Canadians and Australians in the eyes of the English

Originally Posted by youngscientist

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The Ausies are a bunch of drunken racisit convicts who too frequently beat us a sports.
Australians have a terrible reputation for being racist but i wonder how true it actually is.

They are definitely rude and lack any kind of political correctness which i think is often mis-intepreted by British and Americans as a sign of racism.

I think the reality is that it rarely goes deeper than what is openly said, as opposed to the UK and US where it is much more deep seaded but less visible on the surface.

to answer the question, i think Australians are just too rude and vulgar for most Brits. Although Australian culture is more aligned to English culture, Canadians seem to be far less offensive.

Maybe Australia is like an annoying younger brother whereas Canada is an interesting foreign cousin.

How can the English be expected to like Canadians or Australians when they don't even like the cunts from the next town over, never mind the Scots, Welsh or Irish?

maybe thats the problem - australians remind them too much of themselves

i never get along with people who are too similar to myself

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

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Australians have a terrible reputation for being racist but i wonder how true it actually is.

Historically, the Australian legacy of racism is certainly a close rival for the US, Europe and a host of other nations. While it still exist, I tend to agree that the reputation for racism is now undeserved. Multiculturalism has been a success for Australia. I have certainly encountered more racism in the US than Australia, though Australians are also more likely to joke or discuss race issues - which may be where that reputation comes from.

All you ever needed to know about Canada: Canada, by Tom Brokaw For more about 3:19.

Originally Posted by youngscientist

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The Ausies are a bunch of drunken racisit convicts who too frequently beat us a sports.

In all seriosness

We'd probably beat you in a spelling bee too

Originally Posted by Fuuma

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...they travel/immigrate like there's no tomorrow.

Completely agree. Something to do with growing up so far from the rest of the world makes us just wanna see it. Something about a sense of adventure sends us to live in far flung places and take it in. I would say that at least half of my friends/family have lived overseas for prolonged periods, and probably over 80% of them would have visited more than five countries - which, given our geographic isolation, is quite a feat.

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

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Australians have a terrible reputation for being racist but i wonder how true it actually is.

They are definitely rude and lack any kind of political correctness which i think is often mis-intepreted by British and Americans as a sign of racism.

I think the reality is that it rarely goes deeper than what is openly said, as opposed to the UK and US where it is much more deep seaded but less visible on the surface.

I agree with this. When I was living in the US, I was doing a psych class in college, and they make you do those lab hour things where grad students use you for research. I joined one on racism, and this was pretty much my argument.

Originally Posted by JustinW

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Historically, the Australian legacy of racism is certainly a close rival for the US, Europe and a host of other nations. While it still exist, I tend to agree that the reputation for racism is now undeserved. Multiculturalism has been a success for Australia. I have certainly encountered more racism in the US than Australia, though Australians are also more likely to joke or discuss race issues - which may be where that reputation comes from.

Yup, we have some seriously deep dark events in our history that at various times have been institutionalised, ranging from White Australia, to stolen generation, to Tasmanian roundups of Aboriginals and so on. A long history of it, but I do tend to concur with the opinion that we are more likely to openly make black jokes/yellow jokes/whatever jokes - generally directly to the people of that colour - than Americans or Brits...who tend to just walk away thinking things they never say.

Originally Posted by Matt

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Yup, we have some seriously deep dark events in our history that at various times have been institutionalised, ranging from White Australia, to stolen generation, to Tasmanian roundups of Aboriginals and so on. A long history of it, but I do tend to concur with the opinion that we are more likely to openly make black jokes/yellow jokes/whatever jokes - generally directly to the people of that colour - than Americans or Brits...who tend to just walk away thinking things they never say.

Occasionally you kick the **** out of some brown people on the beach for fun though.

Originally Posted by unjung

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Occasionally you kick the **** out of some brown people on the beach for fun though.

It's a bit more complicated than that. Certain ethnic groups (and their Aussie born offspring) have not integrated very well into the wider society and have a high media profile in terms of violence and crime. This is where the problem stems from.

I tend to think Australians (esp the older generation) feel much closer to Britain and the British, than perhaps Canadians do. A lot of people i know look back fondly upon the era of Prime Minister Menzies (40's-60's) as a time where Australia not only prospered but stood as one with the UK motherland.

There was also a referendum a few years back which wanted to turn Australia into a republic (instead of the current constitutional monarchy) and it was soundly defeated.

From what i can see Canada has always seemed more distant to the UK - becoming a republic, changing the flag, partly adopting US spelling, driving on the right etc.

One difference in culture however is that Australians are generally more egalitarian but somewhat uncouth (lacking finesse, decorum).

Originally Posted by Simon Templar

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It's a bit more complicated than that. Certain ethnic groups (and their Aussie born offspring) have not integrated very well into the wider society and have a high media profile in terms of violence and crime. This is where the problem stems from.
i'm curious as to which ethnic groups youre referring to that are responsible for beating up indians

Originally Posted by Simon Templar

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One difference in culture however is that Australians are generally more egalitarian but somewhat uncouth (lacking finesse, decorum).
i don't think australians are more egalitarian than canadians, for two reasons: 1) it's hard to get more egalitarian than canadians 2) the definition of egalitarian is to be accepting of everyone, not to call them a ****** if they dress a bit better than average

the definition of egalitarian has nothing to do with acceptance

Australia is very egalitarian compared to the US or UK but has nothing on the Scandanavian countries.

also, the guys who were involved in the Cronulla beach fights were just morons, wether they were 'aussies' or 'lebanese'.

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

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They are definitely rude
How on earth are Australians rude? French and Americans maybe, but Australians? Our carefree colloquial traits may come across as rude, but you don't understand our culture. And there are a number of minorities who haven't integrated into our society and have made headlines of late for all the wrong reasons. One was a young Canadian backpacker bashed to death by 3 islanders (Tongan or Samoan) And any number of headlines made by Lebanese/Middle Eastern 'Australians'

Originally Posted by unjung

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Occasionally you kick the **** out of some brown people on the beach for fun though.
And where are you from? Cronulla riots had nothing to do with 'brown people' at all you moron. It was white Australians and Lebanese Australians

Originally Posted by jaypee

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How on earth are Australians rude? French and Americans maybe, but Australians? Our carefree colloquial traits may come across as rude, but you don't understand our culture.
i meant rude as in crude, i.e. yelling, swearing, making politcally incorrect jokes etc. i understand Australian culture pretty well.

And there are a number of minorities who haven't integrated into our society and have made headlines of late for all the wrong reasons. One was a young Canadian backpacker bashed to death by 3 islanders (Tongan or Samoan) And any number of headlines made by Lebanese/Middle Eastern 'Australians'

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what a load of horse ****. lebanese or middle eastern 'australians' make the headlines due to cynical editors knowing that uneducated morons will lap it up. Any skewed crime statistics towards these groups has more to do with the fact that they are disadvantaged than the fact that they arent 'intergrating'. What is the point of the story about the Tongans? That is about as relevant as the attacks on Indian students.

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

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i meant rude as in crude, i.e. yelling, swearing, making politcally incorrect jokes etc.

i understand Australian culture pretty well.

Being politically incorrect is a national pastime here and I enjoy being incorrect far more than being correct. Our PM is the sort of anal-retentive bastard nobody wants to be.