MikeStanton

Can't speak for your experiences, but I'm really enjoying being back in UK. I live and work near London and haven't seen this negativity you mention. Of course, some of the papers are full of "Yob Britain" and "Drunks", because bad news sells.

Remember, the press is so concentrated (few owners) in Oz, that the bad news does not need to be publicised. Competition in Oz; what's that?

I have been back in UK one year and I have heard rowdy yobs once. In Sydney, I used to hear some drunken/drugged-up fuc*wits every night. It just didn't make the papers.

In the UK the media and people tend to overstate the problems and in Oz they understate them (which is why they can turn a blind eye to their human rights' abuses).

Bluebristolian

The more Guardian readers that stay in the UK the better.

Badge

Quite a nice post.

Mike it depends on where you live. As that professional that you are, with the pounds in the bank you earnt in Sydney, you can probably afford to live in a good area of London - as I can afford to live in a good area of Melbourne with my pounds.

Remember you gravitate to a level within your own means. You find your own level.

If you lived in parts of South London you might just change your tune. Drunken idiots - much has been made of how loud certain tourist spots get in Sydney's E beaches - the recent Manly thread - well of course - its a mecca for young people, backpackers and nightlife. If you lived in Leicester Square you might have a different story to tell.

I love Australia - you love England - but you tend to ridicule and cajoule as a result..and sometimes you meet your match...flinging insults at wombat42 does not make you any cleverer than him...

Mike, you are perceptive, and your analysis is based on some sort of thought and reason not conjecture, and there is probably a basis for your theories somewhere, but you do seem very quick to rush in to them as being conclusive, and all encompassing.

Incidentally, I find it refreshing that people like Merlot - and there are a few others - who are now realising that both countries have something to offer...or, dare I say it, starting to realise that Australia is not so bad after all(!) ..OK I am biased - I happen to believe that Australians are more positive in the way I admire....whilst British people are often positive in their own way - I do prefer the Australian version as it is more 'universal' in spirit ..but I am not going to bully or ridicule over it.

cheers

Badge

Badge

For what it's worth, I think Aussies complain as much as Brits, but they tend to be better at putting it in perspective, and then getting on with it...one of my favourites is "Aussies complain, English whinge". (I heard it once)

It's also the WAY it's done. When an Aussie speaks of Whinging Poms, this is an unfortunate term from over a generation ago when it was probably true. It's all a bit of a bore now. Australians can take whiners and whingers, what they can't stand is whining without a focus, without a point (who doesn't). Perhaps, (I emphasise perhaps), English people (and I'm talking about the worst) will whinge, and skulk, an Aussie will whinge but then pull themselves out of it, perhaps with a witty or philisophical comment. Either way I do not wish to bully or cajoule with this theory. It is a theory that could apply to anyone or any national.

I know a very well spoken, highly connected, well educated Melbournian who has European written all over her. She is more English than many Enlgish peopke I know. She lived in London for years. She has travelled extensively and is self-critical and aware and discerning.

I find her so intriguing that I asked her about the differences between Brits and Aussies. I thought - "this answer will be good". This highly-balanced, high-brow Australian didn't hesitate; she said that Aussies seemed to be go-getters, they tended to get on with things, (it was quite clear she did not mean this in the brash American sense, but in the philosophical way).

BM

kirsty&al

And I thought it was because the world owed them a living!

Regards
Alistair

MikeStanton

Relax, your safe.

TheCrone

I read the Guardian.....and the Daily Mail. And for extra perspective, the New York Times and The Australian. While for non-mainstream news, Witchvox is always a good read.............

MikeStanton

As soon as I meet him/her, you'll be the second to know.

Quinkana

Boots shrinking again?

kirsty&al

What! Because they are not using big words inappropriately (Indy) or because of the misspellings (Gruaniad)

Regards
Alistair

MikeStanton

Badge,

Normally you restrict yourself to naive ramblings, like something out of an old (is there any other kind?) Chips Raffety film:when men were men and sheep were worried. But that last sentence of yours ..."witty or philosphical comment" is just plain rubbish. Or does it go something like this in Oz:

"Eh mate, pass a stubby,but. It's a funny ol' life, innit. Sometimes I recall the writings of Jean-Paul Sartre and Nietzsche and I think... Wait a min, mate...Talk about Ubermensch, look at the norks on that!"

...as if.

As much as you love to wax lyrical about the so-called Aussie identity, most of it is wishful thinking.

MikeStanton

No. Who knows, perhaps you could learn something from reading these papers? You might learn, for example, that there is no hyphen in "Duo orbis".

kirsty&al

Didn't Jean-Paul Sartre live in hell because all of his friends were French? And wasn't Nietzsche booked once too often (http://modrzew.stopklatka.pl/intermecz1.html)?

Alistair

kirsty&al

Oh the irony of it all
Sorry mike but they didn't have motorbikes in Roman times, therefore it is pig-latin

Regards
Alistair

pako

to all the trolls on this thread..you need to lighten up