Differing opinions

[jnrmac 20,108]

I Disagree

you idiot

[bing181 9,246]

It's on.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

It is an Australian characteristic I reckon. We're taught from a you age that our opinion matters. We're encouraged to vigorously express our opinion with little regard for someone expressing an alternative view. We're encouraged not to back down and think that shooting the messenger will somehow win us points. We lack empathy for alternative points of view and many of us maintain a superiority complex that is staggering.

Australians overseas get a reputation for being know-alls and being ridiculously aggressive in expressing our often ilk-thought out opinions. Demonland is no different to Australian society.

Yep but with a caveat. I see that it many times on the mil history / history / politics forums I visit. Aussies and Kiwis have a real 'I don't give a [censored] that you are a superpower or ex colonial master and have enough nukes to wipe us out 500 times... you're bloody well wrong so either admit it or [censored] off'.

The caveat is that I see it in really well thought out and researched posts as well as 3rd grade name calling posts. The latter just lacks the subtly of the former.

I think it comes from our history. We don't ever admit that someone is better than us no matter what what background we come from. No Lord Muck-a-Muck or Daddy Warbucks can ever be better than any Joe Blow dinkum di Aussie. It's a great blessing because we won't be cowed by money or titles, but at the same time it's a bit of a curse because '[censored] off [censored] head' is never far from the lips of those we disagree with.

I think that - on the whole - it's a good thing as long as we never forget to take the urine out of ourselves too.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Uncle Fester

[Atholwebb 110]

It seems a lot of comments rather than focusing on football matters are devoted to abuse and vitriole. Very disappointing when it could be a great web site for really good, considered discussion about our football team. These days, you have to scroll down a lot in a topic to find something related to football and not personal ribbing and poking fun at the other person.

[ManDee 7,162]

It seems a lot of comments rather than focusing on football matters are devoted to abuse and vitriole. Very disappointing when it could be a great web site for really good, considered discussion about our football team. These days, you have to scroll down a lot in a topic to find something related to football and not personal ribbing and poking fun at the other person.

Had you been here longer I would have launched a tirade of vitriol at you. But as a newbie I say well said Atholwebb. Your day will come.

[ManDee 7,162]

seems that there must be a lot of ex xaverians here (according to today's hun)

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/xavier-college-bully-schooled-in-vce-facebook-slapdown-20151028-gkldby.html

[Bitter but optimistic 22,242]

I, of course, shall continue to remain aloof from all forms of vulgarity and poor taste.

[jackaub 1,402]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/xavier-college-bully-schooled-in-vce-facebook-slapdown-20151028-gkldby.html

Mandee

If I were the English master at Xavier I would hand in my resignation immediately.

This idiot should be expelled for butchering the english language. I also thought a D+ was overly generous given the inability to express a lucid idea and the use of language and grammar that is appalling.

[Guest]

Having worked in private education over the years and having also known a lot of private school students, I know for a fact that a lot of people who would get an ATAR of about 50 if they were going to a public school usually end up getting around 80 if they are in the elite private system.

[jnrmac 20,108]

Having worked in private education over the years and having also known a lot of private school students, I know for a fact that a lot of people who would get an ATAR of about 50 if they were going to a public school usually end up getting around 80 if they are in the elite private system.

Wow there's a generalisation if ever I have heard one. Maybe they just work harder or is there some magic potion they sprinkle on their kids?

[Dommygun12 79]

I've noticed in the last year or so that there has been a lot of stupid bickering and name calling derailing threads. I'm just asking can you please stop this rubbish? If you don't like or agree with someones opinion so much that you feel like you have to respond with insults why don't you just put them on ignore. It is becoming a chore to read through some of these threads listening to you guys throw stupid insults at each other.

Dazzle, Moon, Stuie (I know there's a lot more but that's all I can think of right now) I'm talking to you guys. I enjoy reading your posts on football but for a long time it has just been you guys calling out other posters and such. I know a lot of posters are dumb and I'm probably one of them but for someone that comes here to read about Melbourne news it sucks to have to wade through pages of posts of you guys just arguing together.

These things are exactly the reason why I stopped logging in and commenting.

Not saying im perfect ive had my parts to play but lets all cut the crap after all we are here because we share something in common.

Its so strange that we all go for this great team but some just cant leave it at a simple I disagree but its your view and move on.

[nutbean 8,838]

You are [censored] nutbean

(mmm sweet sweet self abuse)

[ManDee 7,162]

You are [censored] nutbean

(mmm sweet sweet self abuse)

Careful others may get jealous.

[Guest]

Wow there's a generalisation if ever I have heard one. Maybe they just work harder or is there some magic potion they sprinkle on their kids?

The difference is the spoon feeding that many of the students get.

You will notice that when a lot of private school educated kids (not all but a considerable number) do get to uni., they struggle as they have had teachers there coaching them. This does not happen in the state sector and often because state educated kids have to be self sufficient, they initially do better at uni.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,242]

You are [censored] nutbean

(mmm sweet sweet self abuse)

A disgraceful post!

Go and give yourself a jolly good flogging nut.

[The Reverend 1,736]

Mandee

If I were the English master at Xavier I would hand in my resignation immediately.

This idiot should be expelled for butchering the english language. I also thought a D+ was overly generous given the inability to express a lucid idea and the use of language and grammar that is appalling.

Could not help myself. No comment, just had to.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

Having worked in private education over the years and having also known a lot of private school students, I know for a fact that a lot of people who would get an ATAR of about 50 if they were going to a public school usually end up getting around 80 if they are in the elite private system.

This might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's essentially true.

I estimated that the 'scaling' provided by my private school education added to about 6 or 7 points on my total score back when I tried to work it out a while back.

That's without having several of the exam writers on staff who were able to provide us with very thorough 'trial exams', so my raw score was likely higher than it would have been at another school.

I also remember our maths teacher did an entire period on how to write a proper reference sheet for the methods exam. She showed us how to better use the space we had (one A4 sheet from memory), and which formulas were saved as functions in our graphics calculators and thereby didn't need to be on the reference sheet. There was also a student who worked out how to spoof the TI-83 (the calculator we had to use) into showing an empty memory and then recover maths programs after you showed the exam moderator that your memory was clear. I'd estimate around half of my methods class used this program.

I would say though that the idea that private school students are spoon fed and therefore ill-equipped for university 'self-motivated' style teaching is a myth. I know of only one student from my graduating class that dropped out of uni (not that I kept up with everyone, there were about 200). All of my immediate friends and extended acquaintances from school graduated, and one is still there completing a PhD. I'd assume this is pretty typical of the private school experience.

As a side note - I don't earn enough to send my children to private school. My kids will be the first in 3 generations on my father's side not to have a private school education. I'd be nice if I had a spare $18,000 per annum to spend on prep. That's what my parents spent on my year 12! I'm not sure how the school has justified that increase in such a short time.

[Yossarian 1,820]

Well I failed them both and didn't notice the difference.

[Adam The God 30,286]

Didn't he get drafted couple of years ago?

Nah, he was 192cm. Never made it.

[Adam The God 30,286]

Wow there's a generalisation if ever I have heard one. Maybe they just work harder or is there some magic potion they sprinkle on their kids?

Well, yes and no. If you're in a private school, the average ENTER rises, due to the higher median ENTER. I'm sure there are some kids that worker harder too.

Edited October 30, 2015 by AdamFarr

[Middymalt 244]

As a newcomer I find that a certain few cowards try to stand over you, it can be confronting but the weasels put likes beside each other's posts and are pretty much gutless, overcoming the first few weeks takes patience but you have to remember the people doing it wouldn't say it to your face!

Edited October 30, 2015 by Middymalt

[Earl Hood 6,086]

As a newcomer I find that a certain few cowards try to stand over you, it can be confronting but the weasels put likes beside each other's posts and are pretty much gutless, overcoming the first few weeks takes patience but you have to remember the people doing it wouldn't say it to your face!

I agree

“I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’”

[faultydet 7,614]

As a newcomer I find that a certain few cowards try to stand over you, it can be confronting but the weasels put likes beside each other's posts and are pretty much gutless, overcoming the first few weeks takes patience but you have to remember the people doing it wouldn't say it to your face!

But posts like yours only serve to put more people offside, and more likely to continue their attitude towards you.

I would agree with you that there are a few cliques on this site, and some can be bloody annoying, but try not to rant and rave, and you might find them a little more bearable.

edit: I mean this in a constructive way. Not trying to be a smartarz.

Edited October 30, 2015 by faultydet

[Middymalt 244]

I agree

“I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’”

But I'm not mad I'm just voicing my opinion I couldn't give a [censored] how people respond but 5 years down the track if a newcomer pops up

I won't treat he or she the same way I'm not a fist thumper I just want wins every week like the Hawks.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,242]

As a newcomer I find that a certain few cowards try to stand over you, it can be confronting but the weasels put likes beside each other's posts and are pretty much gutless, overcoming the first few weeks takes patience but you have to remember the people doing it wouldn't say it to your face!

Name names or you are just as weak.