willamos

Was on the bus recently and some kids got on and started swearing loudly and talking quite graphically and loudly about female pedestrians they spotted through the window.

In Britain it would be ''damn chavs...this country's gone to the dogs, etc, etc, etc...''

I find that one of the major differences between the UK and Australia is that in Australia people seem much less bothered by/likely to complain about this kind of behaviour. They just sort of accept it.

scottishcelts

[QUOTE=kporte;7910355] No way...........

BadgeIsBack

Actually I find it is highly variable. Some people focus on how the little darlings give up seats quite readily.

There are others who will tell you that Australians are generally quite conservative and swear alot less than say the Brits or the Irish. (Which is generally true across the polite parts of society. I've met Australians who are 'impressed' by the amount of swearing in British movies and comedies.)

My own, personal generalisation about the Australian people is that they have a peculiar mix of conservatism (not always bad - but can be annoying) and are actually quite tolerant, patient and this is often mistaken for being laid back, or even lazy. Once the subject matter is broached in a mature fashion, I find Australians will open up and come to the table. I've often said that some Australians fulfill some British stereotypes. How many times have you meet a European or an American who thinks all British people are incredibly polite and reserved and will not be convinced that many are the opposite? My experience is that Americans and Australians are often the conservative ones.

It's all very subtle. The quicker people suss out these subtleties the happier they will be. In my experience the people who suffer are impatient people or people who want to assign blame, or people who cannot, or will not adapt - sometimes for reasons they cannot control.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Interesting one that... as I have a pretty strong Manchester accent (think Liam Gallagher) I don't fit into any Americans idea of what an Englishman should sound like, (like the cast of Brideshead Revisited) so they make a guess at where this strange man comes from... and without fail come up with "you must be Australian" !!

framac67

AYE. ITS JUST YOU

Sally Simpson

I hear it's because he is from Edinburgh!

framac67

an they aw talk funny.

BadgeIsBack

Absolutely!

I find this one fascinating, actually. In your case, I'd like to feel that a Yank would recognise a Northern accent but there you go.

But my point is that you have to find your happy medium. I've been in some places with some people and wished they could turn off the tolerance a bit occasionally. But I've also sat with British expats and wished some would wind their effing necks in and been glad I'm not a regular in their social circle.

I'm happy to live amongst the Australians I know because I like their brand of intelligence, way of life, and yes, acceptance - and all that is more subtle than I think some expats realise. I also think some expats are bored silly with some of their Australian contempories and have yet to work out where the interesting ones are. It's one of the reasons why where you live and what you do is key- 'fraid in a place like Australia which can be very polarised and compartmentalised - this is due to the size of the country, a small population, and all sorts of subtle factors akin to many a place.

This is my personal critique - yet I don't consider it a criticism - of Australia, but I hope people give me credit for having thought about it even if they disagree. I sometimes think people are too ready to criticise culture here but in truth, they don't really understand it, neither articulate it...so they bitch at length about all sorts of little things and never get anywhere. It can take a lot of work I'd imagine to get out of that.

kporte

One speaks correctly if one is from Edinburgh. Have you never seen Trainspotting old chap!

Bernieboy

IE....plain thick

Lord_Farquar

Oh the irony.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Bernieboy

Explain.

Broad Shoulders

...even better

Lord_Farquar

You got what I meant then.