Why does everyone assume...

[Lady Lamont]

That Australians / Australia is an outback country always how it is portrayed in cartoons and some movies and that Australians (or as we call ourselves Aussies) are all idiots?

*Sighs* I go onto one of these well-known/popular creative sites such as DeviantArt or OverClocked Remix only to log into my accounts with messages from people all around the world asking the most absolutely IDIOTIC questions.

Here are some questions that I get asked daily:

"Do Kangaroos' really hop down the main street of Sydney?"
> Hell no, not unless any have managed to break out of the Zoo. The only place you'll find them is in the d*mn wild. Not near the CITY.
If you want them near a city, go to a hole known as Canberra.

"Do you guys really wear Khaki all the time, like the Croc Hunter did?"
> You must be stupider than the last questioner if you've sent me this one... the answer is obviously no. Mainly those who work in Wildlife wear Khaki but on November Fifteenth we now have a day called Steve Irwin Day where you either carry around something of a Crocodile OR you wear Khaki and any funds raised on that day goes to the various foundations he and his family have supported over the years.

"Do you guys really sound that stupid in real life?"
> What do you think? Sure some of us may have an accent but nobody over here honestly gives a cr*p about how we sound since we're living in one country. You would be surprised at how often idiotic people class those of higher intelligence as idiots...

---

Do you absolutely know how these idiotic questions drive me absolutely INSANE?!

*Sighs*

I'm really starting to hate some countries as a ton of Americans send me random messages with all sorts of the aforementioned cr*p, lots of people from countries in Asia - mainly China send all sorts of cr*p... not to mention friends I have in various countries do this to p*ss me off (such as the friends in Sweden who speak English but want to p*ss me off even more so by posting the damn questions and other cr*p in SWEDISH). WHAT THE HELL?!

*Ahems*

Sorry, short rant as I have gone through a few hundred of these messages and other cr*p this morning.

[Words of Ivory]

This actually has plenty of capacity for debate, so I'll move it.

At the end of the day, it really just boils down the ignorance. I'm Irish, so I know exactly what it's like for people to lob pre-conceived notions on you based on your culture better than most. *laughs*

Sure, it's annoying, but I prefer to just educate those people instead of let it frustrate me.

[Lady Lamont]

*Laughs* Thank you.

That is correct, although I find some comments whilst I am trying to educate those who have placed idiotic stereotypes on myself quite frankly and bluntly, extremely offensive. I have been explaining about Australia to some of the people who have sent me various ridiculous messages only to have them call me a "Roo Monger" (for those who do not know the term, it basically means that they have said that I and all other Australians commit bestiality on one of our national emblem's animals - the Kangaroo).
It disgusts me for someone who has asked me a question, for me to reply quickly with an informative polite message only to be insulted furthermore and then harassed by this idiotic person's so called "friends" whom of which they have lied too about my reply.

It absolutely sickens me, sure us Aussies are known to make jokes about our Kiwi friends/neighbors (Kiwi's are people form New Zealand for those that do not know) about their love of their sheep, and they return the jokes. That has always been the way, I mean take a look at one of the original military forces - The ANZACs - Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Basically the gist of that small minor "rant" would be the point of - why bother asking an Australian your stereotypical questions to only insult them due to a person of being from a certain country or apparently "knowing" the past of the country.

Sure the factor of Australia originally being used as a Convict Camp from England, but not everyone here in Australia is actually descended from a convict, many people came from various countries at their own will and which is why Australia has always been a multicultural country, not to mention we practically live on jokes - we have a comedic television show where the members of it have harassed the former Prime Minister John Howard (this was before and during the election this year), have insulted and/or picked fights with members of the Government not to mention they created a fake motorcade and got past security to President Bush!

I mean hell, sure we laugh at most stereotypical ideas but it is just offensive to just continually pass on stereotypical relations to continue insulting and/or harassing various people on matters of which many do not know very little about and/or nothing at all.

[RedCloud]

I don't get that from people often, but it really shows how idiotic other people must be. What, all you out there are telling me you've never seen footage of "normal" life in Australia? It's exactly the same as everywhere else, except there is a great big patch of "nothing" in the center of the country. That's where the stereotypical Australians might live I guess.

I just find it amazing that they have no idea, or they're just being stupid of course. I don't take offense to it really unless it is actually taken to the point where they are trying to talk down to you.

I'm quite certain I saw on the news a few days ago that a kangaroo was hopping around the streets of America. Quite ironic.

[Lady Lamont]

I know exactly where you're coming from RedCloud. But honestly, the amount of stupidity around the world surprises me sometimes.

I saw that too and I thought the irony was positively HILARIOUS! ((Or what about the other animals escaping from the same zoo? That was hilarious too)).

I mean, the majority of us live around the coast, generally not in the desert areas unless they're part of the general mining community and the like. *Shrugs* I mean really, people should honestly think before opening their mouths sometimes.

[Rainbow Boogers]

Why do you assume that everyone assumes?

[reszner]

It may have something to do with the fact that nobody ever hears from Australia. I'm sure you guys have no nuclear programs or oil reserves, so you guys have no place in our media other than Finding Nemo, and that was only for storyline purposes.

[Bahamut]

I don't get anybody asking me things as stupid as that, but I've been to America and have had some pretty dumb things said to me. Not as much as I was expecting though. People here are always going on about how dumb Americans are. Although I went to California, which is apparently one of the more informed states.

I wasn't aware that we had a Steve Irwin day xD

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Boogers

Why do you assume that everyone assumes?

Simply on the basis of the amount of idiotic messages I get daily, sometimes even hourly across many forums and the likes.

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by reszner

It may have something to do with the fact that nobody ever hears from Australia. I'm sure you guys have no nuclear programs or oil reserves, so you guys have no place in our media other than Finding Nemo, and that was only for storyline purposes.

Actually, Australia is called "The Lucky Country" due to the possibility of having oil reserves within our national waters, we also have the majority of mineral mining and many other reserves that are imported by many countries - including the collective United States of America and the United Kingdom.

You would honestly be surprised at the amount of stuff we export all over the world, aside from I have only heard rather biased comments to why people assume what I have aforementioned in my original post.

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by Bahamut

I don't get anybody asking me things as stupid as that, but I've been to America and have had some pretty dumb things said to me. Not as much as I was expecting though. People here are always going on about how dumb Americans are. Although I went to California, which is apparently one of the more informed states.

I wasn't aware that we had a Steve Irwin day xD

Lucky.

I've met some true, absolute idiots and I've never gotten to go on a holiday in the country or outside of the country however with places I have worked which had many tourists it's no wonder I get so many agitating questions.

We now have a Steve Irwin day to help raise awareness on animal issues, land conservation and the likes - you wear Khaki on the day or have a little crocodile pin or something to help the cause.

[Vermilion Thanatos]

Lol. I like this thread.
Yep, the only stereotype I assume of Australians is that they have an Australian accent, which even then I accept could possibly be wrong in a sense due to the probability of regional dialects like in America.
Americans get similar stereotypes; a lot of people in Europe still picture us as cowboys with the YEEEEHAW accents. I, if anyone, can attest to this being incorrect as I live in the southwest where that culture was born and although we do have subcultures of country-loving rednecks down here as well as in the Southeast, my dialect is considered Northeastern (the least distinguishable and closest to British pronunciation), and happen to abhor country music. There are plenty of people who deviate from the stereotypical American citizen as much as I do. So I know where you are coming from.

I blame the international media.

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by Red Sage

There are plenty of people who deviate from the stereotypical American citizen as much as I do. So I know where you are coming from.

I blame the international media.

People either believe I'm European or Canadian. I have no idea why, but nobody recognizes my accent. I just got into an argument with someone over them saying one of my favorite comedy groups was American (they're actually ALL Australian).

I know what you mean, it's just so common - it's agitating to me. But what pisses me off the most are all of the Chinese kids in my school who ask me if I can ride a Kangaroo to school and they wonder why my favorite comedian and/or political satirist says things like "They want to put gambling into the government education standards. I say, if they want to gamble... then why don't they go and pick on the angry kid in the trenchcoat?" - I wouldn't be that angry kid in the trenchcoat if they would just leave me the hell alone and use their MIND instead of asking completely, utterly idiotic questions (which I might add that I get asked every FEW MINUTES by different people).

They need to see some difference in the world, 'cause they aren't the only people in it. Broaden their horizons' a bit.

Have to agree on the media comment though.

[EdgarAnTerraFigaro]

I'm not stereotype, that is for sure.
I love Australia. I wish i could go there... *sighs*
I will one day, though.

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by EdgarAnTerraFigaro

I'm not stereotype, that is for sure.
I love Australia. I wish i could go there... *sighs*
I will one day, though.

Question: Why would you want to come to this crappy country?

[EdgarAnTerraFigaro]

Because i have a dream of traveling the world, even to bad countries.

[Vermilion Thanatos]

C'mon, Australia has at least a few things worth seeing. There's obviously Sydney port/Opera house, there's Ayre's (sp?) Rock, there are probably some aborigine tribes that are somewhat urbanized. It would be like foreigners coming to my area of the U.S. (a rather ****ty one) just to see the Grand Canyon and the Hopi tribes. Except we don't have any cool buildings. That's the East's job.

[Lady Lamont]

Originally Posted by Red Sage

C'mon, Australia has at least a few things worth seeing. There's obviously Sydney port/Opera house, there's Ayre's (sp?) Rock, there are probably some aborigine tribes that are somewhat urbanized. It would be like foreigners coming to my area of the U.S. (a rather ****ty one) just to see the Grand Canyon and the Hopi tribes. Except we don't have any cool buildings. That's the East's job.

Sure, there's Sydney Harbor and the Opera House. We can't call it Ayers Rock anymore (*Eye roll* the Aboriginal's couldn't deal with it being called Ayers Rock and Uluru so now we have to call the damn thing Uluru (which means big rock. Big deal).

I don't know what you'd mean by urbanized... all the aboriginal people I've ever met are extremely rude causing my dislike for a lot of them. I've only met one "urbanized" aboriginal whom of which is very polite and happens to be one of my friends

I personally hate this country and there's only a few nice people here - RedCloud for instance... plus you should know, the country is getting a reputation for being called "The New China" if you get my drift.

But that's just me, not my fault random people like to stalk and harass me for absolutely no reason.

Anyways, if you wanted to see cool buildings then I'd suggest visiting Sweden instead. (I've never gone on a holiday, but I did have a teacher who would not shut up about it and showed me photos of his homeland and it's unique buildings) or... Canada which is kinda like Australia... except a lot nicer.

[EdgarAnTerraFigaro]

Well, there must be something cool to do over there, right?

[Vermilion Thanatos]

Yes, I have heard some things about Australia, but that doesn't mean I wanted to believe them...your big rock is our big hole, lol.

If it makes you feel any better, America is kind of going to pot as well. Half of us still believe in creationism and this generation's crusade has been going on for years despite having no positive effects whatsoever. I can understand having a little bit of nationalistic pride or maybe some spiritualistic values to tie into your morality and worldview, but America radically takes that to the extreme, and all these baseless doctrines and dogmas floating around only divide people more than they unify them. Not to mention that they drastically inhibit scientific progress in this country. Japan and Scandanavia have lower crime rates and better qualities of life for a reason; they are atheist. Which is why I really hope to move there sometime in the next few years...