Magnum

I started this thread over on the USA forum and it went a little off topic

Anyway, same question for Aus, which is :-

I think most would agree that the UK is a Nanny State and getting more Nannyish* by the year.

How does Austrailia compare in terms of Nannydom*? Is there much state to state variation?

No offence to real Nannys

* these may not be real words but you get my drift

NKSK version 2

I quite like nanny states in that they do a lot to stop individuals acting so selfishly and ruining the lives of others..

Bordy

Go & sit on the naughty step for asking such a dumb question.

Magnum

Not a dumb question, I really don't know how much of a Nanny state Aus is. I hope not much

Wendy

Has he got a licence to do that

Bordy

I'm just not keen on threads with "Aus V UK" in the title.

Tableland

Everywhere is a little Nannisized now; it's the price we pay for regulated standards, etc. But Euronanny is much more scary than Aussienanny. I read your post on US Magnum - you want to retire in Australia?

Amazulu

Australia is the ultimate nanny state.

Wol

Absolutely.

I was listening to the car radio the other day: there was an interview with a lady who IIRC has been a prison governor and head teacher, among other things. What she said made a lot of sense: she says that one of the reasons for the explosion of Australian gratuitous violence, vandalism etc is just that: the nenny state.

Children in particular are now so "protected" - think pools ruined by fences, 40kph outside schools, parents walking 12 year-olds to school, parents funding childrens' credit cards, buying them cars and then replacements etc etc - that they (and the boys in particular) reach "maturity" never having been exposed to risk and the consequences of taking risk.

They then try unconciously to catch up with the risk factor but with no conception that they can get hurt or hurt others by irresponsible behaviour.

No doubt I'll get flamed for this - questioning any "protective" measures is nowadays the equivalent of enjoying pulling the legs off small babies....

GaryVFR8s_Wife

Personally I agree with you Wol.

I remember at the age of 6 or so walking home from school. I knew about stranger Danger, I knew not to get in cars with people offering lifts (even in the P*ssing down rain) and I knew that actions had consequences.

Unfortunately these days, both in Australia and the UK the youth don't have boundaries. Their parents don't seem to think twice about sticking up for them when they've done something wrong (i've found this very much so living here in the UK, one good reason I want to get back home to Australia) the police can't do anything anymore to pull them into line, and teachers aren't allowed to give a 5 year old a cuddle when they get a scratch on their knees.

It's a shame really, I know my two nephews are young and one of them turned to his dad and said "dad that pond doesn't have a sign saying deep water, that means i can go in it" in fact it was incredibly deep. Obviously his father pointed this out, but it just goes to show what sort of things go through their heads, if it's not written down or spoon fed these days (like pretty much everything is) they don't think of it. People don't seem to be able to use common sense anymore. And to be honest, I blame the ambulance chasers!

So if you're going to get flamed Wol, i'm getting flammed with you!

Wol

OK! Who's going to burn with us!

Swerv-o

Count me in!

S

wavy_davy

That's the first step to accepting the principles of Neo-conservatism, are you sure?

007

I'm not sure if we as a society are the worst nanny state, but I know alot of Aussies like rules. Most of them either enjoy making them or enforcing them- even if they're not in a position of authority to do so.

A gripe of mine is on the road, if you pull out of a side street, an oncoming motorist 100 m away will actually speed up dramatically to make it seem like you pulled out unsafely. They will make it look like a near miss and beep their horn to try and tell you that were wrong, when you weren't, there was plenty of time if they weren't speeing. Some people just feel the need to be right and to tell you that you're wrong. **** off.

Personally I don't care much for rules that are trivial and make no sense.

Swerv-o

I've noticed that. For a country that prides itself on being laid back and relaxed, a lot of people here certainly are sticklers for rules and regulations - often ones that make no sense. Maybe this is what happens when you get over-regulation and continual interference from too many layers of government seeking to justify their existence...

S