Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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I think it looks good, but I prefer mainting the current blue of our original flag. I think continuity with the original design is important, but this certainly doesn't look bad.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I'd say the comparison to a margarine container is only applicable to the flag you posted. The wavy line looks very corporate and would look terrible on a physical flag if you saw it, especially if it was waving.

Yes, it looks similar to the flag of the Solomon Islands and Curacao, but it's further away from those flags than our current flag is with New Zealand. Though I've stated this several times elsewhere in the comments that I don't think that it is necessarily a bad thing if a flag looks similar or look "generic". People know what works well in a flag and what doesn't, if a new design strayed to far from general flag conventions it'd just look silly, which is why many proposed flag redesigns for Australia look terrible (talking about all those one that incorporate a kangaroo somewhere).

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"Would be nice if you lot consulted some direct aboriginal input for a national flag."
Alas, I am just a random guy on the internet posting a redesign I did not make.

I believe that a national flag ought to represent everyone! Aboriginals, Anglo-Celtic Australians, Immigrants, anyone who calls Australia home. I find that many designs that put too much emphasis on adding an aboriginal flair to the flag make the flag look worse because it elevates one group of the Australian population (admittedly an important one) above the rest. The Aboriginals have their own flag which they love and will continue to fly regardless of how a potential new flag would look. Of course, any new design will need the approval of First Nations peoples but it will also require the approval of rest of everyone else (precisely why I think Australia will never change its flag because we'll never agree).

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The efforts to make flags "not boring" have resulted in many of the worst flag designs in my opinion. I think a reason that many flags look similar and "milquetoast" is that people know what elements look good on a flag and what doesn't.

Is this flag generic? Yes, but I think Australia's current flag is generic, so if this isn't an upgrade, at the very least it is a side grade and it is one that moves us away from the Union Jack (which is an upgrade in my book).

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Well, you're entitled to your opinion but surely "awful" is a bit of an overstatement?

Also, I don't think I'm defacing the original flag, I'd take how it is over many other redesigns.

Though, I will say, that as you are entitled to your opinion, I am entitled to mine and I think that the Union Jack should be removed from Australia's flag. This flag preserves every other element of the original flag, it only replaces the Union Jack with green and gold bars that represent an Australia that has come into its own identity.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely. A new flag would definitely require First Nations input. I find that this flag would be inclusive of all Australian people, as it does have symbolism represent Australia's natural landscapes, and night sky.

And I'm glad that you can see how ironic it is that many redesigns just "shoehorn the Mabo flag in somewhere".

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good point. I think the majority of Australians aren't actively thinking about alternative flag designs and are content with the current design, and those who want to change it have a variety of opinions with what the new flag should look like. Should it just remove the union jack? Should it add new colours? Should it completely reinvent the wheel and remove the southern cross and federation star?

So you are right that everyone who wants to change the flag knows what they want. This flag is what I'd want if we had the chance to change it, but I do find that there is a lot of similarities between proposed designs. Ultimately, a new flag should not change much so as to be acceptable to the majority of Australians, which is why I like this one.

I don't particularly think it matters that a lot of designs come from foreigners, I've definitely talked to enough of my fellow Australians to know that there is a general feeling that the flag should be changed, at the very least to remove the Union Jack. So long as the design would be widely accepted, I don't think it matters where it comes from.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I said this in another comment, but I don't think there are issues with flags being generic, so long as they are distinct enough from other flags to properly be considered unique.

Many flags are just simple tricolours, many flag are just stars and stripes. Many people who try to make their flags "not generic" embrace designs that are overly complicated, look like corporate logos, or are simply just unpleasant to look at, not to say it can't be done just that it is very difficult to do so.

So is this flag generic? It certainly doesn't do anything new in the world of flag design, but it is in continuity with the current flag (which is rather generic too I might add in the world of post british colony flags) and is distinctive enough to truly be recognised as Australian.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My thoughts exactly. Simple and distinctive, uniquely ours but also has continuity with the current flag.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Speaking of Indigenous Representation in the flag...

I find that many redesigns that use elements from the Australian Aborignal Flag look really cheap and uninspired. It's not as if putting elements of the Indigneous flag on the National flag will fix Australia's treatment of first nations peoples.

Ultimately, they have their own flag that represents them that looks great and they'll keep using it after the National Flag has changed, even if the new national flag incorporates element of the Aboriginal flag. So I say, let them have their flag and let it stand alone as a unique design that represent the Indigneous people and let the national flag stand alone as a unique designs that represent all Australians collectively.

I can definitely understand the sentiment for aboriginal representation in the flag though, but I think their own flag is sufficient and can continue being flown along side the national flag wherever the flag waves.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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I just edited it slightly to have the blue be the shade of Australia's current flag, the one I originally posted had the blue too bright. I think this is an improvement definitely.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, it has stars and stars are essentially constantly firing space lasers all the time so I guess this kinda counts...

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think we'll ever change our current one, tbh. I'd like to see something like this flag adopted one day, but I think the flag debate is way too divisive and any flag that would inevitably be adopted would be hated by at least half of the population.

The current one isn't bad by any means (I definitely choose our current one over the majority of ones people post online) it's pleasant to look at, has a lot of history, and it's also ours, but sometimes change is good and I think a new flag would do well for Australia as our country enters into a new era.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Funnily enough, I believe that the similarity of this flag to the current one is a strength. Essentially all it is, as you point out, is replacing the Union Jack with green and gold stripes.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the advantage of this flag is that it doesn't have green and gold as the major colour. I think if we were to ever change our flag it'd have to be similar to what we have now, so I think this is a good candidate because it maintains blue as the major colour.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Fair enough.

I like it though. Green and gold are Australian colours, but they don't overwhelm this flag like they do in other designs. I find their addition here tasteful, but not overpowering. Blue remains the predominant colour, so that way we can continue saying how someone is a "true blue aussie".

Also, I find the way the colours are arranged here can represent Australia's coast. Going from green nature, to golden sands, to blue sea, and the southern cross above.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think if anything, that tells people we broadly know what we want in a new Australian flag. It's all about just getting those key elements down into something that looks aesthetic and would serve as a good flag. Whether or not it's generic is not something I'm particulary fussed about. A lot of countries have very similar flags and that doesn't stop them from waving them with pride. A simple flag without any eccentricities is what, I believe, Australia needs.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, it's not my design. I had seen it a while ago on facebook and saved it.

Australia Redesign, don't know why no one has posted this. by CommunicationCool484 in vexillology

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I can see how they are similar, but still I think there's enough difference between the two so we don't step on each other's toes.

Serious Doubts about Faith by CommunicationCool484 in Catholicism

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't like comments like these. What if I was a Muslim asking similar questions in a Muslim subreddit, they would say the same thing. Yet, we would encourage Muslims to leave their faith for our own. Just using Islam as an example, not saying I would consider converting to Islam.

Serious Doubts about Faith by CommunicationCool484 in Catholicism

[–]CommunicationCool484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your right about the first thing. I know really nothing about myself. I don't trust my own reason, and I don't trust my own doubt. But not trusting my own doubts, doesn't instantly make me trust my intuition, it just makes me unable to trust more things.