Originally Posted by goldcoastblue

Australia is a love affair for some people................and has a big identity problem that is for sure, so the country is doing something about it.

But you are being brainwashed indeed, as they will tell you everywhere else is crap, you belong here, they will adopt anything aslong as it brings visibility to the little big island.

I mean , Kylie, she was vilified when she was in neighbours and started her pop career- soon as she made it big time- whoa- it turned to "OUR KYLIE"

That princess skank from Tasmania- An Aussie endorsing "A TASMANIAN" again "OUR MARY"

Shayne Warne is innocent- its all the "British Slappers" aagain "OUR SHAYNE"

Winter Olympic Games- It was a canadian- who won that gold, as canada said no way to him studying and being an olympian.....

Most of the soccer team are foriegners- and if it be known half of them if they were good and spotted by their nation, most probably wouldnt play for Australia-

once you have committed to alife of beaches and sunshine, and your pockets have been raped by the government, and all the usual suspects who live there, the only way of getting out is like they did 200 years ago as the flights are a rip off out of there.

How dare I say anything like that.

Originally Posted by Gibbo

I get so tired of reading all this Aussie bashing. If you want to know what Aussies have done for the World do a search for Aussie inventions! Australians don't have an inferiority complex they just don't give a sh*t what anyoneelse thinks of them. They are proud of who they are. I have read so many posts from English people on these forms who think that England is the only country that does things the right way and is the only country that has contributed to the World and then have the audacity to miscall Australians for being patriotic. It is my opinion that it is the English who have the inferiority complex.
When you live in a country you would expect to hear news etc pertaining to that country.

Originally Posted by karaokeM

Has any one else notice how often they say Australia, Australians or OZZIES. honestly I sit down to watch TV I must here it 20 or 30 times a day. Same in the shopping centres - australian made etc. We have had foxtel for about 10 months now and even on that nearly everyother programme mentions Australia or kylie minogue, I'm sure they only pick those programs to air because they mention australia or some connection. Even with the commonwealth games I did't watch it, but all I heard was the australian anethem, I questioned my husband, it there anyone else in the games? - its too much!

Originally Posted by by the sea side

Gibbo nothing wrong with bieng patriotic but it's over done.However the world is a big incredible place and it doesn't revolve around Australia or for that matter any other country.When you have lived in other countries and travelled your out look isn't that small and it can be difficult listening to the aussie thing all the time.
Also Australians do this in other countries too so poms aren't the only whingers!

Originally Posted by Gibbo

I did not suggest that the World revolved around Australia, just as it doesn't revolve around England- which was the point I was trying to make. Each person usually thinks that the country they were born is a bit better than anywhere else and good on them. However just because you don't like a place there is no need to constantly run it down. For your own information, I am not Australian born and I have travelled extensively on every Continent. I lived the first 28 years of my life in the country of my birth. When I travel and find somewhere I don't like I don't I don't belittle the place or its inhabitants for thinking its the best place in the world.

Originally Posted by by the sea side

I don't contantly run down Australia and I keep my own council when it comes to bieng with Australians.I wouldn't go out of my way to be rude to them about their country it's a pity that doesn't cut both ways.You said that you have travelled.does this mean then you have never had an opion about where you have been? I still think they need to get over themselves.

Originally Posted by karaokeM

Your right this "OUR" business drives me mad. Look I'm not aussie bashing, which has been suggested. Its just that I've lived a few places now, and I can honestly say I have not noticed this elsewhere.

Originally Posted by mumomonty

It's Little America. They're just really into 'branding' their residents and it works.

Originally Posted by Geordie George

I noticed yesterday that a load of signs have suddenly appeared around Sydney's central station area, which read:

Land Clearing - It's Un-Australian.

Once I'd got over my giggling fit, I had to wonder what that actually meant? People who clear land aren't being 'Australian'? (Presumably that excludes all farmers, then.) Why? What exactly is the link between an act (or behaviour) and an identity? Who are these Australians and how do they behave? Is there a set of instructions I should be looking at?

Originally Posted by Exile

I think it's something to do with "mateship" and "a fair go".

Actually, I have no idea what it means, but it's certainly used a lot as a means of discrediting people with whom you disagree. In a society that seems to attach so much value to creating a national identity, the gravest fear of many must be to be branded un-Australian.

Originally Posted by Geordie George

Yes, I figured it had something to do with discrediting people. And whilst it comes across as a fairly light, breezy insult, I think the implications are somewhat more worrying. We all have to be the same. Tolerance of deviation from the norm isn't a priority.

Like I said, I have no idea what it really means. I'm not sure that people really think it through when they actually use the term (which is even more worrying).

I guess the British equivialnt might be something like, 'that's not cricket'. That gets across the fair go element, but doesn't resort to identity to make the point.

Blimey, this is all a bit intellectual for a Tuesday morning. Best go and make some innane posts somewhere.

Originally Posted by Exile

Let's discuss the colonial implications of cricket.

Okay, perhaps not. Back to work for me.