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Yes we can be rather boorish, but naturally the loud boorish ones will stand out. It doesn't mean most of us are like that (At least not sober!).
Well I'm just pointing out ways in which I think we're the 'lucky country.' There are aspects of life where I prefer here over the US.
You just sound closed-minded about Australia. I've been to America and generally found the people friendly. I don't let stereotypes prevent me from giving a place a 'fair go' as we say here.
The loud, boorish ones stand out for me because they are truly the ONLY ones I've met. They are also the only ones most of the people I know have met. Some people (not surprisingly, white) find the boorish thing endearing and cute. I find it absolutely obnoxious. It's like every frat boy and sorority girl bought a huge island, populated it, and called it "Australia!"
And once again, we are not talking about the US, but Australia. Make a thread about how you prefer Australia over the US if you feel such a gut reaction to constantly say SOMETHING about the US. It's annoying when you and so many others on this site use the Red Herring move. It reveals less about the US and its people, and more about the opposing side...
I probably am close-minded about Australia. However, the question was which countries you have no interest in visiting, and by extension getting to know. Australia is one of them for me.
I don't like Australia. Deal with it. I'm sure Australia has great people. Every country does. It's a shame I will never know them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geography Freak
Well, that just makes it worse, in my opinion. One would say what annoys you the most is not racism but the fact that people might not be physically cowardly in their racism...
Well then, one would be wrong. Racism, in my opinion, is wrong in WHATEVER form it is in. I, being American, am much more accustomed to "Cowardly racism" than this obnoxious "Aussie racism" that they flaunt about. In the US, the people would be shocked if a public figure, for example, called Obama a racial slur. What you usually would find, however, are people who say things like, "He just doesn't 'look' like a president" or "Is he ACTUALLY American?" THese things are OBVIOUSLY linked to his heritage, but no one is going to call the man BLACKY to his face!
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DginnWonder
The loud, boorish ones stand out for me because they are truly the ONLY ones I've met. They are also the only ones most of the people I know have met. Some people (not surprisingly, white) find the boorish thing endearing and cute. I find it absolutely obnoxious. It's like every frat boy and sorority girl bought a huge island, populated it, and called it "Australia!"
And once again, we are not talking about the US, but Australia. Make a thread about how you prefer Australia over the US if you feel such a gut reaction to constantly say SOMETHING about the US. It's annoying when you and so many others on this site use the Red Herring move. It reveals less about the US and its people, and more about the opposing side...
I probably am close-minded about Australia. However, the question was which countries you have no interest in visiting, and by extension getting to know. Australia is one of them for me.
I don't like Australia. Deal with it. I'm sure Australia has great people. Every country does. It's a shame I will never know them.
Well then, one would be wrong. Racism, in my opinion, is wrong in WHATEVER form it is in. I, being American, am much more accustomed to "Cowardly racism" than this obnoxious "Aussie racism" that they flaunt about. In the US, the people would be shocked if a public figure, for example, called Obama a racial slur. What you usually would find, however, are people who say things like, "He just doesn't 'look' like a president" or "Is he ACTUALLY American?" THese things are OBVIOUSLY linked to his heritage, but no one is going to call the man BLACKY to his face!
Well again, it doesn't mean we're all like that or most of us are like that. Also people behave differently when on holiday, or they might be drunk or whatever. If you want to stereotype us that's fine.
I have no problem with people having no interest in visiting Australia. That's not what I'm talking about. Another poster resented the fact that we call Australia the 'lucky country', and I explained to him I feel I'm lucky for living here, and it has nothing to do with thinking it's better than anywhere else. I've also mentioned how I find the US more interesting in some respects, but personally, I would prefer to live here.
Getting off topic anyway so I'll leave it at that.
Well then, one would be wrong. Racism, in my opinion, is wrong in WHATEVER form it is in. I, being American, am much more accustomed to "Cowardly racism" than this obnoxious "Aussie racism" that they flaunt about. In the US, the people would be shocked if a public figure, for example, called Obama a racial slur. What you usually would find, however, are people who say things like, "He just doesn't 'look' like a president" or "Is he ACTUALLY American?" THese things are OBVIOUSLY linked to his heritage, but no one is going to call the man BLACKY to his face!
Which then again makes it all the more hypocritical in my view.
Well again, it doesn't mean we're all like that or most of us are like that. Also people behave differently when on holiday, or they might be drunk or whatever. If you want to stereotype us that's fine.
I have no problem with people having no interest in visiting Australia. That's not what I'm talking about. Another poster resented the fact that we call Australia the 'lucky country', and I explained to him I feel I'm lucky for living here, and it has nothing to do with thinking it's better than anywhere else. I've also mentioned how I find the US more interesting in some respects, but personally, I would prefer to live here.
Getting off topic anyway so I'll leave it at that.
Everyone stereotypes everyone else. It's just human nature to categorize and compartmentalize things. I can say, however, that I've never treated Aussies any differently than the next person. They definitely have treated ME differently due to my race, however. And I DON'T like it. Why would I go to the very country that exports people who do that?
Now, your rebuttal may be that the US has its share of racists, and it does, like every other country. However, I really, REALLY would be shocked if Americans constantly went to, say, Colombia, and constantly made disparaging remarks about the indigenous population. Who do these Aussies ACTUALLY think they are?!
Yes, we are getting off topic. I don't think there is anything wrong with you being proud of your country. I think it's great. All I'm saying is that I have no interest in getting to know the 'lucky country.' It obviously has ruffled feathers, but I absolutely stand by it, nor will I make apologies for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geography Freak
Which then again makes it all the more hypocritical in my view.
How is that hypocritical? Saying, "He doesn't LOOK presidential" is the same thing as saying "Blacks don't have a presidential LOOK." It's different wording and one is much more plain, but they are both vitriol. There is nothing hypocritical about either statement. Both are saying the man isn't "presidential material." What I will say is that the former is much more commonly heard in the US, and therefore is the one I am more accustomed to. Both however are equally vile and without hypocrisy.
1. Dangerous such as some countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Middle East or Africa.
2. Too thirld world countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, India, Cambodia etc..
3. First world but I find boring, I can think of Canada, New Zealand, US (except big metropolis), Singapore, Eastern Europe and China (except Shanghai/HK).
I have no interest in these places:
1) Africa: Most Central to South African countries - too crime ridden, unstable and plagued with internal conflicts. With few exception like Zambia, Kenya and maybe Tanzania. As for north Africa currently: Libya
2) Mid-East: Iraq, Afganistan - for obvious reason
3) South Asia: India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan - all too dirty and dangerous
4) East Asia: North Korea
5) Americas: Haiti
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