Internet chatter Soooaaarliiii iiiii

[Steakface]

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

Holidaying o/s doesn’t count.

Yes.

And when you mention what you've noticed, which should be at least somewhat valued as an Aussie having a different perspective on our own culture, people like Jacks Fur Coat get aggressive or passive-agressive.

It feels like a lot of Australian lack the capacity to self reflect or critique our own culture. A lot of people knee-jerk straight to an agressive or passive agressive defensive posture.

[Rooster1908]

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

Holidaying o/s doesn’t count.

Ok then Rented . Why do people like yourself , Voodoo and others come back if its so much better somewhere else . Sure oz is not what it was but its better then most .
Plus we have what others dont . The Roosters

[MCMLXVI]

Ok then Rented . Why do people like yourself , Voodoo and others come back if its so much better somewhere else . Sure oz is not what it was but its better then most .
Plus we have what others dont . The Roosters

Being critical of Australia and loving it are not mutually exclusive. I believe in the point that RT is making, that comparing yourself against only yourself is going to give a very limited and biased result. I'm pretty sure that everyone critical of any aspect of Australian society wants that point made better or fixed. I love Australia. I am an Australian born man that knows that I'd be stupid to accept that everything here is exemplary just because it is in Australia. I also love Easts and I am always wanting Easts to get better. I don't want to move to Penrith because we didn't reach the GF.

[rented tracksuit]

Ok then Rented . Why do people like yourself , Voodoo and others come back if its so much better somewhere else . Sure oz is not what it was but its better then most .
Plus we have what others dont . The Roosters

Can you pls tell me where I said other places are better than Aus?

I don’t speak for the others but I’m sure, like me, they are Aussies first who are lucky enough to experience living in and learn from other cultures. Those experiences open our eyes to other ways of living and other ways of thinking about things.

Im not criticising where I come from, in fact I’m super proud to be an Aussie but nowhere is perfect just like other places I’ve lived.

The experiences and lessons learned through living outside of Aus and in many countries qualifies me to be both proud and critical of my homeland and other unique places around the world.

[rented tracksuit]

Being critical of Australia and loving it are not mutually exclusive. I believe in the point that RT is making, that comparing yourself against only yourself is going to give a very limited and biased result. I'm pretty sure that everyone critical of any aspect of Australian society wants that point made better or fixed. I love Australia. I am an Australian born man that knows that I'd be stupid to accept that everything here is exemplary just because it is in Australia. I also love Easts and I am always wanting Easts to get better. I don't want to move to Penrith because we didn't reach the GF.

Who’d want to live in Penriff?!?!?

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Yes.

And when you mention what you've noticed, which should be at least somewhat valued as an Aussie having a different perspective on our own culture, people like Jacks Fur Coat get aggressive or passive-agressive.

It feels like a lot of Australian lack the capacity to self reflect or critique our own culture. A lot of people knee-jerk straight to an agressive or passive agressive defensive posture.

Steakface, allow me to explain why a lot of Aussies (incl me) would take at least some offence at your 5 points in observation of Australian life.

Hence the tone of my response, where I tried to use acerbic wit and satire to make a point. Not so much aggressive, in that case they may never find the body

A lot of us are sick and tired of hearing what I refer to as self-loathing, when we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for in this country. The most successful multicultural society given its tender age in the world. People are still queueing to come here...why?

I hate that prefix 'casual' thats snuck into the lexicon. Racism and larrikinism? I think the former is way overestimated here and the latter actually part of our culture. Not to be cast aside, but to be embraced. People in 2023 look for offence in every nook, cranny and orifice. Some of us want to challenge that.

You mention there are positive and negatives in any society, but then list 5 just negative takes? You will always get some blowback on an Aussie footy forum for such a stance, I,'m sure you understand that.

Anyway at least, as I said, you did something about your feelings and upped stumps. Good on you, can't accuse you of hypocrisy.

It's almost that in Oz now its a sin to be patriotic and proud of our society. Yet we admire other nations and cultures for being proud and celebrating their own. Weird eh.

[Rooster36]

How dare someone want there surname pronounced correctly

[The Axe]

Now that Mal has gone with Teddy, I’d rest him and play the man with the apostrophe at FB while Teddy eases into 2024.
manu is a great centre. Keep him there with Smith

[rented tracksuit]

Steakface, allow me to explain why a lot of Aussies (incl me) would take at least some offence at your 5 points in observation of Australian life.

Hence the tone of my response, where I tried to use acerbic wit and satire to make a point. Not so much aggressive, in that case they may never find the body

A lot of us are sick and tired of hearing what I refer to as self-loathing, when we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for in this country. The most successful multicultural society given its tender age in the world. People are still queueing to come here...why?

I hate that prefix 'casual' thats snuck into the lexicon. Racism and larrikinism? I think the former is way overestimated here and the latter actually part of our culture. Not to be cast aside, but to be embraced. People in 2023 look for offence in every nook, cranny and orifice. Some of us want to challenge that.

You mention there are positive and negatives in any society, but then list 5 just negative takes? You will always get some blowback on an Aussie footy forum for such a stance, I,'m sure you understand that.

Anyway at least, as I said, you did something about your feelings and upped stumps. Good on you, can't accuse you of hypocrisy.

It's almost that in Oz now its a sin to be patriotic and proud of our society. Yet we admire other nations and cultures for being proud and celebrating their own. Weird eh.

I agree with your last comment.

[On the Nose]

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.

Buddy you are the definition of irony? Casual racism- pretty much the entire crux of your diatrobe. Casually insulting someone- granted Robbo is no Joey Manu - but really - you literally shame him, in aeternem, as Steakface". As Samkerr often alludes Robbo might not be the greatest coach in the NRL, probably not even in the top ten, but he is a human being. Looks aren't everything (unless your married to Anna Kornikova who I am told cannot cook and doesn't have a sense of humour). Here's a positive for you. We are keeping hold of Angus.

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

As a long term expat I don't disagree with Steakface and Renty. You get a different perspective, some good, some bad. We don't have a great reputation as people which may surprise many Aussies.

I came home in August and it is taking some adjusting. I think I am experiencing a bit of reverse culture shock.

[rented tracksuit]

As a long term expat I don't disagree with Steakface and Renty. You get a different perspective, some good, some bad. We don't have a great reputation as people which may surprise many Aussies.

I came home in August and it is taking some adjusting. I think I am experiencing a bit of reverse culture shock.

Happens to the best of us mate. Don’t worry, it only takes a few months to become a real cvnt again!

[Andrew Walker]

As a long term expat I don't disagree with Steakface and Renty. You get a different perspective, some good, some bad. We don't have a great reputation as people which may surprise many Aussies.

I came home in August and it is taking some adjusting. I think I am experiencing a bit of reverse culture shock.

Agreed I spent a few years living OS in my 20s Took me about twelve months to adjust to living in Australia More so the people and culture

[Steakface]

Steakface, allow me to explain why a lot of Aussies (incl me) would take at least some offence at your 5 points in observation of Australian life.

Hence the tone of my response, where I tried to use acerbic wit and satire to make a point. Not so much aggressive, in that case they may never find the body

A lot of us are sick and tired of hearing what I refer to as self-loathing, when we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for in this country. The most successful multicultural society given its tender age in the world. People are still queueing to come here...why?

I hate that prefix 'casual' thats snuck into the lexicon. Racism and larrikinism? I think the former is way overestimated here and the latter actually part of our culture. Not to be cast aside, but to be embraced. People in 2023 look for offence in every nook, cranny and orifice. Some of us want to challenge that.

You mention there are positive and negatives in any society, but then list 5 just negative takes? You will always get some blowback on an Aussie footy forum for such a stance, I,'m sure you understand that.

Anyway at least, as I said, you did something about your feelings and upped stumps. Good on you, can't accuse you of hypocrisy.

It's almost that in Oz now its a sin to be patriotic and proud of our society. Yet we admire other nations and cultures for being proud and celebrating their own. Weird eh.

Loving your country and critiquing it are not mutually exclusive.

It's not one or the other.

I love Australia, but i am not going to ignore it's social shortcomings like an ignoramus when i see those shortcomings staring me right in the face.

People in 2023 look for offence in every nook, cranny and orifice. Some of us want to challenge that.

It isn't about offense at all, or wokeism.

On Larrikanism, it has two parts to it by the actual definition:

1. impertinent and disrespectful behaviour.
2. Behaviour that is rebellious against and contemptuous of authority and convention

Part 2 can be something admired and celebrated, unless it's done in a self centered manner
Part 1 is just typically being a cnt, which is something Australia has way too much of

[Steakface]

Buddy you are the definition of irony? Casual racism- pretty much the entire crux of your diatrobe. Casually insulting someone- granted Robbo is no Joey Manu - but really - you literally shame him, in aeternem, as Steakface". As Samkerr often alludes Robbo might not be the greatest coach in the NRL, probably not even in the top ten, but he is a human being. Looks aren't everything (unless your married to Anna Kornikova who I am told cannot cook and doesn't have a sense of humour). Here's a positive for you. We are keeping hold of Angus.

My name was Steakface well before I put a picture of Robbo up as my profile photo.

I used to have a piece of Steak as my profile photo.

You might not have noticed, but I am probably Robbo's biggest defender on here. He is my profile photo out of admiration - i'm not sure what you are seeing in it.