That's a remarkable racist comment from somebody suggesting the politician was racist.....

As I said earlier, it's just the those who go out of their way to be offended/to find something offensive, usually on behalf of somebody else they think has/should been offended.

It's all just a load of bollocks.

You are beginning to sound a bit like you're stuck in a feedback loop.

Possibly but no different from many others on BE

I'm bored

Yeah, but they always sounded like that.

fair enough

I find this a little bit odd as I had plenty of exposure to Indians in the UK, I cant recall them acting like this there back in the 70's. Maybe they had already had this conversation. It also indicates a lack of observation of local culture on their part IMO, plus a willingness to keep themselves in an enclave type enviornment even in a workplace.

Strange that this would be an issue to me in more laid back Aus than the slightly more Formal UK. I would have thought they would have found it odd to come up to us night sorters in a workplace and just say a round number to us without any other interaction. That shows incredibly poor local cultural observation skills. . It's "Fresh of the boat" assimilation. I think they need classes myself. As little things like this will really cause some minor issues that could cause them to isolate themselves even more.

Do more integrated Indians advise them on issues like this... Possibly at those big dances in Cheltenham that the Indian club runs ?

Asking migrants to assimilate is one thing. Telling them they smell is another.

And decent people know the difference

The Federal Government should earmark budget for free samples. Should boost the profits of Procter & Gamble and Unilever etc.

Perhaps include the advice in a package to be given to all would be migrants about social and cultural issues- similar to the no spitting one they include?

But having said that, people do have odours- as a teacher I noticed that young tweens/teens often smelled: this was their hormones kicking into overdrive, and it didn't matter how much washing/deodorant they put on (when they discovered it)- by the end of the day in summer, the classroom stank. For some people, the hormones never truly settle, and poor dental hygeine added to the odour. For those that have no idea if their breath is bad, lick the inside of your wrist and wait 30 seconds, then sniff it. That is what your breath is like, or if you floss, smell the floss.

And without being racist, different foods give different cultures a variety of smells- dairy products make the consumers smell different to the spice eaters or those that like onion and garlic. People are often not aware of how they smell to others- especially smokers. If you live with the smell you learn to ignore/not notice it. Similarly for those who have dogs or ferrets or other animals.

Well, she is a Liberal ...

I can never understand why they're called that!