Rednecks are an actual joke. Sadly, I'd trade them in for dropbears.
No no, I know rednecks exist. I've met more than a few. Some of them are really nice, they just also love their big trucks, family(fnarr fnarr) and Gridiron. And they get just as shitty as the more pretentious, wanky soccer fans if you call their "Football" by a proper name.
I'm talking about the real crazy cowboy-redneck stereotype with a thick accent that you see pretty much never because it's an enormous exaggerated stereotype, not just your average redneck that ranges from "Actually offensively terrible human being" to "Just some guy that some city wanker didn't like or understand, but are perfectly acceptable people."
Don't worry, I know the sort. I grew up half in the country, it's hard to avoid running into a least a few. I treat them the same as anyone else - Doesn't matter who you are, or what group you belong to, when someone's alright, they're alright, and conversely, a dickhead is still a dickhead. Keep the good ones, fuck off the bad ones. And if you can't fuck them off, just brush them off or deal with it.
To be fair, I like cars, guns, rock music, explosives, and other such noisy, primal things. And I have a cowboy hat, but no qualms about wearing it wherever the fuck I like. To a hell of a lot of people - including quite a few in the city where a number of us are traveling this July, if where I come from isn't enough by itself for them to decide - I'm propably a pretty big redneck.
but do you self identify as a redneck? I'm curious what AUS Redneck is compared to USA Redneck. Perhaps Scott should conduct anthropological studies during his journey.
but do you self identify as a redneck? I'm curious what AUS Redneck is compared to USA Redneck. Perhaps Scott should conduct anthropological studies during his journey.
Not really. But I don't self identify as many things at all, to be honest. It's really not that different here - if you come from the country, if you listen to country music or older rock, if you drive an old, battered ute, your accent is a bit thick for their liking, they're all things than can get you called a redneck, particularly if you have more than one in combination, and particularly by younger, city-based people.
Also, as I strongly implied, a lot of people from Melbourne are going to naturally assume I'm a dumb, racist, uncultured, cousin-fucking, country music listening, liberal-party-voting, red-dust and YeeHaws redneck, based purely on the fact that I'm from Queensland, which a lot of Victorians view as the equivalent to Australia's version of (whichever american state you prefer to think of as the home of rednecks, like Alabama or Georgia, for common examples.) It's kinda fucked up, but that's how it is. Thankfully, I don't think anyone from/living in Melbourne on these forums are quite that flavor of judgmental asshole, but there's no shortage of them down there.
Of course, to be perfectly fair, there's an equal amount of judgmental assholes in my state, who will view people from Melbourne as being Pretentious, self-obsessed soft-cocks who shout "CULTURE CAPITAL AND TRAMS" at the point of climax, since talking about either how horrible the rest of the country is and how amazing, cultured, and public transport filled and generally better than everywhere else "The City, Capital Tee Capital Cee" is by comparison is the only thing that gets their carefully, trendily jaded little selves sexually aroused anymore. Or, in short, that they're basically New Yorkers with funny accents.*
Naturally, that couldn't be further from the truth - Melbourne has a pretty similar ratio of good people to bad as any other place in the country, and needless to say, A)nobody is better than anyone else by pure virtue of their birthplace, and B)most of the judgmental assholes in both places don't actually know that many people from the places they put shit on, and almost never have they actually BEEN there.
But, you get bad apples in every bunch. I just hope nobody here runs into that many of them, from any place. They - the hyper-judgmental sorts from either place, not Melbourne people in general - really just boring, annoying pricks who can't stand that other people are different to them in thought or deed, and feel the need to ridicule people for not being exactly as they are - and nobody really likes those people very much. They're not quite That Guy, but they're just as annoying.
*- I didn't have anyone in mind when I wrote this. It's just a stereotype.
Does anyone know what the prize is for the PAX AUS Omegathon? PAX East goes to Germany. PAX Prime goes to Japan. Where will AUS go? Japan also? Maybe a trip to PAX Prime/East
Does anyone know what the prize is for the PAX AUS Omegathon? PAX East goes to Germany. PAX Prime goes to Japan. Where will AUS go? Japan also? Maybe a trip to PAX Prime/East
China? Thailand? South America? Africa? I honestly don't know. Even a trip through Antarctica is a possibility, it's not that far away - okay, a bit of an out-there suggestion, but still. A trip to Prime or East(or some other US city, if not a PAX event) is certainly not out of the question, either.
A nice indoor option for those with some time to run up a wall during/before/after PAX. There will be about a dozen other climbers in my group of attendees alone so if anyone is in need of a boulder or rope session there will be no shortage of people to belay!
Well, I have my flights and accommodation booked now, so I'm set to be there. I worked out a pretty good way to get cheap flights in Australia, too - ask Jetstar to beat Tiger's prices, which they do by 10%.
I guess they got someone new for the concert at PAX AUS.
They seem similar to Machinae Supremacy to me. Obviously they aren't metal in any way. But MaSu plays metal while incorporating the chiptunes. These guys are a hipster indie rock band that incorporates the chiptune. Rather than being chiptunes first, they are a traditional band first that brings in the 8-bit instruments.
I'm vaguely looking at (PAX and fucking around generally Melbourne itself aside):
1. Hiking somewhere interesting (bushwalk: I can pay for a guide for a small group of us).
2. Those go-karts.
3. Phillip Island.
4. Possibly skiing for a day.
I basically want to plan these lynchpins (and some of the scheduled Melbourne proper events), and then fuck about the rest of the time as fuckabouts come.
I am considering flying to Sydney for a bit after I'm done with the Melbourne area before flying home (or to some other destination for work), but that's neither here nor there. Tasmania for a few days is also vaguely considered, but again, neither here nor there. ;^)
I have spent most of my life in Tasmania and wholeheartedly advocate it's hiking potential. A lightning tour landing at Launceston and heading to Cradle Mountain / Wineglass Bay would be my recommendation if you are considering a brief trip Tassie way. Hobart is a beautiful city. Think Melbourne but smaller. Same cafe / art scene.
Skiing in Australia is 'fine' but pales next to that offered by a quick flight to New Zealand. That said Mt Hotham does have a regional airport making a day trip a real possibility. 40 minutes flight from Melbourne.
No offense but skiing in Australia seems like a waste of time. Although being in Victoria you'll get the best ski mountains Australia has to offer as far as I've been informed.
This shit is real. I just bought some travel insurance. Mostly it's just to pay for that rare incident where I have to pay for expensive anti-venom after I get poisoned.
This shit is real. I just bought some travel insurance. Mostly it's just to pay for that rare incident where I have to pay for expensive anti-venom after I get poisoned.
Aw dude, universal public healthcare! If it's an emergency, you're all chill. I mean, you have to get a medicare card eventually if you're staying, but you'll be fine. Also, in the middle of melbourne, you're more likely to be bitten by a hipster, and I don't think they have an anti-venom for that. It's like Lycanthropy. Hipanthropy.
This shit is real. I just bought some travel insurance. Mostly it's just to pay for that rare incident where I have to pay for expensive anti-venom after I get poisoned.
Aw dude, universal public healthcare! If it's an emergency, you're all chill. I mean, you have to get a medicare card eventually if you're staying, but you'll be fine. Also, in the middle of melbourne, you're more likely to be bitten by a hipster, and I don't think they have an anti-venom for that. It's like Lycanthropy. Hipanthropy.
Realistically I'm more worried about covering if I miss a flight connection, if my bags don't make it, etc.
I'm vaguely looking at (PAX and fucking around generally Melbourne itself aside):
1. Hiking somewhere interesting (bushwalk: I can pay for a guide for a small group of us).
2. Those go-karts.
3. Phillip Island.
4. Possibly skiing for a day.
Rym there is little massive hiking around Melbourne - I reckon you have two options - get yourself to the airport and fly somewhere or wander around the botanic gardens in town. However if you are still champing at the bits for some hiking in the Aussie forests we have just come back from the Grampians, 3 hours by car west of Melbourne, where we stayed overnight in halls gap and returned the next day - it has small range of hills formed as a national park - kangaroos abound and the trails are decent (http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Grampians.aspx). That's one of the options I guess but if you are at the airport you can fly anywhere - NZ tramping just kills anything Aussie but is much wetter and colder this time of year. I know this is not possible with your limited time but if you jumped on a flight to Queenstown you could ski you tits off (http://www.nzski.com/mountain.jsp?site=coronetpeak) and then go do a tramp its not a good idea but the Milford Track (best in summer) is a great hike http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/fiordland/northern-fiordland/milford-track/ but you would need major gear this time of year - huts are good but its an harsh environment - when we did it we had 28 inches of rain (yep) over 5 days. Basically Queenstown is like being in the Lord of the Rings without the dwarves - you will take a ton of pics (unless its raining).
Have not been to Philip island - does not look that exciting, skiing in Aussie - you will just be dissapointed mate
Realistically I'm more worried about covering if I miss a flight connection, if my bags don't make it, etc.
IF that happens - and you're an experienced traveler, you should be fine - Call me or text me. I'll give you my number at some point, we'll get you sorted just fine.
Realistically I'm more worried about covering if I miss a flight connection, if my bags don't make it, etc.
IF that happens - and you're an experienced traveler, you should be fine - Call me or text me. I'll give you my number at some point, we'll get you sorted just fine.
My connection is in LA. I know how to handle it. Basically just go and talk to the airline to get a seat on the next flight. I bought the insurance because I really don't trust any airline but JetBlue not to screw up. If my lack of confidence is unfounded in Quantas, then everything goes smoothly. If I am right, and they screw up, I get money to make up for the lack of smoothness. Thus, it is guaranteed everything will be just fine.
Comments
I'm talking about the real crazy cowboy-redneck stereotype with a thick accent that you see pretty much never because it's an enormous exaggerated stereotype, not just your average redneck that ranges from "Actually offensively terrible human being" to "Just some guy that some city wanker didn't like or understand, but are perfectly acceptable people."
As a side note, I once trolled a super racist member of that branch of the family by calling him and letting him know my sister was dating a Hispanic.
He had a heart attack the next day.
The way I see it, I was doing my part to thin the gene pool. He survived, however.
To be fair, I like cars, guns, rock music, explosives, and other such noisy, primal things. And I have a cowboy hat, but no qualms about wearing it wherever the fuck I like. To a hell of a lot of people - including quite a few in the city where a number of us are traveling this July, if where I come from isn't enough by itself for them to decide - I'm propably a pretty big redneck.
Also, as I strongly implied, a lot of people from Melbourne are going to naturally assume I'm a dumb, racist, uncultured, cousin-fucking, country music listening, liberal-party-voting, red-dust and YeeHaws redneck, based purely on the fact that I'm from Queensland, which a lot of Victorians view as the equivalent to Australia's version of (whichever american state you prefer to think of as the home of rednecks, like Alabama or Georgia, for common examples.) It's kinda fucked up, but that's how it is. Thankfully, I don't think anyone from/living in Melbourne on these forums are quite that flavor of judgmental asshole, but there's no shortage of them down there.
Of course, to be perfectly fair, there's an equal amount of judgmental assholes in my state, who will view people from Melbourne as being Pretentious, self-obsessed soft-cocks who shout "CULTURE CAPITAL AND TRAMS" at the point of climax, since talking about either how horrible the rest of the country is and how amazing, cultured, and public transport filled and generally better than everywhere else "The City, Capital Tee Capital Cee" is by comparison is the only thing that gets their carefully, trendily jaded little selves sexually aroused anymore. Or, in short, that they're basically New Yorkers with funny accents.*
Naturally, that couldn't be further from the truth - Melbourne has a pretty similar ratio of good people to bad as any other place in the country, and needless to say, A)nobody is better than anyone else by pure virtue of their birthplace, and B)most of the judgmental assholes in both places don't actually know that many people from the places they put shit on, and almost never have they actually BEEN there.
But, you get bad apples in every bunch. I just hope nobody here runs into that many of them, from any place. They - the hyper-judgmental sorts from either place, not Melbourne people in general - really just boring, annoying pricks who can't stand that other people are different to them in thought or deed, and feel the need to ridicule people for not being exactly as they are - and nobody really likes those people very much. They're not quite That Guy, but they're just as annoying.
*- I didn't have anyone in mind when I wrote this. It's just a stereotype.
A nice indoor option for those with some time to run up a wall during/before/after PAX. There will be about a dozen other climbers in my group of attendees alone so if anyone is in need of a boulder or rope session there will be no shortage of people to belay!
A few of my peers just mentioned this as an extra activity during our Melbourne visit.
They seem similar to Machinae Supremacy to me. Obviously they aren't metal in any way. But MaSu plays metal while incorporating the chiptunes. These guys are a hipster indie rock band that incorporates the chiptune. Rather than being chiptunes first, they are a traditional band first that brings in the 8-bit instruments.
I'm vaguely looking at (PAX and fucking around generally Melbourne itself aside):
1. Hiking somewhere interesting (bushwalk: I can pay for a guide for a small group of us).
2. Those go-karts.
3. Phillip Island.
4. Possibly skiing for a day.
I basically want to plan these lynchpins (and some of the scheduled Melbourne proper events), and then fuck about the rest of the time as fuckabouts come.
I am considering flying to Sydney for a bit after I'm done with the Melbourne area before flying home (or to some other destination for work), but that's neither here nor there. Tasmania for a few days is also vaguely considered, but again, neither here nor there. ;^)
Skiing in Australia is 'fine' but pales next to that offered by a quick flight to New Zealand. That said Mt Hotham does have a regional airport making a day trip a real possibility. 40 minutes flight from Melbourne.
Have not been to Philip island - does not look that exciting, skiing in Aussie - you will just be dissapointed mate
Good luck deciding!