We all turn into cliched stereotypes on holiday

Jamers Hunter says:

07:55am | 05/01/10

my most amazing beach memory was at sydney’s lady jane beach which used then to be the nude beach to go to. wifey and i were laying face down and i had mu arm across her bum,as you do, and we were warned bu some of the regulars that “tahtsort of provocative behaviour wasnt allowed on Their Beach,‘cause it may excite the perves with binoculars watching the beach’  amazing for a number of reasons that anyone can figure for themselves but we were both anowed and embarassed by it.

T.Chong says:

08:06am | 05/01/10

Thats right JH , Lady Jayne is all about class and decorum!!!

SM says:

10:26am | 05/01/10

Over the last couple of years during summer holidays on the NSW South Coast I’ve noticed the emergence of a new stereotype.  I’ve named him the “Sub-Continent Sweatbox”.  He’s generally approaching middle age, hails from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan or Nepal, and when visiting the beach on a 35 degree day at 1pm, will be attired in brown desert boots or grey vinyl mocassins, thick beige courderoy trousers, tan or beige collared shirt, and brown or beige sloppy joe or jumper.  No attire is temporarily removed whilst at the beach, and his visit is usually quite brief

papachango says:

10:50am | 05/01/10

Ahh the ‘New Russians’ on holiday. All class. In my observation they spare no expense on alcohol, flashy jewellery, clothes etc, but generally prefer to share their ‘nieces’ - they often bring only one along for about six of them - they must do some kind of roster system. She’s generally dressed in the most unsuitable get-up - more Moscow ‘nitespot’ kitsch than tropical paradise.

I actually saw one Vladimir go into a duty free shop at Paris airport and ask for ‘the most expensive wine they had’, then forked over 3,000 euros for a 1957 Chateau le Something-or-Other which I bet was drunk straight from the bottle.

nic says:

11:01am | 05/01/10

The buffet antics described above are popular with Aussies unfortunately, much to my acute embarassment. I also once saw two well heeled ladies from the US do the same thing at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, so its not just bogans (who are worthy of their own post as a growing south east Asian tourist sub-culture).

Bob H says:

11:19am | 05/01/10

How very 1950s Melbourne snob, may I suggest upgrading to a more expensive and exclusive hotel that befits your superiority.

Justin Davies says:

11:57am | 05/01/10

Mistake number 1. You went to ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ on a beach holiday… you must have bought into their very attractive but entirely misleading advertising campaign.

Mistake Number 2. You clearly didn’t spend enough money on you holiday to ensure you are around people of your caliber, or alternatively, you don’t earn as much as you need to match your idea of what sort of person you are.

Mistake Number 3. You wrote an article about it, this sort of stuff is what people ‘twitter’ or update their Facebook status with on the misguided assumption that people care… they don’t, nobody does.

Criticizing how other people enjoy themselves and commenting on things that would better go unnoticed (the teabags pilfering etc) just shows a lack of personal confidence, why the need to point out others flaws? make ourselves feel better about how ‘superior’ we are?

Picohloh says:

11:58am | 05/01/10

The answer’s simple: don’t go.

SchnollyGolly says:

12:20pm | 05/01/10

Why is this jocular article getting up some people’s nose? Is it hitting too close to home? 

Relax!

If you can’t, perhaps it’s time you booked yourself on a holiday.

papachango says:

01:20pm | 05/01/10

Bob H & Justin Davis - I agree with SchnollyGolly (great nic BTW) - it’s just poking a bit of fun, people-watching can be lots of fun.

Oh and Justin - I’m not sure about expensive resorts = classier clientele. It may exclude the BBBs (Bali Bintang Bogans), but the New Russians, while they have absolutely no manners or decorum, have far more money than you or I can dream of and deliberately seek out the most expensive, flashy places.

ej says:

01:38pm | 05/01/10

Justin Davies, do you now feel ‘superior’ that you have pointed out this blogger’s ‘flaws’? Mmm.. pot, kettle, black etc
PS I do now feel superior in pointing out Justin’s flaws.

Steve of Cornubia says:

01:55pm | 05/01/10

Racism disguised as ‘humour’. I’m so glad we had at least one intellectually and socially superior Aussie there to witness the horde of primitive life forms from the european ghettos. Kinda like David Attenborough in the Amazon swamps, eh?

What a snob.

Bob H says:

02:19pm | 05/01/10

@SchnollyGolly - jocular?  If that is what is was meant to be then Steve, don’t give up your day job.

Here hitty...kitty...kitty says:

02:25pm | 05/01/10

Saucer of milk for Bob H & Justin Davis’ table…....reowwwwww, scratch, hiss!!

Ben says:

02:35pm | 05/01/10

Hey Justin how about people commenting on the people who comment on things best left uncommented on - not to mention those who comment, on the comments of those who comments etc etc etc
This is blog Justin commenting is what you do and hypocrisy is the ever present ‘elephant in the corner’.

papachango says:

03:15pm | 05/01/10

oh sweet jesus - now we’re ‘racist’ because we have a bit of a laugh at people on holiday. At the risk of being ‘speciesist’ - Steve of Cornubia, you are a goose. Europeans are of the same race as about 70% of us Aussies, and by the look of him Steve Williams is Caucasian too so it’s hardly ‘racist’ to take the piss out of them now is it?

And even if we were talking about tourists of other racial groupings we can still observe and poke fun at dodgy behaviour, or is it now too PC to laugh as Japanese tourists’ ludicrous bee-keeper hats in Central Australia?

...some people need a humour transplant.

Claire Witham says:

03:32pm | 05/01/10

I think everyone needs to relax. We all people watch on holidays and judge in our own way. Everybody has done it. I think this article is just a bit of fun. People seriously need to back up with the whole racist thing and just RELAX! As soon as someone says something stereotypical it is racist. EVERYTHING seems to be racist these days. Just laugh and agree with this amusing article, we all know its true!

Jake says:

03:52pm | 05/01/10

I’m surprised the loud, nasal, whinging Americans didn’t get a mention.  I had the misfortune of holidaying with a group from the United States.  It was like being stuck in a bus with Fran Fine.  But 20 of them.  And everywhere we went, the same sense of entitlement and cultural superiority.  Never.  Again.

Brian says:

05:45pm | 05/01/10

We had a fantastic time in Hawaii and New York.  New Yorkers are THE nicest people hands down.

Steve of Cornubia says:

07:02pm | 05/01/10

@Papachango: Petty pisstakes such as this, when too-oft repeated (like the tired out ‘whingeing pom’ joke) cease to make people laugh but instead make them wonder, ” why?” You probably can’t see it, but the reality is that many Australians can only feel good about themselves by denigrating others, and this is where the famous ‘chip on the shoulder’ Aussie stereotype comes from. Also, you’ll go a long way to find a people more sensitive than an Australian to criticism. That’s why it’s a bad look when Aussies write this type of crap.

Besides, yYou can only get away with this kind of stuff when (a) it’s funny and (b) it isn’t the millionth time you’ve heard it. This piece fails both tests.

Matt says:

10:25pm | 05/01/10

Wow, some of you guys out there are just WAY TOO SERIOUS! We now need to be politically correct as to how we describe said Bogans from Britain and Vladimir’s from Russia. I wonder, because we are “Skippy’s” and “aussies” if they too are now racist terms.
On holidays we laugh at others, I am sure others laugh at me and my shenanigans and the way I too conduct myself. But, who the hell cares? As long as I am not hurting anybody and they aren’t hurting me its game on. But, what would I know; I am just a westie from Penriff who enjoyed a funny and light hearted dig at all of us, maybe some of you need to look in the mirror when you holiday next.

Sean says:

08:39am | 06/01/10

Steve of Cornubia
Looks like you have taken the opportunity to reveal your inner whinging pom hey? Your comment reflects the meaning of the term. Bitter and twisted and always ready to generalise about all Australians. Sad. And no, we will not call you sir so I supposed that’s the point where you lose all respect for Aussies right?

papachango says:

09:40am | 06/01/10

@Steve of Cornubia - actually most Aussies are pretty good at self-deprecation too. They don’t take themselves as seriously as, say, the Yanks. A clue in the article was the title - ‘WE all turn into cliched stereotypes’

I agree with Sean - you must be either a Pom or German as you’re completely lacking in humour and whinge a lot. How’s that for a cultural stereotype ?

Steve of Cornubia says:

10:16am | 06/01/10

@Papachango - Aussies (generally) are indeed happy to pisstake each other. The problem arises when a non-Aussie takes a swipe. That’s when all hell breaks loose.

The failings of, and negative stereotypes associated with, English, New Zealanders and Americans are popular topics in Australia, but as can be seen above, even the slightest criticism of Aussies will bring instant retribution.  As to my new status on here as a whingeing pom, well knock yourself out guys. I’ve been called much worse in my ten years here, as have most of my family. Thankfully, the type of people who really enjoy slagging off other nationalities are a minority, albeit a vocal one.

Just give me a call when one of you says something original, but I won’t be holding my breath waiting.

cats says:

10:49am | 06/01/10

Lol it was just a humerous article, people. Not something to wet your pants about. Jesus Christ.

@Jake
I know what you mean. They talk at the top of their voices constantly about the US to anyone that will listen. They think they own everything and everyone.

Germans are always angry too.

Liz says:

10:51am | 06/01/10

Whoa!Makes you wonder why you went doesn’t it? Hope you’re not acquiring that nasty British habit of patronising one and all because of their difference from us.

Sean says:

11:30am | 06/01/10

No don’t hold your breath Steve, you will turn blue and then everyone will hassle you for looking different - apparently.
I’ll play my violin for you in an old family Irish tune and you can tell me about your woes associated with being a poor downtrodden pom in oz.
Lesson for you. We aussies hassle ourselves more than we do the poor old poms in oz. The trick in it, and the test, is how you handle being made fun of. Just make a joke back - take it serious and well everyone will just walk away. Imagine what I get from my mates as a non drinker.
Lesson 2. When in a new country, rather than telling us how bad and wrong we are, try to learn something - something positive and inspiring. When a pom whinges - well its old news too - and I feel sad for them.

Look on the world around you as negative and it will indeed end up that way. That is, whinge a little less, and smile. We have our liberty, and the sun is upon our backs…

Lisa says:

08:31pm | 06/01/10

Don’t worry Steve.
My husband has worked in a customer-service-related industry for many years in both Britain and Australia, (we’re Australian) and his conclusion is that Australians whinge louder, longer and more viciously than the Brits.
He hasn’t had an opportunity to compare the national proclivity to whinge in a holiday environment, however.

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