LOL aaah Runner - so funny but soooo accurate. You wouldn't want to be smoking a ciggie either ....

American experiences: Having spent a little time there in late 90s I also was a tad gob-smacked at the racism I encountered especially in rural Florida. Being an Australian I tend to treat people how I find them. If they exhibit rudeness, ignorance, bad manners, agressive or irrational behaviour then I react accordingly. Generally though if you treat people you meet with respect and courtesy that is what you will get back - at least initially. However, whilst enjoying the wonderful hospitality of 3 separate hosts, it was obvious in all cases that interaction with the 'coloured folk' was not deemed appropriate except on a needs only basis.

Washington DC and New York were more tolerant as was Miami - full of Hispanics but overall I felt I was in a far more 'racist' society than good old Oz. Maybe that's changed in 10 years but I doubt radically. And on another note: At that time you were hard pressed to find one of the dozens of news channels that reported on anything outside of the good ole USA - to the point I felt cut off from the rest of the world.

Last year spent few weeks in Fiji and observed how much the native Fijians LOVE the immigrant Indians NOT!! Racism at work huh!

So all you whiney little PC pussies - take a holiday somewhere outside your backyard and when you get home you'll appreciate what we've got.

So racism's not an ongoing issue in Yabby's backyard? Not a lifetime, or half a lifetime, a few years back, but a couple of months ago:

<< Narrogin council moves to address racism

Posted Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:25am AEST

The West Australian town of Narrogin has moved to address racism in the region.

The town has drafted a reconciliation plan to recognise the region's Nyoongar heritage and promote Aboriginal culture.

The council will display more Aboriginal art, develop a cultural heritage building and fly the Aboriginal flag in the town.

The Town of Narrogin's Mike Solly says the council is also developing a program to deal with racism in schools.

Mr Solly is hoping the initiatives will help to resolve some of the racial issues in the town. >>

http://tiny.cc/ZWa7a

Yes, things are improving, but there's obviously still very significant problems with racism in your neighbourhood - so why you aren't you aware of them?

As they say, there's none so blind as he who will not see.

It also seems that Hell hath no fury like a Ludwig scorned in obsession. While it's probably unsurprising that a couple of childless middle-aged singleton men are oblivious to social etiquette, I'm sure that any normal person would appreciate why I wouldn't want a holiday with my kids disturbed by a surprise visit from a raving frootloop with whom I've been arguing online.

Yes, I'm very selective about the company that I choose to keep - but that has nothing whatsoever to do with racism or whatever Yabby means by 'tribalism'. It's far more to do with taste and an admittedly low tolerance for idiots of any persuasion.

Why doesn't anybody want to talk about "King Billy Cokebottle"?

*and fly the Aboriginal flag in the town.*

Wow CJ, there must be huge racial problems, if the town of
Narrogin is going to do that :)

Fact is CJ, racism is based on tribalism and intolerance and
the little performance that we had from you, was based on
tribalism and intolerance, with the parameters being a little
different.

IMHO all your shouting about racism is more about self
aggrandisement then anything else.

As we saw, when the crunch came, you are seemingly as intolerant
as any racist.

Shame on you CJ. You should practise what you preach.

"...It's probably unsurprising that a couple of childless middle-aged singleton men are oblivious to social etiquette..."

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaa hahahahahahahahaha haaaaaaaaaaa hahahahaahaaaaaa

CJ's prattling on about social etiquette!! !! !! !!

This is great. The entertainment value of OLO just gets better and better, thanks to our resident king of intolerance!!

Why doesn't anybody want to talk about "King Billy Cokebottle"?

Because he is a black fella taking the piss out of his own kind, but hey, that's fine....for some reason it just can't be the other way round. Talk about bias.

This country has simply gone 'PC mad'.

I guess if Yabby can't or won't see the racism that exists in his own neighbourhood, then there's no way that he'd be capable of understanding why 'blackface' comedy is intrinsically racist. Fortunately there seem to be more enlightened people than him in his district who are taking practical steps to address racism, rather than pretending it doesn't exist like he does.

Raving frootloop: << Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaa hahahahahahahahaha haaaaaaaaaaa hahahahaahaaaaaa >>

I think any normal person would understand why I wouldn't want such a person anywhere near my family. It's not "tribal" or racist to not want one's personal space invaded by a blithering idiot - a misanthropic one who doesn't like children at that.

rehctub - "King Billy Cokebottle" is a white Australian "taking the piss" out of Aboriginal people while made up in blackface. That's why he's relevant to this discussion.

<< King Billy Cokebottle (real name Louis Beers) is an Australian comedian. He is controversial because he is a white person who puts on blackface to make jokes about Aboriginal Australians. >>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Billy_Cokebottle

It's quite fascinating the lengths that some of you will go to deny the bleeding obvious.