O/T Australian Stereotypes

[JAHamilton77]

Couple of Questions for the Aussies on here.
You can answer one, some, or all of them if you like.
I am just curious about the subject.

1. How do you think the rest of the world stereotypes you as? (For the non Aussies, how would you sterotype Australians?
2. What stereotypes do you hold about people from other countries?
3. I know your culture is unique, but if you had to would you consider it closer to the American way of life/culture or the English way of life/culture?

[bollox]

Some interesting questions

1) I'd say we're viewed as being fairly laid back and generally BS free . I'd say that our closest relatives in this regard may be the Canadians

Being situated in the middle of nowhere has meant that over the decades we've had the luxury of being allowed to develop naturally

2) Americans - they all own numerous guns and are obese. They probably invented the reality show :x and have been known to pay up to $50 for a hamburger.....just because they can

English - slightly eccentric (refer potty). They drink warm beer and wash once a week. They also have this thing called a holiday haircut ("it's so that when I come back I'll look the same as I did before")

Texans - they all wear cowboy hats and drive massive trucks (with obligatory shotgun in the back)

3) Our culture is still more English than American although it's been steadily changing over the past 20 years so I've noticed. Unfortunately we're taking our cue from the less desirable aspects of your culture (shootings, car jackings, gangs etc). Some of the kids I meet these days even pronounce some words with an American accent (too much time playing interactive online games). Recently I read where there was a program being implemented to re-educate youngsters about calling the emergency services people. Instead of dialling 000 in an emergency some kids are calling 911

I don't particularly like where we're headed to be honest. We once had an ethos of "a fair go for everyone". I don't think it's anywhere near as prevalent as it once was

[thunderfromdownunder]

3. I know your culture is unique, but if you had to would you consider it closer to the American way of life/culture or the English way of life/culture?

the fact that we were colonized by the British and are still part of the commonwealth means, to me at least anyway that our culture is more similar to english. however, i think we have lots of similarities with americans also, paticually those from the southern states

i agree with bollox about the whole laid back thing, i personally thinks it comes from the Irish, pretty much every white person in australia has at least some irish background

[jeej]

As an Englishman that has lived in Australia for over 2 years now I was surprised when I got here to see just how much more like America Australia was than the UK. It's like mini-America here really.

Seems to be a huge gap in classes here too. You're either pretty well off, or very poor.

The old stereo-types are funny though, I mean drinking warm beer? Why would anyone think someone else would do that? On the flipside I don't know many Australians that greet others with "g'day Bruce, what's the good word?". Probably just a case of old stereotypes die hard!

[JAHamilton77]

Ok I will ask this seriously, since the topic of old stereotypes have come up. Was there ever a problem down there of Dingos getting peoples babies?

[Marlin]

Being a proud Australian and also having been to both the US and the UK recently I would say we are now closer to the US culture/way of life (apart from the fact you drive on the wrong side of the road, I almost got run over on numerous occasions).

I think the stereotype of the typical Aussie bloke would consist of an easy going but hard working character, who loves his sport, doesn't mind a practical joke (we're all larikins) and enjoys a cold beer or 12. To tell you the truth I think this hold true! I know it describes my mates and I. And we do greet each other by saying G'day...

I can also tell you without a shodow of a doubt that Pommy's do indeed drink warm beer! It is horrible, worse than the weak stuff the yanks drink!

And to answer you're last question no we don't have a problem of dingo's taking our babies...

[JC]

They did a study a few years back where they tested the national stereotypes against samples of people from those countries. They found some were way off, such as Indians, who were viewed as spiritual mystical types, but in actually fact were found to be pretty straight laced and conservative. On the otherhand Aussies were generally viewed as friendly honest types with big gobs and the results pretty much confirmed this to a tee.

It's obviously hard to generalise but whenever I've travelled in Europe I've always bumped into Aussies and had a great time with them, except they do say "I reckon" alot.

[jezzamundo]

I generally think that we Aussies are stereotyped as being outdoorsy, beer loving, sport loving, and somewhat clueless about the rest of the world, and I think to an extent these things are true.

I think the country we stereotype the most would be America. We always talk about the New Zealanders and how much the love sheep, and the English and how they like their warm beer and don't wash, but these are really joking stereotypes, whereas the stereotypes we hold for Americans tend to be taken seriously: relatively unintelligent (somehow let Bush rule for two terms), obese (true, although we are now No2 on that list) and gun happy (again some truth behind this also). Unfortunately these are all negative stereotypes.

I would say at the moment that our way of life is perhaps a little closer to American, but our culture is closer to English. It largely depends on which part of Australia you are in. I would say the Eastern States (partic Queensland) are a little more American than English, but Western Australia is definitely more English. Gradually our country is becoming more like America and less like England, which I am not entirely happy with. I would like it if more Aussies were a bit more worldly, because at the moment it is hard when almost all commercial TV is American.

[bollox]

Ok I will ask this seriously, since the topic of old stereotypes have come up. Was there ever a problem down there of Dingos getting peoples babies?

I don't ever remember reading a case of a dingo taking a baby before or after the Azaria Chamberlain case of 1980. In the Chamberlain case I suspect a human being disguised as a dingo did it

[JAHamilton77]

Ok I will ask this seriously, since the topic of old stereotypes have come up. Was there ever a problem down there of Dingos getting peoples babies?

I don't ever remember reading a case of a dingo taking a baby before or after the Azaria Chamberlain case of 1980. In the Chamberlain case I suspect a human being disguised as a dingo did it

So when someone does an Australian accent and says "A dingo's got your baby" they are just making a lame joke?

[Ross]

Ok I will ask this seriously, since the topic of old stereotypes have come up. Was there ever a problem down there of Dingos getting peoples babies?

I don't ever remember reading a case of a dingo taking a baby before or after the Azaria Chamberlain case of 1980. In the Chamberlain case I suspect a human being disguised as a dingo did it

So when someone does an Australian accent and says "A dingo's got your baby" they are just making a lame joke?

If you believe a dingo took that baby there is a bridge in Sydney I will sell you.
Like the rest of Australia I don't know what really happened but in my opinion the story that has come out of this tragic event is truely a fairy tale.
Only city people would believe the rubbish - country people who know animals and dingos know that it cannot be true.

Ross

[Ross]

Couple of Questions for the Aussies on here.
You can answer one, some, or all of them if you like.
I am just curious about the subject.

1. How do you think the rest of the world stereotypes you as? (For the non Aussies, how would you sterotype Australians?
2. What stereotypes do you hold about people from other countries?
3. I know your culture is unique, but if you had to would you consider it closer to the American way of life/culture or the English way of life/culture?

Interesting questions.

I think we are percieved as Americas lap dog, due to the actions of J Howard wth his head constantly up GWB s arse.
We were once percieved as a race that didn't take things to seriously and gave evryone a fair go, but that has in my opinion changed and we are no longer held in high regard. This mainly due to J Howard and his love for GWB.

Stereo types ? - Mexicans are tough as nails fighters.
Amerians are into fast food and many over weight.
Italians are good cooks


I think whilst we were colonised by Brits of late our cultire whilst unique is now more influenced by the USA, look at the youth - nothing original they just try and follow the crap that they see on the TV from the US singers and actors.

[bollox]

Couple of Questions for the Aussies on here.
You can answer one, some, or all of them if you like.
I am just curious about the subject.

1. How do you think the rest of the world stereotypes you as? (For the non Aussies, how would you sterotype Australians?
2. What stereotypes do you hold about people from other countries?
3. I know your culture is unique, but if you had to would you consider it closer to the American way of life/culture or the English way of life/culture?

Interesting questions.

I think we are percieved as Americas lap dog, due to the actions of J Howard wth his head constantly up GWB s arse.
We were once percieved as a race that didn't take things to seriously and gave evryone a fair go, but that has in my opinion changed and we are no longer held in high regard. This mainly due to J Howard and his love for GWB.

Stereo types ? - Mexicans are tough as nails fighters.
Amerians are into fast food and many over weight.
Italians are good cooks


I think whilst we were colonised by Brits of late our cultire whilst unique is now more influenced by the USA, look at the youth - nothing original they just try and follow the crap that they see on the TV from the US singers and actors.

I'm sorry to sa ythat you're spot on there mate

I'm of the opinion that one day we'll pay dearly for the Iraq thing and most will wonder wtf happened and why

We're losing our identity, our sense of fairness and the level of common decency that we were once renowned for

[Ross]

Couple of Questions for the Aussies on here.
You can answer one, some, or all of them if you like.
I am just curious about the subject.

1. How do you think the rest of the world stereotypes you as? (For the non Aussies, how would you sterotype Australians?
2. What stereotypes do you hold about people from other countries?
3. I know your culture is unique, but if you had to would you consider it closer to the American way of life/culture or the English way of life/culture?

Interesting questions.

I think we are percieved as Americas lap dog, due to the actions of J Howard wth his head constantly up GWB s arse.
We were once percieved as a race that didn't take things to seriously and gave evryone a fair go, but that has in my opinion changed and we are no longer held in high regard. This mainly due to J Howard and his love for GWB.

Stereo types ? - Mexicans are tough as nails fighters.
Amerians are into fast food and many over weight.
Italians are good cooks


I think whilst we were colonised by Brits of late our cultire whilst unique is now more influenced by the USA, look at the youth - nothing original they just try and follow the crap that they see on the TV from the US singers and actors.

I'm sorry to sa ythat you're spot on there mate

I'm of the opinion that one day we'll pay dearly for the Iraq thing and most will wonder wtf happened and why

We're losing our identity, our sense of fairness and the level of common decency that we were once renowned for

Here here, I also agree with your statements.
When we get slapped - bombed, the f*ck wit politicans and esspecially J Howard will be saying it is an act of terror and war on Australia, forgetting that Australia of late has been the invader.
We were no way involved and not a target in any way in this war on terror bull shit, however thanks to Johnnys love for GWB and blind following of what ever GWB tells JH to do we are now a big target and when it happens I believe JH shoudl be held 100% responsible.

We are all interested in the fight game and some of us have been and are involved with the sport.
Think about it if some clown you knew carried on the way JH does, strutting around sending our boys to war, mouthng off about weapons of destruction, or sorry no weapons but he was a bad bloke anyway.
What would your reaction be?
I know I would bitch slap the prick and tell him to sit down and shut up or he would cope another slap.

Unfrtunately all that will happen is he will be voted out at the next election, but the damage has already been done and I don't think we coud ever turn it around now.


Ross

[Marlin]

wow, this is getting a bit serious...

[Grant]

Interesting questions.

I think we are percieved as Americas lap dog, due to the actions of J Howard wth his head constantly up GWB s arse.
We were once percieved as a race that didn't take things to seriously and gave evryone a fair go, but that has in my opinion changed and we are no longer held in high regard. This mainly due to J Howard and his love for GWB.

Stereo types ? - Mexicans are tough as nails fighters.
Amerians are into fast food and many over weight.
Italians are good cooks


I think whilst we were colonised by Brits of late our cultire whilst unique is now more influenced by the USA, look at the youth - nothing original they just try and follow the crap that they see on the TV from the US singers and actors.

I'm sorry to sa ythat you're spot on there mate

I'm of the opinion that one day we'll pay dearly for the Iraq thing and most will wonder wtf happened and why

We're losing our identity, our sense of fairness and the level of common decency that we were once renowned for

"
, forgetting that Australia of late has been the invader.
We were no way involved and not a target in any way in this war on terror bull shit, however thanks to Johnnys love for GWB and blind following of what ever GWB tells JH to do we are now a big target and when it happens I believe JH shoudl be held 100% responsible."



Ross

now ya see ya got me mad. Ofcourse Australia was already a target. Bali bombings was before the war on terror, try telling the relatives of those good people that we were not already targetted, anyway. your entitled to your opinion.

[jeej]

Being a proud Australian and also having been to both the US and the UK recently I would say we are now closer to the US culture/way of life (apart from the fact you drive on the wrong side of the road, I almost got run over on numerous occasions).

I think the stereotype of the typical Aussie bloke would consist of an easy going but hard working character, who loves his sport, doesn't mind a practical joke (we're all larikins) and enjoys a cold beer or 12. To tell you the truth I think this hold true! I know it describes my mates and I. And we do greet each other by saying G'day...

I can also tell you without a shodow of a doubt that Pommy's do indeed drink warm beer! It is horrible, worse than the weak stuff the yanks drink!

And to answer you're last question no we don't have a problem of dingo's taking our babies...

That is absolute nonsense mate. It comes out of a cold tap, just like most beer throughout the civilized world. As for being weak? What are you talking about? Most Brits drink european stuff like Stella, Grolsch, Kronenburg etc... Hardly weak beers.

[Marlin]

^Mate all I can tell you is when I was there last month some beers (I can't remember if it was the local lager or ale) were warm and pretty flat. Oh and I wasn't saying your beer is weak I was saying that the American beer is weak, I just thought your warm flat beer was worse than the American weak beer... Thats just my opinion mate and I stand by it... It all comes down to what you were brought up on and what you're used to I guess...

[Marlin]

I love the fact that here in the Aussie forum we can intertwine a conversation about politics and beer

[jeej]

Ok, well there's no point arguing, I guess. Out of interest though, what is your beer of choice?

[Ross]

Ok, well there's no point arguing, I guess. Out of interest though, what is your beer of choice?

XXXX

[AntonS]

Stuff beer
Gold Coast Brief Case aka Fruity Lexia - 4 lt cask

[Marlin]

My staple beer is Toohey's New. It's a good and affordable beer!

[Sweet P]

Ive been drinking Hahn Super dry for the last few months trying to get the weight down a bit

[Marlin]

Ive been drinking Hahn Super dry for the last few months trying to get the weight down a bit

I haven't tried that one, what's it like? I did try Pure Blonde for a while but it didn't last long... These days I figure if you're going to drink beer you may as well drink BEER!