Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

This site at times can be so helpful to people but at other times the answers are negative.

Can you not remember back to when you wanted to migrate to Australia and wanted lots of information and help - I can think back at times sitting in the UK reading this site worrying at some of the answers..........

Surprise, surprise......... you can live 4 hours inland and cope quite well with the infrastructure and all it has to offer it's not the 'outback'; you can live in Perth, a beautiful city and love it; you can live on $80k; you can live on one wage; you can buy a house and acreage for $300,000 in a nice area; you can buy lettuce cheaply and so on.........

Whilst realising it is a forum and therefor opinions will vary...........For goodness sake try and just give unbiased helpful advice and then let people research for themselves and make informed decisions based on their situation and what is right for their family......maybe think before you post and just remember back to when it was you wanting advice and help. :thumbsup:

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Sometimes though the most honest and factual answer is a negative one. Personally, when I was researching I appreciated the negative just as much as the positive.

It's more a matter of delivery than content imo.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Judging by some questions that come up, there's quite a lot of people who don't seem to do much (if any) research of their own.

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I think people do? :confused:

By definition, people will give advice based on their own experience. How can someone who cannot even dream let alone afford a $1M plus inner suburb house give advice on just that subject? Some on here are doing very well, others are not. The reality is, Australia has dramatically changed over the last few years and is moving ever closer to a nation of two halves, sadly the have and have nots.
It can be tough for migrants now what with exchange rates, the jobs market, house prices etc.
Its NOT what it was 4 years ago.

I think thats the reason for the change in "tempo" not the posters themselves.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Indeed

Since moving here three years ago, myself and my wife have lost about 40% of our various incomes from the UK (on exchange rate changes).

Fortunately we are still pretty well off but if I had known this was going to happen then we may have reconsidered.

There are just the two of us so I dread to think what it would be like for a family on an 'average" income.

I have just returned from a long trip to the UK and realise that we would be far better off there at the moment but are unable to move because of complicated family circumstances.

There is some compensation in that the stirling value of the money we brought with us has increased massively:thumbup:

To point all the changes and problems out to people is not being negative.....for the most part it should be seen as being helpful albeit not what people want to hear.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

This is just a personal feeling so please don’t hammer me to a wall and throw rocks at me, but I think many of the people on BE are in some way still connected with the old country – after all it is a British Expats site not a New Australians site.

Expatriates are defined as being “a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country”.

This tends to make them in some ways biased in comments, opinions or thoughts. I railed against the Australia bashing at first, until I thought it through and understood it. Now I pity people who find themselves somewhere that they don’t want to be.

On the other hand some potential migrants just do not seem to understand the magnitude of the undertaking, and think it will be a walk in the park. I think migrating to Australia probably knocks 5 years out of your life financially and socially.

Going back to the UK probably knocks a further 2 years off you financially. Socially you are probably ok, your old friends would welcome you back.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

The internet was not Up and Running when we migrated to Aus and in some ways that was a blessing as we found "our own way around" and made "our own mistakes" and learnt from that...well most of the time..lol...whenever asked for help with migration at times I was loathed to offer advice as I did not want to sway people with what happened along our journey...but I certainly offered (only when asked lol) with help about Centrelink, tax file numbers, temp accommodation...I would not say as you have "yes you can live etc...etc...or live on blar....blar....blar...." because each to earn their own...for one I could not live km's away from Perth CBD....and I know my friend laugh's at suggestions of living on 80,000 per year....that's peanuts to her lifestyle.lol....As for 100% positivity...well that's a perfect world and alas not a true world....me..well I always encourage people to do what they want in life and I try not to be biased....not always easy...lol..but I try. Good luck to anyone who wants to try something different, you only live once.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Everyone is different with different ideas and values not to mention circumstances.

Whilst I like what some may call negative replies it does give you a valued opinion that not everything is rosie. Your are never going to get all the posters to agree on any subject and that's a fact.

Something that may cut down the negativity maybe be more stickies on various subjects as this will give a balanced outlook of both positive and negative.

To name a few that would have helped me would be Lafha and Tax files.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

The Mods often consider the "sticky" angle and whether it would help people more, but to be honest the majority of posters don't read the sticky threads anyway.
There's one called To Do List.... in the Aus forum, we often point people to it when they ask about lists of things to do before moving, and there's one on passport renewal - again most people miss it. There's one in the Immi forum even called "Please read this before posting" and I reckon you could count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who actually read it before we tell them to do so!

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

And you have to wonder how the hell they got a visa!

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

:rofl::rofl:

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In some cases yes, you do have to wonder! Its like some of the posters in the Immigration forum, you just want to say to them that if they can't even find their way to www.immi.gov.au then either give up now or get an agent!

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

I wouldn't agree with the last couple of paragraphs from my own point of view moving to Australia probably added 10 years to my life expectancy as I learned how to live more and work less. That changed with longer hours and more crap at work to deal with.

Moving back to the UK has been easy and 8 months in I've saved more than I did in 5 years in Australia and I haven't really bothered with old friends much although I probably should when I get a car next month and can travel more easily.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

One man's constructive comment is another man's negativity, unfortunately, especially when that constructive comment batters against some rose tinted specs. I think all new migrants would do well to adopt the "expect the worst, hope for the best and take what comes" adage because forewarned is forearmed in this world.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

I know when I was planning the move I couldn't be advised that Australia was anything other than the best place ever. I used to scoff at the likes of Mike Stanton and his comments. I saw them as purely negative from a failed migrant. I have a different perspective now though. Not agreement with him but not dismissive either. You live and learn though.

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One positive of the negative comments is that I was expecting some things to be really bad here and in reality they turned out to be okay or no different to the UK. :thumbup:

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

We always looked at both sides viewpoints with equal understanding. The reason, people have there own ideas and viewpoints according to there individual life at that time.
All comments are helpful even the sarcastic ones that put a weird smile on our faces at times (mentioning no names);)
We see comments as a way of life and like life it's self - varied and not always what you want to see and hear:)

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

At the time we emigrated I was given loads of advice on OZ and almost all of it was 100% positive.

However a lot of it was simply a crock of shite.

The truth would have been far more helpful.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

I agree with the other poster in that is not so much the content of what is said but the way it is delivered. Some posters on here have the diplomacy of a sledge hammer. Some posters say how they feel/have found the experience as an absolute and do not say that it is there experience which can differ according to ones own personality, job situation and budget.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

What I really meant was financially there are costs involved in migrating, and for the average couple it probably takes 5 years to recoup those costs. Even the cost of visas these days isn’t cheap, and then add on airflights, shipping, the cost of buying new things here in Australia etc. It soon adds up.

The social cost is the new friends. It takes a long time to make really good friends in a new country – I think around 5 years before you enjoy the same level of friendship you enjoyed in the UK.

There is also that unspoken thing: migrating changes you.

I don’t think I have ever seen it mentioned here, but it is a fact. Migration changes your outlook on life. Even if you go back to the UK, you are a different person.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Let's face it. If you're a delicate flower, to post on public forums is asking for it.

Not everything about Australia is great. In fact, much of it is pretty crap and in the wake of the absurdity of our cost of living rises, the reason that many people eye Australia as a new start may not be there anymore. A lot of people consider that "negative". I call it honest opinion.

I've seen posters throw the dummy out the pram because some random strangers made comments which clearly didn't meet the expected fantasy. I especially like the "I've not got rose tinted glasses" comments - bet you have. We all did secretly otherwise you wouldn't bother to move half way around the world :D

Toughen up princesses. Moving continent is not the feint of heart. It's very rare that anyone is truly nasty on this forum so just take in the spirit that there are a lot of people here with a different way of expressing their views.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Faint of heart, princess.

(Agree with it though! :p)

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BAH <shuffles off to the vocabulary faux pas naughty corner> :D

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Where's that then? Somewhere near pedant pronounciation corner?

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Yup, then turn left into Irritating **** Court.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Its true - a cautionary tale can be taken as either fair warning or negativity depending on the delicacy of one's constitution.

If all you want is unalloyed positivity you'd be better off (a) moving to California and (b) steering well clear of internet forums.

If you want advice, be prepared to take the rough with the smooth. If you want your choices validated by a shower of strangers with a mixed bag of experiences, predjudices and states of sobriety - you're probably looking in the wrong place.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

It might help if some of the negative comments was backed by evidence. I’m not saying that it isn’t factually based; just that often the facts are left off the post.

“Oh the kebabs in Dubbo are really expensive” doesn’t really mean anything.

“The Kebabs in Dubbo average $15 for a beef with the works. This is $10 dearer than what I paid in Bradford” is more helpful.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

In which case you'd have to have the people shouting about how going to the beach is free when in fact they have to pay for getting themselves there so technically it's not free.;)

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Migrating to Australia certainly changed me it toughened me up and made me less caring about people possible not something that people would expect to happen in the lucky country but when costs are high it brings out competition and what has happened to my outlook on life is one of the less desireable side effects. Even working in the City didn't do that to me.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Agree with above first sentance completely.

I wasn't meaning that only good stuff about Australia should be mentioned, but rather how at times it is actually said and put across by some posters but I must admit reading the replies on this thread was in the main pleasant and enjoyable.

I use the forum very occasionally now but in the early days and waiting for the visa etc was on here day/noon/night and at it's best it's a huge source of information but all to often there are just such nasty/sarky/unhelpful comments you wonder why they bother to post you maybe fed up of reading someone looking for a place to live for the millionith time but for them it's the first time of asking........I guess just think before you post sometimes

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Yep :lol:

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

What about making a list of pros and cons, or to think about how would be your life if you didn't jump to Australia?

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

The problem is people on here who are very unhappy personally and blame Australia for their predicament and so tinge every comment they write with a negative connotation. Its like the bloke who pops up on days when it is 40 degrees plus in perth moaning about how it is so hot you can't even go outside when you live in Perth. Forget about the 99% of days in perth when you can be outside. It's called having a "cup half full" mentality and you quickly work out who those posters are and I have learnt to disregard what they say because they are BIASED.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Much of Australia is pretty crap? I rest my case.

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We have got to admit that it is a little backward in it's ability to offer goods and services at a more competitive price, the lack of real competition on the high street does leave us feeling a little flat at times, but hey it's what it is here?
The choices of goods is very limited a bit like you are told, 'thats all take it or leave it', we didn't land in Russia did we by mistake?:p

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

I often think that as I sit on my balcony at night with a cigar and whisky, watching the ferries on the harbour. This is crap! :rofl:

To be honest I have been in some of the crap parts – and they are a lot crappier than most of the BE blabbers could imagine. Try working in Kalgoorlie, or Mount Isa, or Roxby Downs, or some of the other hell holes.

But some people’s definition of crap does make me wonder what they left behind in the UK. :confused:

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

In the main Immigration, Visas & Citizenship forum:p

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Yep, its true its nearly 4years since I arrived and we havent been attacked by the natives or died of thirst or heat. ;)

Gems

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

Specific answers to specific questions - and in those answers a healthy dose of reality or as much objectivity as possible is useful. Having had a read through the forums it seems that quite a few folks want to get a few complaints off their chest, which is fair enough, but loading up a genuine inquirer with a tale of woe is going to be off-putting.

Re: Negativity v Constructive Comments
 

However, if that tale of woe is relevant to the specific query, does that not make it worthwhile information?