Moving to Austrailia, is there anything i should know?

[joshuaayt]

Well, you say Melbourne, so you should be ok. Just, if you ever do decide to chill out in NSW for any amount of time, DO NOT GO TO THE SUTHERLAND SHIRE.

 

[Hyper-space]

Everyone and everything can and will kill you.

http://www.cracked.com/funny-2797-deadly-australian-animals/

http://www.cracked.com/funny-163-australia/

 

[Doctragon]

TURN BACK WHILE YOU CAN!!!

Nar, Melbourne's a pretty good place. It also holds a HUGE Anime convention also, I think later on in the year (and one on the 20-22nd AUG). It's alot better then Newcastle and if Labyrinth hosts another Aussie get-to-gether, you can train up to Sydney to hang with us. Don't worry, we wont bite. :3

Hey! I was just coming in to say that! I'm trying to get the group, Aussie Escapists to organize a meet-up for Manifest (the Aug anime con Ziadaine mentioned). Are you and Labyrinth from there or a different group, maybe a Sydney specific group? I'm a Melbourne based nerd but I have a few friends up in Sydney I'd love to visit soon, hopefully during a con of some sort so I wouldn't mind getting to know a few more of you!

But to OT, Melbourne is a really great place. Depending where you're living there is quite a few nerdy stores! Minotaur, in the CBD (take a train to Flinders Street), is a great nerdy pop culture (anime, manga, comics, figurines etc) store. Also in the CBD is Comics R Us, Classic Comics, Dungeon Crawl (a video game store), Good Games (CCG's and RPG's, the store also holds competitions and lets people pretty much come in and play whatever they like. They also sell snacks which is awesome during an epic RPG/CCG night!) and a lot of EB Games stores and some various CCG/RPG stores I can't remember the name of right now.

In Chapel Street, Prahran there is Alternative Worlds, also a pop culture store that sells anime, manga, comics, CCG's, RPG's and they hold CCG nights for some CCGs such as L5R and others. There is also a Comics R Us there a few doors down from Alternative Worlds.

In Geelong, there is also a Good Games, there are a few some other places too and I think there is one in Sydney too but I don't remember where exactly.

Ringwood also has a Comics R Us but it is quite small. Ian, the guy who runs it is a fairly nice guy though! In the Ringwood plaza/mall there is a few game stores. An EB, Gamestop and I think a Gamestore, some name like that. They have some good vitage/older games there. I found my copy of Kingdom Hearts and Age of Mythology there.

If you need any more info or want someone to show you around feel free to PM me! Enjoy your time in Melbourne!

All I can say is...I may have seen you before because I often frequent those exact stores in those exact locations.
Also that Ian guy is really friendly, the other games store is called GAME and no matter how many times I try I seem completely unable to find Good Games in the city. :/

This is completely off topic, I know, it just surprised me.

Thanks for correcting me, I seriously had no idea what that store was called. I haven't been in a while and my memory is terrible. It was a very good store though, had some pretty cheap anime I think...

I'm gonna PM you the other stuff I want to say because I'm scared of mods and don't want to be too offtopc. :/

 

[tgr]

Things that will kill you:



All spiders are dangerous, generally red-back (under your toilet seat, in your boots, around your outside garbage bin), white-tail (bite keeps hurting for years afterwards) or any spider that looks like a small black tarantula (Funnel-webs and Mouse Spiders) are very dangerous. Big horrible things that stay in a large web usually aren't dangerous unless you actually provoke them.

Also centipedes, millipedes. Up north they can get like a meter long.

... OK. dammit. That does it. Keep that hellhole, I'm staying here on the opposite side of the planet

 

[Hyzenthlay]

On Public swearing;

swearing in public is illegal.... bitches. (i thought that was relevant)

Wha? lol since when? It really isn't, it's just frowned upon, just like everywhere else. Fuck no that's not fuckin' rele-fucking-vent ya fucked-fucking-fuck-fucker. Your move, logic.

Hell, public swearing isn't even that frowned upon. I've had police swear commonly in conversation. And the occasional 'shit' '*****' or 'bastard' is fine. The only words that may raise an eyebrow are 'fuck' and '****'. That's only around people you aren't familiar with.

WRONG! $100 fines in Queensland for public swearing, read it and weep.
http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland-police-win-new-powers-to-fine-for-public-nuisance-offences/story-e6frfkvr-1225880162115

The only time I've ever seen someone get told to watch their language by a law enforcement figure was when a drunk bogan was trying to fight a police officer on a street corner. They don't usually enforce those laws or almost everyone would have copped a fine at some stage.

 

[Alon Shechter]

Gamers for government are like Jews for Nazis.
That is about it...
Oh , and whenever you see an animal that is not a kangaroo -
RUN! IT WILL KILL YOU!

 

[Angerwing]

On Public swearing;

swearing in public is illegal.... bitches. (i thought that was relevant)

Wha? lol since when? It really isn't, it's just frowned upon, just like everywhere else. Fuck no that's not fuckin' rele-fucking-vent ya fucked-fucking-fuck-fucker. Your move, logic.

Hell, public swearing isn't even that frowned upon. I've had police swear commonly in conversation. And the occasional 'shit' '*****' or 'bastard' is fine. The only words that may raise an eyebrow are 'fuck' and '****'. That's only around people you aren't familiar with.

WRONG! $100 fines in Queensland for public swearing, read it and weep.
http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland-police-win-new-powers-to-fine-for-public-nuisance-offences/story-e6frfkvr-1225880162115

I know, I've seen it before. But swearing is for the most part socially acceptable, which is what I was saying. As I mentioned before, I've had police swear nonchalantly in conversation with me before. And that's only in Queensland.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

Games rated MA are the equivalent of M, MA, R, and/or Banned ratings for films. Enjoy deciphering that.

Expect frequent lag online, so adapt fast. Net Quotas are rough, I've not heard people overseas complaining about them so forgive me if it's the same everywhere.

Do not try to imitate an Australian accent. You know that accent Australians have in all the movies from Hollywood? Yeah, that's not accurate. Most of the time it's immitated, or they hire an Australian actor and train them to get the accent the way it's expected.

We use the metric system, and celsius temperature. It gets bloody hot in the Summer, and cold in the Winter, but it won't snow.

Australians are culturally laid-back and easy going, but don't think everyone will be like that. It's a cultural thing, about as built into the Australian psyche as patriotism in America. Also culturally, power-plays are frowned upon, but are hilarious when they backfire.

It's generally accepted that our government consist of bad choice vs bad choice, but since Australians have to vote or be fined, we try to pick the lesser of two evils.

Tipping is not expected. I tip at the places I go to every day as part of my routine if I have change, but most places are lucky to get that much. There's been a lack of jobs around, but people don't need to survive on tips.

Even working people are likely friendly. If you start up a conversation, they'll probably be happy to chat back. Seems more often then not, if you need help they'll give it to you even it benefits a competitor. Again, see laid-back and easy going. But these are still people, there are jerks and try-hards everywhere, but less so in Australia from my experience.

We have deadly spiders, jellyfish, and snakes. Just use common sense and you'll avoid them. Spiders are very common (especially in rural areas), but keep in mind that not many species of spider will intentionally harm humans. Leave them alone, and they'll leave you alone. Hit the back of your shoes before wearing them first though to be safe, the Brown Recluse is very nasty and likes to hide in those kinds of places. Cross Spiders and Hunstmen on the other hand are good to have around to thin out mosquito populations if you don't mind sharing the space.

On the legal side; age limit on possessing alcohol (including holding empty cans) is 18, driving age is 16. Cartoons are legally people, bestiality/incest or porn of bestiality/incest is very banned, and likewise for porn with small-breasted women. People are legally adults at 16, but cannot appear or participate in adult content until 18.

Oh, and we drive on the Left-side of the road.

EDIT:
If someone calls you a Yank, or Yankee, don't be offended. It's not a derogatory term, although that's what a lot of overseas people seem to think from what I've seen. A lot of people have trouble grasping the aussie slang at first, but you'll get the hang of it, it's not complicated. We know how incorrect (intentionally or not) Australia is portrayed, we've heard all the slang that doesn't exist, but chances are people will use it just around you to mess with your head. More than once I've 'educated' people on the popularity of kangaroo riding.

There's also a lot of friendly rivalry and trash-talking. It was explained to me where it all started but I can't remember, something about convicts and europeans. Anyway, it's not usually taken seriously, but it's very common. For example, Nerang is filled with criminals, Victorians are elitists etc.

And again on the friendly thing: goths, the elderly, bikers, hunters etc. will usually surprise you with how friendly they can be. Basically, that whole 'don't judge a book by it's cover' thing, very important.

 

[Angerwing]

Gamers for government are like Jews for Nazis.
That is about it...
Oh , and whenever you see an animal that is not a kangaroo -
RUN! IT WILL KILL YOU!

Kangaroos can fuck you up savagely. Feet claws sharp enough to gut a man where he's standing, an unnatural affinity for violently baptising things, and the fact that some breeds are 200 pound slabs of muscular meat?

Also your comment about the Jews was both offensive and ignorant.

 

[Alon Shechter]

Gamers for government are like Jews for Nazis.
That is about it...
Oh , and whenever you see an animal that is not a kangaroo -
RUN! IT WILL KILL YOU!

Kangaroos can fuck you up savagely. Feet claws sharp enough to gut a man where he's standing, an unnatural affinity for violently baptising things, and the fact that some breeds are 200 pound slabs of muscular meat?

Also your comment about the Jews was both offensive and ignorant.

I did not try to offend anyone , sometimes it looks like its just true.
I am a Jew myself actually.
As for the kangaroos , They can kill but i think their instincts tell them to run away instead of fight.

 

[subject_87]

Australia has a very large stock of things that can kill you; they box kangaroos to choose their king; they have perfected teleportation, cloaking, and the entire spectrum of the mustache sciences.

 

[cyber_andyy]

You can get Coon Cheese.

*cookie for reference *

 

[Wardnath]

Too much censorship, poor internet and limited release on movies, games, etc.

lolwut? I'll give you the internet one but on the rest of that.... lolwut?

 

[Angerwing]

Gamers for government are like Jews for Nazis.
That is about it...
Oh , and whenever you see an animal that is not a kangaroo -
RUN! IT WILL KILL YOU!

Kangaroos can fuck you up savagely. Feet claws sharp enough to gut a man where he's standing, an unnatural affinity for violently baptising things, and the fact that some breeds are 200 pound slabs of muscular meat?

Also your comment about the Jews was both offensive and ignorant.

I did not try to offend anyone , sometimes it looks like its just true.
I am a Jew myself actually.
As for the kangaroos , They can kill but i think their instincts tell them to run away instead of fight.

I just find it a bit harsh to compare gamers not being allowed 3 or 4 decent games to the biggest atrocity the world has ever seen.

And the big alpha-roos don't want to run. They hate you, and they hate your soul. And they will hold you personally responsible for the night their mother was ran over by a ute.

 

[Alon Shechter]

Gamers for government are like Jews for Nazis.
That is about it...
Oh , and whenever you see an animal that is not a kangaroo -
RUN! IT WILL KILL YOU!

Kangaroos can fuck you up savagely. Feet claws sharp enough to gut a man where he's standing, an unnatural affinity for violently baptising things, and the fact that some breeds are 200 pound slabs of muscular meat?

Also your comment about the Jews was both offensive and ignorant.

I did not try to offend anyone , sometimes it looks like its just true.
I am a Jew myself actually.
As for the kangaroos , They can kill but i think their instincts tell them to run away instead of fight.

I just find it a bit harsh to compare gamers not being allowed 3 or 4 decent games to the biggest atrocity the world has ever seen.

And the big alpha-roos don't want to run. They hate you, and they hate your soul. And they will hold you personally responsible for the night their mother was ran over by a ute.

Sorry , i can awfully exaggerate sometimes.

 

[UberNoodle]

We have overpriced games and crap internet, and we eat our national animals.

There's nothing wrong with eating those. Americans don't eat theirs because it's an eagle! Roos are a great food source.

 

[Shoqiyqa]

...

Cartoons are legally people, bestiality/incest or porn of bestiality/incest is very banned, and likewise for porn with small-breasted women.

I'd forgotten that gem.

Spoiler: Sidetrack

Also reported as "Australia formalises minimum acceptable breast size:"

Australia bans small breasts [http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/australia-bans-small-breasts/]

The Australian Sex Party (ASP) said Wednesday that the Australian Classification Board (ACB) is now banning depictions of small-breasted women in adult publications and films. It comes just a week after it was found that material with depictions of females ejaculating during orgasm are now Refused Classification and Australian Customs directed to confiscate it.

ASP?s Fiona Patten writes on her party?s website that they are starting to see depictions of women in their late 20s being banned because they have an A cup breast size:

This is in response to a campaign led by Kids Free 2 B Kids and promoted by Barnaby Joyce and Guy Barnett in Senate Estimates late last year. Mainstream companies such as Larry Flint?s Hustler produce some of the publications that have been banned. These companies are regulated by the FBI to ensure that only adult performers are featured in their publications.

Comment from Tasmania:

I sure as fuck won't be defending it. Or, for that matter, be doing a lot of laughing at it.

Particularly as this is also being viewed as a test case for a couple of other developed, western nations.

This is actually an extension of a proposed bill to force "at source ISP filters and bans" (I dunno the proper jargon off the top of my head. There are all manner of things wrong about it - the idiocy of "small breasted women" (never mind that television and magasine and shop front ads get away with the depiction of adults as minors all the time) and female ejaculation being deemed unappropriate is just the tip of the iceberg.

In actual fact, it was {redacted} who first brought this to my attention over a year ago - because they held the trials for the proposed system in my state. And guess which was the only state in the country where this didn't make the news feed?

Nope, not impressed.

...

For something (a website or a particular representation of an act) to make it on the blacklist, all that is required is for someone to write in a complaint. That's it. Not discussion, not legal debate or political wrangling. No petitions or mass demonstrations.

Just. One. Letter.

Yeah. It is that fucked up.

As to who is driving and supporting it? Why it's the most openly and strongly "Christian" members of our parliament, with the genesis of the bill (pardon the pun) laying in the suggestions of the Assemblies Of God funded and supported Family First political party. There is qualified (but far from unanimous) support from both the major parties and one of the independents in the Senate.

Wikileaks had a list of affected sites, quoted on blogspot here [http://secretacmabanlist.blogspot.com/].

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

People=Laid back
Government=Draconian

Still not sure how that works.

C'mon, to be a politician in a country like Australia - something has to be off with you to begin with. It's like being made to run the ice cream van, but you aren't allowed any ice cream.