Internet chatter Soooaaarliiii iiiii

[theGman]

You have no connection to the club whatsoever. Stop making it out as if every slightly negative comment is a personal insult to you. Or you could just stick to women’s soccer WanKerr.

13

To your point, I reckon The Gimp is a miserable troll who's probably onto it's 10th alias by now.

How very sad

[Steakface]

Very true. It is such a culture shock when you compare other cultures with your own. After I returned to Australia for the first time in seven years, the difference smacks you right in the face. I stayed here for about a year and then returned OS where the difference once again hits you.

I don't want to be too critical of Australia or Sydney in particular, but every return I was reminded of how aggressive Australian society is in comparison. Not critical aggression such as in Brazil and similar places, just very much a hustle and bustle and general indifference for others.

To those that disagree that this topic is petty and believe that it is societally and culturally appropriate, why is it a one way street, as I earlier touched on? My parents were called wogs when they went to school in Sydney back in the day. They turned the other cheek, accepted to a degree the wrong pronunciation of their name, and practiced their former homeland's culture and language only at home and at social clubs. Never once as 'new Australians' did they guilt enforce others to speak in a Russian accent or correct them on the pronunciation of the surname.

Loving other cultures is so easy and is one of the most enjoyable things to do. Being told to or nudged to change your ways to suit others is pathetic. Multiculturalism by definition is "a society in which there exists numerous distinct ethnic and cultural groups". Distinct, not identical. Or do you desire monoculturalism, the homogenisation of every manifestation of identity? On a lighter note Australians and New Zealanders are the equal second worst drivers in the world, with Russians a country mile ahead as the worst in the world.

I like your sentiment, and largely agree.

I've been abroad for about 8 years. Asia. Spend most of my time either with local people in the country I live, or with expats from places as diverse as Japan, the US, Ireland, Germany, Phillipines, Indonesia and many more. Only have 3 or 4 Australian mates here.

I come back to Australia every 1-2 years for a visit.

Australian cultural quirks I noticed, that really hit me in the face when i returned, but might not be evident to people living in the culture:

1. Casual racism - passing comments that you're expected to shrug it off because 'its just a joke'

2. Casual provocation - the 'larrikan' thing (supposedly) of casually insulting someone and being expected to take it. Granted, this is fine if you're close friends, but you get it even from acquaintances or even strangers in Australia.

3. Insularity - every lives in their own bubble. Go's to and from work, and stays in their house. No one out on the street playing or chatting with neighbours. Hardly anyone in the cities makes friends outside of their high school or work colleague group. Australia is a lonely place in my opinion.

4. Not In My Backyard - people cannot cope with even the slightest personal inconvenience. Australia is one of the quietest, most regulated places on the planet...yet people still can't seem to cope, and get their back up about the most trivial things in their immediate environment.

5. Lack of humility - there is an increasingly 'know it all' mentality in the culture now. There is no humbleness, or humbleness is frowned upon. People are self proclaimed experts on politics, epidemeology etc despite having barely passed their high school exams, let alone opened a page of an academic book on political science or medicine. Australian media is designed to provoke people, fire them up, cast blame upon some boogyman, and the people are lapping it up without thinking.

My point is, it is very ignorant to claim Australian culture is superior necessarily to any other. There are positives and negatives, and in my opinion the negatives are becoming bigger than the positives nowdays.

[Steakface]

Make up your mind mate. With all your multiple profiles you are getting confused.

Multiple profiles? Who do you think I am supposed to be?

Why not address the content of my post instead of looking for things that aren't there.

[rented tracksuit]

Multiple profiles? Who do you think I am supposed to be?

Why not address the content of my post instead of looking for things that aren't there.

Your posts are sometimes a little on the nose tbh!

*boomtish*

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I like your sentiment, and largely agree.

I've been abroad for about 8 years. Asia. Spend most of my time either with local people in the country I live, or with expats from places as diverse as Japan, the US, Ireland, Germany, Phillipines, Indonesia and many more. Only have 3 or 4 Australian mates here.

I come back to Australia every 1-2 years for a visit.

Australian cultural quirks I noticed, that really hit me in the face when i returned, but might not be evident to people living in the culture:

1. Casual racism - passing comments that you're expected to shrug it off because 'its just a joke'

2. Casual provocation - the 'larrikan' thing (supposedly) of casually insulting someone and being expected to take it. Granted, this is fine if you're close friends, but you get it even from acquaintances or even strangers in Australia.

3. Insularity - every lives in their own bubble. Go's to and from work, and stays in their house. No one out on the street playing or chatting with neighbours. Hardly anyone in the cities makes friends outside of their high school or work colleague group. Australia is a lonely place in my opinion.

4. Not In My Backyard - people cannot cope with even the slightest personal inconvenience. Australia is one of the quietest, most regulated places on the planet...yet people still can't seem to cope, and get their back up about the most trivial things in their immediate environment.

5. Lack of humility - there is an increasingly 'know it all' mentality in the culture now. There is no humbleness, or humbleness is frowned upon. People are self proclaimed experts on politics, epidemeology etc despite having barely passed their high school exams, let alone opened a page of an academic book on political science or medicine. Australian media is designed to provoke people, fire them up, cast blame upon some boogyman, and the people are lapping it up without thinking.

My point is, it is very ignorant to claim Australian culture is superior necessarily to any other. There are positives and negatives, and in my opinion the negatives are becoming bigger than the positives nowdays.

Any chance we can get you on the borders to advise our 2,000 odd daily immigrants what they are walking into?

[Rooster1908]

I like your sentiment, and largely agree.

I've been abroad for about 8 years. Asia. Spend most of my time either with local people in the country I live, or with expats from places as diverse as Japan, the US, Ireland, Germany, Phillipines, Indonesia and many more. Only have 3 or 4 Australian mates here.

I come back to Australia every 1-2 years for a visit.

Australian cultural quirks I noticed, that really hit me in the face when i returned, but might not be evident to people living in the culture:

1. Casual racism - passing comments that you're expected to shrug it off because 'its just a joke'

2. Casual provocation - the 'larrikan' thing (supposedly) of casually insulting someone and being expected to take it. Granted, this is fine if you're close friends, but you get it even from acquaintances or even strangers in Australia.

3. Insularity - every lives in their own bubble. Go's to and from work, and stays in their house. No one out on the street playing or chatting with neighbours. Hardly anyone in the cities makes friends outside of their high school or work colleague group. Australia is a lonely place in my opinion.

4. Not In My Backyard - people cannot cope with even the slightest personal inconvenience. Australia is one of the quietest, most regulated places on the planet...yet people still can't seem to cope, and get their back up about the most trivial things in their immediate environment.

5. Lack of humility - there is an increasingly 'know it all' mentality in the culture now. There is no humbleness, or humbleness is frowned upon. People are self proclaimed experts on politics, epidemeology etc despite having barely passed their high school exams, let alone opened a page of an academic book on political science or medicine. Australian media is designed to provoke people, fire them up, cast blame upon some boogyman, and the people are lapping it up without thinking.

My point is, it is very ignorant to claim Australian culture is superior necessarily to any other. There are positives and negatives, and in my opinion the negatives are becoming bigger than the positives nowdays.

Maybe don't bother coming back every 1-2 years

[King Salvo]

Rubbish- all but clearly not sundry could see that Suallii was not a centre, is not a centre and never will be a centre. We had plenty of left centres when Robinson chose Suallii instead. Even Robinson finally came around by the last round, where he had every reason to make out of the box centre choices and went with 3rd string actual centres who played great. Much better than his usual 2nd row to centre selections. Suallii was up front about his desire to play rugby. It was in every newspaper. If he's signed with Rugby there is no way he will walk away from that contract. I think he is a very good winger/fullback, not $800k though. Him walking in 2025 is not the worst outcome for us. Finally - believe it or not the Chookpen is the go to for market research for Easts. The Chookpen is the Roosters market. All successful organisations have a marketing department including Easts. Using qualitative and quantitative research is a basic business tool. So Chookpeners air your grievances. I guarantee some at head office takes note.

Plenty of left centres? Billy Smith and Paul Momirovski were both unavailable; Smith returned to the NRL in round 10 and Momirovski in round 8 (injury in round 9).

Not out of the question that Joseph Sua'ali'i could play centre in 2024

It is a tad far-fetched to say that the Chookpen is the go-to for market research for Easts, and Head Office takes note as it's an unofficial anonymous site for starters.

It's not the Green Bay Packers or Atlanta Braves that we hold stock in; they won't be asking us about any Atlanta Braves manager or coaching appointments or the filling of the roster.

To quote Daryl Kerrigan

[Steakface]

Maybe don't bother coming back every 1-2 years

I do care about my family and friends and spending time with them.

My point is to share Australian cultural flaws that might not be so evident to people that haven't been abroad for a long time.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I do care about my family and friends and spending time with them.

My point is to share Australian cultural flaws that might not be so evident to people that haven't been abroad for a long time.

Aww that's nice, and its terrific you can get back here for a visit and help educate us in person. You can still kerp identifying our flaws and number them via social media though, and we can also learn from you that way.

I get the sense you would be a scream at a good ol Aussie barbie, heaps of fun. (Oops! ...it that was larrikinism, I apologise, file under Flaw no:...2 I think).

Keep the flaws coming mate (oops, that is a term of endearment too I assure you).

At least you voted with your passport and backed your sensitivities...its a blessing you did...for you I mean...for you.

[rented tracksuit]

Any chance we can get you on the borders to advise our 2,000 odd daily immigrants what they are walking into?

Can you give ‘em your favourite keno numbers while they are it?

[rented tracksuit]

I do care about my family and friends and spending time with them.

My point is to share Australian cultural flaws that might not be so evident to people that haven't been abroad for a long time.

Those who don’t experience living abroad don’t understand it.

Holidaying o/s doesn’t count.

[rented tracksuit]

Aww that's nice, and its terrific you can get back here for a visit and help educate us in person. You can still kerp identifying our flaws and number them via social media though, and we can also learn from you that way.

I get the sense you would be a scream at a good ol Aussie barbie, heaps of fun. (Oops! ...it that was larrikinism, I apologise, file under Flaw no:...2 I think).

Keep the flaws coming mate (oops, that is a term of endearment too I assure you).

At least you voted with your passport and backed your sensitivities...its a blessing you did...for you I mean...for you.

14, 2, 68, 27, 26, 18, 56.

Good luck!

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

I bet Simple Jax has a favorite poker machine too.

[rented tracksuit]

I bet Simple Jax has a favorite poker machine too.

I reckon your right but would only play 1c machines at minimal slaps.

If the feature comes up, lets the music play out fully while looking left to right to see if he’s been noticed.

[MCMLXVI]

Australian cultural quirks I noticed, that really hit me in the face when i returned, but might not be evident to people living in the culture:

1. Casual racism -

2. Casual provocation

3. Insularity

4. Not In My Backyard

5. Lack of humility

My point is, it is very ignorant to claim Australian culture is superior necessarily to any other. There are positives and negatives, and in my opinion the negatives are becoming bigger than the positives nowdays.

Well said.

You are in the perfect position to identify cultural quirks when you remove yourself for an extended period of time and then return for a shorter duration, again and again. Your power of perception is stronger and your analysis is probably more accurate than those uninterrupted by such large cultural differences. Right off the top of my head, Australians are the most hyper-sensitive people that get very emotionally worked up and defensive when even the slightest disparaging comment is made about this country.

I'm not sure what you mean in regard to casual racism. I have honestly never witnessed racism in Sydney or any other part of Australia. Your second point is so true. The amount of times that I have heard fellow countrymen proudly say how laid-back we are, when in truth we are the least laid-back society I have ever lived in. We get upset by the shadows of things that may possibly be slurs or may be slightly contrary to our viewpoint. Horne's 'The Lucky Country' should be compulsory reading in high school so that I never again have to hear anyone bashing other countries by quoting the title of a book that bashes Australia for riding on the coattails of Britain and natural resources.

Your third point is probably true as well, but community is still strong in Australia the further distance you put between yourself and the cities. A quick and relevant anecdote; The second day after I moved to Ireland, into a property about four miles from the tourist town centre, my then girlfriend and I decided to walk into town along the lovely rural landscape, instead of driving in. Not long after commencing the walk a van passed us, slowed down, and then pulled over onto the verge and waited. We instantly thought 'shit, we could be in trouble here'. I said to her that it's alright, I'll handle it. Long story short, the bloke in the van asked where we were headed and ended up giving us a lift to town. That is how it rolls in the community over there. We ended up always doing the same for others. Variations of this exist here and now in certain rural places. Where I now live I was initially freaked out when driving the country roads and noticing most people walking or driving, waving at you as you pass. I now do the same. At first I thought that they were weirdos for waving, and then I realised that I was the weirdo for thinking that waving is not normal.

Your fourth point, don't get me started on the over regulation in this country. Whoever decided that red-tape bureaucracy needed every colour of tape bureaucracy added to it? The fifth? Reading is dead. Reading science, philosophy, or even fiction, has been replaced with looking at memes and reading only bullet points, headlines, or betting apps. Can't really blame the people for the tools they are given, just how they use them. The media, all of it, exists to sell the story, not to serve you the truth.

To drag this slightly back to the Joey Hawaii thread topic, when I am living in another country the last thing that I want to do is find the closest Australia Bar to hang out with expats and talk about the homeland. I am there in their country and I learn as many basic words and phrases as possible and live as culturally similar as I can. You don't notice it yourself, but friends and family back home point out to you that you're speaking with a bit of an 'insert country' accent. Since you can't hear it you tell them they're crazy, but you eventually accept it to be true. That's how the world should work in regard to cultural differences, not being pressured into pronunciation, but enjoying the different pronunciations. I can guarantee you that if I moved to live and work in Samoa I would end up pronouncing Suaalii's name as Samoans do, in less than a year. I'd probably even laugh at Joey's own pronunciation of Suaalii with his Penrith raised accent.