# Nationality oxymorons **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591 "2002-07-30T20:31:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/1 "2002-07-30T20:31:21Z")
Seeing that news story about the Australian scramjet test prompted the thought, “There are Australian scientists?” Then, there are other “oxymorons” I can think of with regard to other nationalities: Swiss passion. Italian organization. German impulsiveness. Others? Try to keep it nonoffensive. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/2 "2002-07-30T22:35:17Z")
Dutch generosity. We’re cheaper than Jocks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/3 "2002-07-31T02:02:55Z")
Irish Sobriety. 😃 Oooh…I got one: Polish Intelligence!!! (Hey-I’m Polish!) ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/4 "2002-07-31T02:19:50Z")
Argentine humilty Scotch extravagance Norwegian comedian Nigerian winter Reserved Texan ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/5 "2002-07-31T02:38:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cardinal \* > \*\*Italian organization. > > \*\* I thought there was a very well know Italian organization…the name of which I am forbiden to mention… ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/6 "2002-07-31T02:40:01Z")
British cuisine. Canadian aggressiveness. Meek New Yorker (as long as **cuate** is including Am. states). ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/7 "2002-07-31T03:27:45Z")
Well, that Italian group referred to didn’t exactly distinguish itself on the world stage of ruthless organization/effecient domination. So, Coldie, you won’t be offended if I continue to refer to “going Dutch?” ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/8 "2002-07-31T03:27:46Z")
I hate to be a killjoy, especially after a mod has contributed, but this thread is IMNSHO nasty, rascist and offensive. I wasn’t aware that Australians were dumb, the Swiss were passionless, the Italians unorganised and the Germans not given to impulsiveness. Now, while I don’t really know any Germans, all the Swiss and Italians that I know do not fit your stereotype, so I feel safe in assuming that the Germans don’t either. And my Dutch husband is the most generous person I know (and the other Dutch I’ve met haven’t been at all ungenerous, either) I guess I should go ahead and quit my degree, since obviously Aussies aren’t able to have a BSc. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/9 "2002-07-31T03:56:13Z")
Careful, **Goo**. Someone’s bound to pipe up with Humourless Australian. 😉 How about this? Well-educated American. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/10 "2002-07-31T03:59:18Z")
:: sigh :: I meant, of course, Humorous Australian. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/11 "2002-07-31T04:32:23Z")
Come on, **Goo**! You had your chance and blew it! The “black box,” the atomic spectrograph (sp), the photocopier, Vegemite, the Hills Hoist, etc., are all Aussie inventions used around the world these days. Then again, I think the best Aussie oxymoron right now are the Australian Democrats. Natasha’s reign of the psuedo-Labor party is finished. After my years in Oz, the quinessential oxymoron for me is the Lazy Australian. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/12 "2002-07-31T04:34:55Z")
Sad that us Aussies think that in many ways our greatest contribution to the world has been in the area’s of science. I’m off to find links. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/13 "2002-07-31T05:04:48Z")
Case 1: [Cochlear Implant](http://www.cochlear.com/NewToCochlear/161.asp) Case 2: [Sleep Apnea Research](http://www.atse.org.au/publications/focus/focus-barnes.htm) Case 3: [Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research](http://www.wehi.edu.au/research/index.html) Case Closed. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/14 "2002-07-31T06:06:10Z")
IMHO, more care should be used when dabbling with nationalistic stereotypes than evidenced by the OP. It’s an interesting idea for a thread, but I feel it could enforce negative attitudes toward those who aren’t our countrymen. Had the OP used as the opening “oxymoron” Kiwi Scientists, I would have been offended too. Then I would have done precisely as **leechbabe** has done (good on yer, **leechbabe**.) Fun is fun – until it offends. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/15 "2002-07-31T06:18:49Z")
Jeez, people. It really just is a joke, really. Most jokes are pretty much at someone’s expense to some degree. I just meant the kind of “joshing” that most have been doing here. I don’t think we’re quite so sensitive as all that, are we? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/16 "2002-07-31T06:30:24Z")
Maybe some are. I don’t know, I just don’t take offense at the “educated American” in this kind of context. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/17 "2002-07-31T06:32:47Z")
**Cardinal** this is a joke: Why are elephants big and grey and hairy? – Because if they were small and white and smooth, they would be asprin. Thanks to max torque for this great joke Your OP was not funny it was offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/18 "2002-07-31T06:34:46Z")
The true use of oxymorons in language isn’t offensive, eg. “cheerful pessimist”. Adding on nationalistic tags opens up a whole new can o’ worms. I don’t think you started out to be offensive though, **cardinal** , but that’s how it turned out to some eyes. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/19 "2002-07-31T06:45:29Z")
okay **Wolfie** I see you there pouring oil on troubled waters and I am willing to admit that **Cardinal** may not have set out to be offensive. Unfortunately for him/her I was offended. Maybe a nice mod. could come along and shut this thread down to save others being offended also. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591/20 "2002-07-31T06:48:37Z")
Try sending an email to them, **leechbabe**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationality-oxymorons/121591.md?page=2)