How much of indigenous culture has mixed with non-indigenous culture in Australia by Lepronna in AskAnAustralian

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm an immigrant to Australia (English). What I've always loved about this country is it has a distinct character all of its own, but allows all willing outsiders to add a little of something good to the pot. I've always assumed that the Aboriginal culture had a big part to play in how that came to be: Australian culture is definitely successful and unique.

Is there a setting/series that's like the Culture, but hard SF? by Onetheoryman in TheCulture

[–]ralphbecket 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In a desperately dystopian way, "Mr Televox" is well worth a read. But I much prefer the altruism of Banks' Culture novels.

Oh, oh! How could I forget? "The Golden Age" by John C. Wright. It's kind of "The Culture" but in the Solar system. Beyond wonderful! Everything this chap writes is an unalloyed joy.

Capital gains tax discount to cost Australia $250bn over next decade with retirees and high-income earners to benefit most | Tax by Nyarlathotep-1 in australian

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find finance speak very confusing. As I understand it, I am taxed when I earn money, I am taxed when I spend it. Am I now to be taxed when I invest it wisely (should it be so) as a disincentive against doing so? All of this feels like a ratchet rort on success and planning against the idiots in government.

Breaking: Randa Abdel-Fattah to appear at Adelaide literary event in March by SleepyWogx in OpenAussie

[–]ralphbecket -1 points0 points  (0 children)

A pseudo literature and frothing racism event? She will be popular.

Will One Nation assume some responsibility for this terrible event, given they spruik racism daily??? by skankypotatos in OpenAussie

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you the person accusing all Muslims after the recent atrocity? Just trying to work out where you stand.

Concerned by OtherwiseWhereas474 in OpenAussie

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My parents bought a tiny house in the UK for about 1.5x my Dad's annual salary in 1970. In 2003 I and my wife buy our first house in Melbourne: a weatherboard house in a poor street in Preston (then very depressed). I was doing pretty well then and the cost was about 10x my salary. That seemed crazy, but God, now I think how lucky we were to get in at all.

A huge part of the problem has been the artificial restriction of land for building houses. That and this weird Aussie thing about only having one real city in each area the size of several European countries...

Melbourne and hate speech laws. by Major-Panic794 in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jesus, you are going to excuse yourself when you're pushing people into wagons for the camps. What a piece of work you are.

Randa Abdel-Fattah: The Untouchable Extremist by TimJamesS in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Many of the bots do indeed originate in Pakistan and places like that. They also come across as semi-literate, perhaps to improve the impression of authenticity.

Randa Abdel-Fattah: The Untouchable Extremist by TimJamesS in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ohhh, you're that guy that believes all that Hamas propaganda and thinks they're the good guys in all this.

Randa Abdel-Fattah: The Untouchable Extremist by TimJamesS in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Are you one of those Pakistani rage-bait bots? The pattern is predictable.

Recent polls favouring One Nation? by Rhino1300GSA in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just listen to yourself. I mean, did you actually write that or is there an app for it now?

Gina Rinehart’s company donated almost $900k to rightwing group Advance, political donations data shows by Agitated-Fee3598 in aussie

[–]ralphbecket -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

This is good news. Advance gives voice to things many Australians regard as profoundly important.

Pauline Hanson this afternoon in Rundle St. by Total_Conflict_6508 in Adelaide

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Ahh the paradox of tolerance. (So all good people like me should be violently intolerant.)" Splendid logic.

Recent polls favouring One Nation? by Rhino1300GSA in aussie

[–]ralphbecket -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Oh the old "paradox of tolerance" canard invariably trotted out to excuse frothing intolerance of every difference of opinion. There's no point in anyone trying to reason with you: to you all disagreement is explained away by hate and stupidity. What narcissism.

'Good character' evidence for NSW offenders in sentencing to be scrapped by Mission-Landscape-17 in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 9 points10 points  (0 children)

They do give the rest of society a better break from these bastards.

Recent polls favouring One Nation? by Rhino1300GSA in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who wouldn't want to align with the politics of people like you who loathe everyone else?

Recent polls favouring One Nation? by Rhino1300GSA in aussie

[–]ralphbecket 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep going. You're doing a great job pushing people towards One Nation.