Quote from ozzietrader:
LOL if that isn't the biggest stereotype I've seen, then I don't know what is. All of my friends, family and people I see on the street are friendly as could be. Always willing to give you the time of day, they don't shrug you off.
Hey, holmes, I don't think that the sterotype of an Australian is someone who is wary of cocky Yanks and holds an excessive inferiority complex.......
In fact, if you take the average person in Iowa or New York or Texas, they would probably tell you that they (having never been to Australia) think Aussies are laid back, funny, etc etc.
And all of that is true. I love Aussies. I just think that they:
1) Might be better off raising their children in a more positive light (does the highest suicide rate in the world among teenagers belong to Canada? - No, that is unfortunately Australia's claim.)
and
2) Don't need to interpret American confidence as "cockiness." In fact, the two might be related.
That is, if more Australians were more likely to encourage American bravado and confidence amoung their offspring then maybe the nation wouldn't have an epidemic inferiority complex AND maybe Yanks wouldn't be seen as cocky bastards.
Don't misinterpret what I am saying. I love Australia, I love Australians, I love everything about Australia. I just find this pervasive inferiority complex quite interesting.
.....And I find it funny that you call this a stereotype......I don't think the average person in ANY country (who has never been to Australia) would even MENTION the Australian inferiority complex.
But obviously it is top of mind for you..... I wonder why.....