Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Jul 13th 2010, 6:40 am
#46
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
As a returned Australian expat I cringe at the "unique" mateship statements, but then I cringed at the only the British exhibit the "stiff upper lip" and "only our lads" rubbish as well. You have to learn to live with it and as long as it doesn't lead to BNP and National Front type sentiments, it's harmless. As for thanking fellow Australians for helping in national disasters, how many times have you heard comments like "it's time like this that show you what the British people are really made of" in similar situations? A general thank you everyone might be nicer, but I don't think the other type is meant to be exclusionist.....
This is the BBC and here is the news.... "today in Africa hundreds died after a massive flood struck without warning. One Briton is believed to have lost his comb"
Jul 13th 2010, 8:22 am
#47
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Jul 13th 2010, 10:50 am
#48
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Northumberland to Maida Vale Perth
Posts: 972
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Bang on. Every nation does it, some more than others, but it would be stranger if you didn't hear those sort of sentiments expressed. Take it all with a pinch of salt.
This is the BBC and here is the news.... "today in Africa hundreds died after a massive flood struck without warning. One Briton is believed to have lost his comb"
This is the BBC and here is the news.... "today in Africa hundreds died after a massive flood struck without warning. One Briton is believed to have lost his comb"
Keel
Jul 13th 2010, 1:29 pm
#49
Banned
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Angle vale Sth Australia
Posts: 5,353
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Why every time there is a disaster or tragedy 
does some aussie have to pop up spouting how ' Unique and Australian ' , the reactions of compassion, empathy, kindness, assistance, aid are??
Last night a young soldier is killed, watching it, very sad, but why does some idiot always have to pop up saying how ' Australian ' it is that people have reacted with compassion to this event.
Why wouldnt they, why is it Australian or Unique to Austalia?
its the way any race nationality reacts to a tragedy.
It really annoys me that they have to pull this 'superior' only we feel compassion and mateship thing rant every time. Find it quite insulting really, do they really think other races dont act the same way, is it really that insular here
does some aussie have to pop up spouting how ' Unique and Australian ' , the reactions of compassion, empathy, kindness, assistance, aid are??Last night a young soldier is killed, watching it, very sad, but why does some idiot always have to pop up saying how ' Australian ' it is that people have reacted with compassion to this event.
Why wouldnt they, why is it Australian or Unique to Austalia?
its the way any race nationality reacts to a tragedy. It really annoys me that they have to pull this 'superior' only we feel compassion and mateship thing rant every time. Find it quite insulting really, do they really think other races dont act the same way, is it really that insular here
mm
Jul 14th 2010, 12:41 pm
#50
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: VIC, Australia
Posts: 397
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Well, I think I have a better understanding now of where everyone is coming from and I actually agree now I have heard some specific reasons as to why people feel the way they do.
I think if you had to specify places in Australia that can be seen as a little backwards, or even redneck to be more blunt, rural Queensland would top the list and the area of the country within the tropics in general (Northern AUS), followed by the isolated outback areas which are very sparsely populated. So many people in Australia live in, or within striking distance of a major city, that when you get out into remoter areas you sort of get into the fringes a bit, the people are more your stereotypical 'ocker' Australians, are more likely to be less cultured and/or educated and living a much simpler life.
Not saying that these type of people are unfriendly or unpleasant people, many of them are fantastic people but also many of them are more likely to be rude and aggressive (over assertive), less tolerant of other races or cultures or ways of life and make you feel uncomfortable. I also understand that English, Americans and even New Zealanders can cop a lot of negative behaviour from some Australians, certainly not most Australians though. I often cringe when hearing some of these people overtly make English or NZ immigrants feel uncomfortable by mocking their accent or making some stupid jibe about the weather, sporting teams, sheep, or some other stereotype, even when the targets are being perfectly friendly and polite and trying their hardest to fit in to their new country and make friends with these people. They are certainly the minority though, there are morons like this everywhere, all over the world.
Again, I am at risk of generalising here but these places I mentioned are where you will find these type of people. Not everyone in these areas is like this of course, but they are a lot more prominent there than down in Victoria or in particular the cities in the south east, i.e. Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney where people are a lot more similar to the average English/European, American etc. i.e. more educated, more cultural awareness etc.
I have actually had similar unpleasant experiences with these type of people that it seems a lot of the posters on here have, the difference I guess is that I have grown up in Australia and I'm more aware of the different types of cultures and personality styles of people here with respect to geography and socio-economic ranks etc. and realise that it is not the same everywhere. Australia is a lot more diverse in a cultural and demographic sense than a lot of people give it credit for and certainly more so than the stereotypical portrayal of Australians suggests which is the view that a lot of the world outside of Australia picks up through the media etc.
I hope I have not offended people on here with this view, especially Queenslanders,
, I am not saying that you are a redneck or backwards or your stereotypical Steve Irwin type Aussie just because you are from the outback or certain parts of the country but I do understand how you could pick up a negative aspect of the country if you have had bad experiences with certain types of people. 
Oh and apologies if this post is off topic, feel free to move it if it is, don't want to clog up the thread.
I think if you had to specify places in Australia that can be seen as a little backwards, or even redneck to be more blunt, rural Queensland would top the list and the area of the country within the tropics in general (Northern AUS), followed by the isolated outback areas which are very sparsely populated. So many people in Australia live in, or within striking distance of a major city, that when you get out into remoter areas you sort of get into the fringes a bit, the people are more your stereotypical 'ocker' Australians, are more likely to be less cultured and/or educated and living a much simpler life.
Not saying that these type of people are unfriendly or unpleasant people, many of them are fantastic people but also many of them are more likely to be rude and aggressive (over assertive), less tolerant of other races or cultures or ways of life and make you feel uncomfortable. I also understand that English, Americans and even New Zealanders can cop a lot of negative behaviour from some Australians, certainly not most Australians though. I often cringe when hearing some of these people overtly make English or NZ immigrants feel uncomfortable by mocking their accent or making some stupid jibe about the weather, sporting teams, sheep, or some other stereotype, even when the targets are being perfectly friendly and polite and trying their hardest to fit in to their new country and make friends with these people. They are certainly the minority though, there are morons like this everywhere, all over the world.
Again, I am at risk of generalising here but these places I mentioned are where you will find these type of people. Not everyone in these areas is like this of course, but they are a lot more prominent there than down in Victoria or in particular the cities in the south east, i.e. Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney where people are a lot more similar to the average English/European, American etc. i.e. more educated, more cultural awareness etc.
I have actually had similar unpleasant experiences with these type of people that it seems a lot of the posters on here have, the difference I guess is that I have grown up in Australia and I'm more aware of the different types of cultures and personality styles of people here with respect to geography and socio-economic ranks etc. and realise that it is not the same everywhere. Australia is a lot more diverse in a cultural and demographic sense than a lot of people give it credit for and certainly more so than the stereotypical portrayal of Australians suggests which is the view that a lot of the world outside of Australia picks up through the media etc.
I hope I have not offended people on here with this view, especially Queenslanders,
, I am not saying that you are a redneck or backwards or your stereotypical Steve Irwin type Aussie just because you are from the outback or certain parts of the country but I do understand how you could pick up a negative aspect of the country if you have had bad experiences with certain types of people. Oh and apologies if this post is off topic, feel free to move it if it is, don't want to clog up the thread.
Jul 14th 2010, 1:00 pm
#51
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,837
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Well, I think I have a better understanding now of where everyone is coming from and I actually agree now I have heard some specific reasons as to why people feel the way they do.
I think if you had to specify places in Australia that can be seen as a little backwards, or even redneck to be more blunt, rural Queensland would top the list and the area of the country within the tropics in general (Northern AUS), followed by the isolated outback areas which are very sparsely populated. So many people in Australia live in, or within striking distance of a major city, that when you get out into remoter areas you sort of get into the fringes a bit, the people are more your stereotypical 'ocker' Australians, are more likely to be less cultured and/or educated and living a much simpler life.
Not saying that these type of people are unfriendly or unpleasant people, many of them are fantastic people but also many of them are more likely to be rude and aggressive (over assertive), less tolerant of other races or cultures or ways of life and make you feel uncomfortable. I also understand that English, Americans and even New Zealanders can cop a lot of negative behaviour from some Australians, certainly not most Australians though. I often cringe when hearing some of these people overtly make English or NZ immigrants feel uncomfortable by mocking their accent or making some stupid jibe about the weather, sporting teams, sheep, or some other stereotype, even when the targets are being perfectly friendly and polite and trying their hardest to fit in to their new country and make friends with these people. They are certainly the minority though, there are morons like this everywhere, all over the world.
Again, I am at risk of generalising here but these places I mentioned are where you will find these type of people. Not everyone in these areas is like this of course, but they are a lot more prominent there than down in Victoria or in particular the cities in the south east, i.e. Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney where people are a lot more similar to the average English/European, American etc. i.e. more educated, more cultural awareness etc.
I have actually had similar unpleasant experiences with these type of people that it seems a lot of the posters on here have, the difference I guess is that I have grown up in Australia and I'm more aware of the different types of cultures and personality styles of people here with respect to geography and socio-economic ranks etc. and realise that it is not the same everywhere. Australia is a lot more diverse in a cultural and demographic sense than a lot of people give it credit for and certainly more so than the stereotypical portrayal of Australians suggests which is the view that a lot of the world outside of Australia picks up through the media etc.
I hope I have not offended people on here with this view, especially Queenslanders,, I am not saying that you are a redneck or backwards or your stereotypical Steve Irwin type Aussie just because you are from the outback or certain parts of the country but I do understand how you could pick up a negative aspect of the country if you have had bad experiences with certain types of people.
Oh and apologies if this post is off topic, feel free to move it if it is, don't want to clog up the thread.
I think if you had to specify places in Australia that can be seen as a little backwards, or even redneck to be more blunt, rural Queensland would top the list and the area of the country within the tropics in general (Northern AUS), followed by the isolated outback areas which are very sparsely populated. So many people in Australia live in, or within striking distance of a major city, that when you get out into remoter areas you sort of get into the fringes a bit, the people are more your stereotypical 'ocker' Australians, are more likely to be less cultured and/or educated and living a much simpler life.
Not saying that these type of people are unfriendly or unpleasant people, many of them are fantastic people but also many of them are more likely to be rude and aggressive (over assertive), less tolerant of other races or cultures or ways of life and make you feel uncomfortable. I also understand that English, Americans and even New Zealanders can cop a lot of negative behaviour from some Australians, certainly not most Australians though. I often cringe when hearing some of these people overtly make English or NZ immigrants feel uncomfortable by mocking their accent or making some stupid jibe about the weather, sporting teams, sheep, or some other stereotype, even when the targets are being perfectly friendly and polite and trying their hardest to fit in to their new country and make friends with these people. They are certainly the minority though, there are morons like this everywhere, all over the world.
Again, I am at risk of generalising here but these places I mentioned are where you will find these type of people. Not everyone in these areas is like this of course, but they are a lot more prominent there than down in Victoria or in particular the cities in the south east, i.e. Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney where people are a lot more similar to the average English/European, American etc. i.e. more educated, more cultural awareness etc.
I have actually had similar unpleasant experiences with these type of people that it seems a lot of the posters on here have, the difference I guess is that I have grown up in Australia and I'm more aware of the different types of cultures and personality styles of people here with respect to geography and socio-economic ranks etc. and realise that it is not the same everywhere. Australia is a lot more diverse in a cultural and demographic sense than a lot of people give it credit for and certainly more so than the stereotypical portrayal of Australians suggests which is the view that a lot of the world outside of Australia picks up through the media etc.
I hope I have not offended people on here with this view, especially Queenslanders,
, I am not saying that you are a redneck or backwards or your stereotypical Steve Irwin type Aussie just because you are from the outback or certain parts of the country but I do understand how you could pick up a negative aspect of the country if you have had bad experiences with certain types of people. Oh and apologies if this post is off topic, feel free to move it if it is, don't want to clog up the thread.
) I can see exactly where you're coming from
Jul 14th 2010, 1:10 pm
#52
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,039
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
I would put the bad suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne as containing the most redneck dodgy people with a similar but smaller problem in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane with them being less populous and not having such relatively large concentrations of them. Would rather take my chances with a qld country hick then with some of those in Melbourne, Sydney
Jul 14th 2010, 1:43 pm
#53
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
I like the mateship thingo but admit to cringing at clips to shows like A Current Affair when they go on about the poor battler who is struggling to afford to heat her house because shes having to pay off the nasty people at Coles Myer group for the presents that she bought her 8 grandchildren for christmas....Ermm yes...its called a store card, you spent on it, suck it up!!!
That and the fact that you hear about a dreadful earthquake and they end the piece with...we have reports that one Australian may have torn a finger nail....I wait, with my toes doing involuntary curling, for them to please NOT say it...but every friggin time!!!! Drives me mental
I also wish that when they are speaking about another poor Aussie solider dying in Iraq that they would maybe mention other nations tallys somewhere so that the massive multi cultural country that we live in gets chnce to hear that other soldiers have also paid the ultimate price for their country too.
I suppose its about balance at the end of the day.
I was very proud of the Aussies/ to be an Aussie on black saturday too, that, to me, was the epitome of mateship, from everyone involved...
That and the fact that you hear about a dreadful earthquake and they end the piece with...we have reports that one Australian may have torn a finger nail....I wait, with my toes doing involuntary curling, for them to please NOT say it...but every friggin time!!!! Drives me mental
I also wish that when they are speaking about another poor Aussie solider dying in Iraq that they would maybe mention other nations tallys somewhere so that the massive multi cultural country that we live in gets chnce to hear that other soldiers have also paid the ultimate price for their country too.
I suppose its about balance at the end of the day.
I was very proud of the Aussies/ to be an Aussie on black saturday too, that, to me, was the epitome of mateship, from everyone involved...
Jul 14th 2010, 1:57 pm
#54
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,039
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
I like the mateship thingo but admit to cringing at clips to shows like A Current Affair when they go on about the poor battler who is struggling to afford to heat her house because shes having to pay off the nasty people at Coles Myer group for the presents that she bought her 8 grandchildren for christmas....Ermm yes...its called a store card, you spent on it, suck it up!!!
That and the fact that you hear about a dreadful earthquake and they end the piece with...we have reports that one Australian may have torn a finger nail....I wait, with my toes doing involuntary curling, for them to please NOT say it...but every friggin time!!!! Drives me mental
I also wish that when they are speaking about another poor Aussie solider dying in Iraq that they would maybe mention other nations tallys somewhere so that the massive multi cultural country that we live in gets chnce to hear that other soldiers have also paid the ultimate price for their country too.
I suppose its about balance at the end of the day.
I was very proud of the Aussies/ to be an Aussie on black saturday too, that, to me, was the epitome of mateship, from everyone involved...
That and the fact that you hear about a dreadful earthquake and they end the piece with...we have reports that one Australian may have torn a finger nail....I wait, with my toes doing involuntary curling, for them to please NOT say it...but every friggin time!!!! Drives me mental
I also wish that when they are speaking about another poor Aussie solider dying in Iraq that they would maybe mention other nations tallys somewhere so that the massive multi cultural country that we live in gets chnce to hear that other soldiers have also paid the ultimate price for their country too.
I suppose its about balance at the end of the day.
I was very proud of the Aussies/ to be an Aussie on black saturday too, that, to me, was the epitome of mateship, from everyone involved...
Jul 14th 2010, 2:01 pm
#55
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
I also wish that when they are speaking about another poor Aussie solider dying in Iraq that they would maybe mention other nations tallys somewhere so that the massive multi cultural country that we live in gets chnce to hear that other soldiers have also paid the ultimate price for their country too.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/
Jul 14th 2010, 3:12 pm
#56
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,837
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Don't know how many of you are aware of this thread in The Lounge.
Before posting anything on it, please read the first two or three posts, and respect the fact its not a general discussion thread.
Thanks.
Before posting anything on it, please read the first two or three posts, and respect the fact its not a general discussion thread.
Thanks.
Jul 14th 2010, 3:43 pm
#57
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Northumberland to Maida Vale Perth
Posts: 972
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
Don't know how many of you are aware of this thread in The Lounge.
Before posting anything on it, please read the first two or three posts, and respect the fact its not a general discussion thread.
Thanks.
Before posting anything on it, please read the first two or three posts, and respect the fact its not a general discussion thread.
Thanks.
I did'nt know this thread was running. I've just posted this:
"Just found out the son of an aquantance died last week. Cant see his name published yet. Sad.
The whole family are military, brothers, Uncles and fathers.
They are well known in Northumberland."
I just found this out from a friend on facebook. I know a lot of his family.
Keel
Keel
Jul 14th 2010, 9:22 pm
#58
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
In fact I would say the people I work with in corporate Melbourne are considerably, considerably more educated and culturally aware than the people I worked with in corporate London.
BB
Jul 15th 2010, 2:35 am
#59
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Jul 15th 2010, 2:37 am
#60
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Re: Unique Australian Mateship thingo ????
I'm not much good at explaining this am I