Would you consider Australians conformist or free spirited/laid back

[shirleyeve]

Originally Posted by WildOnions

Anyone who either doesn't like sport can get a grilling in a social situation.

I haven't experienced that, but I suppose it does depend on who you hang out with and where you are. The sport-enthusiasm or athlete/jock mentality is less visible, or maybe there's just more variety and diversity now that it's less prominent.

[fellowjoe]

It's not just Australians that are reserved and who keep to themselves and their social circles. The same thing applies for the British and many Americans and Canadians too; it may just be me but it seems to be an Anglo-Saxon trait.

[FBF]

Originally Posted by fellowjoe

It's not just Australians that are reserved and who keep to themselves and their social circles. The same thing applies for the British and many Americans and Canadians too; it may just be me but it seems to be an Anglo-Saxon trait.

I can tell you that based on my experiences, if you do not look Germanic or Nordic, they find reserved people with suspicion in both the UK and U.S.

I do not speak and talk to strangers unless I have reason to do so, ticketing to go into plane, buying something, and asking directions.

Because of all the paranoia and talks of radicalization and terrorism, they find people who do not look Northern European (Southern European/Mediterranean, Latin Americans, and etc) as potential candidates of radicalization.

As a Latin American with medium skin tone, who tend to look ambiguous racial wise in appearance, I was expected to talk and engage more in order for them to see if I am threat or not, but being quite docile and quiet, they searched my room with a big "Clear" on my stateroom !

No Joke!


One of my dinner mates (shared a table with other passengers) who does not talk much either did not get this scrutiny since he does not look racially ambiguous and looks like an ethnic Brit/Northern European.


New York City was hardly any better since the people over there assume all Latin Americans are suppose to be short and very dark skinned, so they assume I belong to the other category: (light skin Indian/Pakistani or Middle Eastern, particularly Leventine). And they follow those people everywhere due to their paranoia and racist views on them.

Only France and Spain knew I was Latin American!


Not sure if that is the case in Australia, since I have never been there.

[treedroppings]

Originally Posted by FBF

I can tell you that based on my experiences, if you do not look Germanic or Nordic, they find reserved people with suspicion in both the UK and U.S.

I do not speak and talk to strangers unless I have reason to do so, ticketing to go into plane, buying something, and asking directions.

Because of all the paranoia and talks of radicalization and terrorism, they find people who do not look Northern European (Southern European/Mediterranean, Latin Americans, and etc) as potential candidates of radicalization.

As a Latin American with medium skin tone, who tend to look ambiguous racial wise in appearance, I was expected to talk and engage more in order for them to see if I am threat or not, but being quite docile and quiet, they searched my room with a big "Clear" on my stateroom !

No Joke!


One of my dinner mates (shared a table with other passengers) who does not talk much either did not get this scrutiny since he does not look racially ambiguous and looks like an ethnic Brit/Northern European.


New York City was hardly any better since the people over there assume all Latin Americans are suppose to be short and very dark skinned, so they assume I belong to the other category: (light skin Indian/Pakistani or Middle Eastern, particularly Leventine). And they follow those people everywhere due to their paranoia and racist views on them.

Only France and Spain knew I was Latin American!


Not sure if that is the case in Australia, since I have never been there.

San Francisco, had the same problem after 9-11.

[OZpharmer]

I'd say it can be a bit of both, depending whom you interact with, but Australia is certainly NOT a collectivist society(which is unlike many asian countries).

[King Harold]

Australians are laid back and friendly enough but are pretty conformist. I do think they are sort of collectivist. By that I mean they tolerate quite a bit of difference and "otherness" in outsiders, but they are quite harsh to their own if they deviate too far from societal norms.