Ask an Australian

[emzie]

Like, in America, we mainly dislike Canadians because they are pompous, jealous, and crappy drivers... Is there anything like that? A sibling rivalry of sorts?

We may be pompous and jealous, but we are not crappy drivers!

While you might see cars with Canadian plates doing stupid things, that is because the driver is likely in an unfamiliar setting. Likewise, if you're driving in Canada and you see others driving in a stupid manner, that is probably because local traffic customs are different than your home town. Montreal is an insane place to drive for out-of-towers, but once you get used to the flow it makes sense; in an odd way, driving safely and courteously in Montreal will probably get you into an accident since no one else expects it. By either metric, deaths / distance driven or deaths / cars on the road, Canada is safer than the US, despite 4-5 months of harsher winter driving.

 

[kochman]

We may be pompous and jealous, but we are not crappy drivers!

While you might see cars with Canadian plates doing stupid things, that is because the driver is likely in an unfamiliar setting. Likewise, if you're driving in Canada and you see others driving in a stupid manner, that is probably because local traffic customs are different than your home town. Montreal is an insane place to drive for out-of-towers, but once you get used to the flow it makes sense; in an odd way, driving safely and courteously in Montreal will probably get you into an accident since no one else expects it. By either metric, deaths / distance driven or deaths / cars on the road, Canada is safer than the US, despite 4-5 months of harsher winter driving.

Actually, let me correct myself... Quebec license plates, from my time there and when they come down here every winter... they drive well.
I meant the Anglophones. At least, those from Ontario.

 

[Arwon]

Isn't it weird that there are only four cities?

Oi. Cities = over 30 000. We have like 40.

Or more realistically, we've got the eight capital... yes even Hobart, Canberra and Darwin. Plus there's about a half dozen other reasonably sized cities (ie Newcastle, Wollongong, Gold Coast-Tweed, Townsville, Cairns, Geelong, Sunshine Coast and Auckland).

With an entire continent of organisms trying to kill you, I'm amazed any Australians are still alive.

How do you do it?

We mostly live in cities south of the tropics.

 

[Arwon]

Are spiders have health bar in Australia?

seriously, are they really too big?

The big ones aren't actually the dangerous ones.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Cheers Cami and Arwon. To dispell another misconception, some of us actually work (which I am currently doing). Good to see you`ve taken up the slack.

 

[Arwon]

Mate it's Christmas shutdown.

Well, today is actually Saturday, but yes.

 

[Optical]

Or more realistically, we've got the eight capital... yes even Hobart, Canberra and Darwin. Plus there's about a half dozen other reasonably sized cities (ie Newcastle, Wollongong, Gold Coast-Tweed, Townsville, Cairns, Geelong, Sunshine Coast and Auckland).

Erm, actually Auckland's in New Zealand...

no, you know what? Never mind, you can keep it. I've been there, and you Aussies are more than welcome to it.

How often would you see something deadly in Australia? (How many times a day?)

 

[emzie]

To dispell another misconception, some of us actually work

You got it wrong. The perception isn't that aussies don't work, it's that Kiwis take a flight into Sydney and immediately start collecting unemployment.

 

[azzaman333]

How long until you guys outlaw fauna?


But seriously... what do you all think of your neighbors to the east... the Kiwis?

Like, in America, we mainly dislike Canadians because they are pompous, jealous, and crappy drivers... Is there anything like that? A sibling rivalry of sorts?

They have an unhealthy obsession with sheep over there. But it's a pretty cool place from what I've heard.

 

[Arwon]

Erm, actually Auckland's in New Zealand...

no, you know what? Never mind, you can keep it. I've been there, and you Aussies are more than welcome to it.

How often would you see something deadly in Australia? (How many times a day?)

Well I live near a reasonably major road so I see and hear cars fairly often.

 

[Arwon]

I've gotta say it still surprises me that the dominant thing people think about Australia is "snakes and spiders and dangerous stuff". I get that it's exaggerated for comic effect but you all do realise you can live here for years and never have an encounter with anything dangerous, yes? The fact that there's a lot of very venomous animals doesn't mean they're actually a threat. Snakes are mostly wusses.

It's not something we ever really think much about unless we're bushwalking or something. I've seen like 3 snakes in my entire life and I grew up in a small town next to bushland. Seen more spiders, but I've never had any close encounters with redbacks or funnelwebs. You're a little bit leery of dark crevices and the like, but that's about the extent of the caution.

On the other hand, there's no large dangerous mammals and not much in the way of disease-bearing insects (Ross River virus but no Dengue or Malaria). No rabies in Australia, either, so you don't have to fear bats or rodents in the same way you do elsewhere.

As Cami said, the most dangerous thing in this country is probably the sun.

 

[Camikaze]

There are, however, drop bears.

 

[Arwon]

 

[emzie]

Do you consider the island of New Guinea to be part of Australia (continent)?

 

[Arwon]

I believe geologically it is, but New Zealand is a separate mostly submerged continent.

 

[emzie]

I believe geologically it is, but New Zealand is a separate mostly submerged continent.

Geologically and biologically it's undoubtedly part of the same continent. I'm curious about perception though. Some Americans consider North America to end at the Rio Grande. I was wondering if it was the same there.

 

[Camikaze]

When I was at school, we were taught that the continent and country of Australia were coterminous. I very much doubt anyone would think NG is part of 'Australia' the continent. Some people might think of it as part of the same continent as Australia the country, but then they'd probably identify the continent as 'Oceania' or 'Australasia'. I think people look at the world in terms of regions more than continents, though. Which makes more sense when most of your neighbours are islands.

 

[Arwon]

Yeah I'd say coterminousness is the dominant perception... but I don't think most people would think that hard. I don't think most people would know one way or the other whether New Guinea was part of Australia the continent, if you asked them.

 

[Ajidica]

Serious question: What is the general opinion of Julia Gillard over there? The one Aussie I know in person has an intense dislike of her (I tried to show him the clip of her talking about the end of the world but he refused to watch it because he hates her so much and the carbon tax). While he is crazy what is the general opinion of her?

 

[GenMarshall]

How good is the economy in Australia?