Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Maybe this has been asked before on this forum, but can someone please tell me why Australia gets such a bad press on this forum ?
I've been on this site for a few years and seen a fair share of the Rosy Specs brigade as well as some from the Oz is complete crap section.
I've always read this section with interest but recently the Oz is Crap lot seem to have got their tails up.
So what is it about Australia that get people so worked up. I've just finished reading a few posts from people that have a concern over 'different' words that Australian's use. I lived in the SE of England, the SW and worked up near Liverpool at one time, I maybe wrong but when I was in the UK not everyone spoke with a plum. Are people returning to the UK going to get so excited about the different dialects used throughout the UK ?
What about the weather ? I find it hard to understand that one or two people can complain about the heat, you cant really be serious....can you ?
What was the other....... errrrmmmmm, yes that was it, some other poster complaining that Australian's have an issue with the lack of water. Now dont get me wrong, I agree with a lot that is posted on this Forum, but why on earth would you complain about the lack of water ??? I seem to remember reading on the BBC website and speaking to friends and relations earlier this year that the lack of water was such a huge concern in England that the everyone would be on stand pipes by the middle of summer !
Would be great to get some comments, but in the mean time have a great Christmas and good luck with your moves back to the UK.
Mark.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Hello Santa

Merry Christmas to you Santa, have you been busy! :D

I don't believe that people have a real "concern" over the way Australians speak English. It is just interesting and different, a good discussion point.
The "Australian English" is very distinct from an anglo saxon way of speaking English. As I understand it has it roots in cockney London and Ireland. I am not sure if any body knows why Australians reduce words to their shortest possible form. As far as I am concerned discussion of the language isn't necessarily a critisim, to most it is new and unusual, and discussing it is as entertaining as Australian English itself.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

soon everyone will be speaking like a text message!!!

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Maybe because this is the Moving back to the UK Forum and a lot of us are unhappy with aspects of the lives we have here.

No, because we are familiar with them. What you refer to is a discussion betwen a few posters letting off steam - I'm sure if there is a Moving BACK to Aus forum somewhere for returning Aussies, they willl be moaning about the British dialects! :D
:rolleyes:

Out of interest, are you an Aussie, and have YOU experienced Qld in the heat of summer?

Cos theres a drought maybe?!!!
Slightly different level of drought from that facing much of Australia at present.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

No, I'm English. I work outside so have to work in the heat during Summer and rain in the Winter. I know Qld is hot, but I worked the other day and it was 41c, that was pretty warm in anyones book, including dare I say even the Queenslanders.
Polly, it's just an observation, that's all. The reason I ask is that people are either so very pro....... or so against a country. Is it the fault of the country, the fault of the people who live in Australia or something else ?
I take your point that people want to have a rant now and then, it just seems that some are picking holes in a place for some very strange reasons.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

its noones fault, as such - not ours, and not the country. You didn't say if you are here in Aus somewhere now (being English doesn't answer that!)?
I think you will find the majority of us on this forum, for whatever reason, are not really happy/settled/ satisfied living here. We all have our own reasons for this and some will find it easier than others to go home.

Now, my theory on a lot of the rants that we have is just this - if you are unhappy somewhere, thats when the small things start to annoy you - whether you are in the UK, Aus, or somewhere else. If you are basically happy with your life it is easier to accept small annoyances and just skate over them. I'll give you an example - in my first few months here I was really quite happy, and I worked with a girl who used the phrase "thats exactly right" at least 20 times a day. I just accepted it as an Aussie-ism (not being accustomed to it) and it just ecame something I heard a lot. NOW, 3 years further on, and unsettled for many reasons, that is one phrase which grates and puts my teeth on edge. Cos it reminds me of where I am, and where I am is somewhere I don't really want to be...

Can you see what I'm getting at?

I also think you see more people on here griping about Aus because more people came as a family andare able to go home. If you read the US forum you will see a far higher percentage have temporary visas (rather than PR) or have married a US citizen and so it is harder to go home without a family split. Thats one reason why the Aus guys seem to rant more than the US posters - they know they are there for the long haul so are less likely to use this forum.

As for the weather - living & working for months on end in temps of 30+ and humidity of 80%+ wears you out. Especially if you work outside in it or if your health rebels against it (as in my case). It gets very tiring getting up and feeling exhausted by the heat before you even reach work; and I work indoors. I really feel for guys on site, outside all day. The Bloke spends a lot of time in sheds that have no air-con sorting deliveries and moving heavy stuff - he comes home every night drenched in sweat and exhausted, and moaning about the heat - and he's an Aussie.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Yep Pollyana, I'm in Western Australia, very tired and ready for bed ! Got to be up bright and early before it get too hot....lol
Get your point about people's irritating language, my daughter says 'like' every sentance if you give her half a chance.
I just find it interesting why people are so very against a place that at one time they were keen to get to, and for most it seemed to have been for a better life .... now a lot of people seem to think that going back will ensure a better life. As metioned earlier I dont think it's the place that is at fault, I think it is peoples expectations. I've lost count of the number of relationships that seem to have faultered since arriving in Oz, now is that down to Australia, or were they already 'on the rocks'
Seems that people who arn't very happy think that a change of surroundings will sort everything out.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

I must be an exception, I love the heat, I thought Qld was quite cool in comparision to Darwin after spending a couple of years there. I even got used to putting on my face by the fridge- even stuck in it there on occasions as I didn't have air con.:D I even used to dance all night. :eek: I still remember visiting UK in the summer wrapped up in 3 layers of clothing and coats whilst everyone was walking around in T shirts and shorts.....everyone who knew me thought I was having a laugh....until they felt my nose, it was frozen...:o

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Hi Mark,
Why do people constantly post on here to ask the move back to the UK lot to justify their moans about Australia? If you were in England moaning about the weather or the traffic or whatever, people would stand around and nod and often chip in their fourpennethworth and indeed the Aussie forums are full of people moaning about their lot in the UK and wishing themselves here. Have you never been to the pub and someone started on about how England is going to the dogs and nobody said hang on it's a great place to be full of beautiful historic buildings wonderful places to walk, the NHS is marvellous and the nurses are so dedicated and well trained (I'm a nurse so carefull before answering that :D ), everyone is ensured equal opportunities and you're a stones throw from the rest of Europe, no I bet they didn't!

The difference here is that if you don't like it and are not in a position to upsticks and go home, (who can!) then if you have a whinge, people look at you like you've sprouted another head and tell you how lucky you are to be living here. Unfortunately you have to buy before you try because visits and reccies can only tell you so much (before anyone jumps in with what kind of research did you do ;) ). I have family that live here and they answered my questions about Oz before we came, I came for an adventure as much as a new life and will go back with a new appreciation of home as soon as I have the money to go and the lease on my house expires, I think I am one of the lucky ones.

As I have said in previous threads this is the only place we feel able to have a whinge about the small day to day things that bug us while we bide our time here and as Polly quite rightly said it is the small things that irk and it is good to let off steam, saves us a fortune in happy pills and therapy too :D

We mean no one any harm and we just wish everyone to be happy with their lot so please no nasty accusations and jibes we have recently had enough of that. Lets just say that it's horses for courses and leave it at that. Anyway Merry Christmas to you and wish you a happy and fulfilled life, ta ta Mel

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Well said, one of the most rounded things I have read for a long time.

Kevin

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Why, thank you kind Sir, I don't think weve met? :D

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Maybe because OZ has the largest numbers of British immigrants and therefore going to have a larger number of dissatisfied people. Maybe those immigrating to OZ have too higher expectations built up from all the positive press about OZ in the UK and OZ soaps like Home and Away and place in the sun reality TV shows, which all show perfect weather, great beaches, no crime unemployment etc, but the realality is different once they immigrate.
While people immigrating to Canada or NZ, perhaps don't have such high expectations and therefore won't be let down so much.

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Here's my theory.

When you decide to come to OZ, the tendency is to berate England. You criticise the weather, people, work, crime etc etc etc.

This helps to affirm your decision to go. In your mind you are selling yourself OZ.

When you get to OZ and become unhappy, you do exactly the same thing to OZ. You start to build up England and berate OZ.

It's sort of like having a choice between two equally good cars, which have different selling points. Sooner or later you are going to moan that one doesn't have as good a stereo, or leather seats etc.

But at the end of the day they are both good - but for different reasons



Of course, i could be talking complete bollocks here :)

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Well that would depend on whether you are stuck in Blighty dreaming of Oz or here in Oz, but either way still entitled to an opinion ;)

Re: Australia..... why such a slagging ?
 

Neither. Im in NZ. Im thinking of moving to OZ come the new year