There is something rotten in Australia

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I sincerely hope that Banquo did not mean that in the way it sounded.

[Fragony]

I sincerely hope that Banquo did not mean that in the way it sounded.

So do I, I thought being courteous in disagreement was our thing BG, if a moderator makes a comment like that new members get confused.

[Furunculus]

It was out of character for the Backroom, and quite a jolt to read it.

Believe me I make no accusation out of ill feeling, being permanently and visibly solomon-like in a place like the backroom is an impossible task, and neatly describes why i would not want to be a backroom moderator; because i have far too much fun with visceral and violent debate. Banquo and the others have always done an excellent job, and have my absolute confidence.

But still, the comment struck me as off-kilter as soon as i read it too.

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In other news, the sad death of a true Brit:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...y-muggers.html

[Fragony]

Good so it isn't just me. I am growing sick of these insinuations I made a mistake years ago and it was nothing more then a flirt. Give it a rest already, or less diplomatically, could you please

[Captain Blackadder]

Ok time to bring some facts into this case. I am from Melbourne the place where these attacks infact I am from the suburb where the lastest attack occured so I think I am fairly well placed to speak about these attacks.

Firstly race is not the issue here and it has being overblown by certain elements in the press. Yes Melbourne does have a violent crime problem but no more so then any other city and yes sometimes victims of these attacks are indian but there are plenty of examples of whites being attacked in the same manner. For example on the same weekend as the first indian attack there were two other stabbings both on whites. Australia has a far lower crime rate then India and anyway there is no evidence that any of these attacks were motivated by race.

[Banquo's Ghost]

On reflection, it was a badly worded comment and I apologise unreservedly.

I meant no offense.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Come over to mah 'hood and I'll show you how we deal with you people.

Dang racist whites.

I really hope you're caracaturing something, because otherwise this isn't funny.

OT: Australia is a wierd one, whether it has something to do with the "convict colony" thing as a common history, or what, I don't know. Certainly there does seem to be a strong racist current in Australian culture.

[CountArach]

OT: Australia is a wierd one, whether it has something to do with the "convict colony" thing as a common history, or what, I don't know. Certainly there does seem to be a strong racist current in Australian culture.

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that all major parties in Australian politics up until the 1970s supported the White Australia Policy. In varying shades since then no Australian Party has fully supported broad immigration policies, and have instead decided to marginalise groups for electoral gain by creating a sense of Australia being under siege from immigrants, which is a claim that has no basis in reality. Thus those in power are creating a societal 'other' that they can easily blame for problems. Further, segments of the media push this anti-immigration line, despite the fact that the statistics tell a different tale.

So yeah, I blame those with power and those with the power to stop those in power. A mythologised history, as you said, does undoubtedly play into the public consciousness, but that has been shaped very carefully by governments over various periods. Every government has had its own vision of our shared history and will glorify certain time-periods and aspects.

[Meneldil]

I really hope you're caracaturing something, because otherwise this isn't funny.

Some people just have to blame others to explain their own shortcomings.

[Fragony]

On reflection, it was a badly worded comment and I apologise unreservedly.

I meant no offense.

no probs