[kpingitquiet]

A comment on social media made me wonder, do Aussie men have a reputation for being unromantic? Is it true in your experience? To whom are they being compared? Do you really care at all? Maybe Aussie women are unromantic, too?




To answer my own questions:

I have no idea, hence the topic.
No more or less so than with anyone else.
In my head, lots of Americans, a Canadian or two, a handful of Brits, and a Frenchman.
A little, yes. I like romance of a non-cheesy variety.
I'm not one so I have no idea!

[niggles]

Not in my mind but I don't generally trust those kinds of generalisations. Romance is a little subjective anyway. There are some kinds of romance I would not welcome at all.

[Saecularis Angel...]

I think they do have that reputation, a bit. I don't have a wide experience, but what I notice is that the Australian culture as a whole is very practical and down-to-earth. Things like spending money on flowers can seem like a waste when the flowers just die (something my DH said once; I thought he was spectacularly missing the point).

I also wonder if it's a bit of a class thing. The grand romantic gestures surely were something done by men with leisure time and money, more than the working class guys who struggled to earn a living?

I think sometimes it's nice to be spoiled, just because. Made to feel special. Mostly in a happy marriage I don't think it's a big deal, but occasionally it can niggle.

[F1widow]

Not in my mind but I don't generally trust those kinds of generalisations. Romance is a little subjective anyway. There are some kinds of romance I would not welcome at all.

This.
I don't think "Aussie men" are anything.
Why must we do this to ourselves? You can't put people into a neat category based on sex, age, nationality, religion and its in very poor taste to try.

This post has been edited by F1widow: 14/02/2013, 05:37 PM

[LynnyP]

Quite possibly but romantic as defined by many is not appealing to me.

Adoration, objectification and pampering by expensive gifts is not my cup of tea.

Talking to me about things I find interesting, giving me space when I want it, touching me with respect and love on a daily basis - thats romantic.

But I am quite happy to compromise about a suprise trip to Paris.

[mad madam mim]

Some people are some people aren't, I don't think DH and I are very romantic, more like horny teenagers that will do what they have to to get the job done lol.

[sa5ha]

I don't think they have a reputation for being particularly romantic or unromantic in my mind.

Perhaps if you go with the idea of "an Aussie guy" being a bit of a Crocodile Dundee style bogan that stereotype might be valid.

But as far as the men I know - my fiance, my friends spouses and my male family members - I'd say they're a very romantic bunch.

[Bek+3]

No idea because my DH is English. What I do know is that if he bought me flowers I'd kill him... what a waste of money!!

[WinterDancesHere]

No idea because my DH is English. What I do know is that if he bought me flowers I'd kill him... what a waste of money!!

I see flowers as a waste of money as well.

5 hours ago I would have said DH is as unromantic as they come, but he came home from work today, a little bit late, with a bunch of flowers he had made himself. When he finished work he went around his worksite, and for a bit of a bushwalk to find them for me.

It's been a rough weekand I was very happily surprised!

[kpingitquiet]

I don't think "Aussie men" are anything.
Why must we do this to ourselves? You can't put people into a neat category based on sex, age, nationality, religion and its in very poor taste to try.

Oh I agree! I didn't even know there was a stereotype on this which is what prompted me to ask. After all, I've only ever been involved with one Aussie dude so figured maybe I was missing something.

I think sa5ha might be on to something with the Crocodile Dundee thing. Maybe a stoic outdoorsy stereotype strikes people as unromantic? I dunno. I married a semi-outdoorsy geek so meh.

I love getting flowers... but only the kind I can transplant