Originally Posted by StevieB

The internet is a double edged sword isn't it? I'll explain in a bit.

We left the UK because I for one believed (and I'm going to drop all the long words I've used before) it was turning very rapidly to shit.
We read the 'anti' posts and still came...and we are still glad we did. We know that nothing in the world is perfect, but who in their right mind would expect to live in a perfect world? NZ isn't perfect, but it is currently a nicer place to be than UK. Put aside the (relatively) lower wages and the (minimally) longer working week, and think how much a holiday in Australia would cost you from UK, and how often you could do it. How many citrus trees, tomato plants, etc can you grow in the open in a UK garden?

I don't want this to sound like I'm making NZ out to be a paradise, of course it isn't, but I won't be leaving anytime soon.

Back to the internet (on the negative side). How many people have been put off coming here because they read something on sites like this from a disenchanted few. The first Europeans to come here did it because it was an adventure, a new land and new opportunities. Obviously they had no internet. That is how I believe everyone should look at it...it's how we did, an adventure, probably the last and biggest we would ever take.

(On the positive side of the internet) For the people who preach on isolation..it's of their own making. Those people obviously have access to the web, therefore all world news is at their fingertips, so what's this talk of isolation. I know as much as I wish to know about what is going on in the world, and I know I can always find out more by switching on my PC.

For god's sake, if you have thought about coming then it must be for a reason...so have an adventure, be a pioneer, give it a go!

Originally Posted by Dirk1971

If people are put of by negative post they are wimps and should just stay at home. They wouldn't cut it anyway so in a way we are doing them a big favour!

Originally Posted by Batty

What people could be put off by are personal experiences disguised as fact. Just as I wouldn't tell anyone to come here specifically because I think it's a great place then IMO I don't think anyone should do the opposite. Facts are indisputable. Personal experiences are not. There have been a lot of personal experiences put forward recently and that's good, so long as it's made quite clear that this is not the case for everyone - whether that be good or bad.

Originally Posted by Nerine

I disagree, personal experiences are fact: people are posting factual accounts of their lives.

If personal experiences aren't fact then the following statement must be true
"personal experiences are fantasy"

Definition of fact?

Something that has really occurred or is actually the case; something certainly known to be of this character; hence, a particular truth known by actual observation or authentic testimony, as opposed to what is merely inferred, or to a conjecture or fiction; a datum of experience, as distinguished from the conclusions that may be based upon it.

Originally Posted by southerner

SI has lower unemployment on the whole.

Originally Posted by Nerine

I disagree, personal experiences are fact: people are posting factual accounts of their lives.

Originally Posted by dash1965

Perhaps Batty was stating that personal experiences are unquantifiable and not always objective. It's not easy to judge someone elses experiences without knowing all the facts.

Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee

Many many many people find they can't make NZ work for them for whatever reason. That shouldn't invalidate their experiences.

As said before, so long as posts aren't personal insults why shouldn't everyone have a say?



Buzzy

Originally Posted by Apple12

Yeah well, in some ways it helps me as I have a good list of people to put on ignore (six people so far).
I come on this board to help people who might be interested, with stuff like bank accounts, living in Christchurch, mtb rides and to offer a balanced view of what it is like here, from someone who is settled and happy.
The bullshit side of the boards is just getting boring. All supermarkets are crap, the sausages are crap, the people are unfriendly and rip you off etc etc ad nauseum. As soon as I post up to say that in my experience my butcher makes excellent sausages, that I had no trouble getting temping work in ChCh, that same as anywhere some people are rude, but many are not... well lets just say that my experience is somehow invalid.
So I will continue posting where I can offer some help - and my experience on these boards will be a lot friendlier with certain people on ignore.

Originally Posted by Nerine

Perhaps if that's what Batty meant she should've said it?

Personal experiences are subjective and I think it's pretty obvious that everyone's experience is going to be different.

Originally Posted by sky

Oh dear what a daft statement

Originally Posted by dash1965

Wasn't trying to put words in anyones mouth. I was trying to give my understanding of the post.

Had too much coffee today?

Originally Posted by Nerine

yeuk! never touch the stuff

Originally Posted by Apple12

Yeah well, in some ways it helps me as I have a good list of people to put on ignore (six people so far).