Australian racism?

daveyeh · 27-07-2012 03:49PM #1

Is the commonly used australian term 'Abbo' racist?

I'm going there next week and don't want to be chased down the street by, eh, the native aboriginies.

IrishAm · 27-07-2012 03:50PM

Don't call them abbos. Its not a term of endearment.

AEDIC · 27-07-2012 03:52PM

You could just call them Australians.

Lord of the Bongs · 27-07-2012 03:52PM

Great film that Romper Stomper

kellyjohnp · 27-07-2012 03:53PM

daveyeh wrote: »

Is the commonly used australian term 'Abbo' racist?

I'm going there next week and don't want to be chased down the street by, eh, the native aboriginies.

Abbo is derogatory. Aborigine or native Australian are better

Kooli · 27-07-2012 03:53PM

The racism in Australia towards aboriginals is something I found pretty shocking. It's casual, it's not taboo, it's considered a 'normal' attitude to hold and express in regular conversation with people you don't know that well (i.e. you haven't established their viewpoint).

So although Aussies tend to shorten almost every word to a cute diminutive like that, I'd hazard a guess that it's racist.

xL · 27-07-2012 03:54PM

Your attitude suggests that you will be chased down the street regardless.

Have a good time all the same.

daveyeh · 27-07-2012 03:55PM

Are there white aussies that consider it offensive? All the ones i've met use the word without any kind of embarrassment.

Robbo · 27-07-2012 03:57PM

It's a bootable offence.

And disparaging the boot is a bootable offence.

super_furry · 27-07-2012 03:58PM

It's would be like calling a traveller a knacker.

Kooli · 27-07-2012 04:02PM

daveyeh wrote: »

Are there white aussies that consider it offensive? All the ones i've met use the word without any kind of embarrassment.

That's exactly what I'm saying was so shocking about my trip there! The racism is just...out there. So there is no taboo, no embarrassment, no questioning of the racist views of being anything other than fact.

So I wouldn't doubt that the white aussies are happy to use it even if others would consider it offensive!

gobnaitolunacy · 27-07-2012 04:03PM

'Black Fella' is not considered offensive. 'Abbo' is.

'Aboriginal' is getting to sound a bit archaic now, 'Indigenous Australian' is the modern polite term.

daveyeh · 27-07-2012 04:08PM

Kooli wrote: »

That's exactly what I'm saying was so shocking about my trip there! The racism is just...out there. So there is no taboo, no embarrassment, no questioning of the racist views of being anything other than fact.

So I wouldn't doubt that the white aussies are happy to use it even if others would consider it offensive!

:eek:

drewvegas · 27-07-2012 04:09PM

I'm an Aussie and no wouldn't use the term if I was you...

Ghandee · 27-07-2012 04:13PM

Aboriginal people were some of the nicest folk I encountered in my life. FACT.

Calling them 'Abbos' certainly wouldnt sit well with them.

But wht I find hardest of all to believe, it was only very, very recently that it was deemed illegal to shoot (and kill) an aboriginal person.

Cant find a link, but I believe it to be sometime around 1965 or so?

Which, is quite shocking tbh.

RikkFlair · 27-07-2012 04:22PM

Just make sure you're referring to the band

Kooli · 27-07-2012 04:30PM

Ghandee wrote: »

Aboriginal people were some of the nicest folk I encountered in my life. FACT.

Calling them 'Abbos' certainly wouldnt sit well with them.

But wht I find hardest of all to believe, it was only very, very recently that it was deemed illegal to shoot (and kill) an aboriginal person.

Cant find a link, but I believe it to be sometime around 1965 or so?

Which, is quite shocking tbh.

What....the...f**k...

mikemac1 · 27-07-2012 04:57PM

Sure they're like the Irish

Everyone assumes they are drunks

Run_to_da_hills · 27-07-2012 05:29PM

I have also heard them use the term halfie.

boo3000 · 27-07-2012 09:06PM

Isn't australian's being racist a bit stupid?

I mean if you were to go down the racist route you could say they're just a bunch of interbred convicts.

Say what you like about the aborigines, they've never been mass deported for criminality, and so like the rest of the world, are less likely not to have an unnaturally higher precentage of sex offender DNA.

I mean if you were to go down the racist route that is.

PizzamanIRL · 27-07-2012 09:18PM

drewvegas wrote: »

I'm an Aussie and no wouldn't use the term if I was you...

Nice first post after 3 years.

dj jarvis · 27-07-2012 09:19PM

boo3000 wrote: »

Isn't australian's being racist a bit stupid?

I mean if you were to go down the racist route you could say they're just a bunch of interbred convicts.

Say what you like about the aborigines, they've never been mass deported for criminality, and so like the rest of the world, are less likely not to have an unnaturally higher precentage of sex offender DNA.

I mean if you were to go down the racist route that is.

you are confusing genes with DNA - and even if genes DID map your life , you have to take into consideration nature and nurture ,
so to make the assumption just because the fore fathers of Australians were convicts ( and i would imagine sex criminals were far and few between - as rape was not a crime as such in the 1700's) their great great grand children will be also, is frankly a really absurd and ill conceived " point "

to make the connection that Australians might be " bad " under the skin because of generations before is stupid

OP as someone has said - they are Australians of aboriginal decent - nothing else

stone roses · 27-07-2012 09:22PM

the natives own the land not the half breeds , its 220yrs old give or take, i resided there for a few years , good crack and nice weather but nothing much else to offer , lacks real culture and a real sence of indentity!

boo3000 · 27-07-2012 09:29PM

dj jarvis wrote: »

to make the connection that Australians might be " bad " under the skin because of generations before is stupid

Really, I thought that's why they called everyone mate, it came down through the generations from when their great grandads were trying to befriend (and rape) everything that moved.

But seriously, I get it. Racism is dumb. My point was, and is, you can disparage anyone's race, ethnicity, sexual preference, whatever....

I'd just sooner make that point without your boring, lefty liberal, right on attitude.

bennyineire · 27-07-2012 09:32PM

Yes the racism towards the "Abbo's" in Oz is shocking and I was quite shocked to hear all walks of Australian society speaking so casually racist towards the aboriginal people. Strangly they do not have this view towards other nationals, but to be honest and before Irish people get on there high horse ask yourself this question "what are your true feelings towards travelers".
I find the Irish attitude to travelers to be practically the same as the Aussies attitude to Aboriginal people

dj jarvis · 27-07-2012 09:33PM

boo3000 wrote: »

Really, I thought that's why they called everyone mate, it came down through the generations from when their great grandads were trying to befriend (and rape) everything that moved.

But seriously, I get it. Racism is dumb. My point was, and is, you can disparage anyone's race, ethnicity, sexual preference, whatever....

I'd just sooner make that point without your boring, lefty liberal, right on attitude.

HAHAHHAHAHAHAH - really ???? left liberal HHAHAHAHHAHAH

cop on - you mixed up dna with genes - how is that left liberal ?

right on :eek:

boo3000 · 27-07-2012 09:44PM

dj jarvis wrote: »

you mixed up dna with genes

So this was your point, it wasn't a little lecture about, it's not the colour of your skin man, it's what's on the inside.

If you're not a lefty liberal are you the science police?

dj jarvis · 27-07-2012 09:49PM

boo3000 wrote: »

So this was your point, it wasn't a little lecture about, it's not the colour of your skin man, it's what's on the inside.

If you're not a lefty liberal are you the science police?

oh go away - if you cant understand what was being said, then just dont make comment

christ on a bike, is it a full moon tonight ?

boo3000 · 27-07-2012 09:53PM

Sorry to bother you Officer Nerdovski

Sindri · 27-07-2012 10:40PM

Ghandee wrote: »

Aboriginal people were some of the nicest folk I encountered in my life. FACT.

Calling them 'Abbos' certainly wouldnt sit well with them.

But wht I find hardest of all to believe, it was only very, very recently that it was deemed illegal to shoot (and kill) an aboriginal person.

Cant find a link, but I believe it to be sometime around 1965 or so?

Which, is quite shocking tbh.

Kooli wrote: »

What....the...f**k...

Your name is Kooli.

poppyvally · 27-07-2012 10:46PM

Never mind Abbo dont go to Perth if your Irish. They've had awful trouble with drunkeness from the Irish

Australian racism?

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