Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I have a lovely Egyptian and Russian friend in Melbourne and they have never had any form of racism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I have a lovely Egyptian and Russian friend in Melbourne and they have never had any form of racism. If they are white they probably would not experience it these days. Its the Chinese, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, Sub Continent people who will experience it. However that said they are pretty good at reverse racism as well. Most do not want their children marrying WASPS. The people who are openly racist tend to be drunk, or just uneducated people with a grudge against all people. The ethnic people of course are easier to spot for their tirade of abuse. I would not let it stop me moving to the country, the average jo blow is very welcoming of all people. My daughter's oh is mixed race and does not experience racism that is not to say that other members of his family have not though, depends on how ethnic one looks I think. Also how willing to integrate into mainstream Aus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest16631 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 ............in reply to globetrotter................I am both saddened and angry at your experience and that of your students...... ............though not a lecturer I spend a lot of time with a friend who does lecture at a university ............many of her students are from ethnic minority groups.............the main being of aboriginal descent................ .............their acceptance into the academic situation she lectures on.........being one of the recent studies she has been involved in..............lack of cultural information available to both lectures and students was highlighted as a problem...........often leading to difficulties within study groups and other students lack of tolerance......... .................but............in the main racial hatred and or intolerance of the individual was rare............more down to a personality clash........though this could be argued ,culture was the leading factor.....!( another thread methinks...!)........by engaging those who were uncomfortable and suspicious of the minority group.........often suspicion and fears were allayed...........and new friendships formed............it's tackling the ignorance ,the preconceived ideas head on ime...........that can..( not always I conceded).......help when such situations arise..... ................to the OP.............I maintain that ime racism ,though it exists ................is often overcome with education...........a sharing of cultural idiosyncrasies ..............an openness of who you are ................again all the best for your future journey.......down under............tink x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I think if you "keep yourself to yourself" and all your friends are "Brits and Irish fellas" you might feel a little isolated and start to feel a little paranoid. At the end of the day us migrants move to a foreign country, not just 'Britain with sun' and if you don't integrate and be open to mixing with the locals, whilst looking down your nose at them, then you are always going to feel like you're on the outside looking in. I think if I was a local in a town in Britain and a migrant talked about my town as Globetrotta talks about Adelaide, I might move away from him if he came into my local cafe too - and it wouldn't be anything to do with his race! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzybangs Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Yes! When I came out here over 30 years ago it wasn't too bad at all as Australia had integrated from their early distrust of the Italians and Greeks that had originally worried them. Then there were the Vietnamese who had to run the gauntlet but who were gradually accepted into society although it was very hard for them at the time. Then we began to class Australia as a multicultural nation but if the distrust Australians apparently have over our recent refugees is anything to go by we still haven't learned any lessons. I think that Australians are very racist in comparison to other countries and particularly in comparison to Britain where I presume you are coming from. I have been in all states and my opinion is that Melbourne would be the most welcoming to people of other cultures. We were warned by many that Adelaide could be a bit rough at times if young ones are out at night so we didn't go out much at night during the period we were there but if that is true, I would assume that it would be during those periods, possibly fuelled by alcohol that problems could arise and that does happen in most capital cities at times. The trouble with Australia is that successive federal governments have treated refugees with mistrust and have locked them up in camps for long periods of time, mainly in unbearable conditions, including women and children, so the government has fuelled fear into the nation which gives rise to the racist attitudes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I hate the people giving their view/experiences are so often derided as wanting to "stick with their own", be looking for "Britain with sun" or be accused of "looking down their noses" at people I think this is all done in an attempt to invalidate the experience and make out it's all their fault or all in their heads. It does nothing of the sort, it just makes you look defensive and chippy. I'm not here to speak for GT's posts, but the most cursory look at them will tell you he's not someone unused to other nations and cultures. His experience and your experience are different, why can't you just leave it at that rather than make snidey personal digs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 is calling someone a redneck not a form of racism? Let me think. Like calling someone say dumb. Redneck is a behaviour not a race,though at times I grant you there may some difficulty distinguishing one from the other.......No in short it is not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest16631 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I hate the people giving their view/experiences are so often derided as wanting to "stick with their own", be looking for "Britain with sun" or be accused of "looking down their noses" at people I think this is all done in an attempt to invalidate the experience and make out it's all their fault or all in their heads. It does nothing of the sort, it just makes you look defensive and chippy. I'm not here to speak for GT's posts, but the most cursory look at them will tell you he's not someone unused to other nations and cultures. His experience and your experience are different, why can't you just leave it at that rather than make snidey personal digs? ..............I do hope I didn't contribute to this impression of globetrotter...................I accept that experiences such as his does exist..........and I was saddened by it...........and angry at those who subjected him and his students to such an experience............I too occasionally ..........turn inwards to my cultural background............often after experiencing a negative response to part of my ethnenticity.............I think it's a natural defence mechanism ............to turn to that which is familiar............that you feel safe and comfortable with............my point was rather to highlight that by addressing the ......ignorance ........of other cultures..........ime ......the suspicion and adverse behaviour of other students and lecturers was addressed...........and more often led to understanding and friendships...............sadly not in globe trotters experience............I apologise globetrotter if it read differently..........tink x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 oh there you are the font of all knowledge, like I said I was just asking in my opinion a valid question and if you don't like that because it doesn't suit you tough Really you should take it northpoms comments as that is pretty much exactly how it is. You do appear a bit of a mouth peice for the for the EDL and other rabble with the constant tirade against people already in your midst and not going away. Just wondering aloud but are these views formed through ,if not a paid up member of some far right party,then tabloids(Mail,Express et al)....the opinion makers to the unwashed masses or did a shifty foreigner ran away with the family jewels at some stage? The other side to the coin of course being that Bucks is populated by an overwhelming number of Little Englanders who feed such trite of one another. That being the case what a dour sort of county it must be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 ..............I do hope I didn't contribute to this impression of globetrotter...................I accept that experiences such as his does exist..........and I was saddened by it...........and angry at those who subjected him and his students to such an experience............I too occasionally ..........turn inwards to my cultural background............often after experiencing a negative response to part of my ethnenticity.............I think it's a natural defence mechanism ............to turn to that which is familiar............that you feel safe and comfortable with............my point was rather to highlight that by addressing the ......ignorance ........of other cultures..........ime ......the suspicion and adverse behaviour of other students and lecturers was addressed...........and more often led to understanding and friendships...............sadly not in globe trotters experience............I apologise globetrotter if it read differently..........tink x Not aimed at you at all tink, quite the reverse, it was aimed at one specific post a couple before mine I shouldn't have posted it really, the post just got up my nose because it basically seemed to be saying it was all about GT's attitude rather than anything they had witnessed, which I thought was out of order. Just different PoVs Will retire now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamsalina Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Well I also moved from Bradford to Queensland and I found the Racism much worse in Bradford. My husband is Chinese and I am white so our children were mixed. It got to the point in Bradford where we didn't want to go out anywhere as everyone in that town seems to hate anyone else who doesn't look the same as them. Here in Townsville we have experienced absolutely no racism at all. Of course it exists here as everywhere, but none of it has been directed at us. We have made lots of Aussie friends and neither of us has had any trouble being accepted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal2 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Im in Queensland, havent had a problem as yet, I'm a bit like cal I call myself a POM, a good friend called me a whinging pom once and I was having a whinge (about cake - very important to me! :yes::yes: ), otherwise I was just saying this morning how we've had 3 difeerent workmen in this week, fixing stuff and all have been really helpful which is how I find most folks. The problem I see everywhere is that one person says something and the way its said is ok, and another says it nastily and then of course theres just down right nastiness, but Ive come across it in the UK, US and other countries I've visited. Cal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergal007 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Well I also moved from Bradford to Queensland and I found the Racism much worse in Bradford. My husband is Chinese and I am white so our children were mixed. It got to the point in Bradford where we didn't want to go out anywhere as everyone in that town seems to hate anyone else who doesn't look the same as them.Here in Townsville we have experienced absolutely no racism at all. Of course it exists here as everywhere, but none of it has been directed at us. We have made lots of Aussie friends and neither of us has had any trouble being accepted. Townsville and Bradford its like comparing chalk and cheese! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Racism of course exists in Australia. A nation that had such a long history of preserving the country for the white race is not about to expell racism over the period of a generation. In that time Australia has changed its complextion substantially. While it has become more multi cultural in visibility there is an arguement just how much in thought. I do not see the mixing of races to a great extent at least in the Perth context..outside of marriage. School kids intermix more also......so there is hope. Laws especially in the work place prevent to a large degree direct racism. Still evident in subtle forms in places.Of course in more macho lines of work all bets are off.A Sri Lankan fellow whose wife was a former colleague,both having immigrated from Northern Europe,left his job after constant ongoing bullying and harrassment due to his accent. People are becoming/became more used to a multi racial population. Doesn't neccessary mean more accepting ...although in one sence I suppose it does.Tolerate is perhaps a better word. Australia is becoming a multi racial country ..but in my view hardly multi cultural in my definition. There shouldn't be too much direct racism experienced,although the country side can be different again. Of course white anglo saxon poms are not going to experience racism.....but perhaps a cultural natioalism. Wrong to state orherwise. If you want to find out the state of racism better coming from a person of the ethnic community. Just be aware the answer will be different coming from a doctor as compared to a meat worker. The richer,those with status will experience less for obvious reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlobeTrotta Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 (edited) I think if you "keep yourself to yourself" and all your friends are "Brits and Irish fellas" you might feel a little isolated and start to feel a little paranoid. At the end of the day us migrants move to a foreign country, not just 'Britain with sun' and if you don't integrate and be open to mixing with the locals, whilst looking down your nose at them, then you are always going to feel like you're on the outside looking in. I think if I was a local in a town in Britain and a migrant talked about my town as Globetrotta talks about Adelaide, I might move away from him if he came into my local cafe too - and it wouldn't be anything to do with his race! You misunderstood...I have chosen to keep my Brit and Irish friends in another country that does me fine - I dont make friends lightly nor do need them and this is not about that its about people in general. I have tried to make acquaintances here..something I'm not is paranoid and look I was emigrating in the 70's I have lived well in HK UK and USA and I found things different in Perth, but I resent your comment that I might be looking down on them I am as common as muck as an average bloke just happen to be well educated doesn't make me better and frankly you don't know how I talk to people so don't presume to judge - so now you know the conversations I have had. I choose not to socialise or when to that's my prerogative it doesn't change the attitudes that I and others have perceived. So we are all wrong the 100 so people I have socialised with in 3 years and about 50% have directly expressed this observation. My partner is not from here and she has seen it too, she is from Victoria...so as for the cafe so you seem to have that all wrong too. The person was a Saudi could have been from anywhere in the Middle East, same thing with others they see white people talking to Middle Easterners people stare. I resent your personal attack and clearly you are in no position to attest to the situation as you haven't experienced it. Edited January 22, 2013 by GlobeTrotta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andy Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Let me think. Like calling someone say dumb. Redneck is a behaviour not a race,though at times I grant you there may some difficulty distinguishing one from the other.......No in short it is not. The term redneck, is a slang derogatory term for poor white farmers according to the dictionary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andy Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Really you should take it northpoms comments as that is pretty much exactly how it is. You do appear a bit of a mouth peice for the for the EDL and other rabble with the constant tirade against people already in your midst and not going away. Just wondering aloud but are these views formed through ,if not a paid up member of some far right party,then tabloids(Mail,Express et al)....the opinion makers to the unwashed masses or did a shifty foreigner ran away with the family jewels at some stage?The other side to the coin of course being that Bucks is populated by an overwhelming number of Little Englanders who feed such trite of one another. That being the case what a dour sort of county it must be. You like to get personal dont you, well i suggest instead of doing it on the forum you pm me and we can take it up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergal007 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 You like to get personal dont you, well i suggest instead of doing it on the forum you pm me and we can take it up there. Thats fighting talk Andy I am putting 20 of the Queens pounds on flag of convenience for a KO LOL!!! Jerry Jerry Jerry LOL!! Andy you need to lighten up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andy Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Thats fighting talk Andy I am putting 20 of the Queens pounds on flag of convenience for a KO LOL!!! Jerry Jerry Jerry LOL!! Andy you need to lighten up! No mate, he has just personally abused me, i have not said a word to him, i was just having a debate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergal007 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 The term redneck, is a slang derogatory term for poor white farmers according to the dictionary. Your looking in the wrong dictionary Andy LOL!! check this out http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=redneck or better still have a look at this http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bogan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Just a reminder guys lets keep things civil, thank you. If you are upset about a comment made by another member just report it and move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Not too bad in Vic, but pretty bad in QLD! In general Melbourne's a very multicultural city. Free to air TV and radio carry a far wider range of languages than were ever catered for in London. But there are pockets of racism in Vic - a woman on a bus was attacked for speaking French just last year and I know personally people who were threatened in Frankston recently just for speaking in Russian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish.01 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Queensland and Western Australia can be quite bad, Victoria is fine so far I reckon Sydney and Melbourne should be ok , but like any country once you go out into the country you meet rednecks! I think it is a lot more nuanced than that. Qld, NSW, Vic, WA all have cities, suburbs and country towns, bogans, yuppies and everything else. A particular state (like QLD) might offer more opportunities to end up in a un-PC regional place but all states have plenty of all types of people. It will often be more about where in a state you live and who you mix with that makes the most difference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergal007 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 In general Melbourne's a very multicultural city. Free to air TV and radio carry a far wider range of languages than were ever catered for in London. But there are pockets of racism in Vic - a woman on a bus was attacked for speaking French just last year and I know personally people who were threatened in Frankston recently just for speaking in Russian. I seen it on the news and Youtube, she did bring much of it upon herself, thats no excuse for the behavior of those bogans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I seen it on the news and Youtube, she did bring much of it upon herself, thats no excuse for the behavior of those bogans! What did she do, to bring it upon herself I mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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