In Reply to: bad tourists posted by adqa on Monday, 8. June 2009 at 14:44 Bali Time:
I think it's a little naive for us to think we, as Aussies, are better or worse in pretty much any way from other nationalities. Different, yes, better not necessarily.
You will meet Americans behaving badly in Mexico, English in Spain, Germans in Greece. Football players of all nationalities all over the place etc etc etc. and of course Aussies (and Kiwis) in Bali.
I often hear people say of Europeans in Bali hotels "They are not friendly like us Aussies". I think they are often just more reserved than us and when you get to talk to them just as friendly as the next race. Different, not better or worse.
I think we can be naive sometimes about what we see as our national characteristics too. Take "mateship" for example. Yes it exists in good old Aus, strongly too but not in isolation. I think Americans are loyal and brave in regard to their "buddies" too. The English may use the word "friend" and actually "mate" too and have the same traits as found in our "mateship". Know what, pick a nationality, any nationality and scratch the surface and you find the same good points.
You also find the same bad points. That's life. In my book, an Aussie behaving appallingly in Bali or any where else for that matter does not diminish me nor the whole race. He only lets down him/herself so we should try not to be embarrassed by them.