Originally Posted by aussietobe

My comment: another whinging pom. Sorry.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

On a personal level - not as a Mod - I had a conversation today with a family in Tasmania who are from Pakistan. They said they have frequently been called "Pakis" since arriving here, and find it offensive. They also found it offensive that the staff in Target kept searching their bags..........

Originally Posted by copa

well... in Oz I've been asked if i am English ... but that only happens in QLD for some reason ... in the UK I'm asked if I'm Australian ... ... in the west of Canada I've been asked if I'm from canada's eastern regions... also, in my home town I'm sometimes not recognised as a local when I start talking..

I'va also been called a wog ... but not for a very long time...

lol...

Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus

Was that supposed to answer the guys question?

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

I'd say they are UK based Pakistanis..... Pakistanis dont cotton on to the possibility of the abbreviation being bad until they visit the UK. Pakistanis straight from Pakistan dont have a problem, from what I've seen and heard.

I make a point of asking as well.

Originally Posted by copa

are you his personal assistant?

Originally Posted by sooperlids

I would imagine that those not actually from Pakistan may have a problem with it? Have you "asked" somebody that is not from Pakistan what they think?

Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus

It's a valid question and puts you in 'context'. If you choose not to answer it then I guess its because you feel you have something to hide.

Next time somebody asks you in the street 'where you from mate?' make sure you respond with the similar evasiveness you show here.... or better yet just say "**** off, its none of your business". It will go down real well.

Originally Posted by copa

It's not relevant at all. sook.

Dari mana? Dari sana...

Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus

Really.... look through this thread, and at your own post before this... all about discussing the use of the term Paki.

Nationality makes 100% difference to that discussion. Brits see it as racist... Aussies don't.

You feel the need to hide your own nationality... fair enough.

....and don't forget to check out site rule 16.

Originally Posted by copa

so.. not only are you another users personal assistant you are now the forum police officer?

my background, skin colour, ethnicity, family tree etc is not relevant. Not relevant at all...

btw.. the translation is "Q: where you from? A: From there." It's an everyday exchange in indonesia...

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Nope I know the difference and wouldnt do it.... There aren't that many people from Pakistan here anyway.

Aussies dont refer to Indians as Paki's at all. It's generally only around cricket when Australia is playing Pakistan that the term gets used.

Most Aussies would assume people from the Sub continent are Indian and would use a different colloquial term.

I'd say the people that Polly has met have told people they are from Pakistan origins, or heard the term on the TV around cricket time.

Originally Posted by paddyo

The whole of Australia is made up of immigrants apart from the indigenious people, yet they have no say in what the majority of immigrants have decided is 'the ozzie way'. Complete and utter hypocrisy is the ozzie way and it disgusts me.
Go home...why?? Why should I let some morons and ignorant persons force me to live where they say?? I choose to stay here because I want to experience change and I can accept change, but that does not preclude me or anyone one else having an opinion or voicing it. A voice can challenge and maybe enough voices will bring attention to things which even a minority wants changing....its an old fashioned thing called democracy.
Maybe one day, you never know, society in Australia will realise just how out of touch it is with the rest of the world.

Originally Posted by Professional Princess

I hate the word, its funny how people justify it by saying 'everyone says it here'

Its like the word 'Nigger' - I have heard that used here on more than one occasion and been told 'Oh they dont mind, I always call him that'

They are horrible words, and are certainly not meant in a nice way and just because 'everyone says it' - does it make it right? I think not.

As for the bag searching, to be honest it doesnt bother me - I just present my bag before they ask, they have a quick look and then I am off.

However, the idea of tampons/condoms etc does make me giggle, I wonder how a pair of undies smeared in chocolate spread might go down, you could whip them out of your bag and say 'Oh, I love licking my own knicks' and then watch the shock/horror on their faces.