4 ms·

> Having now lived in the UK and Netherlands for over 10 years, I feel this would never happen here. It wouldn't happen in the UK because jaywalking is not a c

> Having now lived in the UK and Netherlands for over 10 years, I feel this would never happen here. It wouldn't happen in the UK because jaywalking is not a crime in UK. Quiet Australians accept authority moreso than UK folk.

dash2 6y ago
> Quiet Australians accept authority moreso than UK folk. This is so far from my stereotype of Aussies that I feel sure it must be a troll, designed to bring out a legion of shirtless, shrimp-barbecuing cobbers, turning the air blue with their feelings about authority.
- marcus_holmes 6y ago
  Dual-national UK/Aussie here (ethnically a "Pom" then). It's definitely true. Australia loves the smack of firm government and is quietly very, very authoritarian. There's an Aussie term "Wowsers" [0] which is fascinating, as there is no British equivalent term. It often feels like the Wowsers and the Larrikins [1] are fighting an endless battle for Australia's soul. The Wowsers always win. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wowser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wowser [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrikin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrikin
- chocmilk 6y ago
  Aus's acceptance of authority: * Lockout laws * Jaywalking laws * Weaker environmental protests than UK, despite Aus lagging the rest of the world on environmentalism. * Mandatory helmet laws. * Illegal to perform DIY electrics, e.g. change a plug. * International travel currently banned. To leave Australia at the moment would require either exemption, or I relinquish citizenship. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots was the last riot involving shirtless shrimp barbecuing cobbers. Not a proud moment.
  - Nursie 6y ago
    > Illegal to perform DIY electrics, e.g. change a plug. ?? As someone moving to Australia in a few months, I feel like this is something I ought to know about... > International travel currently banned. This is the same in many countries, including the UK right now.
    - chocmilk 6y ago
      "DIY (do it yourself) electrical work is dangerous and illegal." https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/electrical-safety/in-the-home#diy-electrical--why-you-should-think-twice https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/electrical-safety/in-the-home#... Arduino is fine. > This is the same in many countries, including the UK right now. Yes, true in UK during the past 1-2 months of national lockdown? Aus's has been the case for 12 months.
      - Nursie 6y ago
        Is it only 1-2 months? Feels like an eternity... Current lockdown started on the 4th of Jan, and the travel restrictions came in then. We also had lockdown part 2 back in November, for the whole of November, lockdown part 1 from April-June last year, and various degrees of lockdown in between with regional variations... I've lived in Aus before, and I agree it's great for many reasons, am looking forward to being back. On the electrical thing, I know there are some restrictions on what you can do in the UK - putting in new circuits, adding new lighting circuits etc. I've pushed the boundaries a bit here AFAICT by fixing a lighting circuit* and swapping a few single sockets for doubles. Other work like putting cat 6 in the walls I did myself without a thought. Looks like I need to take a look at the regs. ( * the light switch in our bedroom somehow flicked between "one bulb on" and "two bulbs in series", with no off setting ) (oh wow, you're right, I can't change a light fitting, or even legally change a plug from UK -> Aus without breaking the law. Will have to buy new cables where I can, maybe change one or two plugs before I leave!)
      - bubblethink 6y ago
        This page is tragically funny. It ends with 'You should never attempt to carry out any electrical maintenance other than changing a light globe.'

dash2 6y ago

> Quiet Australians accept authority moreso than UK folk. This is so far from my stereotype of Aussies that I feel sure it must be a troll, designed to bring out a legion of shirtless, shrimp-barbecuing cobbers, turning the air blue with their feelings about authority.

marcus_holmes 6y ago
Dual-national UK/Aussie here (ethnically a "Pom" then). It's definitely true. Australia loves the smack of firm government and is quietly very, very authoritarian. There's an Aussie term "Wowsers" [0] which is fascinating, as there is no British equivalent term. It often feels like the Wowsers and the Larrikins [1] are fighting an endless battle for Australia's soul. The Wowsers always win. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wowser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wowser [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrikin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrikin
chocmilk 6y ago
Aus's acceptance of authority: * Lockout laws * Jaywalking laws * Weaker environmental protests than UK, despite Aus lagging the rest of the world on environmentalism. * Mandatory helmet laws. * Illegal to perform DIY electrics, e.g. change a plug. * International travel currently banned. To leave Australia at the moment would require either exemption, or I relinquish citizenship. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots was the last riot involving shirtless shrimp barbecuing cobbers. Not a proud moment.
- Nursie 6y ago
  > Illegal to perform DIY electrics, e.g. change a plug. ?? As someone moving to Australia in a few months, I feel like this is something I ought to know about... > International travel currently banned. This is the same in many countries, including the UK right now.
  - chocmilk 6y ago
    "DIY (do it yourself) electrical work is dangerous and illegal." https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/electrical-safety/in-the-home#diy-electrical--why-you-should-think-twice https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/electrical-safety/in-the-home#... Arduino is fine. > This is the same in many countries, including the UK right now. Yes, true in UK during the past 1-2 months of national lockdown? Aus's has been the case for 12 months.
    - Nursie 6y ago
      Is it only 1-2 months? Feels like an eternity... Current lockdown started on the 4th of Jan, and the travel restrictions came in then. We also had lockdown part 2 back in November, for the whole of November, lockdown part 1 from April-June last year, and various degrees of lockdown in between with regional variations... I've lived in Aus before, and I agree it's great for many reasons, am looking forward to being back. On the electrical thing, I know there are some restrictions on what you can do in the UK - putting in new circuits, adding new lighting circuits etc. I've pushed the boundaries a bit here AFAICT by fixing a lighting circuit* and swapping a few single sockets for doubles. Other work like putting cat 6 in the walls I did myself without a thought. Looks like I need to take a look at the regs. ( * the light switch in our bedroom somehow flicked between "one bulb on" and "two bulbs in series", with no off setting ) (oh wow, you're right, I can't change a light fitting, or even legally change a plug from UK -> Aus without breaking the law. Will have to buy new cables where I can, maybe change one or two plugs before I leave!)
    - bubblethink 6y ago
      This page is tragically funny. It ends with 'You should never attempt to carry out any electrical maintenance other than changing a light globe.'