The Aussies are getting worried !
Aug 20th 2008, 7:55 pm
#77
Timelord
Joined: May 2006
Location: Lost in space...
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Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
That's what was thrown at me by my General Mangler today when I dared to bring up the latest count... Up until now he'd been going on about how it's the total medal count that matters, but suddenly we're ahead by one on that and he's changed to the population load of bollox...
Aug 20th 2008, 8:41 pm
#78
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 3,453
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
It's okay - I'm over my outrage about it now. The headline was 'Britain robs us of a medal' - next to a photo of that cycling chick that broke her back last year and came second in some cycling event. The upshot of the article (though I only read the blurb on the front page while I was waiting for the lady to ring up my four pack of Red Bull) was that Team GB 'stole' a couple of aussie coaches - and it was this, and this alone, that denied the poor wee broken bint of the gold medal that was 'rightfully her's'.
And what soothed my outrage? I followed a link elsewhere to a Daily Mail story and discovered that their headline story was (and I quote) "Team GB adds another silver and two bronze... despite some dirty tricks from German rival." Apparently the German in question had 'tugged their leg' during an ocean swim (who in their right ****ing mind would swim in Chinese seas?). But in their horror at this knobbling, they seem to have got their wires crossed because later they have a headline that says, "British pair accuse Russian who took gold of dirty tricks." So which is she, kraut or sputnik?
Anyway - it reinforced what I always knew, which is that you can't blame the attitudes of the media on the people of a country. Just because some shitty Australian rag throws the rattle out of the pram - doesn't mean all aussies have - any more than the Daily Fail's similar story reflects on the Brits.
And what soothed my outrage? I followed a link elsewhere to a Daily Mail story and discovered that their headline story was (and I quote) "Team GB adds another silver and two bronze... despite some dirty tricks from German rival." Apparently the German in question had 'tugged their leg' during an ocean swim (who in their right ****ing mind would swim in Chinese seas?). But in their horror at this knobbling, they seem to have got their wires crossed because later they have a headline that says, "British pair accuse Russian who took gold of dirty tricks." So which is she, kraut or sputnik?
Anyway - it reinforced what I always knew, which is that you can't blame the attitudes of the media on the people of a country. Just because some shitty Australian rag throws the rattle out of the pram - doesn't mean all aussies have - any more than the Daily Fail's similar story reflects on the Brits.
If one did not take such supreme satisfaction in the knowledge that one is from such a superior culture one could feel quite persecuted.
And it is generally the media - at work I hear the occasional very light-hearted attack on the Brits via sport (the latest is Kevn Ps appt to England capt) but it is generally rare and friendly - more often than not there is tremendous respect for the British.
Aug 21st 2008, 3:18 pm
#79
'In limboland'
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,880
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
Last edited by St.Georges Girl; Aug 21st 2008 at 3:27 pm.
Aug 21st 2008, 3:53 pm
#80
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Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,521
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
And oh my god, did you read the comments on the blog?!!!!!: :curse:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...the_brits.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...the_brits.html
Aug 21st 2008, 4:06 pm
#81
'In limboland'
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,880
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
And oh my god, did you read the comments on the blog?!!!!!: :curse:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...the_brits.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...the_brits.html
Aug 21st 2008, 7:46 pm
#82
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
The media, attitudes of the masses, sporting obsession, ridiculous and often nasty rivalry etc, around the Olympics stand for everything I dislike about the place. The only thing I can honestly say I like about the place on a day to day basis is the weather.
Oh, and some of the bars in Brisbane p.s. almost forgot coffee too! ;-)
Aug 21st 2008, 7:58 pm
#83
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
Talk about sore losers!
Aug 21st 2008, 8:28 pm
#84
'In limboland'
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,880
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
I know, I was going relatively ok recently up until the Olympics. Now I just want to get the hell out of here asap The media, attitudes of the masses, sporting obsession, ridiculous and often nasty rivalry etc, around the Olympics stand for everything I dislike about the place.
The only thing I can honestly say I like about the place on a day to day basis is the weather. Oh, and some of the bars in Brisbane
p.s. almost forgot coffee too! ;-)
The media, attitudes of the masses, sporting obsession, ridiculous and often nasty rivalry etc, around the Olympics stand for everything I dislike about the place. The only thing I can honestly say I like about the place on a day to day basis is the weather.
Oh, and some of the bars in Brisbane p.s. almost forgot coffee too! ;-)
I agree with everything you've said and it was the same for me during the last Olympics. It's truly sad the way they are behaving and they are making themselves look right prats on the world stage because of it too.
PS. I don't like the coffee here. My mum sends me coffee from the UK.
Aug 22nd 2008, 11:05 pm
#85
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
I don't think the Australian athletes are sore losers at all, they're always quick to congratulate the winners whoever they are.
Just a small proportion of Aussies are sore losers just like the U.K it those vocal few we hear, the problem is everyone hears & remembers a negative comment or jibe while the praise & favorable comments are forgotten in an instance
I think both teams have done exceptionally well so far
Just a small proportion of Aussies are sore losers just like the U.K it those vocal few we hear, the problem is everyone hears & remembers a negative comment or jibe while the praise & favorable comments are forgotten in an instance
I think both teams have done exceptionally well so far
Agreed. It was nice to see Grant Hackett standing up for the Tunisian guy who beat him, saying the guy had done his time for the drug offence, it was over, history and that he had simply swum better than him on the day, whilst certain sections of the media were gung ho about how the Tunisian shouldn't have been swimming at all.
As always, we're getting the full spectrum of opinion on this one.. Notice how the most balanced posters also often have the positive experiences of Australia. (There are also posters who I would expected a bit more from). There is a pattern...
All I can say is agree with the posters above, and blame some sections of the Australian media. If people did not turn on their radio and tune it to a parochial tabloid station (remember all radio is like this really) and avoid 7..
Can people manage this?
The one thing I've always been clear about the games is that it is more about the athletes than the countries even at this international level. All this sudden GB pride on other threads is no better than the Australian equivalent.
There was one vocal bloke in the office who complains that not enough money is spent on the arts.
People have complained about Australians dominating in key sports well now GB is doing the same, and Australia wins Silver in many other events. The tables have turned...money is being spent and GB might peak for 2012, just like Australia did with the AIS in the 80s in time for 2000. (Took them long enough) Remember, GB have won a lot more Golds than Australia - it's only in 2000 and 2004 that Australia have done exceptionally well.
As for sour grapes, I once walked through a crowd in a pub in London with an English colleague to be congratulated by Australians when England beat them. My colleague verbally insulted them, they were amazed - and the thing which got me the most was not the language but the fact he was visibly angry about it which might have taught a fair few Australians about the national character. He was angry after England had won,(the middle in a series of such wins over several years) and he still had a chip on his shoulder about it. I stayed behind and apologised and they were good about it.
Last edited by BadgeIsBack; Aug 22nd 2008 at 11:08 pm.
Aug 22nd 2008, 11:15 pm
#86
.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,374
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
As for sour grapes, I once walked through a crowd in a pub in London with an English colleague to be congratulated by Australians when England beat them. My colleague verbally insulted them, they were amazed - and the thing which got me the most was not the language but the fact he was visibly angry about it which might have taught a fair few Australians about the national character. He was angry after England had won,(the middle in a series of such wins over several years) and he still had a chip on his shoulder about it. I stayed behind and apologised and they were good about it.
Aug 23rd 2008, 10:49 am
#88
(It's not my real name)
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Ilukapool. WA
Posts: 12,467
Aug 23rd 2008, 3:13 pm
#89
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 197
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
tell me about it
the aussie broadcasters are incredibly obssesed and insecure that they have deliberately avoided showing the brits win any golds
unless of course an aussie gets silver or bronze
incredible biased beyond belief
i was looking forward to seeing degale fight but it has not been shown, maybe it will be but i won't hold my breath
shame on you channel 7 and SBS - ignorant pricks
Aug 23rd 2008, 3:26 pm
#90
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 197
Re: The Aussies are getting worried !
I have just told my colleague that as much as I love living here, I have never in my life met such a bunch of sore losers.
He told me I should be supporting Australia and each time we win, it is a fix and nothing else.
I said to him that part of being a GOOD SPORTSMAN is accepting that you lose and do it with grace whilst at the same time, having the guts to congratulate the winning team.
I then told him that I suppose the gold medals won by Australia are 'fixes' as well. My god you would have thought I had suggested to kill a kitten or something.
I am not in to sport myself but neither am I in to being constantly told that my country is crap at sports.
Right, off for round 2 - he is sulking in his office and I am now going to wind him up like a clockwork mouse as I have had this piss taking all day.
And you know what? I can give as good as I get and tie anyone in knots who pushes me far enough.
He told me I should be supporting Australia and each time we win, it is a fix and nothing else.
I said to him that part of being a GOOD SPORTSMAN is accepting that you lose and do it with grace whilst at the same time, having the guts to congratulate the winning team.
I then told him that I suppose the gold medals won by Australia are 'fixes' as well. My god you would have thought I had suggested to kill a kitten or something.
I am not in to sport myself but neither am I in to being constantly told that my country is crap at sports.
Right, off for round 2 - he is sulking in his office and I am now going to wind him up like a clockwork mouse as I have had this piss taking all day.
And you know what? I can give as good as I get and tie anyone in knots who pushes me far enough.
look what happens when the aussies take the piss(soap dodger joke?)
the brits generally don't care but if a brit takes the piss which they do far better and wittier, they are arrogant pommy bastards!!!
