There is something rotten in Australia

[Fragony]

SO someone had the bright idea to pour gasoline over a student from India and light him up, the guy lived, if that is what you call it. That is more than a little bit disgusting such cruelty baffles me. India has given a negative advice for travelers to go to Ozzyland, what the hell is going on over there?

[rory_20_uk]

Australians aren't keen on people being there in significant numbers who aren't white.
The Indian contingent is increasing in size and this is upsetting some "people".

[Banquo's Ghost]

SO someone had the bright idea to pour gasoline over a student from India and light him up, the guy lived, if that is what you call it. That is more than a little bit disgusting such cruelty baffles me. India has given a negative advice for travelers to go to Ozzyland, what the hell is going on over there?

Irrational hatred of immigrants is not confined to the Netherlands or Muslims.

[Fragony]

Irrational hatred of immigrants is not confined to the Netherlands or Muslims.

Is there something you want to say to me? How long do I have to deal with that crap, it is perfectly possible to distinguish real and perceived problems. Or am I only just as good as people who pour gasoline over a person and put him on fire because he's from India.

[rory_20_uk]

I don't think a slight was intended.

[Fragony]

Get a lot of them

[Kadagar_AV]

Irrational hatred of immigrants is not confined to the Netherlands or Muslims.

So... Irrational slander is ok when you are a mod?

I dont think many old-timers doubt what (or who) you refer to... And that is just, well, wrong.

Get a grip, and dont post while drunk.

You now have an infraction, from me

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

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

[lars573]

Australians aren't keen on people being there in significant numbers who aren't white.
The Indian contingent is increasing in size and this is upsetting some "people".

Typical British understatement.

[miotas]

Yes, there is a problem with rascist 's attacking Indians lately, but it's kind of interesting that you picked an attack that wasn't racially motivated to highlight the issue. This was just some random sickos who decided it might be fun to burn someones car whilst they were still sitting in it.

EDIT
Oh, and he wasn't a student either.

[Hax]

Banquo only stated something about irrational xenophobia. To what extent that xenophobia is expressed differs, in my opinion. I think we are all a bit xenophobic by nature.

[CountArach]

Racism is a huge problem here. It doesn't surprise me that this happened.

[Meneldil]

On another new, there's something rotten in Italy too.

According to the latest news, the local population went onto a immigrant hunt after the riot, injured ~40 of them, sometimes with firearms, took the city hall and patrol the streets.

As much as I dislike what's happening, I'm not surprised. Maybe leftist intellectuals will someday understand that there's indeed a problem with immigration.

[Megas Methuselah]

Racism is a huge problem here. It doesn't surprise me that this happened.

Dang racist whites.

[HoreTore]

Why are they upset at Indians coming to Australia?

I mean... If they all go to Australia, then there wouldn't be any more outsourcing to India!

@Meneldil: that Italy is going back to the Mussonlini days has been clear for quite a few years now... They even have their brownshirts patrolling Rome; if that isn't a disgusting sight I don't know what is.

[tibilicus]

I always find it odd how Australia has a significant racist sentiment yet visiting Sydney recently I was quite overwhelmed (in a good way) by the sheer number of Asian people. It was nice.

You should all lighten up about immigration to, I mean your sat on this fairly large continent and there's only 20 million of you. Quit hogging all the land (yes, aware that a significant portion of your country is just sand, but my point stills stands).

[pevergreen]

A large percentage of the population would probably welcome the return of the White Australia Policy.

A lot of hate that is directed towards asians in general is simply the "engrish". In the case of Indians, the national hate of Indian call centres is a major factor.

Particular areas are much worse. Can't say for anywhere but Brisbane. The riots a few years back down in sydney...

I wouldnt make an issue of the guy being indian. People of that age (anywhere from 12-mid twenties these days) go out to get drunk and start fight. Used to be about picking up the gals, but not anymore.

[Beefy187]

During my stay in Australia, I did get couple of racist comments, but over all, there wasn't that many unpleasant moments. In general, people there is nothing more then a nice lot.

When I start getting news about Indian bashing, I could'nt believe what I saw.

[CountArach]

I always find it odd how Australia has a significant racist sentiment yet visiting Sydney recently I was quite overwhelmed (in a good way) by the sheer number of Asian people. It was nice.

But most racial groups here live in enclaves, so people can avoid multiculturalism if they want to... and so many do.

[aimlesswanderer]

There are small pockets of idiots here. Walking around alone at night in some areas, walking through parks at night, all will increase your chances of something bad happening. There is probably a racist element to some of the attacks on Indians, but the Indian media have gone berserk, and are just as bad as the thugs and idiots here.

Tibilicus, the city is much more multicultural (especially Asian) than some suburbs, and there are also lots of tourist wandering around there too.

[naut]

I don't know about Melbourne, where most of this stuff is happening, but it has been the crime centre of Australia for quite a while.

I can only speak for Sydney, and as CA said, while we have a broad amount of ethnicities within the city they tend to be in their own areas. For example, where I live there is a more general mix, due to it being a popular and youthful area. But, still it is predominately white. But, other areas like Chatswood (heavily Asian), the inner west (heavily Middle Eastern), etc, are very segmented.

My advice to Indians. Don't go to Melbourne, come to Sydney instead.

[Gregoshi]

My advice to Indians. Don't go to Melbourne, come to Sydney instead.

I guess I'm glad my family is white. My wife and daughter just returned to Melbourne today for a 3-4 month stay. Melbourne struck us as a safe and friendly city when we were there back in June-July. Spent 4 weeks walking the streets nearly every day and can't say any of us witnessed a racial incident during that time. Maybe we just didn't get to the right areas of the city though.

[Megas Methuselah]

I guess I'm glad my family is white. My wife and daughter just returned to Melbourne today for a 3-4 month stay. Melbourne struck us as a safe and friendly city when we were there back in June-July. Spent 4 weeks walking the streets nearly every day and can't say any of us witnessed a racial incident during that time. Maybe we just didn't get to the right areas of the city though.

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

[Gregoshi]

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

"You people"?

[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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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.