What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking, that's why I joined here. Perhaps I should move on to different forums. I didn't know I wasn't welcome.
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What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking, that's why I joined here. Perhaps I should move on to different forums. I didn't know I wasn't welcome.
I think that you will find that it the Australian way of having a bit of fun. There is more about woodwork here than any other forum like this in the world and you are welcome!!Quote:
Originally Posted by imdusty
P.S. Don't get to distressed, we talk like that to each other sometimes too!
Whats this sometime bit.....:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Wood Butcher
When particular people stick out their necks and tell us how good they are, we tend to bite.Quote:
Originally Posted by imdusty
All reasonable people are welcome to this forum. A few of the finest contibutors to this forum are American.
A lot of us (as well as most the balance of the world) dont care for your country's foreign policy nor our governments support of it. This has nothing to do with woodwork. But you'll notice that we have a forum with just such a title and it tends to draw a lot of interest and response.
If you dont have the stomach for some healthy debate then you might not enjoy it here. You are from the land of the brave so I guess youll be right.
Hey dusybloke!
Read this thread, kicked off by one of your own, and a much loved membeer of this joint :p :p when he was new to the forum and looking for a hiding! http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=14788
Just enjoy yourself, it could be a lot worse, you could come from Tasmania!
Is it true that Americans think irony is stuff that comes from elephant's tusks?
Cheers,
P
:D :D :D
Don't think it's confined to Americans, a few locals have managed to rub everyone the wrong way as well as a couple from the middle east and parts of Eorope.
Swan in with a holier than thou approach and duck for cover.
I read your other posts and don't think you need to purchase a flak jacket.
We just get a bit upset when one of your countrymen gloats about what a great system they have in place for education, the best recognised colleges etc, and displays considerable difficulty with punctuation spelling and grammar, what we are lacking by way of healthcare etc.
We all get a little peeved with that, if we wanted to live in US of A we probably would.
The world is a small place when you get online so why worry where a poster is from unless:
They are a Croweater, Banana Bender, Two-headed Taswegian, Sandgroper, New South Welshman etc they are all bad news.....
Carn the Vics!!!!!!!!
But only from the right hand side of Melb;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bennylaird
City by the bay, Westernport Bay
imdusty,Quote:
Originally Posted by imdusty
Boban has already put it pretty well, but I would like to emphasise that you are indeed welcome here, as are the great majority of the forum members who happen to be American. Unfortunately, there are a few - very few - who more or less conform to the caricature image of the 'Ugly American'. If you want to see what I mean, take a look at this thread: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=23719 .
I made the original post in the thread to raise a smile, and to poke a little good-natured fun at some of the eccentric measurements still in use in America, which despite its commitment, I believe in earliest colonial times, to adopt the metric system, has never actually got around to doing so. Much to my surprise, it provoked a wild response from an American forum member (in Post #18). In general, the Australian members' response to this outburst was remarkably restrained, but one or two may have been provoked into making unfair generalisations about America.
Nevertheless, we normally appreciate and value the American forum members, several of whom produce outstanding work, and give valuable input to the forum.
Rocker
I'm a bit disappointed that this thread isn't specially for American Bashing :( :D
As you point out Rocker, the generalisations were indeed "provoked" by the same member, who has in the past been the perpetrator of EXTREME views of the truly obnoxious kind. Many of us were surprised to see him back!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocker
Unfortunately, the way of this form of communication is such, that a newcomer can only judge by what is current, without the benefit of all that has gone before.
Some members (not just American ones) provoke negative responses, it's just that the American ones are then misconstrued as "country bashing".
Cheers,
P;)
A general rule here is "If you ask for it you will cop it" and not just any particular nationality. The forum members have very good judgement when someone is out of line for one reason or another.
This is speaking from personal experience. :o :D
Hey, don't blame us, it's television that's to blame. Just like you guys think all Aussies are Crocodile Dundee, we think you're all Archie Bunker ;)
Stop being such a girl :D
We are all Crocodiles Dundee are'nt we?(Or should that be just crocs?)
You mean MOZZIE LAND don't you IainQuote:
Originally Posted by Iain
Imdusty
You are very welcome here and shouldn't take it all too seriously. That's the Oz way to trash what we call tall poppies - and each other. The current US bashing is mild compared to the feud of a few months ago reagarding some dead Dutch architect and the value of his weirdo designs and the verity of people's perceptions thereof.
Australia has a long history of friendship with the US, you saved our ass in WW2 or we would all be eating sushi for lunch. We continue as close military allies.
Currently, a lot of us are disturbed by the way the US is going. Your country needs rapidly dwindling oil supplies, and you have ensured a continuing supply by invading Iraq, who probably had it coming. Fair enough, but leave out the altruistic nonsense. The rise of loony right wing christian evangelism is terrifying, particularly with it's political clout. Just as bad as the Moslem cretins, maybe worse, cause the US guys have had an education. The US is our economic overlord, you gotta expect a bit of dissension from the peasants in the colonies.
Sure, discussion should be confined to woodwork etc, but that'd be pretty boring after a while.
Stay with us, getting your country knocked occasionally makes you angry, me too - I was born a Pom. Have a go back. Tell us we're horribly overgoverned (3 levels of Gov and taxes for less than the population of greater LA), desperately insecure and try to out PC the US and Europe, suffocating under enormous over-regulation, crude and un-cultured, we think the sick day is a right............
but don't go, we luvs ya.
I wouldn't go that far. After all, we hardly know him. :p :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Bodgy
We should all treat everybody equally!!!!!
So you can ALL get stuffed!!!!!
In a nice way that is........LOL (meaning I am joking.....)
Hi Imdusty
Welcome. You may note that any America Bashing goes on in the appropriate forums.....open slather or Have your say etc. It is unusual for it to appear in the woodies sections.
Aussies are very open and generally tell it how it is (or seems to be):D
If you dont like those sections then dont go there. You can always stay in the woodies section.;) But hey, come for a ride in the deep end. Nothing is personal.
You may need to keep in perspective that any anti-american sentiments are against your govt, not the people. I have served with US UN members and they are just like us, little bit confused with our taking the P*%% out of them though:p and I dont quite understand the black and white thing:confused:.
So this doesnt get moved to open slather put simply the US Govt and its foreign policy, past and present, is a VERY debatable subject.:(
now stop whining and get me some grits:p mmmmmmmmmmmm Grits:D
cheers
dazzler
This is another one of those perennial subjects, isn't it? I think, as it was with Ryan, it's a good sign that the question has been asked. Shows a certain amount of sensibility and good character.
Some things just cry out for a loud debate, (read argument). You can get the same sort of feeling with Little Johnies IR policy down here.Quote:
Originally Posted by dazzler
Everyone will support what suits their own needs and why not, you have to look after your own needs.
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...5&postcount=98
my 2c are free ;)
Is that US$0.02 or A$0.02 I don't like paying the bank for foreign currency transfer fees. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ryanarcher
Well said Ryan.
I have met what I consider as idiots from everywhere and I have met top people from everywhere.
Ryan is a great ambassador for the yanks and I consider him a mate.
So hang in there, ignore our idiots just as we ignore your idiots and you will get on OK.
You're absolutely correct Ryan. I can't think of a stereotype that is constructive, although there may be one or two around that I haven't thought of.
It is galling to have people from another country to make assumptions about you based on some perception of your own country. There must be a lot of people in Singapore who object to the death penalty, I know there are plenty of Americans who oppose the war in Iraq.
Yet it is a fact of life that people will hold these beliefs, whether or not they have personal experience on which to base them. It is just one of the things about being a human. As I've said before, I don't think it would be possible to truly strip away all of your prejudices. What you have to do is to recognise them for what they are.
If you are asking for an opinion:Quote:
What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking
I don't denigrate others based on anything other than what they actually do... and I try not to get involved in denigration if I can, its demeaning to all involved IMO. Sometimes I can't restranin myself though! In this instance I'll put forward a suggestion, and perhaps and argument.
Champ, if that’s the case then I'd suggest (with the best of intention) that you just read the posts that are about woodwork, and leave the rest of the "monkey business to the monkeys". Get the value that you can out of the forum, and maybe forgo the "inclusiveness" that participating in all parts of it would give. Its a pretty good woodwork forum to give up on, if you don't like some of the non-woodwork stuff.
Other than that, perhaps to understand American bashing, maybe you need to be "on the outside, looking in". Sure "American bashing" is not polite, but politeness can go too far, IMO. Perhaps, just perhaps, there may be a reason behind it? An understanding of the reason can lead to different thoughts about the experience.
From personal experience, a lot of Americans I've met, served with and worked with have been ok on an individual level, however there is an enormous amount of horrifying stuff that comes out of your country as well. Maybe we notice it more due to the dominance of the US in the media, and perhaps its no worse than anywhere else; or maybe it is so bad we notice it due to its exceptional nature? Who know, perhaps we expect more due to the self-advertisement that the US participates in, you know, "honour, glory, ethics, free world, 'we're No. 1' rubbish".
Anyway, gotta go - I am supposed to be doing some pre-lecture research on the "United Fruit Company" for an ethics lecture. (thats part of the argument ;) )
Good on you Ryan. But then we made you an honorary Aussie ages ago. ;) :p :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ryanarcher
Ryan having read your post it is easy to see why many of us have no problems with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanarcher
BTW it wont just be DPB who sticks up for you when the need arises.
We all owe America our gratitude for what it has done in the past to help us and others. That said, criticism at the those that form your present (and some past) foreign policy must also be directed appropriately.
ahh, guys,
He hasnt replied. Methinks you've scared him off. I feel sorry for americans, I really do. What woudl it be like if everyone judged all Aussies on a few bad examples?
We seem to assume they're all rightwing envangalistic trailer trash. I'm sure they have more decent people than any other country :)
What makes you think they don't?Quote:
What woudl it be like if everyone judged all Aussies on a few bad examples?
;)
Which of the two Aussie examples? Sterve Urwin or Mick Dundee? Seems they are the only Aussies recognised? LOL
The first time I heard of that Irwin bloke was in the US. All the Americans were asking me about him after they had heard my Aussie accent. I had never heard of him before.Quote:
Originally Posted by bennylaird
We are often seen to be bigots because of the actions of some rotten selfish Australians.
How many times have I been ashamed to be an Australian when overseas because of the attitude of the Australian Government and other narrow minded Australians who think themselves better than people who are less affluent?
I conducted a course in PNG without wearing shoes for a short time to smooth over a ridiculous incident at Brisbane airport involving the PNG Prime Minister.
Fortunately the locals overseas don't generalise too much and have always made me feel welcome despite the damage done by others.
Most of us on this Bulletin Board take a similar attitude and welcome all new comers wherever they come from. Idiots are normally given a hint to mend their ways before being ridiculed.
But did he have the lobotomy??:rolleyes:Quote:
Good on you Ryan. But then we made you an honorary Aussie ages ago. ;) :p :D<!-- / message -->
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobR
Nothin' wrong with Tassie, sport...no bloody termites here!!!!:D:D:D:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by bitingmidge
Just finger biters.:eek: :D ;)Quote:
Nothin' wrong with Tassie, sport...no bloody termites here!!!!
Geez!.. an all these years I thought it was the stuff they made steely from!:o ..:D :D :DQuote:
Originally Posted by bitingmidge
On the subject of what other countries think of us, when I moved to the Phillipines 25 years ago I was quite often taken to task about the White Australia policy. At that point in time it had been abolished for at least 20 years.
So stereotypes do stick.
Having said that I still recall Enoch Powells catchcry:rolleyes:
When I was about 10 I also though a socialite was a labour voter (is there a difference???)