational terms, Ned Kelly and the uprising wasn't that long ago, and many of the Kelly's and the cohorts and their families and friends have reproduced many many times over 4 or 5 generations, so you've got 10's of thousand of people all claiming direct linkage back to Ned Kelly, and what alot of scum the British (i.e. english) police were to him

And he is just the famous one from victoria, assume the same abuse of irish happened in all the states. Hence the hatred of the english.Also assume the scots and welsh shipped here and abused weren't too happy about it either.

All the new immigrants from asia don't care so its left to us caucasians to carry on the bitter rivalries from years ago and thousands of miles away. :(

Cheers,
JTL

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

As a jock married to an Englishman and now living in England, I have a lot of banter with my English friends and co-workers (hence my nickname) There have however been a couple of instances where some people have got really nasty (accusing me of stealing jobs from the English that sort of thing). I also know that in certain parts of Scotland ,English people who have moved there get a really hard time!!Basically it happens everywhere - being white doesn`t exclude you from it !! I have to say though that for most of us "damn colonials" (and I am talking about Scots, Irish, Welsh and just about everyone who isn`t English) we all love to moan about the English and blame you lot for the state of everything (it`s almost become a national sport!!) I remember years ago talking to some Welsh rugby fans in Edinburgh after they got trounced by Scotland (it was a long bloody time ago!!) they all agreed they didn`t care who beat them so long as it wasn`t the English. :D

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Ask him (her) if he paid £10 for his passage here or if he got it for free!

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Thought is was to feel superior to that about which you have no clue.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Suggest you seek wider acquaintanceships but I doubt that your current affliction will allow it.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Ta. Now when did this senselessness of being Superior start?

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Was there not a wee Austrian bloke in the early 1930's, who used to rant similar opinions to those above, in the beer halls of Munich?

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Certainly, but I have yet to see what it is in your case. Perhaps the doggedness with which you strut your few and insubstantial opinions?

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Are you saving yourself for the ultimate profundity?

Stanton made himself abundantly clear. Would I piss on him if he was aflame? If he could bring himself to ask nicely.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

The person is an idiot. If you weren't a pom then they'd find some other reason to give you gip. My advice is to pull them aside at the top of a flight of stairs, position yourself right, then give them a shove.

For what it's worth, in my experience. Poms do well here. We love accents (except kiwi one's which makes my missus life hard :mad: .... but in NZ Aussies have it harder :mad: ).

Guess it's take the good with the bad.

My guess is that your nemisis feels threatened?

Good luck and I hope it works out for you real soon. You shouldn't have to put up with this

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hmmmmm....

I think the families of 22 million dead people would beg to differ that there is, "nothing unusual about that".

Persons of limited intellect, and you have obviously shown yourself to be one of these people, should remember this.

It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

I started my first job in Australia 4 weeks ago. I have been amazed at how genuinely helpful and friendly the people i work with are. I have not felt any animosity towards me and i really appreciate their attitude. There is one woman i do not click with but i think its just a personailty clash and has nothing to do with where i come from. We are both aware of it, yet we are always pleasant and polite as we both realise we are grown ups and need to work together. In fact, i think we are probably warming towards each more each day.
As with most cenarios in life, its YOUR attitude that dictates how you will be treated on the whole. If you look to be offended you will be. I have always been very easy going and open with people and more often than not i get treated well. Of course THere is always an idiot to try and spoil your day, but hey!..they only get what they are hoping for if you allow them to upset you. My motto is laugh in their face suck it up. They will get bored very quickly if they dont get a bite.

I will also add that Aussie humour is rife in our office and i spend a lot of my day laughing.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Nah .. shove 'em down the stairs. If they make it uninjured you can give them a boot on their way up (can you tell that I used to be a bouncer?)

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hello,

It is probably just a one off. When I first went to England (Birmingham) I used to get a lot of derogatory remarks. When I moved to London 3 years later it wasn't so bad.

Having moved to Australia I've not had any (yet).

I think it just depends on the time, the place and the person you are talking to.

Regards
Alistair

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hello,

I think most were of Irish/Cockney descent - hence the current accent (and the term Anglo-Celtic).

I think the English get more abuse for later abuses.

Regards
Alistair :)

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

All of them? Regardless of their geographic origin and/or social background? There is no one single "Pom" accent, y'know. Unless you think that Geordies, Cockneys, Scousers, Brummies, Cornishmen (just to give a few examples) all sound "stuck up" to you.

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

I wouldnt bother this is just developing into a re run of the thread who is mike stanton

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...t=mike+stanton

Re: Aussie attitudes to the brits
 

Hmm, try being South African! give 'em a few drinks and they obviously think you are going to agree with every racist comment they make. It's happened a couple of times with my husband (but never with me). He said that sometimes he cannot believe the things that come out of people's mouthes. He now tells them that they could be arrested in SA for making a statement like that! :mad: