A social media user complained about the country’s constant recognition ceremonies before meetings on a forum for civil servants.

“Anyone else tired of the country recognition before every meeting? they shared on the AusPublic Reddit service.

“I have several meetings a day and at each of them someone recognizes the country.

“It seems ridiculous at this point and it’s a waste of time. I have to look away so as not to roll my eyes. How do you feel hearing this 5-6 times a day? »

Most of those who commented said they were tired of this practice.

“We need to open our team meetings with this. This seems superficial and fake,” one person wrote.

‘Yes. It’s unnecessary and offensive,” was another response.

“Everyone knows it’s just empty talk at this point. I don’t know who is supposed to be cheating,” said another.

A common objection was that it had little practical effect.

Recognition of country rituals honors tradition owners (photo of a welcome to country ceremony)

“Indigenous Australians need action, not token words,” was the most sustained comment on the thread.

“I know a guy who got an exemption from local elders so he wouldn’t have to say it at official events,” another response recounted.

“His reasoning was that it was purely symbolic and he didn’t think it would help local communities.

“The elders agreed with him and (gave him) written support.

“The social justice warriors’ heads nearly exploded when he informed the organization that he would no longer do it, but there was nothing they could do given his exemption. Pretty funny stuff.

However, this practice had some defenders.

“I have no problem with this, but sometimes I felt like it was trivialized,” one Reddit user wrote.

“Then a few years ago I did one before I did a workshop and during lunch one of the guys in the room, an older indigenous man, came up and said he appreciated him.

A Reddit user complained that his workplace sends a receipt for every meeting (stock image shown).

“Since then, I’ve felt good about doing it. Maybe a lot of people are bored, but for some, they might find meaning in it.”

Another Reddit user said a former workplace “had a culture of doing good.”

“Everyone who spoke it researched the country they were in, then associated it with a fact, a bit of history, culture that they had learned, or incorporated something of “native to the presentation we were making,” the user commented.

“This carried over to smaller meetings as well.

“It is entirely possible to make it an authentic and positive experience for everyone. And it’s important to our First Nations people that we maintain this pace.

Others condemned the thread.

“Like, get over it,” one person responded.

“Hard pill to swallow: this country is so racist. The topic of this thread is ridiculous. And these are people from the civil service!

Although the original poster insisted that this was done before every meeting at one’s workplace, this was not everyone’s experience.

“Honestly, it seems like a lot has died down at my agency since the Voice vote failed,” one Reddit user wrote.

One person took a more pragmatic approach.

“If they continue to pay me to assist them, I will stay there for as long as they can make,” they wrote.

“Especially when food is provided.”