Aussies and Americans, though we speak the same language and are both former British Colonies, seem to butt heads a lot around here. Indeed, we are often baffled by things our counterparts do and say.

After an interesting conversation with Asgard regarding social justice, I did a bit of research into the history of Australia. I came across an article comparing the two cultures that was quite interesting.

While I already knew that Australia was originally a penal colony. I had never really considered how the different origins of our two nations might affect our thinking on a variety of issues.

The article opens with this quote:

"Americans maintain their sense of being God's own country with a manifest destiny to lead the world to freedom and democracy. Australia has no global ambitions, and those related to the region are for stability and economic advancement rather than dominance" - John Langmore
And goes on to say:
Urban Australia was founded by English convicts, or to put it another way, England's rejects. Urban America was founded by English puritans, or to put it another way, England's weirdoes. The difference between rejects and weirdoes goes a long way to explaining the cultural differences between the two nations.
Consider patriotism. This story illustrates the point:the author of this article was once giving a presentation to an Australian university class. To explain the difficulty of building a patriotic image for a brand in Australia, he draped an Australian flag over his shoulders and struck a pose as if looking at the sunset in an aftershave commercial. Noting that the class looked unimpressed, he took the flag off his shoulders, and enthusiastically polished his arse with it. The class started laughing. He then asked if anyone was offended. A chorus of nos went up. A lone voice said that although he wasn't offended, he was disappointed."Polishing your ass" with the US flag would, no doubt, piss off most of the class in America. Certainly more than one guy. And I doubt many would have laughed.

Periodically, an attempt is made to pass a constitutional ammendment to ban flag desecration in the US. While it has never passed, it does keep popping up.

The article suggests that the convict origins of Australia as opposed to the heroic stories of Pilgrims and Founding Fathers in the US accounts for the strong patriotism in the US and lack of it in Australia.
As Australia has convict foundations, it doesn't have the noble stories that inspire conformity and inspiration. It doesn't have any noble inscriptions on a statue of liberty, nor heroic tales of saving the world that people can rally around. Instead, it has he scum of British society.
The article goes on to consider the Puritan founders of the US, and the strong Puritanical black/white thinking in the US verses the convict "shades of grey" thinking in Australia.
The controversial issues of America are not even debated in Australia where apathy is king or issues are discussed in shades of grey. In Australia, people who see the world in black and white have always been belittled. In the convict era, a reverend was mooned by 300 women when he was preparing to give a moralistic speech. In modern times, Australians with extreme left or right views in regards to refugees, nationalism or Aboriginal issues have likewise found themselves alienated from the mainstream population. Australia has no Bill of Rights and attempts to create one continue to be resisted.Americans prize individualism and excellence.
America is a country set up to allow talent to rise to the surface. Myths such as the American dream propose that everyone can succeed; be they an immigrant, a pauper, or a religious weirdo. The myth is not just a fable and Americans have worked hard to ensure that it has an element of truth. Some of this hard work is reflected in the constitution that protects liberties. Some of it is reflected in the university scholarships system, which ensures that anyone with talent can go to university, and cultivate their talent. Some of it is reflected in the general thinking of the average American who is very supportive of their compatriots that aim high.
The result?
In the past 100 years, no country achieved as much as America. It has put a man on the moon. It has been a production line of phenomenal athletes in tennis, golf, athletics and it even surpasses Australia in swimming. It has invented computers, the internet and the aeroplane. It is the undisputed world leader in the entertainment industries. In almost every field of research, be it psychology, computers or mathematics, America has been at the forefront of thought and innovation.
Australia, on the other hand, has the Tall-poppy syndrome.
Publicly, an Australian may joke about "going for bronze" or "striving for mediocrity in a world of excellence." They might not really be setting their sights low, but their lofty ambitions are kept private. Australia is not a country where talent is nutured by the community around it.

To golfer Greg Norman, the tall-poppy syndrome meant a jealousy of success. Norman explained that if someone in America bought a sports car, then other Americans would say "nice car." However, if someone in Australia bought a sports car, other Australians would scratch it.
While the US was founded by people with a deep respect for religion, in many cases, by people who left Europe for the freedom to practice their religion, Australians have long held religion in low regard:
In Australia, there is deep suspicion of aversive psychology. Perhaps this is a legacy of the colonial era when it was used by Christians who showed the convicts such inhumanity while preaching the label of the bible. The convict's cyncism to such Christians was reflected in their scorn for Samuel Marsden, whom they referred to as the "flogging parson. " According to the convicts:

"He prays for our souls on Sunday, and takes it out of of bodies during the rest of the week."
And while in the US even liberal candidates (leftists) suddenly start going to church during a campaign, in Australia:

"Any political candidate who declared God was on his side would be laughed off the podium as an idiot or a wowser."
Robert Hughes:

And here are a few amusing quotes on Australia v/s America:
Australians have a tendency to be loud and obnoxious when they are beered up, which in my experience, is much of the time. They're descendants from pockets and cut purses, and as we all know, the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. Michael Carey - American
As a result of all this hardship, dirt, thirst, and wombats, you would expect Australians to be a dour lot. Instead, they are genial, jolly, cheerful, and always willing to share a kind word with a stranger, unless they are an American. Douglas Adams - English
There is something of the cowboy in every American, but a little bit of the sheep station in most Australians Matthew Parris - English http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/yankaussie.htm
The article does seem to explain a lot. The distain for religion, the lack of patriotism, the respect for international organizations, the "shades of grey" thinking. Anyway, I'm certainly no expert on Australia. But many on this forum are. Please feel free to correct any errors, misconceptions, or whatever.

Comments?

I love the timing of this thread, The Australian of the year awards are currently being announced (oh and please don't take offence to anything said here, all of the rough language is tongue in cheek)

Well you have given me a lot to work with and I'm sorry if this is not in any particular order, just kind of as it comes into my head

On the development of the country

Firstly most of Australia's first European colonist's, were IRISH with English solders, not British colonist's. When Australia was first colonized Ireland was in the grip of the potato famine so a lot of poor Irish farmers came out after the poor Irish criminals that were shipped out to start with. Then we had the gold rush and a LOT of chiness immigrants came into the country at this point.

One related point on the difference between the US and Australia is that we never rebelled against the English. We became a country by a vote and we (NOT the US) are actually the longest running uninterrupted democracy. We also never warred among ourselves. The closest we have ever come to war was the Eureka stockade. This was where the gold diggers, rebelled against the tax's imposed upon them. The result of this action was the lower house of the Victorian parliament.

Tall-poppy syndrome

This is something that gets a lot of press but most of it is incorrect. Greg Norman isn't despised because he is successful. Its because hes a wanker:p We are probably one of the countries that most worship our sport. We treat football (that's REAL Football, not that ponsi thing called soccer) as a religion. I remember when i was undergoing my confirmations in the Melbourne Cathedral the Archbishop of prayer for the Bombers to win the Grand final. It was quite amusing that at one of the catholic church's most sacred ceremonies there highest church official in Victoria had his mind on the football.

We actually admire those who strive in science or sport. We are proud of our the fact that we actually punch above our weight in science, sports ect. From memory i believe our economy is 3 trillion rather than whatever the US's is yet we have been responsible for some of the greatest achievements in the world. Some of these include the Hills Hoist Clothes line, The Victor mower, the bionic ear, penicillin, and the recent invention of the cervical cancer vaccine

On Politics, and the law:

We have followed England much more closely than the US have. This maybe due to the peaceful handover of power from England to the Australian people. If you took some of our right wing Politicians and put them into America they would be considered left wing. Because of the peaceful transfer we hold very little suspicion of our governments. Not to say that our pollies don't lie or that we trust THEM we don't, but we realise that there is help available from government agencies. This is because that is what we EXPECT from them. We don't pay the government to build a big army. Infact i have herd it said by US generals that they don't even consider the Australian army to be a real army. They consider them to be a VERY large and versatile special forces. We just don't have the people to staff a huge army. What we DO expect the government to be there for is to support those who need it. We have a universal health care system and Free primary and secondary schools. The government pays a large percentage of our UNI costs as well, which leads me to research. We support one of the best research organisations in the world, the CSIRO. CSIRO is a government funded organization which works in all areas from medicine to climate change, from working with NASA on rocket tech to private companies R&D

One further difference between the US and us are our voting regulations
Firstly we have a parliamentary system where the executive has to hold a majority of the seats in the lower house of parliament and the ability to pass supply through the senate. We also have compusery voting so our pollies are interested in getting the swinging voters rather than getting people to vote. In my opinion this has pushed our pollies to the center rather than to the far left and right. We also have preferential voting which means that a vote for a minor party isn't a waisted vote and the minor parties do quite well in the senate. They are an essential part of our politics as they provide balance between the government and opposition


On Patriotism

Although John Howard wanted to bring in anti-flag burning legislation no one was interested except a few in the far right. We show our patriotism in 3 ways.

Respect for the ANZAC tradition (and yes that means we have to associate with the sheep rooters too)
Worship of sport
Helping those in need

If you asked most Australians to show there country was better than yours we would quote you the fact that we have been the world champions in cricket for god knows how long, that we are the world champions in netball ect we show national pride though people like Ian Thorpe and Pat Rafter because unlike Greg Norman they have stayed true to the country. Rafter has done so much charity work that he deserves the recognition, what has Norman put back into the country?

On Religion

Your right about our attitude to religion in politics. We believe in a separation between church and state and "because god told me to" is not a valid policy justification. EVIDENCE based policy is what we respect.

On attitude

We are a very laid back country, we love sport to a religion without the violence you see in Europe and in spite of some recent incidence race is quite a low issue in this country. The laws in this country prevent discrimination in ALL walks of life. In the US a company can stop a gay employee from getting a job based on the fact that he is gay, in Australia that's against the law. Hell if the KKK started a branch here they would probably lose a suit against them for stopping Aboriginals or Immigrants ect from being able to join:p

We not only have a disrespect to authority figures, we also have a disrespect for other countries and each other
Victorians and NSW tease each other
SA feels left out so tries to make fun of the Vic's
Tassie is the but of every joke for being so inbreed:p
ect

We also think that NZ is full of people who would rather sleep with there sheep than there wives in spite of the fact that we have more sheep per head of population than they do

The bloody poms are useless at cricket, they cant play it and they invented it.
Americans are all a bunch of yanks
ect

Our primary exports are our brains, our schools and farming produce and mining.

The darker side of Australia is our treatment of Aboriginals who now have a 20 year lower life expectancy than the rest of the population. It is sad when compared to the fact that Victoria, NSW and SA were the first places in the world to give women the vote and the right to stand in parliament

Well if i think of anything else i will post it later

It's amazing what you learn about your own country every day.

I would disagree that the worship of sport is an uniquely Australian value. For instance there was no Olympic team/ facilities until the 70s. Perhaps our worship of sports is temporary. Although sport does play a major part in the country, it is by no means permanently a trait.

It is a shame, that although we consider disrespect for authority figures an endearing trait, and one that allows better leaders to succeed, on the international stage we pretty much are just another country. following the leads of the US. The recent changes to our foreign policy are insignificant compared to our history of following the US.
Our sovereignity is valued, as it is compulsory to vote. Yet we do not exercise our soveriegnity on the international arena, besides border security and a few goodwill UN missions here and there.

I would argue that while Australia is attempting to be multicultural, and has not had many problems in that regard,

what was it you didnt know?:p

America . . . has invented computers, the internet and the aeroplane.
Computer: first stored-program electronic computer designed by Tom Kilburn, British.
Internet: devised by Tim Berners-Lee, British
Aeroplane: first flight by heavier-than-air machine, 1853; designer Sir George Cayley, British.

Fuck, I give up ( how Aussie can ya get?, just made a long-winded post which made like Greg Norman or at least " Crag Parry" and choked before taking the green jacket.
I even made dispariging remarks about Hollywood... I'm suspecting the CIA at this stage.

Armrellyfarkinbissedorvyacunce!
First Seppoe to decipher that wins a free giveyazelfanubbercut invitation courtesy of the kind benevolence of Shpardemprah.

Hey i spent a lot of time writing that post:(

what was it you didnt know?:p
I didn't know that the Eureka Stockade led to the lower house of parliment. Must have taught that in Primary school.. (I missed out.. )

Aussies and Americans, though we speak the same language and are both former British Colonies, seem to butt heads a lot around here.


Really ? We speak the same language ? Trying listening to Spud when he's in country mode. Theres a huge difference between the city and the country here.

You might say we mostly speak the same language. but disagree over spelling.

I feel I have a much better understanding of Australian thinking after reading the article referenced in the OP and the responses in the thread. I'd like to hear from some other Aussies.

I also came across this bit that I think is hilarious:
The origins of the word Moomba, the name for a Melbourne cultural festival, also illustrates how Aborigines liked to make politically incorrect jokes about the new arrivals. When Melbourne's founding fathers were looking for a name for their festival, they asked Aborigines for a suitable word, and were subsequently told that 'moomba' means, 'lets get together and have fun.' In hindsight, the founding fathers should have been suspicious that 'lets get together and have fun' could have been expressed in two syllables. In reality, 'moom' means 'bum', 'buttocks', or 'anus', while the suffix 'ba' means 'in', 'at' or 'on'. It seems then, the local tribes got together and had fun as they laughed the whitefella's 'in the bum' festival. http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/yankaussie.htmSo to this day, you celebrate a festival whose name means "stick it up your ass"? LOL

Challenger78 i have to say i shortended that story slighly. It lead to the current representive lower house. Im not sure if there actually WAS a lower house before then but the common miners were not reperented in parliment at all untill after it. Sorry if i misslead you

thought you were going to say you didnt know about penicillin or something:p

Challenger78 i have to say i shortended that story slighly. It lead to the current representive lower house. Im not sure if there actually WAS a lower house before then but the common miners were not reperented in parliment at all untill after it. Sorry if i misslead you

thought you were going to say you didnt know about penicillin or something:p

Nah mate, penicillin was covered in my history textbook.

i will try to get some more infomation on the reforms after Eureka if your interested. Its been YEARS since i went there but mum should still have all the stuff (she colects things like that for her school kids)

i will try to get some more infomation on the reforms after Eureka if your interested. Its been YEARS since i went there but mum should still have all the stuff (she colects things like that for her school kids)

I've been looking it up on wiki, We've always had a strong workers movement, since a majority of Australians (and in any country) are working class.

its such a pitty that vandle poisened the tree of knowlage. The labor party is such an inportant part of our history

Fairly interesting.

I'd say Australian's have become quite patriotic in recent years.
Very recent years, probably the last 10 years, and I'd say it is mostly derived from Australia's sporting achievements.
It's interesting and almost creepy to consider how deeply seeded American patriotism is.
I've often wondered why, even the most lefty liberal americans, will often, when pushed, get defensive about America.
It's always taken me by surprise when the people so extremely vocal about the flaws of their country, who take up the job of arguing it is horrible to right wing conservatives, are never quite so "hardcore" to go all the way into saying it's actually a shit country.
They'll go to a point and then stop and say "I know it's the best country in the world, it just annoys me sometimes", or "it's because I love it I want to fix it".

No american genuinely hates america in the way every non-american does.

And even the way semi-disapproving of America persists in america as a "cool" and "edgy" pasttime amongst young people is indicative of how deeply seeded patriotism is in american culture.
It's like "whoa, this is so wrong *hyperventilate with excitement*", I never really understood. As an Australian criticising the government to me doesn't seem exciting or cool, it's boring actually, and lame. Makes you sound like an old bogan.
I think that's another reason patriotism is starting to well up in Australia, it's mostly amongst young people and it's almost a counter-culture.

I'd like to point out that only %20 of Australians descend from convicts, and this isn't due to recent immigration, most convicts that came to Australia actually went back to britain, britain also sent more convicts to America than it did to Australia (which eventually lead to Benjamin Franklin threatening to send rattlesnakes to britain) and more people migrated to Australia by their own free will in the 19th century.
That said, the convict impact on Australian culture was considerable and the explanations of Australian mentality stemming from the convicts are sound. I suppose it's like how the Aboriginal impact on Australian culture was huge even though there's never been that many of them.
Lower class english and irish criminals and Aborigines are more charismatic than uppety well to do brits, so their mannerisms and way of speaking are mimmiced more and passed down to kids more readily and thus spread through the culture.

To be honest the opening post just leaves me feeling like America is way weirder than I ever realised.
It's almost like a Ned Flanders cult, which treats the nation itself as a god-like figure that is accompanied by a peculiar set of ideals and dilusions.
And even the most radical of it's populace are still somewhat brainwashed and indoctrinated.

That said, it works, people do seem to strive harder to achieve, and every fat headed moron seems to go to college in America. America seems to celebrate every little skill some loser might have as a valuable cog to the machine, it seems to be a very organised country where everyone has their eye on the prize.

Australian's definately are, by comparison, apathetic and lacking focus, just floating through life.
There's no bigger plan for the good of the country in the back of their minds, they're just people who happen to be on a lump of dirt protruding from the sea.
But there's something so much more normal and human about that ...

It's easy to see why Americans so readily adapt to the theatrics of film and television, I've always noticed that just one american can make an australian television program or movie seem so much more legit as a piece of entertainment.
Americans, even in real life, come across as characters from a movie to me. There's an odd blankness in the back of their eyes and then it's contrasted by the bizarrely significant and over the top way they experience everything. There's no restraint on their emotions, and if there is, they make it really obvious they're restraining an emotion so ultimately nothing goes unsaid. It's like they're a character in a novel with colourful words around their dialogue, letting the reader know they are in fact restraining themselves from showing a particular emotion.

They're always "on", they seem to all believe their life is a movie no one happens to be producing yet, and I'm starting to realise it's because the founding of their country and the history of their country and the subsequent culture of their country is all like one big self-important overly-dramatic production.

You can say "Australians are like this because of this and that", but really australians aren't that different to British people and people from other british colonies (not new zealanders though, they seriously do have an inferiority complex).
Each has their quirks, but there's a shared foundation of normalness, with only superficial frills on tips of the differing cultures.
I've met people from everywhere, if I go out on the town and come across irish people for example we tend to just shit ourselves laughing all night, I talk to south africans around my neighbourhood all the time and they're just normal people, you forget about the accent very fast.
For that matter pitch black African's from equatorial guinea don't stand out as culturally too different to me as a white australian.

There are definately differences, South africans are excessively unemotional and stoic for example, and like I said new zealanders all feel embarrassed about coming from new zealand and always yabber on about how good new zealand is to make it less embarrassing for them.
But Americans are unusually different to everyone in a very bizarre way. They're kind of detached from other english speaking countries, it's like they're not in on a joke that everyone else gets.

Don't get me wrong, there are other countries which are even weirder, but they have the excuse of being fundamentally different distant cultures, I'm talking about asian and eastern european cultures.
What's strange to me is when I meet people from Ghana or papua new guinea they seem to be on this wavelength that australians, and brits, and south africans are on, and americans are not.
I've met machete-wounded tribesmen and there's that intangible human something in the connection when you meet and interact which I just don't get from Americans.

And the truth is, as far as non-americans go I get along with americans way better than most. I know how to appeal to the american sense of humour, it kind of boils down to over-acting out silly situations, I can meet americans and make them laugh and they can make me laugh, but then after a while the realisation sets in "wait... you're like this all the time?", and it's creepy that americans are basically always overacting, they over-act their lives.
And you'll notice in american movies there will be performances that are supposed to be understated but the understatement itself is grossly overstated, they just can't be anything else.
The american version of the office, I love it, it's a hilarious show. But the "awkward moments" just aren't awkward, you don't cringe because it's so not real, unlike the british office.
It's purely because it's american people, americans do cringe while watching it, to them it seems realistic, but american actors can't ever be good enough to seem real to non-americans. Real americans don't seem real to non-americans in real life.

And it's interesting to think the theatrics and drama, the phoniness of americans, is actually instilled in the foundation of the country.
That's what seperates America from everywhere else, some crazy idealistic people actually set out to make a great country. It's so romantic and dramatic, and now the whole existence of the country and it's people is like a shit american movie.

One related point on the difference between the US and Australia is that we never rebelled against the English. We became a country by a voteThat is an important point. But doesn't Australia still have some connection to England? Do you still recognize the Queen as your ruler? Your navy is the Royal Australian Navy, isn't it?

The fact that you never rebelled is important, the same goes for Canada. But your convict heritage makes you guys a bit more down to earth than those stick up the ass Canadians.

Tall-poppy syndrome

Hey, even Jesus had this problem. So you Aussies are in good company:
He came to his home town and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house." And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. Matthew, Chapter 13:55-58[1]
If you took some of our right wing Politicians and put them into America they would be considered left wing.I took a quiz on Australian politics once. It was one of those "select your candidate" deals. On many of the questions, there was no choice far enough to the right for me!

Because of the peaceful transfer we hold very little suspicion of our governments.Yes, it's a little strange that all of your animus seems to be focused on the church. Those early Christians in Australia must have been some real bastards.
i have herd it said by US generals that they don't even consider the Australian army to be a real army. They consider them to be a VERY large and versatile special forces.If that's true, it's a pretty good way to go these days. The days of massed armies clashing in open battle may be over. But there will always be a need for good special forces.
What we DO expect the government to be there for is to support those who need it.
Big difference there. We expect the government to fuck up whatever it's involved in. The only part of government we respect is the military and NASA.
We have a universal health care system and Free primary and secondary schools. The government pays a large percentage of our UNI costs as well, which leads me to research.That part is not all that different. We have free public schools up to grade 12. Some states have free college, most do not. But anyone can get student loans and/or grants. There's no reason any qualified person can not go to college in the US.
We support one of the best research organisations in the world, the CSIRO. CSIRO is a government funded organization which works in all areas from medicine to climate change, from working with NASA on rocket tech to private companies R&DI suppose our universities fill that function to a large extent.
We also have compusery voting so our pollies are interested in getting the swinging voters rather than getting people to vote. I don't support compulsory voting at all. I think that's a horrible idea. It simply serves to dilute the power of those who would have voted without compulsion. Frankly, I think we ought to consider some kind of test before people are allowed to vote.
We also have preferential voting which means that a vote for a minor party isn't a waisted vote and the minor parties do quite well in the senate. They are an essential part of our politics as they provide balance between the government and oppositionHow does that work?

Respect for the ANZAC tradition What does that mean?

Helping those in needI think you're reaching here. Helping those in need is good to do, but not evidence of love of country, per se.
If you asked most Australians to show there country was better than yours we would quote you the fact that we have been the world champions in cricket for god knows how longEver read Douglas Adams bit on the origins of Criket?
Victorians and NSW tease each other
SA feels left out so tries to make fun of the Vic's
Tassie is the but of every joke for being so inbreed:pAmericans from different states tend to tease each other. And almost everyone makes fun of Kentucky.
We also think that NZ is full of people who would rather sleep with there sheep than there wives in spite of the fact that we have more sheep per head of population than they doEver see the show Flight of the Concords? It's about a third rate band from New Zealand trying to make it in New York. They really hate the guys from Australia and are always getting into arguments with them.

I was in Australia 4 years ago. Scratch a few token cultural differences and there isn't much difference. My sister lives in Canberra and Canberra is no more different from L.A. than Spokane is.

The same culture....fast food, cars, television, etc. Take off the veneer and more or less the same. Differences are either 'forced' or superficial. It's easy to exaggerate differences...the USA has 304 million people but for the most part differences within the USA are a lot more pronounced than differences between middle America and Australia (or Canada). NYC isn't Texas and Miami isn't Dodge City.

OK first for preferential voting

Say you have 5 candiates for the House of Reps
you number each box 1 to 5 in the order that you perfer, from the candiate you most prefer to the candate you least prefer

then when all the votes are counted the one with the smalest amount of primary votes gets eliminated and all there second preferences are distributed to the other 4 ect until one candiate has 50% of the votes plus 1

The senate is more complicated and if you really want to know i will leave it to james to explain it because he can symplifie it better than i can

I have herd it said that Australia is closest to californina in atiude, also funny enough there accent is closest to ours as well

California !!!! 50% of Australia Black or Hispanic? I found Australia more like Iowa or Nebraska.

I have herd it said that Australia is closest to californina in atiude, also funny enough there accent is closest to ours as well
I think that couldn't be more wrong. If the south was an island it would be Australia, texas is a mini australia.
I know Texans and Californians who've been to Australia, the texans felt like they found their new home, the californians were appauled and found australians to be the most racist offensive backwater hillbillies they've ever met.
Californians love the "uhhssies" in california, they like the idea, but they hate the real thing and you're talking about opposite ends of the spectrum when you talk about californians and Australians.
The fakest people on earth compared to the most down to earth.

The accent thing again is way off. What are you talking about? I'm australian and the truth is that's extremely complimentary to Australia. The true californian accent is actually quite beautifull.
Watch "nausicaa of the valley of the wind", Nausicaa is voiced by a born and bred californian girl, it's one of the loveliest accents on earth. Australia undeniably has one of the most unpleasant accents ever.

i dont see how the percentage of blacks of hispanics has anything to with anything

Should i look for excatly the same ethic balance as Australia if so then there is NO WHERE like Australia because no other country has as many Australian Aborigionals as Australia does

Oh and i find it highly ofencive to be likened to anyone from Texes:p. ESPECIALLY bush:p

Seriously i used to talk to a guy from texes who asked me where in the US was Australia. I said it wasnt and his responce was "why do you speak american then"

We in NOWAY have anywhere close to the level of rednecks as texes does.
Queensland MIGHT have the same percentage but if you look at the rest of the country it doesnt come close

I met some Australians in the AYDP (http://www.aydp.com/)who had come to Mumbai for their mental strength programs.

Australians IMO, or at least the ones I met, are very unreserved and frank and can talk and talk.

Americans are more self conscious and tend to have little conversation that does not involve themselves.

Asguard is from Melbourne if I'm not mistaken.
Melbourne is probably most like San Francisco out of anywhere in America, it's arty and wussy in many parts (also kind of fake and self absorbed, actually, in all parts), but everywhere else in Australia, including the rest of victoria, is more like the confederate states.

Californians will clash with Australians more than any other kind of american. A lot of them come here due to the idealic concept of a "laid back paradise with beaches" in their heads, but they just in no way anticipate how abrasive and rough australians are.
Maybe they don't get this reality check in student-prominent areas of melbourne, but they do everywhere else. By the end of their trip the dream of a hippy Australia is invariably quashed.
Just because the people have bare feet and dreadlocks doesn't mean they're hippies, it means they're hot and don't give a shit about washing their hair. So, more like cavemen then hippies, there's no "philosophy" or any faggy shit like that and californians are always a little disappointed to learn that.

Australian's who travel to America are always surprised to learn how much of it is, in fact, a dilapidated 3rd world country.

SAM, how do you think Australians and Indians differ?
I think Indians take racism up another notch, the way massive crowds will openly chant "monkey" at someone for being half negro, scratching their armpits and saying "eeeh eeeh!", hundreds of thousands together in unison.
That's hardcore, Australians are only racist compared to Americans, not Indians.

It's interesting and almost creepy to consider how deeply seeded American patriotism is.
I've often wondered why, even the most lefty liberal americans, will often, when pushed, get defensive about America. They'll go to a point and then stop and say "I know it's the best country in the world, it just annoys me sometimes", or "it's because I love it I want to fix it".Founder effect, I'd say. Just as the convict heritage of Australia affects its psychology to this very day; our history of brave settlers, pilgrims, cowboys, and The Founding Fathers endows us with a sense of awe and respect. It makes you feel that you're part of something great. That's it's your duty to carry on and pass the torch to the next generation.
That's what seperates America from everywhere else, some crazy idealistic people actually set out to make a great country. It's so romantic and dramatic, and now the whole existence of the country and it's people is like a shit american movie.Your post was quite interesting. I wonder, if you could go back in time to the height of the British Empire, would you see similiar behavior? A similiar attitude?

Consider the fact that in Europe it was once normal when eating to switch hands so that you could both cut your meat and then hold your fork with your right hand. Europe has abandoned this tradition, but it lives on in America (I'm not sure about Australia).

So, to some extent, we have in America a snapshot, a moment frozen in time from the height of the British Empire. All the attitudes, the confidence, the arrogance of a people who practically ruled the earth not just preserved; but magnified by the experience of our founders. Add to that, we have gone and conquered the world again.

This is a pretty interesting conversation going on here. Differences between Australia and US? Strong topic. I am from NY the east coast living in an eastern suburb of NYC. My family has been in the area for generations and all cousins live within the area. But without sounding arrogant (and for an American I know this is an impossibility) one has to take into account the great extent in which American culture travels overseas to even the most exotic of places. Few places remain untouched by American and overall Western culture. Immigrants coming to America even from Islamic countries have been Americanized to some extent even before arrival. People even bash American culture using American terms. Check your television schedule and see what programs are available. Check the films that are now showing in nearby cinemas. What do you yourself watch? It is probably American and it may be garbage but you'll watch it nonetheless. The music you listen to may even come from Britain or Australia but it is American music.

Americans do not make fun of people from Kentucky. Regionalisms in America no longer carries the cultural differences it was did. Americans have been on the move since the beginning with WWII accelerating the pace and the 1960s popular culture really washing away those differences. The culture of the Eastern cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore have changed greatly even in the past ten-twenty years. American films lie. The Irish and Italian ethnicities have melted into the mainstream. The Jewish ethnicity prevails. Americans often cling to a symbolic ethnicity in order to gain a sense of identity. The US is obviously a large nation with a great population. We add twenty million every ten years. When one lives in the US one feels at times that there is the US and then there is the rest of the world. It is not arrogance necessarily but circumstances. To talk about Canadians to an American is to talk of strangers. Never met one. Well, I have but few. They are a polite people who talk like Americans and behave like Britishers.

Americans are arrogant because you have to be so to compete in a competitively material society. We are ignorant of others and even of ourselves because we rely on a popular culture that the world is well familiar with to tell us how things are. That things are not necessarily the way we view things is a lie. Big Brother is not watching us, we are watching Big Brother. Culturally there is little historical continuity except for what we are taught at school. We are taught a robust triumphant Americanism that does not know defeat. Don't tell us that we slaughtered our aborigines and especially do not tell us about our racial problem because we do not want to hear it. We will make claims that all past injustices have been rectified. (But you Australians are in a similar position in this regard. Don't lie. Bring home a full blooded aborigine fiancé to meet the family!) Who was it, the character of Marlowe in Heart of Darkness who says "I hate lie." Yes, but he is pretty singular in that regard. Americans are addicted to lies. An American running for public office based on truths would not get elected even dog-catcher.

But living lies are part of human nature. It is just that in America lies are in greater demand because the stakes are that much higher. We really do not believe in God--but if there is a God he is an American--still, we desperately need the illusion and so talk ourselves to death about God. We believe in television because it is reliably always there and tells us what we need to believe. We hate Democrats or Republicans but most of all we hate Mexicans because we can see them in the flesh through our car windows. We also hate Muslims but that is problematic because they are too distant. And up close they are too polite and law abiding. It is like the difference between hating blacks and hating communists. Communists were an abstraction. They were over there. Blacks were (and are) here and now. As our great philosopher Emerson said: "simplify, simplify, simplify." We don't really care what Australians or others think because we don't give you much thought anyway. And we can always rest comfortably in the thought that you are just jealous of us.

American philosophy can be summed up simply: "Gimme, its mine." But we did not originate it; it came from England, from the pen of Jeremy Bentham. I suspect that Australian culture carries a strain of this as well. But Bentham was not theorizing as much as he was justifying in what he saw in England. (A reading of Matthew Arnold's Culture and Anarchy will explain a lot.) Americans are careerists first and nationalists second. Americans run for public office for furthering careers. An American politician's greatest fear is losing an election. All other concerns are distant. This explains US policy in the Middle East. If I was to explain that further I would be in position of being accused of anti-Semitism. (American Jews are the post pampered and pandered-to people on the face of the Earth. But I never said that.)

But oddly Americans are not a bad people. I have often seen when the power goes out (an electrical grid breaks down in New York or elseware) Americans begin talking to one another in a kindly and friendly manner. The days after September 11, 2001 were some of the best days of being a New Yorker for me. All barriers seemed to vanish. Strangers went out of their way to help one another and enjoyed in the act of selflessness. Black and white turned a friendly grey. We actually saw genuine heroic sacrifice in the firemen climbing the stairs of doomed buildings in order to save others. We hadn't seen that before. We were humbled and wanted to help.

But then politics set in, hatreds surmounted, revenge demanded, and we went back to being what we were.

Dr Lou Natic i would love to know how you guessed im a melburninan at heart:D love it (esspecially the aquarium), was it the collingwood crack? Because its not in my profile. I currently (and have for the past 3 years) lived in Adielade. My partner comes from sydneny, just down the road from the denention center. I have traveled to every state except tassi and queensland though. Its why i find it quite facinating that perth, sydney, melbourne ect all have the same accent but SA has a sligtly different one. Its more pouncie. Where are you from?

Aussies and Americans, though we speak the same language and are both former British Colonies, seem to butt heads a lot around here. Indeed, we are often baffled by things our counterparts do and say.



Madant, I don't think we butt heads too much although I'm not sure what guys like mountainhare and Brian Foley get up to, they tend to be rather confrontational.

When talking on sci, I learned very quickly not to use my usual conversational manner, I was using what I thought were standard phrases, euphemisms and styles of speech and I got a very distinct impression of leaving everyone scratching their heads and thinking " clearly the guy is a drug-fucked moron."
I am saddened too that at least 90% of my jokes, puns(however bad they might be) and slightly off-centre angles on subjects go unnoticed or over sci's head (there are some exceptions to this figure, some even American).

The movie analogy which Dr. Lou used rang true for me. In general American actors seem to overact terribly ( to the point of obnoxiousness in sit-coms).
And American people ( there are, of course, exceptions) tend to act like that in real life, exaggerated hand gestures and eyebrow lifts etc.

Madant, I have to take you to task about the entertainment statement you made. To equate Hollywood as the pinnacle of world entertainment is like saying McDonalds is the height of international cuisine. They may be prolific but they're not really good. Quality movies from Europe, Canada, Ireland, England, Australia are much more palatable to non Americans than most of what comes out of the States.

I'm not trying to nitpick here and I've met plenty of Americans ( see I just did it again, my first instinct was to say Seppoes in a completely affectionate manner but I now realise it will only ever be received as a slight) who I really like, but I guess it's my Aussie nature to be blunt.

hey how did the dish rate in england? does anyone know

Or the castle? that movie ROCKED!!!!
"your honor, its the principle of the thing"
HAHHAHAH

I'd be interested to see how communication between a New Yorker and a Aboriginal from the Western desert might go.

I have plenty of Koooris as good friends and I absolutely adore their way of communicating. It's like entering a completely surreal time warp. I'm not a speedy type of character but with the Kooris, I just have to slow down, slow down. The closeness to nature thing is totally awesome and the low level inaudible hum of Earth energy is pretty special too.( I'll stop now before the woo-woo noises start up)
Then the jokes start, very dry and humourous people.

hey does anyone have a link to that beer ad?

both the "BIG ad":p because that one is funny as hell
and the other one that goes "i belive, this is a prawn and NOT a shrimp" ect????

It's a Big Ad (http://youtube.com/watch?v=891pmKoKGE4)

i love it, its so australian. Even the advertisers dont take it seriously:p
watched it 5 times in a row:p

Now what about the other one?

FOUND IT YAYAY:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk_zg6ea4wo

watch this, it is SOOOOO Australia:D

And the truly sad indictment is that many Australians actually believe fosters is a quality beer.
I was in a bottleshop recently and there was a promotion for Becks beer ( German, a pretty good drop ) and this bogun dickhead in front of me was saying "if I win it can I change it for Tooheys New( bleah!, utter crap, sweet, tasteless shit)" He thought he was being so cool. Fuck, it things like that ( the utter, blinkered brainlessness) that make me cringe at Australian culture.

hey i dont drink fosters i just like there ad's. I prefer mexican beer or extra dry, some of the Eroupean beers are nice but beeks is crap

I had a 5 litre keg of Bitburger ( German) at Christmas ( gift from the Spud empress who is not Australian born but seems to have got the gist of how to please a dinkum chap at Christmas) it was brilliant, made all the big commercial Aussie beers look like the crap that they are.

i wonder with the falavores so different how someone judges a "good" beer though. Its like wine, depends what you do with it. If you drink it with food then the french are good because they have the hole in the pallet that the food filles but if you are sitting down with a glass of wine, then Australian wines wipe the floor with them. Its what your used to i guess. I have tried the trash they call beer in south australia and i find it to be compleatly awful, yet South Australians drink it, yet despise VB which Victorians lap down

Don't knock Coopers though or it'll get personal.
V.B very bad.

i didnt mean coopers, i do drink that regulaly, i was refering to West End *puke*

Thank god, yes, West End * dry wretches*
Now, Asguard, you're a bona fide Aussie lad. How many euphemisms for urinating do you reckon the average Aus. chap would know?

no idea:p

can think of a few though:p

SAM, how do you think Australians and Indians differ?
I think Indians take racism up another notch, the way massive crowds will openly chant "monkey" at someone for being half negro, scratching their armpits and saying "eeeh eeeh!", hundreds of thousands together in unison.
That's hardcore, Australians are only racist compared to Americans, not Indians.

:roflmao:

Heh! Are these Indians in Australia? What's a half negro in Australia?

a person?????

and yes there are LOTS of indians in Australia. Mostly they are doctors or computer techs. You DONT INSULT THE DOCTOR:p

FOUND IT YAYAY:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk_zg6ea4wo

watch this, it is SOOOOO Australia:D
That's a pretty patriotic ad. You guys may be turning around on the patriotism issue.

And the "Big Ad" was hilarious!

Heh! Are these Indians in Australia?
No, they're in Mumbai.
Are you saying the incidents were covered up by the Indian Media?
Interesting.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/symonds-racially-abused-yet-again/2007/10/17/1192300859647.html
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/17/bombay_wideweb__470x352,0.jpg
"Ugly in anyone's language"

Look how much the ones who aren't engaging in the racist chants are still thoroughly enjoying the racism. Like horizontal green striped shirt man for example, he's giddy with glee.
And does fat-red-face blue-shirt with black-sleeves man make you proud to be indian?

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/10/18/1192300892467.html
Australian captain Ricky Ponting says the latest racial abuse of Andrew Symonds by Indian fans is embarrassing for members of the cricket-crazed country...
"I just hope that that does not happen again in another cricket venue that I play in because it leaves a bad taste in everybody's mouth...
I am sure there will be a lot of embarrassed people around this country as well to know that this stuff has happened again at one of their cricket venues"
Wrong ricky, they love it!
They roll around on the floor laughing at racism;
http://www.sciforums.com/images/smilies/roflmao.gif

Mumbai fans have developed a reputation for hurling racist obscenities at visiting players
Mumbai is the soup you crawled out of isn't it SAM?

The same comment rang out around Australia over and over again "wtf? Where do indians get off being racist? They're ... indians?"

What's a half negro in Australia?
A national hero.

No, they're in Mumbai.
Are you saying the incidents were covered up by the Indian Media?
Interesting.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/symonds-racially-abused-yet-again/2007/10/17/1192300859647.html
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/17/bombay_wideweb__470x352,0.jpg
"Ugly in anyone's language"

Look how much the ones who aren't engaging in the racist chants are still thoroughly enjoying the racism. Like horizontal green striped shirt man for example, he's giddy with glee.
And does fat-red-face blue-shirt with black-sleeves man make you proud to be indian?

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/10/18/1192300892467.html

Wrong ricky, they love it!
They roll around on the floor laughing at racism;



Mumbai is the soup you crawled out of isn't it SAM?

The same comment rang out around Australia over and over again "wtf? Where do indians get off being racist? They're ... indians?"


A national hero.

Political correctness never reached India. In case you visit, be prepared to hear exactly what people think of you. At least from the nonwesternised Indians :D IIRC, this guy had complained of racial abuse before. This was probably a response to that. Indian cricket fans can be very unforgiving.

Oh and btw in India, calling someone kutte/kutti (dog) or bandar/bandariya (monkey) is not a racist cant, its merely common derogatory slang. Like saying bitch for a woman.

So, complaining about racial abuse is what caused the racial abuse?
Intriguing.
I knew gypsies originated in India, but didn't know every cricket fan in India was profficient in the mystic art of crystal ball reading.

Anyway, I think they need polishing;
"Andrew Symonds - I never complained" .
http://www.cricketviewer.com/i-never-complained-symonds.html

Back on topic, here's a classic bit by Red Skelton where he explains the meaning of the pledge of allegiance. For those of you who didn't grow up in America, the pledge is said every morning by school children across the nation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Kt_D4MegM

Oh and btw in India, calling someone kutte/kutti (dog) or bandar/bandariya (monkey) is not a racist cant, its merely common derogatory slang. Like saying bitch for a woman.
Oh, ok, so calling a nigger a monkey in india is just like calling a woman a bitch, or a homosexual person a faggot, if you will.

My mistake.

So, complaining about racial abuse is what caused the racial abuse?
Intriguing.
I knew gypsies originated in India, but didn't know every cricket fan in India was profficient in the mystic art of crystal ball reading.

Anyway, I think they need polishing;
"Andrew Symonds - I never complained" .
http://www.cricketviewer.com/i-never-complained-symonds.html

Ponting did and everyone knows he's an ass.

Besides, they are cricket fans, surely fans are not known for their critical thinking?:D
/sorry madant.

So, complaining about racial abuse is what caused the racial abuse?
Intriguing.
I knew gypsies originated in India, but didn't know every cricket fan in India was profficient in the mystic art of crystal ball reading.

Anyway, I think they need polishing;
"Andrew Symonds - I never complained" .
http://www.cricketviewer.com/i-never-complained-symonds.html

Ponting did and everyone knows he's an ass.

/sorry madant.

Oh, ok, so calling a nigger a monkey in india is just like calling a woman a bitch, or a homosexual person a faggot, if you will.

My mistake.

Or calling a Bengali a Bong, or calling a South Indian Mallu or Madrasi, or calling a Muslim yami, etc.
We don't say faggot, but chakka (6) is usually used for homosexuals, why, I don't know (in cricket its also used for a sixer), then there is eunuch (hijda), harami (bastard), nikamma (useless), kamina (selfish), napunsak (impotent) which are some of the printable ones.

Though I must say, are Aussies so sensitive to sledging? Do they cry on the fields if some one calls them a name?

That's a pretty patriotic ad. You guys may be turning around on the patriotism issue.
Australians are very patriotic. It's just different to America's cult of patriotism.
It's an earned appreciation that has arisen organically amongst the populace.
Not one instilled into the foundation of our country, and then creepily drilled into school children.
Sounds a bit like North Korea.

This is an interesting thread (not that I have a bias because I'm proudly Australian...).

Looking at the OP, I can't see anything I disagree with. It pretty well nails some of the differences between Americans and Australians.

james you honestly think that Australians dont like ANYONE who succeads?

It's a Big Ad (http://youtube.com/watch?v=891pmKoKGE4)

that demonstrates the self depreceation in Australian culture. LOVE IT.

I never really saw much patriotism in Australia. A few choose to display it, but other than turning out for ANZAC day (which many just use for the under priced beer), and randomly walking in the city for Australia day, I haven't seen much displays of patriotism.
Although I'm Aussie, I could easily live in any other country.

This is an interesting thread (not that I have a bias because I'm proudly Australian...).

Looking at the OP, I can't see anything I disagree with. It pretty well nails some of the differences between Americans and Australians.
I wondered when you were going to show up. It was you and Asgard I had in mind while reading the article referenced in the OP, because I knew you were both Australian. But, based on the posts, there are more of you Aussies around here than I thought.

There are a few more..Mountainhare, Bells, Brian Foley, new chap called Godslave.

Notice how the thread turned very quickly to beer and cricket.
Politics taking a back seat.

Madanthonywayne

The article opens with this quote:

"Americans maintain their sense of being God's own country with a manifest destiny to lead the world to freedom and democracy. Australia has no global ambitions, and those related to the region are for stability and economic advancement rather than dominance" - John Langmore
He is right in a way. Australia had always preferred to encourage regional stability and economic advancement. This has changed in recent times as Australia appears to be a lot more supportive of the American style of interference in the politics of other countries, than it has been in the past. I suspect Howard is one of the reasons this has taken such a bad turn.

We had never obsessed with spreading democracy as though it were a religious dogma.

Patriotism

Australians are patriotic. But not fanatically so. The Howard government attempted to instill a stronger sense of patriotism during its administration, by continually bombarding the Australian public with what Australian values are and the notion of "mateship". Lets just say it did not go down well as his interpretation had a distinctly racist and superior underlining that did not sit well with the majority of Australians.

We do not venerate the flag as much as American's do. We mock our national anthem... "gert by sea?!?.. who the hell says "gert"?!?".. We like it when our athletes wave the flag after a win, or a loss, but that's about it. During the riots in Sydney, many white Australian males were seen to be running around chanting racist comments and being generally violent and destructive. Many Australians found it to be disrespectful and down right moronic. There is a fairly strong minority who like having the Queen for a symbolic head of state, but the majority would prefer it if we did not. We would like a new national anthem, but most cannot be bothered to try to find another one. You'll notice that more Australians will sing to 'Waltzing Mathilda' than they do to the national anthem... again.. WTF is 'gert'?

The article is correct in that anyone with extreme views, be it of the left persuasion or the right, will be ridiculed and ignored. The notion of 'that is not who we are' is repeated, but it does hide a extremist underbelly. Yes there are many extremists in this country, be it of the left and of the right. Mainstream Australians tend to find it embarrassing and uncomfortable when confronted by such individuals.

We have no qualms about booing our Prime Minister until he can no longer be heard when speaking in public. And he will usually laugh it off. If he reacts badly to such a public reception, his standing within the Australian community will go down and fast. We dislike it when the US President visits and the security measures that accompany him means our streets have to be shut down to all forms of traffic. We hate having some foreign upstart disrupting our lives so he can get to his destination faster. Our Prime Minister does not travel in a motorcade and if he ever demanded traffic be stopped to allow him to pass through unhindered by traffic, he would be torn to shreds by the public and the media.

Tall Poppy Syndrome

How can this be explained.. If an Australian makes it big, then the majority will generally be happy for them. But if they make it big and forget where they came from or consider themselves better than anyone else, then he/she will be cut down like a tall poppy. For examples, Australians are very proud of the achievements of fellow Australians. But if they then go on to ignore their origins or to demean it in any way, then the Australians will turn on them. For example, we hate it when Australians go overseas (to the US or UK as one example) and within 1 year, have completely lost their Australian accent. We do not like it when successful people flaunt their success and wealth.

Religion

I think you would find that many Australians are deeply religious. But we prefer to keep our religion private and personal. We don't like it when our politicians begin to tell us we need to live by the Christian ethos or who attempt to say that Australia is a nation founded on Christian principles. We detested it when our former Prime Minister and many members of his cabinet became involved with what many deem to be religious cults.

Asguard:

james you honestly think that Australians dont like ANYONE who succeads?

No. What Bells says just above this is right. The Australian ethos seems to be "Success is great, but don't forget where you came from and don't think you're better than anybody else just because you're successful."

Also, we do have double standards. If you're a success in sport, for example, then you're an Aussie hero. But success in intellectual endeavours is much less valued, probably because the "average" guy can't understand what has been succeeded at. There's often a dismissive attitude to people who are educated, which is by no means unique to Australia, by the way. There's a sizable number of people, both in Australia and the US, who are proud to say "I don't need no damn book learnin'! I got everything I need to know from the university of life." Thankfully, this attitude may be changing to some extent in Australia. For example, last year's Australian of the Year was Tim Flannery, a scientist, rather than the usual run of sportpeople and entertainers (though in 2008, it's an entertainer again...)

I think americans take education way more seriously than australians.
I've been watching that crap "kid nation", because I like shit tv, what can I say, but american children win "gold stars" worth $20 000, basically every single one that has won it so far has said "this will pay for college", and these kids range from 7 to 14.
No one would think "university" when they won money in Australia, not even mature 17 year olds. No one under 12 would think of much other than how many lollies or tansformers they will be able to buy.

There's definately way more importance put on education in America.
"Don't need no book learnin" is a joke in America, it's a joke to think of someone not going to university, a laugh riot if someone doesn't finish high school.
It's just not like that in Australia, I'm sure amongst certain circles it is to a degree, I know it is, but generally lots of fairly intelligent people don't go to university.
The excessively dumb people I see in American universities would certainly never have considered finishing high school if they were born in Australia.
Their parents wouldn't even have encouraged them to try.

I don't think it's necessarrily a bad thing, the pressure for people to achieve academically in america has simply resulted in dumb people having way too much power and money.
George bush should have been a farmer, let's face it.
If it wasn't for mexicans america wouldn't even have a work force because every meat headed dumbass is an accountant or a lawyer.

i compleatly agree that the australian of the year should be someone who does something for the comunity rather that the latest sports star. Someone like the guy who invented gardisil (it embarise me that i cant think of his name of the top of my head or even if he DID win an australian of the year medal)

On religion and politics i would like to point out something. Last year the catholic cardinal of Sydney George Pell came out and said that if you were catholic you would vote a certian way on a certian bill before state parliment. I dont know what the paticular bill was but i do rember the outrage both from catholic members of parliment and the general public at this intrusion by the church into the political prossess.

I also feel that i have only shown the good side of Australia and in the intrest of honestly later (when i have time) i am going to post the bad side of Australia.

Dr Lou Natic you dont think thats because of the HECS system? none of us have to pay for UNI upfront so although we want to go to uni (and i currently am) we would use the money for other things. For instance i would save it for a deposit on a house

Oh and to further what bell was saying about the national antham. I think that maybe in some part due to a seriouse embarisment about what the national antham really means. Have you ever herd verse 2-7 of the antham? Its never played anymore because its so racist. It was going to be one of the things on my list that is an embasiment to me personally about our culture

rather than the usual run of sportpeople and entertainers (though in 2008, it's an entertainer again...)
What a load of rubbish!


From wikipedia...
2008 Lee Kernaghan OAM -- country music singer
2007 Tim Flannery -- scientist; global warming activist
2006 Ian Frazer -- immunologist
2005 Fiona Wood AM -- plastic surgeon; worked with victims of the 2002 Bali bombings
2004 Steve Waugh AO -- Australian cricket team captain
2003 Fiona Stanley AC -- epidemiologist
2002 Patrick Rafter -- tennis player
2001 General Peter Cosgrove AC MC -- Chief of the Australian Army (2000-2002)
2000 Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE -- biologist
1999 Mark Taylor AO -- Australian cricket team captain

Five scientists in the last 10 years what the hell is this country coming too :p

Erm... ok. I forgot there were so many scientists. I take it all back! I repent.

The Bad side of Australia

The country was invaded and the Native inhabitents were subjected
The Aborigionals had no right to vote or any right to self determination
The chinesse imigrants during the gold rush were subjected and treated as second class
The Minors were treated very unfairly
As each group of imigrants arived they were discriminated against
the white Australia policy
the Stolen Generation
That aborigionals have a life expectancy of 20 years less than the average population
That we dont treat the Sick, the elderly and the unemployed with the digentiy they deserve
That the country elected the Howard goverment
That the country fell for the children overboard scandle
The way that the defence personal and the "illegal" imigrants were treated during this scandle
The way we treat "illegal" imigrants in general
Manditory dentention
That Pauline Hanson got ANY votes
The "aborigional Intervention"
our intolerance of both aborigionals and imigrants
Our goverments surport of Bush
our invasion of Iraq

there are alot more that i cant think of off the top of my head

we did litter across turkish grounds ...

Oscar Wilde said: " America is the only country in the world that has gone from barbarism to decadence without an intervening period of civilisation."

Don't shoot me; I'm only the messenger

Australia day holiday was yesterday.
I went to a barbie (q, not doll), great day, warm, swum, played cricket, ate shitloads of good food ( tucker, *gags with embarressment for use of outdated stereotypical vernacular phrase*) and copious Western Australian red wine ( Frenchies can suck our collective Aussie Shirazes).
A snippet of conversation to give a little insight into Australian communication:

Angela, to husband.." Jeez Phil, your teeth are really porous these days, when you drink red wine your teeth turn blue!"
Me, overhearing and also imbibing of said Shiraz,.." Fark Angela, just be glad his eyes don't turn red too, like mine".* makes demonic face with scary resemblance to the lord of darkness*...Phil, " Your support is noted and given due consideration,..pass the bottle"... Angela " But with your red face and those blue teeth and your big belly, it's not a good look "... " yes dear " *Pours a small bucket of red for myself and himself, turns subject to cricket or sex( I can't quite remember)*

Etc, etc, ad nauseum,...A top day out.

Oscar Wilde said: " America is the only country in the world that has gone from barbarism to decadence without an intervening period of civilisation."

Don't shoot me; I'm only the messenger

/cackles
Australia went from the stone Age to the 21st century without civilisation of any note.
Barbarism and decadence coexist in a beautiful symbiosis of modern colonial outpost cynicism.

/cackles
Australia went from the stone Age to the 21st century without civilisation of any note.
Barbarism and decadence coexist in a beautiful symbiosis of modern colonial outpost cynicism.

Sound like my cup of tea,. old chap. Can I come visit ?

Sound like my cup of tea,. old chap. Can I come visit ?

Ter be feckin sher, so long as ya cup 'a tea is a cold beer!

Ter be feckin sher, so long as ya cup 'a tea is a cold beer!

Just to put you right, we only say feckin when there's a priest within earshot.

Just to put you right, we only say feckin when there's a priest within earshot.

And isn't that all the time?

And isn't that all the time?

No, at the last count the ratio of priests to laymen had fallen to 5:1. The Irish government, under pressure from the EU, is creating priest-free zones.

Erm... ok. I forgot there were so many scientists. I take it all back! I repent.
There have only been 12 since it started in 1960 so the last 10 years has been a big improvement.

I think that couldn't be more wrong. If the south was an island it would be Australia, texas is a mini australia.
I know Texans and Californians who've been to Australia, the texans felt like they found their new home, the californians were appauled and found australians to be the most racist offensive backwater hillbillies they've ever met.

Yeah, Australia is an entire continent of beer swilling, racist, grilling, motorhead rednecks.

Over represented by mild mannered, Indian and Asian born intellectuals with a mild twangy accent.

My daddy calls 'em "squintin' n****rs".

Hey, any of you Aussies know which continent was named before it was discovered, and what the original name was?

Your joking right?

Australia was assumed to be there before it was "found". It was called Terra Australis (not sure on the spelling) which means Great Southan Land

If the dutch had landed, It would have been New holland.

Your joking right?

Australia was assumed to be there before it was "found". It was called Terra Australis (not sure on the spelling) which means Great Southan LandClose: Terra Australis Incognito (unknown southern land). Claudius Ptolemy theorized in 200 AD that the earth would tip over without some large southern landmass to balance out the northern ones.

I didn't think it would be a difficult question for you, I just came across that whole earth tipping over story and thought it was interesting. I wonder if Ptolemy had any idea it would take 1500 years to prove him right.

Here's some more interesting facts about Australia I came across:
* Australians may refer to fools, idiots and hopeless cases as Drongos. Drongo was a 1920’s racehorse that showed promise but never won anything in 37 starts. In the 1940’s, the term was applied to recruits of the Australian airforce.
* The name for the Australian marsupial Kangaroo came about when some of the first white settlers saw this strange animal hopping along and they asked the Aborigines what it was called. They replied with ‘Kanguru’, which in the native language meant ‘I don’t know’.
* Although resembling modern humans, Mungro man (found at Mungro lake) appears to have been a separate species. His unique DNA has been used to challenge the ‘out of Africa’ theory of human evolution.
* 0.02 percent of the Australian land mass is used by mines. More land is occupied by pubs.
* 10 percent of Australians satisfy the definition of an ‘ocker’ . This 10 percent of the population consume 80 percent of the beer drunk in Australia.
* Waltzing Matilda’ the title of Australia’s most famous song, is German for ‘carrying a backpack’.
* In 1977, Alan Jones scored a surprise victory in the Austrian Grand Prix. Initially officials were going to play the Austrian anthem but then realised that Australia and Austria were not the same country. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the Australian anthem so instead a local drunk played “Happy Birthday to You” on a trumpet.
* 94% European descent, 4% Asian descent, 1.5% Aboriginal descent.
* The Tasmanian Aborigine was of a different race to those on the mainland with features more similar to Africans. On the orders of Governor Arthur, all Tasmanian Aborigines were ordered to be shot. No full bloods live today.
* When a specimen of the platypus was first sent to England, it was believed the Australians had played a joke by sewing the bill of a duck onto a rat.
* In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalised by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia.
* Australia was the second country to give women the vote.
* Lawrence Hargrave discovered that curved surfaces lift more than flat ones. He subsequently built the world’s first box-kite, hitched four together, added an engine and flew five metres. Hargrave corresponded freely with other aviation pioneers, including the Wright Brothers. But unlike the Americans who monopolised their ideas, Hargrave never patented his. Because it promised public access, Hargrave left all his research to the Munich Museum. Had Hargrave gained local support to further develop his ideas and not been so generous in sharing his ideas with other aviation pioneers, he probably would have been the first person in the world to achieve sustained and controlled powered flight.
* by Mervyn Victor Richardson, the two-stroke petrol lawn mower with rotary blades revolutionised mowing world wide.
http://www.convictcreations.com/index.htm
I didn't know the governor had ordered the extermination of Tazmanian Aboriginees. Wow. And the Kangaroo bit is pretty funny.

I actually knew all that:p

You forgot about our most famous invention though, the hills Hoist. I know they are in the US because if you watch all the war movies like "we were solders" there they are in the back yard:) What you yanks dont know is that everyone one of those sold has a monitoring chip in it which spies on you:p