Facebook racist drama linked to Melbourne's top schools

[jejak]

The worst thing is, I imagine that most of the students who joined that group probably wouldn't be quite bold enough to voice these despicable views in public - instead, they do it on the relative anonymity of the interwebs, where it occurs away from the public view of the school community, and away from any kind of punitive body. The worst kind of racism is that which we perceive yet can't quite see plainly.

I completely agree with kyzoo on this. I go to a fairly expensive private school in the inner eastern suburbs and have to say that although there are a few who may be a touch racist, the majority of students are extremely tolerant and generous.

+1.... I wonder how much of this article is genuine outrage at racism, and how much of it is the usual "stone the rich kids" stuff that gets levelled at private school students... was the "elite schools" bit truly necessary?
Full disclosure: I go went to a private school that was on the list *facepalm*, so of course I would hate to think that everyone there is racist.

were (sic)

Well, racists might be across all social classes, but I like to think that most are as dumb as a box of hammers.

[Mao]

To play the devil's advocate:

You are no longer in your country, don't you think it's disrespectful to not speak the host nation's language?

Also, on the point of the validity of 'facebook racist drama', I should add that the heaviest users of facebook are school and uni kids. These people usually use the Internet a fair bit, and you can certainly find a correlation between top-schools students with Internet activity.

And 5000 members? get real. It's not hard to find 300k groups these days, even the small ones have at least 50k users.

[*ryan777*]

i think the whole linking it private schools thing was just the media trying to sell stories
and yes as jejak pointed out the average person loves to blame the rich for everything

[brightsky]

Agreed. A bit trite, but another probability is that most of these students probably joined the Facebook group just to be "cool"...

[RainerWolfram]

Agreed. A bit trite, but another probability is that most of these students probably joined the Facebook group just to be "cool"...

They're just f***** pussies

[jejak]

You are no longer in your country, don't you think it's disrespectful to not speak the host nation's language?

I think the issue is not one of speaking, but rather being able to speak the host language to some degree. If one is able to speak the host language, this serves as a token of  a willingness to integrate into the broader community (not to mention socio-economic advancement/work opportunities etc.), and thus a respect for that community. However, to suggest that immigrants jettison their native tongue in all situations - particularly group situations - seems to me just thinly-disguised racism.

Also - and I realise you're just playing devil's advocate here - the context of the "speak English mate" thing is important. It's not as if this was a public service announcement on the socioeconomic advantages of linguistic integration; it's just a bromide used to add weight to slurs like "F--- off we're full."

Personally, I believe that many immigrants would be able to satisfy the imperative to integrate into their broader host community without learning the host language - e.g. in Chinese enclaves etc, one could be quite involved while speaking only Canto. Of course this arrangement would be more preferable for those of advanced age, limited economic means, or whatever.

you can certainly find a correlation between top-schools students with Internet activity.

True, but I still maintain that the article seems to linger too heavily on the "elite schools" rhetoric than is necessary. Look at those privileged rich white kids! The same trend is repeated on muck-up day articles, etc.

And 5000 members? get real. It's not hard to find 300k groups these days, even the small ones have at least 50k users.

Are those >50k user groups mainly "morally benign", though? Genuine question - I wouldn't know

[jay1993]

To play the devil's advocate:

You are no longer in your country, don't you think it's disrespectful to not speak the host nation's language?

Also, on the point of the validity of 'facebook racist drama', I should add that the heaviest users of facebook are school and uni kids. These people usually use the Internet a fair bit, and you can certainly find a correlation between top-schools students with Internet activity.

And 5000 members? get real. It's not hard to find 300k groups these days, even the small ones have at least 50k users.

Well obviously it is easier for them to speak with their friends in whatever language. I personally do not find it disrespectful not to speak the Host nations language. Just imnagine yourself in a similair situation. Eg. You go to Greece with some friends to study. Your chatting in English with your friends in a public area (Train etc), when some guy tells you to speak Greek or leave the country. But of course to communicate with a friend in a language you are not great at is difficult and a bit annoying.

[jay1993]

I however do find it disrespectful to not try to learn the language....

[jejak]

@jay1993: I like your examples.

But of course to communicate with a friend in a language you are not great at is difficult and a bit annoying.

My point here is a slightly unrelated one, but any foreign language learner knows this fact from experience. Surely those people who just casually toss off a "speak English mate" have never tried to learn a foreign language, because they don't realise how strong the feeling of relief is when you switch back to your mother tongue. Well, also they wouldn't have studied a language because of the "dumb as a box of hammers" thing, but still.

[brightsky]

I however do find it disrespectful to not try to learn the language....

Debatable. The important thing is that immigrants, after taking refuge in Australia, make effort to contribute to the advancement of the nation, and not just merely for certain individual benefits. People can still do so without the need to learn English.

[jay1993]

I however do find it disrespectful to not try to learn the language....

Debatable. The important thing is that immigrants, after taking refuge in Australia, make effort to contribute to the advancement of the nation, and not just merely for certain individual benefits. Saying so, people can still do so without the need to learn English.

I mean that they should try to learn. In order to communicate EG: Hello, Thank you etc (The very very basic language)

[jejak]

The important thing is that immigrants, after taking refuge in Australia, make effort to contribute to the advancement of the nation. [...] People can still do so without the need to learn English.

+ 1

[RainerWolfram]

I however do find it disrespectful to not try to learn the language....

Yes and no.

You live in someone else's nation, obviously it's important to adapt to the country's values, heritage, customs etc. But what happens if you have a sick elderly family member overseas who is  incapable to take care of themselves and learn a new language and you would like to immigrate them here under your care? Would you expect them to learn a new language?  

[ninwa]

"Fuck off, we're full?"

For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share

o.O

[*ryan777*]

@jay1993: I like your examples.

But of course to communicate with a friend in a language you are not great at is difficult and a bit annoying.

My point here is a slightly unrelated one, but any foreign language learner knows this fact from experience. Surely those people who just casually toss off a "speak English mate" have never tried to learn a foreign language, because they don't realise how strong the feeling of relief is when you switch back to your mother tongue. Well, also they wouldn't have studied a language because of the "dumb as a box of hammers" thing, but still.

+1
as someone who has lived overseas in a non-english speaking country i know how relaxing it is to have someone/somewhere to just occasionally use your native language