camponotus

Hello. Was wondering how long it would be before someone such as your good self stepped in to begin the predictable defense of the Aussies.

This thread, as you well know, is essentially about the use of nicknames/slurs. Generalisations, as you also well know, are inevitable, and this entire site is littered with them. I therefore make no apology for making a generalisation.

However, there are generalisations and then there are generalisations. It is my belief that it is acceptable to generalise in quite a crude and at times ridiculous way in this country about other nations. Hence things like ''poms don't wash''. Saying that they aren't always that interested in thinking hard before speaking isn't in that category. They are way more relaxed about what they say; indeed, they characterise the Brits (or should I say poms) as being too uptight and reserved and 'beating round the bush'. They think ''coming straight out with it'' is a virtue, which, in some contexts, it can be.

Just not when you're using racially/ethnically inspired nicknames and slurs left right and centre.

But naturally you're about to tell me I'm completely wrong to state this because, as has been said time and time again, the Aussies are beyond reproach in all respects. So apologies in advance for being totally wrong.

mohogony

Sounds like whinging poms whinging about being called whinging Poms.

camponotus

Don't be daft.

I know full well that Brits (some of them) are guilty of this. You seriously think I was suggesting that Brits don't do this?! Have a word with yourself!

The very fact that there was such an outcry when Harry said this demonstrates that it is NOT CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE in the UK. The media in the UK are just not allowed to use this kind of language, which is why anyone who does is fired immediately (Ron Atkinson etc).

The media over in Australia is NOT subject to the same restrictions.

Please tell me that you can recognise the difference here. Surely.

camponotus

Essentially, yes. Well spotted.

Now, back to the whinging.....

camponotus

At least in the UK you can ''single out'' some people. I'm not sure I would be able to ''single out'' any Australians.

camponotus

It's a real shame that you can't state a reasonable, considered opinion on this website without being closed down and belittled by all the apologists on here who think you're an idiot if you've got something (anything) less than 100% glowing to say about Australia.

camponotus

Oh my word, they can do no wrong for you, can they?

I've been called a pom dozens of times and heard the term used on radio/tv on a number of occasions too.

Do you have a filter built in that allows you to not notice anything bad about this place?

camponotus

Perhaps if you completely become an Aussie in all but birth they will accept you as one of theirs and therefore not use the ''pom'' term. Perhaps if you show signs of Englishness (accent, perspective, temperment etc) then you're a pom through and through.

Hutch

camponotus

Wow, you're so funny, Hutch. Really. Just not quite as funny as you obviously think you are.

Sydney? Melbourne, mate. That ticket's no good to me.

Now go and fiddle around in Photoshop or whatever and come back with something else.

Which you so obviously will. You just can't resist, can you.

camponotus

As someone cleverly said on another thread, it's amazing that people who claim to be so overwhelmingly happy here want to waste to much time being smart with people who aren't so happy. Haven't you got beaches to run down (or in your case, rolling green hills with moo cows) and a generally wonderful outdoor life to be getting on with?

Hutch

Some observations.
1) You're talking to yourself.
2) I sense a certain tenseness in your replies and suggest you step away from the keyboard for a while and/or seek some sort of sexual congress with your partner.
3) It's a bit dark at the moment for the beach and, as adventurous as I am, I don't fancy running down hills in the pitch black either. What a very strange suggestion.
4) Please answer the question I put to you earlier when I asked what your Australian wife thought about your near-xenophobic hatred of all things Australian.

camponotus

The first 3 are you just trying to be smart (again), and the fourth is you trying to be patronising, condescending, over-familiar and borderline inappropriate. You've moved up a gear.

Hutch

Actually, I haven't even started yet. But you're simply not worth it. You're just not in the same league as the Mike Planktons of this world ...

camponotus

What a shame you have to resort to be threatening and insulting. Yet you still think you're better. And I'm the one with the problem? Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself exactly which moral high-ground you think you occupy.