Has anyone from Melbourne ever found a reason to pick up a Lonely Planet travel guide on their very own city? According to the latest guide Melbourne is racist to the point of needing to be mentioned in this widely read and internationally circulating publication. It also said that we are obsessed with money and sport. This is what people will be reading in 30 countries within the next month or so.

This is a classic case of a bunch of bogans ruining things for everyone. Yes, Melbourne is home to a large number of idiots - or larrikins as some people like to call them. “Boys will be boys” (and/or girls) as their Mums say.

You can get a punch in the eye for knocking someone’s football team, or for falling asleep during a cricket match. The money comment really puzzles me though. I guess the author of the guide never went to Sydney or Brisbane where the value of your house is your passport to a greater life.

The most amusing thing about the bad review of Melbourne to me is that the Lonely Planet head office is in Footscray, an inner suburb of Melbourne.

To get some perspective, I tried to compare to places I know and I think that we have a pretty tolerant and welcoming place in leafy green Melbourne. When I was in a couple of Asian countries, particularly around South East Asia, I saw all sorts of racism and segregation manifesting itself in many forms from employment opportunities to whether or not you would be served in a shop. New Zealand had some similar issues, and lets not even start on the USA. From what I have heard, the UK is pretty rough too.

I guess I am just feeling a little protective of sunny Melbourne. I am born and bred, white and (relatively) middle class, so maybe the racism and shallowness is shielded from me by the protective wall afforded me by privilege.

Who needs tourists anyway? Drinking my coffee and eating my lunch, wearing loud shirts and taking photos of my streets. Bastards.

Perceptions that Australia is a Racist country