Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

A couple of months ago I had a severe asthma attack, ended up in a Sydney inner city A&E dept about 10 o'clock at night. As I was registering, the triage nurse was trying to persuade a woman to go home as she'd been discharged that afternoon. I think she wanted more drugs.

After I'd gone through triage to a 2nd waiting area, there was a woman with a suspected stroke who had been waiting since 4pm to be seen by a doctor. She went for a scan about midnight.

Shortly after that, a man obviously off his face on more than beer was brought in, and soon threatened to "smash the place up" because he was told he couldn't go for a cigarette. He was soon joined by another bloke in a similar state (and shoeless and filthy) and a much younger girl who could hardly walk. None of them wanted to be there but it became apparent they'd been arrested and sent to hospital by the police. The second bloke wanted to go home without having tests and quickly threatened to kill himself. The young girl went to sleep on the floor and it took quite a few nurses to persuade her it wasn't a good thing to do. She then sat and wailed and rocked.

At about 1am, after my breathing had eased but I still hadn't been seen, I asked the nurse to give me the OK to go home as it really wasn't a nice place to be. She agreed, with a resigned, "and it's not even the weekend".

Sorry, what was your point? :confused:

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

Maybe the part of the UK that I lived was very different to some other posters here? Or maybe my experience was just different because of other factors? Or maybe the Australia that I've settled in is different? All I know is the place I left versus the place that I've arrived at is a huge improvement. My kids no longer have to look over their shoulders and venture outdoors with their fists clenched and their hackles up. There's no visible gang culture here. Everything is clean, bright and nice (could do with less graffiti though but even that gets quickly washed away). Everyone's friendly, relaxed and well-mannered.

The daft suggestions from some that if you saw things wrong with the UK then you aint ganna settle easily here is a load of bollocks. As is the yet to be seen British moan-about-home-ers turned benefits scroungers. Every British migrant that I know is either working/owning a business or pulling out all the stops to do the same.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

You missed the "for now" qualifier. The UK needs time to absorb the segregated millions before even thinking about taking in more. Evolution only works well in gradually changing environments.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

Paul I think it's more that - or certainly is how I personally think it works (and I've been around this site longer than my reg date would suggest) - many of those leaving the UK because "it's gone to the dogs" have very high expectations of Australia, and so are often disappointed.

"Living the Dream" is a very scary phrase :lol:

At least the prawns are bigger.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

This is what Cicero had to say in 55BC:

The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.

Same old..

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

There are plenty of threads/posts on BE about Brits trying claim benefits in Oz. Most from those who dislike the fact immigrants in the UK get benefits. Fair enough I guess but the hypocrisy grates.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

I see you are very well versed in extremely broad sweeping generalisations. Where on Earth were you living that kids had to look over their shoulders and go outside with their fists clenched ? :ohmy:
There's no visible gang culture ? I think that would come as a huge surprise to those affected by the gangs in this country.
Everyone is friendly, relaxed and well mannered ? I like the sound of your world but I think access is fairly limited ;)
The thing is you summed it up with this line
'All I know is the place I left versus the place that I've arrived at is a huge improvement.' You obviously came from a truly horrible area by the sounds of it and you are now in a very good area which is great but you can't then make sweeping generalisations about everything and everyone in either or both countries.
Like many many others I lived in a wonderful area in England, I never had to look over my shoulder or worry about getting stabbed. It was clean and nice and the people were friendly.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

He talked about where he came from, to where he's come to.
That isn't sweeping generalisations.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

I suppose exaggerated negative judgements of the home country combined with exaggerated expections of their new makes for a potent cocktail of monstrous hangover proportions :eek:

This is where BE is very helpful because it does help dampen the unrealistic expectations. There's nothing like a bit of The Gloom Brothers & Sisters to put a damper on procedings :thumbup::p

:lol: @ the prawns.

...Come to think of it, there is quite a bit of supersizing here :blink:

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

No, that bit you quoted wasn't.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

I'd like to think it was me but it isn't.

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

But isn't that exactly what you do ?

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

Um where I see negative I state it. And your point is? :confused:

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

Just wondering: Does your signature truly reveal your number of ping-pongings? :blink:

Re: Why is everyone so serious ?
 

Couldn't have put it better myself. HelenTD is an example of someone who regularly gives very useful feedback - good and bad. :thumbup: