Why should he? The balance is provided by the range of positive and negative posts.

By the way, having a totally balanced view in a single post imparts little emotion. Some people want to understand the passion that drives people to either like or dislike a place. And, unlike many people on this site, Kong has lived in Oz and can claim experience.

As for the 'cut and paste' articles - again, so what? The articles provide information. The fact that Kong didn't write them doesn't invalidate them.

After all, it's not as if every single post on this forum is full of penetrating insights.

And your point is? That I may see the error of my ways in 3 years 8 months time and return to the land Down Under? What low brow rot. I'm sure we both agree that 2+2 = 4; there the similarity ends....mate.

I think he was implying his reasons for leaving aus were the same mike, not, that you shall find the error of your ways.

just how i read it, that's all.

Paul.

Agree to some extent Mike, but think there is a balance to be acheived.

If I had been posting here 20 odd years ago I would have been the female Kong but from the opposite side (ie OZ is great UK stinks) I would have been so negative about UK everybody would have put me on their ignore list.

Now with more years experience behind me I can honestly say there are positive and negatives about both countries.

Even though I am thrilled to be home there are things I miss about UK (also about France, Italy, Norway, Germany, Hungary, Czech, Turkey, UAE, Saudi, Singapore, Tiawan, (even China ) et al. Even countries I have only been on holiday in I miss certain things) Even OZ I have certain negatives about !!!!!!!!! :scared: The only country I can honestly say I wouldn't have negatives about is Tahiti. Although even thats not true cos I wouldnt be able to afford to live there without a job and for my profession that would be difficult.

Again, why is the balance required? This amounts to censorship - who are you (or I) to censor posts in this way? If someone makes a statement that a reader doesn't agree with, they can post their disagreement or ignore it.

12 years ago I felt very positively about Oz : if this forum had been around (along with the www), my posts would have been very supportive of Oz. Well, now my views have changed. And, ironically, the main reason I am critical of it is because of the negative comments posted about UK compared with Oz.

But, I defend other posters' rights to post comments I don't like and vice versa.

The balance is required IMHO to make the info more believable.

If 20 odd years ago I had said "the UK stinks", that would have been a valid opinion from MY perspecitve but most peeps living in UK would not have believed me.

Now cos I can say I have lived / worked in 14 countries (and if you add in holidays I can comment on 38 countries) and the UK is not the be all and end all (its not even the anywhere near the best although there are thing I miss about it) It gives IMO more validity to my opinion. I'm not just comparing 2 countries - I'm comparing many.

Now when I say I wouldnt go back to UK if you paid me a fortune, its a fully considered opinion, rather than a "I like here, there was horrible" opinion.


edited for spelling errors and to say .....
for every country I have been in there are things I miss and positive and negatives. Unless you can see the negatives you cant appreciate the positives. Unless you can see the positives you cant sympathise with the negatives.

Unless you are very old indeed, it doesn't sound like you've lived anywhere long enough to form a valid opinion!

Not counting the holidays!!!

Minimum 12 months in each country !!!!! (more time than Kong spent in OZ so if he's valid I'm valid)

Yep guess I'm old

edited to say ....
(oops forgot, France was only 9 months )

It's cool to get both sides, of that we agree. But kong's side is shit like OMFG, Australia is horrible! OMFG there's sunshine, hot weather, snakes , spiders, et al, ad anon everywhere! Everyone is a redneck! Everyone is parochial!!! Everyone is named Bruce and Sheila!

So, Mike, hopefully you can fly the flag of reasonable arguments 'cos your mate kong definitely isn't.

It's more like News of the World from him.

Totally right

PJ

I have a skeleton key and if I want to lock threads I will

Personally I'd lock Kong, Mike Stanton and Dotty in a soundproofed padded cell until they lose their totally patronising and contrascending ways.

Better make the cell comfy as they will still be there after we have all been, gone, come back or whatever we decide is right for us.

The real shame is they all have a lot to contribute but fail in the delivery. It's like a postbag with a hole in the bottom.

Yes there are negatives but I much prefer to hear them from the likes of HP, Pants, Janeray. They know a lot of the negatives are down to personal perception and experience and say it that way. Still nice to have the warning that it may happen to us though. Keep it up girls.


Disclaimer:
It is just a coicidence that I cite 3 females. There is no sexism intended.

That's very kind of you. One day, we may all be able to make very pertinent observations like yours.

For example, I particularly appreciated your incredibly sharp insight into

...hold on a minute, it was...um..

...hold on an hour...I'm sure it was something

...hold on a month...

I am shocked you do not remember my pasty recipe Mike.

You heard of the chaos theory ? It goes something like when a butterfly flaps it's wings in one country the culminating effect may be a thunderstorm the other side of the world.

It's all about forces and balance really.
You see when you post the chaos theory kicks in and without knowing why I post something lighthearted to balance up.

Perhaps you could check out Polly's thread about her pc.
You are so full of static you obviously need a good discharge.

The thing that causes the problem is a build up of positive ions and a good way to cure it is to jump in the lake. The negative ions around water help to relax. I live by the sea and work by a stream so am usually "chilled" out. I think you must live under one of those big electricity pylons.

Anyway I digress.
I do believe you have important information and experience to share with this forum. It's just a real shame you are such a prat in the way you deliver it.

Unfortunately you are similar to the boy who cried wolf. Because of your disdainful attitude toward other people no-one ends up listening to you.

IMO you need a bit of Monty Python attitude "always look on the bright side of life".

Blah, blah, blah... I do like your consistency : lots of words and very little value. Still, like I said before, I defend anybody's right to post - even (sigh) yours.

That's a tough one!!!