Good point! Plus as MP said
which always makes me remember a particular poster who, when in the UK prior to moving to Oz, claimed that no one on here had a life and just came on here to moan and that they certainly wouldn't be doing that when they moved here. Lo and behold not 6 months later, they are now living in Oz, a very regular poster on BE asking all matter of questions and even attending the BE meet ups
Everyone is different and BE does help to let off steam without the whinging pom label.

If sport and everything to do with it was excised from Australian society, I'd have very little to whinge about - the way they get all orgasmic about every success, the posturing and evil antics of certain ball game players, the way you have to sit through sports news ad nauseam until the real news comes on: the whole obsession thing gets through to me.

BUT.....if we took away sport maybe they'd start fighting each other for real, so I reckon I'd better be careful what I wish for. Let them have their sport obsession - just leave me out of it. My eyes used to glaze over at work in the office when sport entered the conversation.

(I got through the olympics with the help of DVDs, music, and long walks)

Take on the chin, don't let it bother you.

p.s has the Olympics finished now...oh good, i'll turn the TV on now...hehehehehe

Aussie Bashing?
Where do I sign?
Is it a recognized Olympic sport yet?
Will the Aussies win a medal in it in 2012?
Tongue in cheek............................................. .............................me? ...

Most of the people who used to discuss serious issues are now else where...

Anyway, just because the Aussies and the country gets an occasional bashing doesn't mean we don't like it here or want to leave as it's still overall a good country to live in.

That doesn't stop people getting frustrated at some of the little idiosyncrasies of the country still and venting about them from time to time.

The thing is, you need to have a moan occasionally - it is a safety valve. But they use the expression 'whinging pom' to stop even the most legitimate moan. I eventually cottoned on to this ruse, and now I say what I think and sod the consequences.

Once, in NZ, I was at a bus stop in the pouring rain, soaked and frozen....I commented to a fellow passenger 'awful weather isn't it?' Hearing my accent, she said 'If you don't like our weather, bug*er off back home!' When I recovered from that hate-filled comment, I just said 'I am home, and I'm staying, regardless of what any racist pig thinks of it' She shut up.

I didn't stay though, I ended up here in Australia and have never suffered that kind of comment, in spite of my Yorkshire outspokenness.

You have obviously never been unhappy. What about those who have given up their entire lives only to find that they are unable to find work? Or that the job they came over to work at is crap? The children are bullied for their accents? When you are in this position it's hard to find anything positive to comment on at all.

I just have one question to ask.....

Are you American? I was being ironic about the fact this is supposed to be a jovial part of the forum.

I've certainly been sad, but probably never unhappy. I've had some damn horrible things happen in my life, but I try not to let it make my life miserable. If your kids are bullied for their accents, I think you may be living in an intolerant suburb IMO. My kids have been to school with kids with all types of accents and never made comment about them. In fact we lived next door to a sihk family for a couple of years and it took my kids ages to even figure out they had different colored skin.

hey that's funny - a bit of healthy fun is okay by me

Certainly not American.....thought it was supposed to be the "off topic" section of the forum (not just for jokes). And I can see from reading your previous posts that you're a real funster.

Your just annoyed I don't love Australia. No need to get personal.

Not annoyed at all. Just can't understand why a young guy like yourself can't find anything to make your life enjoyable in Australia. But as I said, I hope you do cheer up and find what you're looking for in Europe.

Never said my life was unenjoyable and I don't really feel I have to justify myself and my views on Oz.