>>One of the more interesting things I learned from the pair was that
>>the phenomenon of the Tasmanian cultural cringe meant that media
>>attention could be got simply by bringing someone from interstate
>>or overseas to say the same thing as a local would be ignored
>>saying, but that someone from outside would be more likely to be
>>listened to. As they explained it, in Tasmania an "expert" is
>>defined as anyone with a suitcase in his hand!
>
>Ha. When Liza & I were in Hobart in July 2001, we were greeted as
>exotics, who'd come all the way from New York! We'd left our
>suitcases back at the casino hotel, but still, I know what you mean.
Not QUITE as bad these days as it was 20 years ago. But still there.
We will hang on your every word, secretly hoping you'll deign to say something complimentary, or even tell us what we have to do to gain your approval. Its an Australia-wide phenomenon, but much more pronounced in Tasmania because its an isolated backwater even by Australian standards.
Tell me a Tasmanian in New York would get the same treatment. <:-) My daughter just arrived there today, will she be able to command the attention of the mass media, assigned the status of honorary "expert" on international affairs, by dint of being in possession of a back-pack? We expect reciprocal treatment you realise? ;-)
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas