ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Crescent 5.1%
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01-11-2009, 12:14 AM
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PI cult member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,874
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1) with regards to TV - blame the politicians. They allowed this to happen.
2) are you going to say the same about copyright laws, dmca, software patent agreements that we have with the US as well? I mean, we've adopted all that American crap here now...
3) are you going to complain about Australia sending troops to illegal invasions of sovereign non US territories in Iraq and Afghanistan to aid the US?
4) what about all the spying our government does on us now, a la CIA, NSA, etc? Habits picked up from our American bretheren...
All of the above do far more harm than the harmless fun of Halloween. And again, you seemed to have picked on the US of A in this respect when other countries participate in this festival just as much. If you want to be really fair, pick them too.
Dave
PS I'm certainly no US of A lover by any means, anyone who knows me knows how I feel about that particular country.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enchilada
I didn't answer this deliberately in wanting to stir the pot any further. In the end, I think you are taking me well out of context..
What I said prior to saying "Bugger the yanks", was;
"Why do we promote something that represents the perpetuation of conformity in human cultures rather than establishing and celebrating the unique diversity of all world cultures. In OUR southern hemisphere, we should out and celebrating the coming of summer, where the winter chills are forgotten, and we can all be out in the open air, enjoying our skies and country"
Here I was referring too the homogenisation of culture being consumed and conforming to someone else ways instead of forging a path defining our own culture. Clearly the concept of Halloween is about the change of seasons going into winter (as stated so eloquently by mithrandir.)
In the southern hemisphere the seasons are reversed. My solution is to instead to add something new to our Australian way of life . Bugger the idea of being mere followers of another foreign country, lets follow our own destiny and celebrate aspects of OUR culture.That's is all I said!
As me saying "Aren't we more intelligent in Australia than to follow the lame brain American culture?" Well considering the number of people seemingly here willing to follow the cultist festivals, well perhaps Australians are equally as lame brained as the American culture!
IMO, Halloween as celebrated by the Americans IS lame brained - and I think some American folk agree also with me! It seems an odd mixture of paganism, commercialism and propaganda to serve the Hollywood film machine to impose American culture on the rest of the world - as already established at least since the 1950s.
Frankly I want my cultural background to become more Australian. not less! "Halloween" is being export to Australia based on the American culture through the television media.
Ever wonder why the majority of TV each week is American? Have you thought how this impacts Australian culture, especially by targeting our children, and now consequentially, Halloween is being propagated through the schools. This is the same methodology as the blitz on advertising done by McDonalds when first establishing its operations in this country.
Ever wondered why the morning programmes flog Hollywood gossip as news or morning new programmes on nearly every commercial Australian networks? I.e. Sunrise and Today?
Why do the TV stations do this. I.e. What is their motive? Clearly they rely on American productions to fill in the airways, with the carrot being discounts on packaged studio-based a whole gambit of good and bad material. We buy the product, they fill our heads with mostly propaganda.
Perhaps instead of calling them lame brain, I should have called it as it simply is - media brainwashing. Rule #1. Get the little kiddies first. Works a treat everytime.
No wonder 84% of people in that poll I linked are against this event!!
As for those appearing as American apologists - well that another story!  |
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01-11-2009, 12:21 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,494
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Halloween is not worth getting upset about; you can ignore it, or use it as an excuse to party on - whatever suits.
Something that does irritate me is the degree of commercialism surrounding Xmas - ten presents for each kid just from the parents, then ten more from the rest of the family. The kids madly unwrap their gifts, barely appreciating each one - not teaching good values.
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01-11-2009, 08:41 AM
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pro lumen
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: ballina
Posts: 3,265
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That looks like a lot of fun matt, bet the kids enjoyed themselves
yeah I didn't know it was halloween untils some kids knocked at the door late last night, though I guess it explains why an order I was trying to place with a US retailer seemed to dissappear into the sheen
thursday afternoon..long weekend eh?
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01-11-2009, 09:12 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
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I was having a quiet night with my sister and Mum. I had just commented to Anne that it looked like we weren't going to have any spooky visitors when that very second I heard a group of kids coming down the street.
About 9 or 10 of them, ranging from around 6 up to 14yrs old.
Mum was waiting on the front curb, stubby in hand.  (this is Kilcoy)
Lucky I'm a sugar addict so I had plenty in the cupboard to go around. 
Nice to see the kids having fun with dress ups and such.
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01-11-2009, 09:37 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: all over the shop...
Posts: 2,098
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We only had one group of young 'uns knock on our door, probably sue to the inclement weather. We honestly did not have anything to give them, but we apologised, wished them well and an enjoyable evening.
Our family has never "celebrated" Halloween because it has no relevant in Australian culture or history.
Quote:
Originally Posted by casstony
Halloween is not worth getting upset about; you can ignore it, or use it as an excuse to party on - whatever suits.
Something that does irritate me is the degree of commercialism surrounding Xmas - ten presents for each kid just from the parents, then ten more from the rest of the family. The kids madly unwrap their gifts, barely appreciating each one - not teaching good values.
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I agree. On the broader issues of Xmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Easter etc, next time these events are approaching take more notice of the commercials on both TV and radio. It's all push, push, push... buy the next big expensive appliance for Mum/Dad/the kids etc... We feel the need to buy the biggest and best products for these events.
I have no problem with making events "special" for young children but as adults it is totally over the top.
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01-11-2009, 09:48 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 936
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i was having a nice quiet evening playing Halo 3 with a mate who, remembering it was Halloween, brought over a pack of chocolates for the kids. we only got one big group of monsters at our door, which is good because any more would have been a distraction from killing aliens...
I think halloween is stupid but when a bunch of kids are at your door (mostly dressed up) and the parents are on the nature strip watching you, you can feel a bit of a grouch if you do not have anything to give them.
still, as long as they don't throw eggs at my house i will grit my teeth one night of the year since it is here to stay now...
Greg & Donny Ep. 09, Trick or Treat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7wv6CUvHi0
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01-11-2009, 01:06 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walcha , NSW
Posts: 1,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Enchilada
Interesting idea, but treating little kids that way probably will deemed as some kind of abuse.
Perhaps the best way is to just challenge the ankle biters with a open tête-à-tête. This was the response my mother was told to do and still make your point.
When they say "trick or treat", ask them a question
"Are you American?"
When they say, no, you then say.
"Well, as far as I know, they only celebrate Halloween in America? Aren't you Australian, because you must come from another country?"
Usually the response is pure terror, because it questions their loyalty to their own country. Considering schools focus very much on Australian culture and values, if several people did this it might make them question why they are doing it,
Just simple reverse psychology!
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Halloween is celebrated in Canada and the U.S.A. and other areas around the world, i thought it was an Irish tradition?
As for that hose issue, i didnt have to use it last night......if i did i could always say that i was threatened with harm if i didnt comply with their wishes, little urban terrorists!
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01-11-2009, 01:55 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ingleburn
Posts: 481
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My wife celebrated Halloween as a kid in Wales it was a big event for the whole town. Its makes me laugh that people think Halloween must be from America if its celebrated there. I got no problem with people celebrating Halloween if it brings people into contact for a happy and joyful experience, as that is good for the community as a whole.
The only thing I don't want here from the USA, is their heath care system !!!!!!!!!!!!
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01-11-2009, 02:15 PM
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Please insert liquor
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maitland
Posts: 202
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My nieces/nephews went and had fun. Personally I think its just another step in the Americanisation of Oz and therefore, I will naturally continue to despise it.
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01-11-2009, 05:46 PM
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6000 post club member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Launceston, Australia
Posts: 6,570
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Wow!!!
Great job on the pumpkin carving
That one with the IIS beanie on is just too funny!!!
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01-11-2009, 05:49 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
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Well done Jen.
Fantastic effort. Still have all your fingers and thumbs?
We were selling the same type of pumpkins at work for only $16.
Did you keep the seeds from your's???.
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01-11-2009, 05:59 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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01-11-2009, 06:34 PM
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PI cult member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,874
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That's an awesome job Jen - very well done!!!
Dave
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01-11-2009, 08:53 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Beecroft, Sydney
Posts: 825
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Interesting thread indeed.
Please remember guys I did ask for comments from everyone. I was expecting negative ones, that was half the point of posting.
It is interesting to see everyones point of view, not just mine sometimes.
I get what you are saying Enchilada, the bit that lets me down though, is what else can we celebrate? If not what, then how? Does the government have any plans in place for some new patriotic event, that we could call our own? If they do, then I would happily celebrate it.
The problem is they don't, we don't.
I think to be honestly accurate in an assesment of the event, you would need to take the time, to analysis what community benefits can be established via something such as Halloween.
I had over 60 children come to my house, I had fun, they had fun. I don't give a rat's if it is not our tradition and neither did the parents bringing the children. Why? Because they know I am happy to have people come around, no other time of the year lets me meet my neighbours and have a chat.
Even the gumpy old bugga across the street, stayed up and sat on his porch waiting to give the kids treats. He has no wife, little family and keeps to himself. It is also the one night of the year, I have any contact with him.
In all a very enjoyable night, no damage, no drunken fools (except perhaps myself) and a whole lot of fun had by everyone.
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01-11-2009, 10:21 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dpastern
That's an awesome job Jen - very well done!!!
Dave
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 Thanks Dave 
My son is very proud of it too so he is going to take it to show and tell tomorrow at school
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01-11-2009, 10:22 PM
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6000 post club member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Launceston, Australia
Posts: 6,570
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen
he is going to take it to show and tell tomorrow at school
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That's very cool!
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01-11-2009, 10:37 PM
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PI cult member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,874
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And so he should - that's a damn well good looking pumpkin!
Dave
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02-11-2009, 12:31 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Beecroft, Sydney
Posts: 825
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All times are GMT +10. The time is now 05:41 AM.
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I was going to put it back till my son gave me the sad eyes awwwwww (im a sucker for that) lol
