Comments on: Pork Spray! Keep Muslims at Bay!

Pork Spray! Keep Muslims at Bay!

desjardins — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:05:28 -0800

Should U.S. Muslims Carry a Special ID? Charles Firth of the Australian TV program Chasers War on Everything asks Americans whether Muslims should have to carry special ID cards, have "security numbers" tattooed on them, and be incarcerated for the rest of the war. (previously, previously)

By: Avenger

Avenger — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:08:54 -0800

Should U.S. Muslims Carry a Special ID? ... have "security numbers" tattooed on them, and be incarcerated for the rest of the war. [?] I'm going to take a wild guess and say 75% of the interviewees who made the final cut say "Yes" on all three counts, while the remaining 25% don't know what a Muslim is and don't care because they think we're at war with France.

By: felix betachat

felix betachat — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:12:24 -0800

Wow, those Americans sure are bunch of racist assholes. I'll bet if we cherry picked a bunch of Australian interviewees they'd never sound that stupid. Thank the pierced God we have Charles Firth of the Australian TV program Chasers War on Everything to show us how stupid Americans are. Otherwise, we'd never have known.

By: Mr_Zero

Mr_Zero — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:13:03 -0800

I'm going to take a wild guess and say 75% of the interviewees who made the final cut say "Yes" on all three counts, while the remaining 25% don't know what a Muslim is and don't care because they think we're at war with France. Close, but it was 100%. The Pork Spray part made me laugh.

By: jsavimbi

jsavimbi — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:14:56 -0800

Bacon Salt? Pork Spray? What took so long?

By: loquacious

loquacious — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:16:24 -0800

What do you mean we're not at war with France? We've always been at war with France. Pork spray!?

By: BitterOldPunk

BitterOldPunk — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:19:33 -0800

Muslim is a type of woven cotton cloth. Do I qualify to fight the French now?* In other news, stupid American stereotypes make for giggles on Aussie TV. *By "fight" I mean drink their wine, enjoy their cream- and butter-based sauces, marvel at the beauty of their cathedrals, and make sexy romance with their women.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:22:50 -0800

Once Aussies get TV (and electricity) they'll have a good laugh at the stereotypical 'mericans represented here.

By: Item

Item — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:25:40 -0800

Every time anyone Australian says or does something stupid, it's fun to remind them of the whole 'every one of you are descended from prisoners' thing.

By: Slothrup

Slothrup — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:30:08 -0800

Every time anyone Australian says or does something stupid, it's fun to remind them of the whole 'every one of you are descended from prisoners' thing. What would you say if they asked you where the English sent their convicts before Australia?

By: Poolio

Poolio — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:31:27 -0800

Which direction do civil rights go down the drain in Australia?

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:33:40 -0800

To be fair, they do mock themselves as well.

By: meehawl

meehawl — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:35:38 -0800

Given that Oz targetted the rest of the world with Yahoo Serious, I'm in favour of tagging all Australians with warning tattoos.

By: a robot made out of meat

a robot made out of meat — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:36:11 -0800

Times like this make me glad for MeFi german vocabulary: fremdshäm.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:41:14 -0800

Australian make fun of the Americans so they don't have to think about their own prejudices. Or are they allowing boats full of refugees to land now?

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:41:48 -0800

Those wacky Australians. They don't know how to use bidets properly. He washed his boots in it! hah! They all live in the outback and eat bloomin' onions! They wrestle crocodiles! That's not a knife!

By: MrGuilt

MrGuilt — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:42:34 -0800

I'm going to assume, as I'm sure many do, that these five or six folks were the five or six who gave the "best" answers out of everyone this guy talked to, and that most of the rest (if not all of the rest) immediately drew the parallels. I'm also guessing that all of them, when the obvious parallel is pointed out, would re-think their stance. It's amazing what you get when someone asks you a question with little context. Given the first assumption (these responses were cherry picked), I find it ironic that they have to find Americans beholden to the "Muslims are terrorists" stereotype to prove the "Americans are ignorant racists " stereotype. Having them all have a vaguely southern accent was a nice touch (with the interview in front of Wal Mart being the cherry on top). I really would like to see all that were left on the cutting room floor. As I mentioned, I got a vague "small town Red state" feel from the interviewies. Go to a larger metropolitan area (regardless of geography), and take an honest survey, then you can consider looking down your nose!

By: orthogonality

orthogonality — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:47:21 -0800

[A nationwide poll of Americans, taken in 2004] found 44 percent favored at least some restrictions on the civil liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight percent said liberties should not be restricted in any way. The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim-Americans to register where they lived with the federal government.

By: [expletive deleted]

[expletive deleted] — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:48:26 -0800

Huh? I didn't take this as a condemnation of all Americans. What horrified me is that people like this actually exist. And apparently, one of them has even been issued a drivers license. Terrifying.

By: desjardins

desjardins — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:49:59 -0800

MrGuilt: Go to a larger metropolitan area (regardless of geography) The backdrop for at least some of the interviews looked like Times Square in New York City to me. Anyway, no one is claiming that this is a scientific survey or that it represents all Americans. I find the defensive tone in this thread amusing (and I'm American, with no Aussie ties).

By: hermitosis

hermitosis — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:54:09 -0800

The backdrop for at least some of the interviews looked like Times Square in New York City to me. So they were all midwestern tourists then?

By: desjardins

desjardins — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:59:21 -0800

[In 2005] 17 percent agreed that "It's okay to lock up Muslims, just in case they are planning terrorist acts." [pdf]

By: Cool Papa Bell

Cool Papa Bell — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:01:27 -0800

While I'm sure there are oodles of jackasses out there, wild-ass surveys always slay me. I'm convinced you can find statistically significant samples of people that would say yes to anything, if only you pointed a microphone at them and asked. According to this, 30 percent of Americans believe in witches.

By: Cranberry

Cranberry — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:04:12 -0800

How sad. Are they unaware of the horror of the internment of Japanese during WWII while those of German extraction who "looked like us" were never interned?

By: facetious

facetious — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:09:33 -0800

It's a scientific fact that stupid people in Australia are stupider than stupid people in America. USA! USA!

By: Citizen Premier

Citizen Premier — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:09:51 -0800

Well, I think most people are weak-willed enough to generally go along with whatever they think an interviewer wants them to say. That doesn't mean they aren't fucktard assholes though.

By: orthogonality

orthogonality — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:27:30 -0800

desjardins writes "I find the defensive tone in this thread amusing" For the record, I'm not being defensive. To the contrary, I'm pretty sure that, in some places in the US, you could get near 100% agreement with the Aussie's tngue-in-cheek suggestions.

By: tepidmonkey

tepidmonkey — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:31:32 -0800

I have believed that Australians in the U.S. should have to carry special ID cards ever since dingoes ate my baby.

By: orthogonality

orthogonality — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:31:45 -0800

Cranberry writes "How sad. Are they unaware of the horror of the internment of Japanese during WWII while those of German extraction who 'looked like us' were never interned?" Don't worry, German-Americans were harassed during WWI (and immediately after, for Socialist associations). Read up on Mitchell Palmer, Woodrow Wilson's AG. Palmer makes Abu Gonzales look not quite so bad.

By: chronic sublime

chronic sublime — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:05:45 -0800

It's quite easy looking through their archives on the ABC website that I don't think they take anything too seriously, and I highly doubt that there are too many people going that believe that all Americans believe the same thing. The Chaser do love pointing out how racist Aussies are too; see their street survey asking people in a well-to-do neighbourhood whether they want a mosque built there.

By: washburn

washburn — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:09:58 -0800

So they were all midwestern tourists then? Because New Yorkers, and the mayors they elect to run the place, are clearly above such midwestern foolishness.

By: Reggie Digest

Reggie Digest — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:27:22 -0800

The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim-Americans to register where they lived with the federal government. This 'statistic' doesn't mean anything. I'll bet if you took out the implicit discrimination by omitting the word Muslim from the poll question, the percentage in favour would be much higher. They might as well ask, "Do you think Muslim-Americans should be forced to pay income tax, you racist bastard?"

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:43:44 -0800

The Chasers are at war with everything... they point out stupid stuff / people in their own country all the time. They are also very funny. At times they rise to the sublime... Terrorist security response The Secret Trojan Horse I thank the day my Aussie mate put me on to them.

By: LMGM

LMGM — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:52:29 -0800

Canada did it first. See "This Hour has 22 Minutes" and the offshoot, "Talking to Americans." Mind you, first != better, so YMMV.

By: dw

dw — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:06:26 -0800

I still feel like John Safran got it right.

By: liquorice

liquorice — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:13:22 -0800

Just a little defensive, kids? The APEC pranks in our own country where far more hilarious. The stupid American thing is old shtick. Gosh, we make fun of you, ourselves and everyone in between! We must be trying to gloss over our own prejudices against evil foreigners. Psh.

By: tehloki

tehloki — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:24:17 -0800

The fact that there are even a handful of people who believe these things makes me really question the effectiveness of the education system and the media. How can somebody come out of a lifetime of schooling, be surrounded by liquid information in their daily lives, and yet still hold such illogical and fascist ideas?

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:52:59 -0800

You actaully have to pay a little attention to the liquid information tehloki.

By: Kadin2048

Kadin2048 — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:08:17 -0800

The fact that there are even a handful of people who believe these things makes me really question the effectiveness of the education system and the media. You can bring a horse to water...

By: caddis

caddis — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:20:39 -0800

Why of course they should, and when my people are in power everyone who scares me, right wing nut jobs, politically active evangelicals, etc., should also be branded, marched off to detention centers where it is unlikely that they will ever attempt again to blow up a government building in Oklahoma, or anywhere else. These people are other, dangerous, irrational, radical, they must be stopped, they are a danger to our American way of life and no restriction is too much if it is needed to protect America.

By: i_am_joe's_spleen

i_am_joe's_spleen — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:41:15 -0800

Just think of this as revenge for that Simpsons episode.

By: ryoshu

ryoshu — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:45:48 -0800

You know who else has "security numbers" tattooed on them? Hipsters.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:56:09 -0800

I'm outraged. Nobody makes Americans look stupid in America. Oh, wait.

By: Slithy_Tove

Slithy_Tove — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:09:46 -0800

How sad. Are they unaware of the horror of the internment of Japanese during WWII while those of German extraction who "looked like us" were never interned? This seems to be a well-established myth.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:22:13 -0800

I'm outraged that Jay Leno is not funny. Oh, wait.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:39:49 -0800

Would've been funnier if Jay Leno was driving the car.

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:51:27 -0800

It makes good TV, most Australian's who watch the ABC are pretty well educated and know that a proportion of American's aren't really that dumb. Sorry USA, the world's TV has been doing it to you for years, it's because we love.

By: uncanny hengeman

uncanny hengeman — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:13:33 -0800

Well, aren't we all a sensitive bunch of beotches. papakwanz got it right. Self depreciating humour is in our constitution. And if this was a Michael Moore interviews dumb Rebulblikkkan voters skit the cum wouldn't be flying all over the place? Feer my strawman argument!

By: ilsa

ilsa — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:16:57 -0800

Dear World, Sorry about all the stupid people. If it's any consolation, guys like Rick Mercer and Jay Leno can really get a laugh out of how stupid some of my countrymen can be. I try talking sense to as many of them as I can, but one person can only do so much. What really gets me is when I hear supposedly well-educated people say stupid stuff like "but if I turn the thermostat way up the hot air will come out faster" or "Maybe monkeys are your ancestors but they aren't mine!" Again, sorry. Sincerely, ilsa

By: Lucie

Lucie — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:34:22 -0800

Look, the Chaser is funny, but this "Americans are stupid!" "No! Australians are stupid!" conversation happens every time someone posts it to Metafilter.

By: Lucie

Lucie — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:34:55 -0800

Can't we just agree that we're all idiots?

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:54:25 -0800

Can't we just agree that we're all idiots? I know you are, but what am I? Oh.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:06:42 -0800

If you love equanimity so much, why don't you marry it?!?!

By: moonbiter

moonbiter — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:21:23 -0800

Wasn't there a comedy game show in syndication where the contestants won money by predicting how ignorant other people were?

By: pracowity

pracowity — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:58:34 -0800

most Australian's who watch the ABC are pretty well educated and know that a proportion of Americans aren't really that dumb. Nicely worded.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0800

It failed to make it past pilot. Everybody put all their money on the Americans.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:02:55 -0800

and nicely timed, here. also, pracowity: i hope your not making fun of australian's idiosyncratic usage of apostrophe's? its just one of the grammatical way's that australian english differs from american english.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:08:52 -0800

No, everyone makes mistakes with apostrophes now and then. It's embarrassing, but it happens. What made me laugh was the carefully worded "a proportion [it could be some very small proportion] of Americans aren't really that dumb [no, perhaps not that dumb, but perhaps somewhat dumb]" -- and all the rest, presumably, are really that dumb.

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:15:33 -0800

Dear Metafilter, Please make the Brits appear stupid too. I feel left out. kthxbye.

By: miss lynnster

miss lynnster — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:42:55 -0800

Here you go seanyboy. It's not political, but you weren't specific.

By: The Ultimate Olympian

The Ultimate Olympian — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:24:12 -0800

What do you mean we're not at war with France? We've always been at war with France. If ti wasn't for the French, you'd all be speaking English.

By: i_cola

i_cola — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:13:41 -0800

I just love how so many USians (including a fair few here) just can't join in when people are taking the piss. Fine to be laughing at smelly French, bad-teeth Brits & backwards Aussies but when it comes to dumb Yanks...well that's just not right. So we take the piss even more until you get all angry and go and invade another can't-fight-back-country' just to show us all how great you really are.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:39:23 -0800

Wait, wait-- turning the thermostat way up doesn't make the hot air come out faster?

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:40:18 -0800

I think we should make Australian "journalists" carry special ID cards.

By: illiad

illiad — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:28:13 -0800

I just love how so many USians (including a fair few here) just can't join in when people are taking the piss. Fine to be laughing at smelly French, bad-teeth Brits & backwards Aussies but when it comes to dumb Yanks...well that's just not right. I'll tell you what's not right. You forgot to mention us igloo-living, husky-whipping Canadians. How dare you! Some Commonwealth-ian YOU are.

By: Cyclopsis Raptor

Cyclopsis Raptor — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:43:24 -0800

Americans are stupid, Australians are stupid, Brits are stupid. The French are stupid. Israel Sucks Iraq Sucks Palestine Sucks. Now, can we get on with our lives?

By: i_cola

i_cola — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:06:07 -0800

The French are in the Commonwealth now?!?

By: dg

dg — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:41:17 -0800

Wow, they must have surrendered to someone without even having war declared. That may be a new record. I think we should make Australian "journalists" carry special ID cards. They do.

By: marcellot

marcellot — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:48:39 -0800

Whats after special id cards ? Tag them in the forhead ? lol