iamthecreaturefromuranus

Yeah it was a joke, but like most jokes, it has some footing in reality.
If you really don't think that your American accent is more likely to provoke a response from the Arab community then get youself down to Lakemba Street for your next night out and see how you get on.

micmay3_in_oz

Whilst I don't condonde what was said, I am left wondering how did he know you were American?

But the implication is that you do paint us all with the same brush when you say "any country.....is truly a little backward". To call a country is to call its people. Perhaps sometimes we all need to think a little about what we say......

unfair dinkum

[QUOTE=micmay3_in_oz;9114883]Whilst I don't condonde what was said, I am left wondering how did he know you were American?


oooh, sensitive!
how very un Australian

TiddlyPom

Because the dining in Tetsuya's is pretty intimate so it's quite easy to overhear your neighbour's accent...

JoeBloggs80

Very surprised that happened in Tetsuyas! Generally a very classy place.

I tend to find its the americans that have left the US and live somewhere else and the most decent and open minded ones. Its the ones that have never left their hometown and watch fox news all the time that are the problem. Bit like the Aussies really

ozzieeagle

Unacceptable behavior, but not surprising to me. It's the clapping or tentative support of the Idiots action that is the contentious point here. You'll strike idiots now and again. The tentative support is a bit of a worry. Probably plenty of reasons as stated in other posts above. For some reason, a fair proportion of the populace seems to want to get the negative message through re perceived failings in American policy and worldwide influence. Think of it as a pointless hostile protest at a Shopfront/Airlines counter person.

I think this could also be particularly Sydneycentric behavior. The only example I've got to back this view up is a football game V Uruguay back at the last qualifying stage of the World Cup. What happened there from a crowd perspective was unique and unprecedented in this country. Having heard about the hostile reception the Australian players received in Montevideo, when it came to National Anthem time at the packed out Stadium... every person attending booed and hissed at the playing of the Uruguayan Anthem, which shocked most people, especially football people in Melbourne. It certainly paid off though. I cannot think of any other time a National Anthem has been abused, certainly at a sporting event in Australia. It would probably happen again now, if any major final is held in Sydney... which from a football perspective is possibly a good thing.

Basically I'm saying people in other states may think the same, but you will certainly based on the above example, probably be more likely to hear unified abuse in Sydney.

Something to do with it being a confident World City I guess. I'm not saying this wouldn't happen elsewhere. Although I doubt you would get the supportive clapping.

MartinLuther

Not an Australian perception but I think it probably all started going down hill after Clinton.

Clinton was pretty good on foreign policy whereas his successors have been crap.



PS: most of the Americans I have met and worked with have been nice people.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Perhaps because he kept his camera around his neck all through dinner and pulled his credit card out of his knee length white socks when he came to pay?

BILDER

I find it disgraceful that people can use the term "wog" in public, when referring to someone who is Italian or Greek. This is a disgusting term! At a store in Sydney, we saw "gollywog and other ' nigger ' dolls" for sale! I have photo of this. It is for this reason that say many Australians are truly backward. It's the Australians that make Australia backwards in this regard

This.

BILDER

Very true. My biggest concern with America is the education system! Many uneducated Americans think that the US is the center of the universe and without them the whole world would not have existed, thus, there is no reason to see what else is out there.

LouiseR

His American Express credit card.

BILDER

I did pay with an Amex!

freebo

I have one too, but no-one ever mistook me for an American (apart from an unfortunate incident in Daytona - but I still refuse to speak of it).

ozzieeagle

Now you've lost me. They call themselves that. Meditteraneans have claimed ownership of the word which used to be an Insult back in the 60/70's..... You Americans think you can dictate to the world

I think you need to look at yourself on this one honestly.

ozzieeagle

Look and Learn Sunshine....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2GYIcprD70

Posted from Wogcentral Melbourne.... the very diverse and very Meditteranean area of the Northern Subs.

Seriously do not knock things you clearly have no understanding of. 30 years I've been here and the term disgusted me at first... then I became educated by the majority Meditteranean people I live amongst.

Ironcally you have given a example in your reasoning as to why Australians have insulted you.

We dont like being dictated too... unlike the poodle Poms.