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mattyb · May 9, 2008, 05:00 AM

Life must be pretty tough for you guys and girls at the moment.

OreoCookie · May 9, 2008, 05:12 AM

I'm not an Austrian, but why should life be hard for our friends in the 17th state?

mattyb · May 9, 2008, 05:46 AM

Recently the second of two rather sordid cases of women being held captive in cellars for years has come to light. The first was awful, the second is depravity defined.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Judge to rule on Fritzl custody

BBC NEWS | Europe | Kampusch speaks out on abuse case

Not sure what is meant by referring to Austria as the 17th state.

Peter · May 9, 2008, 06:16 AM

the entire country? whats the big deal.
I wonder how americans feel what with all the crime there.

analogika · May 9, 2008, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

our friends in the 17th state?

philm · May 9, 2008, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

Life must be pretty tough for you guys and girls at the moment.

Err, not really. There are freako weird things going on everywhere, so it hardly makes things any 'tougher' for the average Austrian.

As for the 'states' gag, Germany has 16 Länder, and there are historical, err, precedents why Austria might be considered as number 17.

The Godfather · May 9, 2008, 07:24 AM

The 3G iPhone will be released first in Austria. I think they are feeling completely ecstatic in their situation.

mattyb · May 9, 2008, 07:26 AM

Well I learn something everyday.

When two events happen within months of each other, in the same country, with a population of about 9 million (I Googled) there tends to be a collective 'WTF is up with the XXXians'. At least that is my perception. I'm not sure what news sites others visit, but the actions of Fritzl are straight in at number 1 on my list of freako weird things.

ctt1wbw · May 9, 2008, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Peter

the entire country? whats the big deal.
I wonder how americans feel what with all the crime there.

It's not that bad, man. Probably not as bad as say, Beirut, or the Congo.

moonmonkey · May 9, 2008, 08:16 AM

No, but I have been to New Zealand. it was closed.

moep · May 9, 2008, 09:14 AM

I can assure you that I'm just as disgusted by these two incest cases as everyone else in the world is, but why would people judge me or my country by the acts of these two monsters?
Does the world suspect that the cellars of every Austrian citizen is filled with a secondary families?

mattyb · May 9, 2008, 09:41 AM

QUOTE : but why would people judge me or my country by the acts of these two monsters?

I don't judge a whole country by the actions of even a large minority of the population. I didn't even mean that Austrians should hang their heads in shame or any such nonsense. What I meant to put across was that it must be tough as an Austrian when something like this has happened twice in the space of a few months.

No offense was meant and I apologise if anyone was offended. Have a good weekend.

BRussell · May 9, 2008, 09:56 AM

I've seen estimates that 18.4% of all Austrians are being held in basements.

badidea · May 9, 2008, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by moep

Does the world suspect that the cellars of every Austrian citizen is filled with a secondary families?

In that case the population of 9 million should be re-counted...

analogika · May 9, 2008, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by BRussell

I've seen estimates that 18.4% of all Austrians are being held in basements.

That's the Belgians, not Austrians.