Different cultures view America in ways we Americans can't understand. Try to find out his political and moral views. Offer to take him shooting. If he's an openminded person, he'll have a ball. If he's a closed-minded anti, there's not a lot you can do to change his mind.
Bagged at work - Damn!!
- Thread starter Rockrivr1
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XLMiguel
Member
Hmmm, I've met very few Aussies who were tolerant of, let alone pro-gun. I guess it's from the sheepherding culture there. Damn shame, because they were otherwise fine folks. IMO, best bet is to keep your business close to your vest, and maybe see if the guy is open to going shooting. Afterall, it's legal/acceptable here, and if he finds out it's fun, he may open up his mind a bit. One never knows . . .
MikeIsaj
Member
Don't assume the governments attitude towards handguns is the same as his. Does your governments attitude reflect yours?
My nephews friend just returnd to England from a short visit. One regret was that he didn't get a chance to go shoot some real guns with me. He believes his government is all wrong regarding guns.
My nephews friend just returnd to England from a short visit. One regret was that he didn't get a chance to go shoot some real guns with me. He believes his government is all wrong regarding guns.
The only response he deserves is:
"How do you mean?"
Make the Aussie, who is a guest in your country, explain himself.
Then ask him why the only thing open in his country on Sundays are the liquor stores... That's right, no buying food at the grocery stores if you are hungry - just go buy enough scotch to get yourself "pissed" enough to last until Monday when they reopen.
"How do you mean?"
Make the Aussie, who is a guest in your country, explain himself.
Then ask him why the only thing open in his country on Sundays are the liquor stores... That's right, no buying food at the grocery stores if you are hungry - just go buy enough scotch to get yourself "pissed" enough to last until Monday when they reopen.
Horsesense
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2003
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- 565
You could
Make the picture your screen saver, or wallpaper.
Or
Never mention it, and if he brings it up, say something like "I was doing some research" and then based upon his reaction:
A) I overheard someone mention that they were getting a "Glock" and I was curious as to what a Glock was
B) I am considering getting a Glock for home protection.
C) The voices in my head keep telling me to get a Glock
Make the picture your screen saver, or wallpaper.
Or
Never mention it, and if he brings it up, say something like "I was doing some research" and then based upon his reaction:
A) I overheard someone mention that they were getting a "Glock" and I was curious as to what a Glock was
B) I am considering getting a Glock for home protection.
C) The voices in my head keep telling me to get a Glock
38SnubFan
Member
Nope. It's not YOUR job or MY job. It should be the job of all gun-owners and pro-gun supporters.
The attitude quoted above IS NOT the way to get more people on our side of the fence.
-38SnubFan
I'd have said (with a grin on my face) "Just want to be prepared for my next salary review." But I have a reputation for sarcastic humor at my job.
If he was seriously hostile, I would try to let the subject die quietly. If it was a knee jerk blissninny reaction I would try to let the subject die quietly. If and ONLY if I felt he was joking with you would I bring the subject up again and invite him to go shooting.
In all three cases I would curtail all personal web use for a good long while. Executives, especially the ones that work in an all shirt and tie environment, tend to ride these things like a trick pony. Best to never let him catch you surfing again.
If he was seriously hostile, I would try to let the subject die quietly. If it was a knee jerk blissninny reaction I would try to let the subject die quietly. If and ONLY if I felt he was joking with you would I bring the subject up again and invite him to go shooting.
In all three cases I would curtail all personal web use for a good long while. Executives, especially the ones that work in an all shirt and tie environment, tend to ride these things like a trick pony. Best to never let him catch you surfing again.
joab
Member
I agree with all except the last sentence
Work is not the place to push political agendas, work is the place to do the work you are paid to do.
As long as you are doing your job it shouldn't matter what is on your comp screen or what magazines are in your work area.
If he wants to know about guns he will approach you
If you push him to learn about guns it may signal a knee jerk fear of the armed crazy American in him.
Some things are better left alone
As far as a response to the should I be worried comment, my favorite has always been
"I don't know, you planning on pissing me off?"
bogie
Member
Hey, do you do your job well?
No problem.
Offer to take him shooting. How long has he been in the country? He may just not have a life...
No problem.
Offer to take him shooting. How long has he been in the country? He may just not have a life...
dav
Member
Interesting answers here. Not very surprising that most think of it from a firearms point of view.
But CIO's/CTO's don't usually have much in the way of a political agenda outside of their own internal company politics.
Websurfing at work is usually a no-no. Chances are actually very good that the CONTENT of the websurfing is immaterial.
Offer to take him shooting (OFF company hours). And don't get caught surfing.
(my company has blocked all 'bad' websites, including all firearms sites. They gave me a password to get around the filter so I can get here at lunchtime!)
But CIO's/CTO's don't usually have much in the way of a political agenda outside of their own internal company politics.
Websurfing at work is usually a no-no. Chances are actually very good that the CONTENT of the websurfing is immaterial.
Offer to take him shooting (OFF company hours). And don't get caught surfing.
(my company has blocked all 'bad' websites, including all firearms sites. They gave me a password to get around the filter so I can get here at lunchtime!)
toivo
Member
I second that. I lived in Japan for a number of years. A lot of Japanese tourists to the US include a trip to a shooting range on their to-do lists. Why? Because they can.
pythonguy
Member
#1) You were web surfing on company time, a huge NO NO.
#2) Go to the browser tools and then options, delete cookies, all files off and online, delete history.
#3) If you value your job don't web surf, don't mention the incident again unless it is brought to your attention. Don't ask your boss about shooting or any other non-work related subject unless he brings it up.
4#) If asked about what you were looking at, say you opened an e-mail and it went to that picture.
Oh, and whoever mentioned leaving gun magazines or catalogues around the office, really dumb idea.
#2) Go to the browser tools and then options, delete cookies, all files off and online, delete history.
#3) If you value your job don't web surf, don't mention the incident again unless it is brought to your attention. Don't ask your boss about shooting or any other non-work related subject unless he brings it up.
4#) If asked about what you were looking at, say you opened an e-mail and it went to that picture.
Oh, and whoever mentioned leaving gun magazines or catalogues around the office, really dumb idea.
Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
Definitely don't get into a big political brawl with the guy. Jeez, folks.
I'd have said something like "No, I don't usually spend work hours looking at hobby stuff. Sorry about that. So, whatcha need?" And I'd have smiled as I said it.
From there, if he chooses to make an issue of the fact that it was a gun you were looking at, you can address the situation as best you can, and you haven't made it any worse. If he was only irritated that you were doing it on company time, you've addressed the issue and apologized cheerfully.
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the guy thinks you're going to shoot him. He hasn't given you any reason to think that except that "we all know what them Australians is like and they hates guns." You wouldn't want anybody to make that kind of assumption about you because you're one of those American cowboys.
I'd have said something like "No, I don't usually spend work hours looking at hobby stuff. Sorry about that. So, whatcha need?" And I'd have smiled as I said it.
From there, if he chooses to make an issue of the fact that it was a gun you were looking at, you can address the situation as best you can, and you haven't made it any worse. If he was only irritated that you were doing it on company time, you've addressed the issue and apologized cheerfully.
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the guy thinks you're going to shoot him. He hasn't given you any reason to think that except that "we all know what them Australians is like and they hates guns." You wouldn't want anybody to make that kind of assumption about you because you're one of those American cowboys.
Radagast
Member
Wildboar, every shop you can think of is open on Sunday, at least in my home state. Going back to the 1980s there were restrictions on trading by other than food stores. That changed after a piano shop started giving away a free grand piano with every $3000 can of baked beans sold on Sunday. 
Most major grocery stores are open till midnight.
Most major grocery stores are open till midnight.
fistful
member
Look, just start wearing a gun to work everyday, and after that you should have no problems. I find I can do whatever I want at work, because I keep a Carbon 15 on a chest sling. Try it.
Cosmoline
Member
That's a *bad* thing??
Australia is a police state!
swampsniper
Member
Never believe that Australians are just like us, but talk funny.
http://aussieseek.proboards25.com/index.cgi?board=general
http://aussieseek.proboards25.com/index.cgi?board=general
Radagast
Member
Cosmoline, most of the police state legislation that has passed here in the last few years seems to be modeled on the Patriot Act. Other than on the firearms issue (which is obviously a big one for anyone posting on this forum), it would be less like jumping from the frying pan into the fire and more like jumping from one pan to the other.
Ken
Ken
Cosmoline
Member
I count the draconian "hand them in" gun laws as the core of any police state.
That has also been my experience. I realize there are a core of folks in rural Australia (and the fine folks at Woodleigh) who aren't insanely anti-gun, but they seem to have no political or culutural influence at all. Australia seems to be run and domniated by a few large cities on the east coast. The rest of the nation is mere appendage.
That has also been my experience. I realize there are a core of folks in rural Australia (and the fine folks at Woodleigh) who aren't insanely anti-gun, but they seem to have no political or culutural influence at all. Australia seems to be run and domniated by a few large cities on the east coast. The rest of the nation is mere appendage.
mike8b1
Member
Having your back to your office door! Move your desk...
I guess you don't be watching my back....
I guess you don't be watching my back....
The_Antibubba
Member
Next time, make sure you're looking at an Enfield.
Well...it's too late to do this now, but I can tell you what I did in a VERY similar situation.
My former boss was very much an elitist...and very much a leftist. He thinks Geoge Bush is Satan. He and I are pretty much opposites in every way. And, after this "encounter", I also learned that he does not like guns.
To get the full affect of this you would have to know him and the way he talks, but here's the story anyway. He walked in my office late one afternoon when I happened to be looking at a picture of MY Glock. My monitor does not face the doorway to my office, but he walked around behind my desk to look at some drawings I had (commercial construction). As he did I swiveled around in my chair to look at the drawings with him. He noticed the picture of my full size Glock and said, "Is that a GUN you're looking at?" I looked back over my shoulder at the monitor and said, "Yeah, that's my Glock. How do you like it?" He replied, "I don't LIKE guns." I laughed and said, "Well, I shouldn't show you the one I've got tucked away in my ankle holster then." He looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I'm serious or not and then said, "Okay, back to the question." We then proceeded to discuss the reason he had come in there (to ask me a question about something on the drawings).
Keep in mind that I had worked with this guy for a year and had earned his respect as a hard worker who gets my job done (and then some).
By the way, I did NOT have anything tucked away in an ankle holster that day...and if I did then I wouldn't have said what I did.
My former boss was very much an elitist...and very much a leftist. He thinks Geoge Bush is Satan. He and I are pretty much opposites in every way. And, after this "encounter", I also learned that he does not like guns.
To get the full affect of this you would have to know him and the way he talks, but here's the story anyway. He walked in my office late one afternoon when I happened to be looking at a picture of MY Glock. My monitor does not face the doorway to my office, but he walked around behind my desk to look at some drawings I had (commercial construction). As he did I swiveled around in my chair to look at the drawings with him. He noticed the picture of my full size Glock and said, "Is that a GUN you're looking at?" I looked back over my shoulder at the monitor and said, "Yeah, that's my Glock. How do you like it?" He replied, "I don't LIKE guns." I laughed and said, "Well, I shouldn't show you the one I've got tucked away in my ankle holster then." He looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I'm serious or not and then said, "Okay, back to the question." We then proceeded to discuss the reason he had come in there (to ask me a question about something on the drawings).
Keep in mind that I had worked with this guy for a year and had earned his respect as a hard worker who gets my job done (and then some).
By the way, I did NOT have anything tucked away in an ankle holster that day...and if I did then I wouldn't have said what I did.
newfalguy101
Member
I dont know what yoiu do for a living, but it seems to me you should be more concerned about getting busted for goofing off while on company time (unless of course looking at guns on your puter IS your job)
Unless the guy is a total flake about guns, which I spect YOU would already know, the wasting of company time will be more of an issue.
Unless the guy is a total flake about guns, which I spect YOU would already know, the wasting of company time will be more of an issue.
Radagast
Member
Cosmoline, todays news has shown you are right.
The Australian Govt. is trying to bring in detention without charge and no recourse to the courts.
Trying to one up the government, the oposition leader has called for police to have the power to do house to house searchs and lock down entire suburbs.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...olice-free-hand/2005/09/25/1127586747223.html
The Australian Govt. is trying to bring in detention without charge and no recourse to the courts.
Trying to one up the government, the oposition leader has called for police to have the power to do house to house searchs and lock down entire suburbs.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...olice-free-hand/2005/09/25/1127586747223.html
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