Stupid Generalizations from Stupid Parents

[Las Naranjas]

I'll, for the purpose of pointless clarification, explain the details of the parliamentary travel problem.

Since it's sometimes in the call of their duties to travel overseas, official trips can be paid for by the taxpayer.

Much to the chagrin of most of the electorate, backbenchers tend to take research trips that aren't strictly necessary.

Furthermore, to the distaste of most people they're allowed to take spouses [married or de facto] on said trips.

In this case, the partner was cited as a de facto, but wasn't a live in partner as stated in the guidelines.

And since she [the MP] is a marginal seat, she was made to pay it back. Other wise nothing would have happened. A technicallity forceed that, when voters dislike the best part of the scheme.

I'd like to see what would happen if one of the openly gay MPs tried to take their de facto on a trip. Problem is, both would refuse since they're in minor parties that have opposition to parliamentary perks as part of their platform.

[Hollister Man]

Back on the topic of stupid parents...

My step mother once saw my sister tip over a potted plant, and out came, "Oh, nice job 'grace'!"

Ten minutes later she tipped it over too, then quietly asked Alena to clean up the mess she had just made (cleaning it up a second time).


Howabout this one:  We were at the Rennaisance Faire, and my step-dfather saw a guy walking by in full chain mail and armor, and suddenly he said, "What a butt-pirate" of course referring to his sexual preferrence. 


Or with mom, Me:"Why does the package say to do this, and the guy said the opposite!" (cant remember the circumstances) "Maybe because he's older than 20!"  WTF?  What does age have to do with knowing how to read the package?

More to come...

[Kinoko]

I love talking to old ladies on buses, but whenever I mention I'm doing a Japanese degree, I almost count in my head waiting for how many seconds it will take them to then make a comment like, "Japanese, eh? It's funny, 50 years ago we hated them."

I -could- bite her head off and try to debate her way of bringing a fact up at the mere mention of a completely unrelated Japanese topic, but you just have to let some things slide. It's just something some people say and isn't necessarilly a reflrection of heir true personality or opinions.

Sometimes it -is- but even then it's ok to let it go ^_^ They're old, and they'll die soon.

[Meowster]

Somebody mentioned the slang word 'wogs'. I think that comes from years ago, when there used to be a childrens toy known as a Gollywog, which was essentially a scruffy little black teddy-sort thing with string hair. Gollywogs were, as far as I know, always black. I think they were basically toy servants or something to that effect... extremely politically incorrect. They're obviously not allowed sell them any more, to the best of my knowledge, but that's where the word 'wog' came from anyway.

And man, I hate that word. I hate you for reminding me. It reminds me of London.

Interesting Trivia: If you read Enid Blytons childrens stories, they are full of gollywogs.

[Femme Stab Mode >:D]

Wog - derogatory for greek.

[AGA]

No. Wop = slang for Mediterraneans. Wog = slang for Indians (or non-whites in general...)

[auhsor]

In australia I think wog is slang for a greek/italian/mediteranean person. I don't call anyone by it, but I know some people who are 'wogs' and dont get offended by the term, but I do know others that do.

[AGA]

Well, that's crazy. According to this page, and about 500 more like it, it's a non-white, mainly of Eastern origins...

[Las Naranjas]

Wog means mediterranean, from Italy to Lebanon. And it's hardly derogatory any more.

The only slang term I've heard used for people from the suncontinent is "Curries"  [I've only heard it used by people from the subcontinent or with descent from there though]. Much tastier sounding than "Paki".

On another note, when talking to some of my Japanese friends, I used to keep making railway jokes without thinking. They all went over their heads though.

But then again, historical slurs are most fun for their lack of relevance.

[Timosity]

It's probably just an Australian thing, but the most common people to use the term are Mediterraneans.

In other words you're not really allowed to use the term unless you are a wog or are saying the name of this movie.



I have heard the term 'wops' before, specifically from 'True Romance'

but I've never heard people from the subcontinent refered to as wogs, they usually refer to themselves as asians, and as las said, the derogatory is curries.


This also reminds me of the come back to an aussie calling a wog, a wog, they call us 'skips' (as in skippy the kangaroo) which inturn reminds me of this company that rents out large garbage bins, called "Aussie Skips"

[Peter Thomas]

I've never heard Wog used of non-whites, honestly. Maybe it's just an Australian thing, but I've always just assumed it was a universal bad word for the greeks (Presumably it must also be known in Greece, as well, or else they'd be all like "wtf? why are you calling me an indian word?").

Back to my parents though... Well... it's the day after, and I'm completely over it now. Well, suffice to say that I'm not angry with anyone, but I still disagree with my mum's opinion. The problem is, sometimes she does generalise and exaggerate, but the minute I point it out and say "that's a bit unfair..." she becomes all defensive and suddenly acts like it is no longer just her opinion, but hard, solid fact. I don't mean to provoke her - I just say it's unfair because I know people who DON'T fall into that category (whatever category my mum is talking about) and I feel like she's unjustly judging them - even if it is only in fun. I just don't find it funny because she's talking about my friends.

So all of a sudden her opinion has become universal fact, and I'm wrong because I didn't turn my opinion into fact before she did. And I'm so bad because of it and I should stop trying to "argue for the sake of argument". I mean.. what the hell? Yeah... I just love being all tense and uncomfortable and hot-headed and tempremental and impatient and flushed. Who wouldn't?