Has Dobbing become a new cultural phenomenon in Australia?

Commentary

An interesting side effect of COVID-19, which is largely lost in the avalanche of information and disinformation surrounding the vaccine debate, is that more and more Australians are reporting to police alleged violations of public health orders. ..

There is no doubt that the pandemic has accelerated the “dobuin” (also known as snitching) tendency for alleged violations of COVID restrictions, blockades, and border closures, which are being created and implemented on the advice of state political leaders. Chief Medical Officer.

We just need to see a remarkable increase in the number of complaints authorities have received following recent protests against the blockade in Sydney — New South Wales police have received more than 20,000 tip-offs.

Of course, this phenomenon is not new.

December 9, 2002, Sydney Morning Herald We have released a provocative work called “New Culture of Dobbing”.

Australia becomes “Dover’s Paradise” at the end of 20 years^NS In the century, it’s unthinkable to dove in your neighbors and you’ll be “not aggressively Australian”. But today, the general public is “attacked by offers to direct informants to fellow citizens.”

Since then, stricter environmental management rules, partially promoted by the global warming movement, have driven people who are deemed to have violated these new standards and regulations.

In the process, it has become common for individuals to observe each other more carefully, such as dumping trash on sidewalks, dumping trash on bushes, wasting water, and dropping cigarette butts.

On December 23, 2009, the Tasmanian newspaper The Mercury provided world-class information on “Dover’s Country” and “Dover’s Country” where Australia preys on tax evaders and “welfare mobs, criminals, trash bugs and water spenders.” Insisted that he became a “person.” “

This trend is gaining momentum, with many institutions introducing hotlines for people to register complaints.

For example, the New South Wales Police website allows you to file a complaint online. Organizations such as the Federal Department of Health and Ad Standards also have dedicated websites for people who complain to their neighbors.

In addition, many hotlines allow you to file complaints anonymously. On some hotlines, if you can convict a presumed malicious person, you get a fair amount of money in return.

Most people were probably victims of snitching during their career and life.

Having worked at various universities for over 40 years, I know directly, not uncommonly, that even prominent professors are crazy about it.

For example, a junior colleague reported a professor to university managers, saying he dared to offer paid lectures at various universities without asking for permission. Often, these complaints include “evidence” of lectures taken online.

Such cases usually violate the university’s blunt ethical code of conduct and always lead to disciplinary action or further disciplinary action.

The development of Dobuin culture is worried for a variety of reasons. Therefore, it is necessary to consider whether this culture is non-Australian. How does this development affect Australia’s “mateship” philosophy?

Australia inherited the verb “date of birth” from the United Kingdom. But before the 1950s, the term was rarely used. Probably because it was considered non-Australian to dove in a neighbor. This is a tradition that dates back to the time of conviction.

Bruce Moore, in a informative article on the title “The story of’Birthday'” Explained that this phrase was used in an English dialect in 19^NS The century has several meanings, one of which was “sinning” or “providing information.”

In Australian society, it has long been taboo to ditch people, especially peers, and more generally anyone. This is probably related to the fact that such dobuins are usually against “authority” and therefore contrary to strong anti-authoritarian sources in the Australian spirit. It also goes against the concept of mateship and fair go.

Moore’s account of the origins of British gutters may remind readers of Donald Horn’s iconic book.Lucky country, Published in 1964. Horn argued that “Australia is a lucky country run primarily by second-class people who share good luck,” controversial.

In 1976, in his follow-up, “Lucky country death“Horn explained. The phrase “lucky country” comes from “luck of its historical origin,” and the Australians explained that it was “just in line with some British customs.”

I really wonder what motivates people to promote the development of a new Dobuin culture. Is it jealousy of success, or is it Tall Poppy Syndrome, which denies the right of those who enjoy benefits that are not available to others?

Or is there a growing sense of responsibility among citizens to drive people to inform others who are allegedly trying to navigate an ever-growing list of regulations?

In any case, apparently, this kind of behavior is considered non-Australian, and even to the extent that it conflicts with the ideals of dating and rugged individualism, the sewage culture is endemic.

Gabriël A. Moens is an emeritus professor at the University of Queensland and was the Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Murdoch University. He published the novel “ATwisted Choice” on the origin of COVID-19 disease and recently published the short story “The Greedy Prospector” in the short story anthology, The Outback (Boolarong Press, 2021).

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.