weird things aussies do

Solair

ObviouslyJesus wrote: »

yeah its strange seeing how much business acumen they lack. you can see it in the droves of ozys coming to ireland for work. no, oh wait.....

Big difference between 'business acumen' and 'having a big load of natural resources'.

You can be wealthy based purely on the latter without having the former.
Ireland's a trading economy and one of the most open economies in the world, and it's close to the UK, Continental Europe and even the USA. Where as Australia's primarily a natural resources economy which is physically quite far from major markets. I suspect ideas tend to travel there a little more slowly and the Australian consumer economy's probably more inward looking than the Irish one just by the nature of the location of Australia & it's current boom-time economy.

The resources boom is also tending to mean that businesses (a bit like during the property/construction boom in Ireland) don't have to try all that hard. Business comes in regardless and it's more a case of queue management than sales. When things are slower, it really sorts the wheat from the chaff in terms of business acumen as only the most innovative survive.

I'm not slagging off the Aussis in saying that, but economies are funny things!

jackbhoy

Solair wrote: »

Big difference between 'business acumen' and 'having a big load of natural resources'.

You can be wealthy based purely on the latter without having the former.
Ireland's a trading economy and one of the most open economies in the world, and it's close to the UK, Continental Europe and even the USA. Where as Australia's primarily a natural resources economy which is physically quite far from major markets. I suspect ideas tend to travel there a little more slowly and the Australian consumer economy's probably more inward looking than the Irish one just by the nature of the location of Australia & it's current boom-time economy.

The resources boom is also tending to mean that businesses (a bit like during the property/construction boom in Ireland) don't have to try all that hard. Business comes in regardless and it's more a case of queue management than sales. When things are slower, it really sorts the wheat from the chaff in terms of business acumen as only the most innovative survive.

I'm not slagging off the Aussis in saying that, but economies are funny things!

Actually mining's contribution to Australian economy, while important, is very much exaggerated by most people. Agriculture and services are much bigger contributors, with mining sitting around 10% of GDP.

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Mining%20Industry~150

A huge amount of the profits of mining are taken out of the economy by overseas investors, and many of the biggrst mining companies are majority foreign owned e.g Rio Tinto.

I have worked in large corporations in Europe and Australia and I'd rate their business acumen pretty highly, from my own experience,

woolymammoth

Zambia wrote: »

Occasionally I get the sh1ts with this depending on the day I am having.

Them: Excuse me sir can I see inside your bag ?

Me : Sure go ahead

Them: I'm sorry but I cant touch it myself

Me: Your gonna have a hard time searching then arent you ?

classic

that used to annoy the sh!te outta me, like you're being accused of stealing. And i even put up a few fights. But then i figured out they barely give a crap themselves, and i don't wanna make the poor bastards day any worse than it already is, having a sh!tty job like that, when they're only doing what they're told to do.. the majority i see barely even glance!

mandrake04

Pisco Sour wrote: »

A weird thing about here is that Australia really struggles to have much of a culture of its own. It’s basically just a big mix of borrowed cultures from elsewhere. This sort of spills over into a lack of patriotism. Italian-Aussies, Greek-Aussies, Vietnamese-Australians etc etc are more proud of being Italian, Greek, Vietnamese than they are of being Australian, even if they were born here and lived their entire life here.

Maybe that's why they call it multicultural. :rolleyes:

Pisco Sour

AngryHippie wrote: »

Sports: AFL, particularly in VIC & SA are huge, granted the level of professionalism, management and marketing involved make this borderline acceptable as being cultural. But the levels of support involved from the MCG right down to local footie comps would suggest that it is a huge and growing aspect of Aussie Culture.

Sports culture? Really? Almost 75% of the population are overweight despite having a near perfect climate for getting out and active. Over 30% are obese. With the exception of the USA I have never seen so many fat people in one place as I have seen walking the streets of the CBD in Melbourne.

Maybe with regards to watching sport, but every country enjoys watching sport, just different types, so there’s nothing uniquely Australian about that. And IMHO I find live sport to be a bit tame down here atmosphere wise compared to what you’d see in Europe and Latin America.

One area though which I think Australia has developed a unique culture in however is in fact it’s folk music. The likes of John Williamson, Rolf Harris, Slim Dusty etc are quintessentially Aussie, and like The Dubliners back home, it is more than just music, it tells a story, and it FEELS Aussie just listening to it. I went to see John Williamson last year in Crown Casino and I’d put that as the most truly uniquely Aussie experience I’ve had culturally in Melbourne. A wonderful live act who I would recommend highly. But unlike back home with the Dubliners etc where we embrace that music, and where foreigners come to Ireland to listen to that music, this is not the case here. Most young people here don’t identify or have any interest in that local folk music, and most backpackers I have met have never heard any of the classic songs like A Pub With No Beer, True Blue, Gallaries of Pink Gallahs, Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, Old Man Emu etc etc. I guess this all comes back to lack of patriotism I mentioned earlier due to the huge multi-culturism in Australia.

c0rk3r wrote: »

Ozzies tend to take Pride in their appearance both physically and fashionably. Mostly related to the outdoors / sporty culture. Apparently Australia has an obesity problem similar to America but i havent encountered it if anything ive noticed the opposite. Im a scuffy looking chap but appreciate others making the effort.

Haha that’s a funny post! You must have your eyes closed if you think that.

AngryHippie

Pisco Sour wrote: »

Sports culture? Really? Almost 75% of the population are overweight despite having a near perfect climate for getting out and active. Over 30% are obese. With the exception of the USA I have never seen so many fat people in one place as I have seen walking the streets of the CBD in Melbourne.

Maybe with regards to watching sport, but every country enjoys watching sport, just different types, so there’s nothing uniquely Australian about that. And IMHO I find live sport to be a bit tame down here atmosphere wise compared to what you’d see in Europe and Latin America.

One area though which I think Australia has developed a unique culture in however is in fact it’s folk music. The likes of John Williamson, Rolf Harris, Slim Dusty etc are quintessentially Aussie, and like The Dubliners back home, it is more than just music, it tells a story, and it FEELS Aussie just listening to it. I went to see John Williamson last year in Crown Casino and I’d put that as the most truly uniquely Aussie experience I’ve had culturally in Melbourne. A wonderful live act who I would recommend highly. But unlike back home with the Dubliners etc where we embrace that music, and where foreigners come to Ireland to listen to that music, this is not the case here. Most young people here don’t identify or have any interest in that local folk music, and most backpackers I have met have never heard any of the classic songs like A Pub With No Beer, True Blue, Gallaries of Pink Gallahs, Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport, Old Man Emu etc etc. I guess this all comes back to lack of patriotism I mentioned earlier due to the huge multi-culturism in Australia.

Melbourne is a pretty big city, granted, with a pretty high population, and a pretty high number of migrants, immigrants, tourists and passers-through.
I don't think it is the ideal place to start making sweeping statements about sports culture etc.
The sports events might pale by comparison to some of the South American sports events, but when you look at how often things get out of hand over there, it goes a long way to explaining why most 1st world countries have a security and law enforcement presence at such events.
That however does not take away from attendances at sports events, and participation levels nationwide.
Honestly I don't get your point about obesity ? The UK has a proud culture of sport and yet rates higher up on the % of obese per capita, along with Greece (eh.....home of the olypmics)
I would see that as being more of an indicator of a culture of alcohol consumption, and love of food ( be it masterchef or maccas).
As for the distinction between slim dusty & Rolf Harris as opposed to PNAU, Jimmy Barnes or Gotye......There is no distinction, some music is old, some music is new. Its all music, while it may not suit your taste, or be of the same historical value as some of the folk music you've mentioned, that does not mean its not of cultural value. If you are going to go down that road, then have a bag of Jedward, Boyzone, Westlife, and Crystal Swing (ugh) as an example of the same standard being applied to Irish Culture.

The reasons people don't travel all the way over here to go to folk gigs are pretty straightforward its too far to justify it, and there are far fewer ex-pats and descendants of Australia that would be prepared to come here. Plenty of Yanks come over and would fork out for some hokey sh1te like Celtic Thunder, but you won't catch them at a local trad session and only the occasional enlightened few will make it to a fleadh ceoil.


http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture.html

Mellor

Pisco Sour wrote: »

Sports culture? Really? Almost 75% of the population are overweight despite having a near perfect climate for getting out and active. Over 30% are obese. With the exception of the USA I have never seen so many fat people in one place as I have seen walking the streets of the CBD in Melbourne.

Do you have a source for those figures, or are just giving estimates as an example.
How is is calculated?
I'd guessing BMI, which isn't a great indicator if you think about it. In fact, among sporting types BMI can be falsely raised (particularly AFL, NRL, rugby union etc). So BMI as an indicator of how much sport is played is a but useless.

I'm just pointing out that citing BMI as proof that they aren't sporting makes no sense, especially in australia. I'm not saying the australia doesn't have an weight/obesity problem.

AngryHippie wrote: »

Honestly I don't get your point about obesity ? The UK has a proud culture of sport and yet rates higher up on the % of obese per capita, along with Greece (eh.....home of the olypmics)
I would see that as being more of an indicator of a culture of alcohol consumption, and love of food ( be it masterchef or maccas).

Obesity and overweight problems is caused by poor diets. No alcohol, not a "love of food". That's a cop out, and something I'd expect some massive american to say to justify their food.

hussey

Mod Guys it's about weird things Aussies do, we don't need the same debate again and you don't have to derail and argue.
Pisco - please stop about this obesity/sports issue, we've heard it all before, this isn't an australian bashing thread, if you really don't think Aussies take pride in their appearance I suggest a trip to the beach or Kings cross, where you'll see nothing but tanned beautiful girls, and boys wearing tight tops showing off their chest. Yes for every fit bloke there are 2 avg guys and 1 fat one. But this isn't a 'weird thing aussies do'

The Aussie

Here is a weird one I don't think I've seen in to many places around the world.
Topless Barmaids.

The_Hustler

Please tell me where

Slidey

It's banned in WA now. I think QLD may still allow it though

JM Skipton

The Aussie wrote: »

Here is a weird one I don't think I've seen in to many places around the world.
Topless Barmaids.

There is a pub(can't remember the name of it) across the road from the MCG where all the cricket fans go during lunch where there are just normal bar girls topless

massdebater

JM Skipton wrote: »

There is a pub(can't remember the name of it) across the road from the MCG where all the cricket fans go during lunch where there are just normal bar girls topless

That'd be the Royal Hotel.

There's one in Perth on a Friday evening, I think it's called the Charles but I can't remember 100%. Not even sure if they still do the titty bar thing anymore but it was fairly popular a year and a half ago.

Zambia

How much is a beer in a topless bar about 15 bucks?

I do know topless waitresses can be hired for stags. Not worth the cash to be honest

massdebater

Zambia wrote: »

How much is a beer in a topless bar about 15 bucks?

I do know topless waitresses can be hired for stags. Not worth the cash to be honest

Not sure, the Royal is full of old saggy maggies with droopy diddies - I didn't even stay for a drink.

I think the one in Perth was standard enough Perth prices for a pint but there was a cover charge on the door - $20 or thereabouts.

STIG83

This Is more what they don't do, have met a lot who havent left Australia!! One bloke who hasn't left WA!!

crushproof

STIG83 wrote: »

This Is more what they don't do, have met a lot who havent left Australia!! One bloke who hasn't left WA!!

I met a bloke who's never left Galway in his life... nothing unusal there mate! Plenty of folk like that around world!

I seemed to have been served Banana bread instead of normal brown bread an awful lot in the past few weeks, they're obsessed with the stuff here! Ugh!

Pisco Sour

JM Skipton wrote: »

There is a pub(can't remember the name of it) across the road from the MCG where all the cricket fans go during lunch where there are just normal bar girls topless

Haha, we went to a footy game last September and were dying for a few pre-match pints. Unlike Croker or Lansdowne where there are numerous pubs nearby, there didn't seem to be much choice around the MCG. This topless place seemed to be the only place to have a drink reasonably close to the MCG. I'd advise giving it a miss. The place is as rough as guts!! Full of creepy bogans and barely a woman to be seen in the place.

lg123

STIG83 wrote: »

This Is more what they don't do, have met a lot who havent left Australia!! One bloke who hasn't left WA!!

WA is a big place in fairness, similar size to Western Europe. There are plenty of people at home who never ventured outside the EU.

Pisco Sour

lg123 wrote: »

WA is a big place in fairness, similar size to Western Europe. There are plenty of people at home who never ventured outside the EU.

Mental comparison. A area of 2 million people and one culture Vs an area of about 500 million and dozens of cultures.

Mellor

lg123 wrote: »

WA is a big place in fairness, similar size to Western Europe. There are plenty of people at home who never ventured outside the EU.

I have to agree with Pisco, terrible example.
Sure WA is massive in area, but the people are concentrated in a single area, those outside this are aren't exactly roaming about either.

The Aussie

Not traveling outside your comfort zone away from familiarity is still not a weird thing Aussies do, it's a thing people do.
It was covered in a pointless train wreck of a thread months ago :pac:

myflipflops

The Aussie wrote: »

Not traveling outside your comfort zone away from familiarity is still not a weird thing Aussies do, it's a thing people do.
It was covered in a pointless train wreck of a thread months ago :pac:

I would have said the vast majority of the worlds population never leaves their own country either through personal choice or lack of any choice so it's actually those of us travelling thousands of miles around the world that are weird!

Dubnobass

The weird obsession with morbid TV adverts. I've never seen more adverts for Funeral Homes and Life Insurance in my life

Neutronale

Pisco Sour wrote: »

The use of the word "or" at the end of a question, or even worse, at the end of a statement posed falsely as a question. What is up with that?

For example:

Your boss says to you

"So, do you want to go through the cash flow now, or....?

"Did you get a chance to go through those figures, or...?

In both instances I do not have a choice in the matter, so why put the word "or" at the end of the sentence? And if you are going to put the word "or" there then at least provide an alternative to justify the use of that word.

For example the following would be circumstances where the use of the word "or" would be justifiable:

"So, do you want to go through the cash flow now, or do you want to do it later"

"Did you get a chance to go through those figures or did you have something more important to do".

Never, ever, should the word "or" be put at the end of a sentence or question. It is just plain bad grammar and sounds stupid.

The sad thing in all of this is that I've been here so long I am now noticing myself starting to speak like this. :eek:

Like we say "or what?"...its just a lived in lingo...

The Aussie

Neutronale wrote: »

Like we say "or what?"...its just a lived in lingo...

Or if in Cork, finish a sentence with "Like"

hussey

One thing I can't stand is the tv show ads, which dramatise everything.
'You wouldn't believe what is coming up on the most astonishing episode yet' - every frigging week.
I used to watch house, and every week was 'houses most difficult case'

The Aussie

hussey wrote: »

One thing I can't stand is the tv show ads, which dramatise everything.

That's a follow on from the sensationalist tabloid media, if your not over using adjectives your just not advertising.

lg123

Melbourne cricket ground >>> MCG >>> the G

Rod laver arena >>> RLA

Really, are syllables that hard to come by?!

Popinjay

Admittedly, this is two things that cheese me off rather than just regular weird things but:

'3am in the morning'

There's only one 3am. You fucking idiot.

Known, shown and blown pronounced Knowin, Showin, and Blowin

For fuck's sake, is this why you've been saving up the syllables from all those other words? For this?? Really???

Thought of a 3rd:

'Hungry (or insert adjective here) as'

Hungry as fucking what? If you start a simile, at least have the testicular fortitude to finish it!