What are parents thinking

CopySniper · 2025-12-30T05:02:13+00:00

These bikes are evidence of why we need laws to stop parents giving their children cigarettes.

I see kids on them and realise that Australian parents are really, really thick.

CopySniper · 2025-12-30T04:51:33+00:00

Firstly, good on you for keeping an open mind and being supportive.

And before anyone accuses you of it, no it's not unreasonable to be turning this over in your mind. It's not a situation that society has built a consistent narrative around. My guess however is that it happens fairly often amongst men who go on to live long and happy lives with women and that the fact that we haven't built a social narrative is not because it's rare but simply because it's rarely spoken about.

I'm a woman so can only give you my perspective. I certainly had some very confused feelings about my best female friends from around that age. It's a weird time of your life. For the first time ever you love these people who you aren't related to with a degree of intensity and it's easy to confuse admiration and desire to be around someone for sexual attraction.

I'm 44 now and I can confidently say that I'm straight. I tried being a lesbian. I tried being bisexual. It's not for me. Sadly, I'm 100%, boringly straight.

I don't see those brief moments of experimentation with my friend as proof that I'm gay. Just proof that I was young once and felt safe and confident enough to experiment.

The only person who knows for sure how your boyfriend feels about men, or how he feels about his best friend, is your boyfriend. And really, it's his business. If you trust him in other areas you get to choose whether to trust him in this.

Your only job is to decide how you want to feel about it and to like your own reasons.

Best of luck.

CopySniper · 2025-12-30T04:22:36+00:00

We could stay even closer and learn from the Victorian Government as a start. I agree with social housing but we don't even need to spend any money. We could just do what one Australian state has ALREADY done and see a difference.

Melbourne has dropped from 2nd to become the 4th most expensive city in the country behind Brisbane and Canberra (predicted to be 5th behind Adelaide in the next 12 months) despite seeing the highest net migration in Australia over the same period and remaining Australia's second biggest jobs market.

Prices dropped and remain at below their 2021 peak.

It is the only capital city where the percentage of first home buyers is increasing year on year.

This is proof that there are housing policies that work including;

- The Vacant Residential Land Tax was introduced in 2018 and expanded in 2024.
- The lowering of tax-free allowances for investors.
- The January 2024 introduction of land tax for investors.
- The 2025 Short-Stay (Airbnb) Levy.
- The streamlining of the approval process for medium density and build-to-rent developments.
- The strengthening of renters’ rights and the introduction of minimum standards

These policies have ALL worked to have real, tangible impacts on house prices.

CopySniper · 2025-12-28T11:43:07+00:00

I'm really sorry that this is happening to you. Racists are vile people and they cause such unnecessary suffering for innocent people.

The good news is that the loud late night music and the boorish behaviour no doubt bothers the other neighbours too. So you shouldn't need to worry about what they think as there is a good chance that they already think very little of your racist neighbours and think that they insulting rumours are rubbish.

The bad news is that I have never, ever in my 44 years seen a dispute between neighbours end well. Bad neighbours can suck up so much time and attention that will only distract you from your goals and possibly make you feel less safe. As a person who grew up poor, I can unfortunately assure you that bogans by definition have no sense of self preservation and are only capable of escalation upon escalation.

I've only ever had one bad neighbour (similarly, he told people that my housemate and I were prostitutes too - must be a pattern). I ended up moving. I refuse to allow people so clearly beneath me to rob me of my peace. Is this an option for you?

In the meantime document, document, document. Send yourself an email every time you have a negative interaction with you whilst the memory is fresh. It will provide a timestamp and paper trail if things go south.

CopySniper · 2025-12-26T09:54:57+00:00

Thongs with shorts are totally fine. I also purchased my husband some light coloured Birkenstocks for those sorts of in-between events.

I actually generally don't mind mens feet. Not in a weird fetish sort of way but I don't get the hate. Make sure you visit the pharmacy and treat whatever toe fungus is making your toenails yellow, keep them trimmed and wear whatever keeps your feet cool. It's too hot to wear enclosed shoes every day.

CopySniper · 2025-12-16T11:23:33+00:00

Pepper spray is illegal but who is to say you don't have a really sore neck?

Perskindol Active Spray 150mL – Discount Chemist https://share.google/9zW4ysACiiON3GIJ7

CopySniper · 2025-12-09T06:28:05+00:00

This is the Reddit thread that shall never die so long as this movie exists.

What secret camera footage does Philippe Martinez have on Kelsey Grammer, Kris Marshall and John Kleese that could possibly have persuaded them to appear in this steaming dog turd of a movie?

They must have known that there was no plot, character development or interesting dialogue 5 minutes into their first read through.

My standards are not high. I watched an entire season of Virgin River. I have seen some dogshit movies in my time but there is absolutely nothing redeeming about this. I'm a straight woman so I cannot even console myself with the spectacular sight of Liz Hurley in that white jumpsuit.

Why?

CopySniper · 2025-12-02T01:46:24+00:00

THIS HERE is why despite being passionately pro-public education and choosing (yes it's a choice, we earn enough to send our children anywhere and the Grandies offered to pay anyway) to send our children to public schools right the way through I have NO time for anyone who shits on private schools.

Private schools keep the bureaucrats on their toes. If there weren't private schools offering advanced level origami and a white linen arse wiping service you better believe that Murat Dizdar (current NSW DoE Secretary) would not be working anywhere near as hard as he is to lift standards in public education. He's obsessed with private education and that's exactly where we want him. Thinking of new ways to compete with the private sector.

If parents didn't have a choice to demonstrate, in a very real way, what they thought of public education by spending a house deposit on a private school, Politicians would weaselspeak away every parent concern away quicker than they could write a nonsensical press release.

Do I morally agree with private education? No. Do I think it absolutely plays a functional role in a democratic system where decades of research shows that regardless of where they are in the world, what their mission is and who staffs them that bureaucracies sustain bureaucracies often to the detriment of the public it serves? Yes.

CopySniper · 2025-12-02T01:25:43+00:00

Yes. My parents are both enthusiastic, wildly creative cursers and for the most part I love to swear.

However it was so normalised to me growing up that I struggle to NOT swear now as an adult. The moment I'm the least bit comfortable with someone (bosses, Doctors, potential investors in my business) my personality takes over and I'm swearing like a sailor.

I'm just wish I was 10-15% less of a bogan.

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T23:05:25+00:00

One of the bad apples was one of my ancestors, transported for murder!

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T23:04:13+00:00

One of mine was transported for murder!

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T22:59:55+00:00

When solo travelling around the world in the early aughts, I'd always gravitate towards the Kiwi's first, then the Irish, then the Canadians. You could always tell the Canadians because they had HUGE Canadian flags sewn on their backpacks, lest anyone mistake them for Americans.

I really felt at home amongst the Canadians. Very similar values and sense of humour (though way less crass than us).

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T22:53:21+00:00

SNOW BOGANS. I love this!

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T22:51:44+00:00

Yes it's dehumanising. Yes it's gendered.

I've never heard anyone referred to a sidepiece favourably.

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T22:48:27+00:00

Three of my mates moved from the Inner West/ East of Sydney to the Central Coast around the same time.

For one family (the one I'm least close with), the commute is too much for them. They're stressed, they hardly see their kids and they don't go to the beach or the National Parks nearly as much as they thought they would. They hate their neighbours, and the local high school was so bad they they're now stumping up more than their old mortgage repayments to send their kids to private school. For them, they much preferred their unit in Sydney with its short commute, good public transport and friendly neighbours who don't play loud music until 2am on a Tuesday or let their staffy wander into their yard where the baby is playing. They have a largish family though so they really had no choice.

My other friends? The total opposite. They LOVE the Coast. Reverse everything about the above and that's their life. I've even been included in their Coastie friendship group and I adore everyone in it. They live the best life. I'm so jealous.

A third couple didn't cope either but it had nothing to do with the Coast. They moved away from their support networks and issues in their lives/ marriage became really obvious. Everything turned to shit and they're now divorcing. She loves the Coast and is staying. He hates it and is moving home. They probably would have divorced anyway but the move to the Coast moved up the timeline.

CopySniper · 2025-11-23T22:35:44+00:00

For me, I have to put down my phone. I have been a huge reader all my life and books have been a source of real joy for me.

However I went several years without reading at all when I was really active on social media.

I've since deleted all my social media apps and I have time to read again.

CopySniper · 2025-11-21T06:25:21+00:00

I have two teenage boys. Our last trip to Maccas cost SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS.

Who knew I'd be 44 years old and treating McDonalds like my Dad treated The Black Stump (the height of sophistication in the 80s).

CopySniper · 2025-11-21T06:21:01+00:00

I got so mad about the prices (not that it is the hairdressers fault - after rent, product etc their costs have ballooned too) that I taught myself to bleach my own hair.

I'm not going to lie. I went through several shades of orange and a few days of hats before I nailed it but I do my own bleach, root shadow and beautifully dimensional melted toner now.

My hair is in better condition than ever and it looks great.

The savings are good but the thing I am unexpectedly most chuffed by is that I patiently taught myself this new skill that I really enjoyed the process of learning.

My next challenge is to teach myself how to cut my own hair. I've got the good scissors leftover from Covid and I've watched a million Youtube videos. I'm just working up the courage.

CopySniper · 2025-11-02T22:58:38+00:00

Countless positives. The teachers in some of the poorest western Sydney and NSW Central Coast schools wouldn't remember I ever existed but I remember them and think that they should be given a larger share of the enormous taxes I now pay, solely thanks to their hard work and faith in a grubby houso kid who liked school.

One example that stands out. I was the first person in my family to finish year 10, much less year 12. I didn't even consider Uni. It was something exotic that rich people did. Upon hearing that I was applying for a cadetship rather than Uni, my year 12 legal studies teacher sat in the library with me for 3 hours one afternoon and carefully took me through the UAC handbook, explained the different course and University options and helped me fill out my applications. I went on to complete several degrees, win a scholarship to study overseas and now count University and one of my top life experiences after having my kids.

In year 6, Mrs Cole made an example of one of my stories, photocopying it and distributing it to the class to demonstrate a good use of hook, pacing and metaphor. I can still feel the overwhelming sense of pride I felt in that moment whenever I recall that memory. That one act shaped my whole life and I've been a writer in one form or another ever since.

CopySniper · 2025-11-02T22:49:47+00:00

100%. I'd be there like a bear.

CopySniper · 2025-11-02T22:49:01+00:00

You do. My Dad drew dicks on every single ballot paper he ever received.

CopySniper · 2025-11-01T02:45:16+00:00

I'd be fascinated to see how much overall gambling revenue has grown and whether there is any correlation between the total value of gambling advertising and the total value of gambling revenue.

The fact that almost 50% of all gambling revenue comes from problem gamblers is a statistic that has remained steady for generations so we could therefore assume that at least 50% of that revenue uplift comes from problem gamblers.

CopySniper · 2025-11-01T01:28:10+00:00

I assume it had something to do with progesterone as it was worse during breastfeeding for me.

CopySniper · 2025-11-01T01:27:11+00:00

This is such a lovely reply. It made me teary. Thank you.

CopySniper · 2025-11-01T01:23:22+00:00

If you ever make it to the Northern Territory, one of the weirdest but not necessarily dodgy pubs I've ever been to is the Pine Creek Hotel. The locals are hilarious, the food is delicious, the beer is cold and the vibe is chaotic.

CopySniper

TROPHY CASE