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America got the Religious Nuts.
Australia got the Criminals.

Sadly they got the better end of the bargain.

Not sure who you mean by "they" but many of the "Criminals" who were sent to Australia were sent for utterly trivial things. For example this site states:

Many of the Convicts were sent to Australia for quite odd crimes. For example, Irish catholics were transported for simply looking suspicious. Likewise, political reformers were transported to trying to form unions, suggesting politicians get paid and promoting the French revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity.

By today's standards, all of the Convicts sent to Australia had only committed trivial crimes.

It's an interesting read.

I'm an Australian myself, and it saddens me to say that you might have a point there. Australia's legendary convict streak has always been counterbalanced by a lurking streak of repressive authoritarianism of a kind which, if permitted to fully express itself, would make the UK's big brother state look tame.

Some links may not be safe for work, essentially because of the nature of this topic. If you work in such a place, don't click the links.

The interest in the sexual habits of another culture is a very human interest. If you give people from other cultures access to the Internet they of course are going to search for it.

You seem to have a problem with physical expression. Is there something I can do to help? Can I refer a professional for you?

here's a short list of things invented down under. like football, and the refridgerator, and Ultrasound, and the Black box flight recorder, and the Scramjet.

http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/inventions .htm

you merkins think you as so clever, " 1995 - Jindalee Radar System - The United States of America spent $11 billion developing an aeroplane that could not be detected by radar. Scientists at the CSIRO then concluded that if the plane could not be detected, perhaps the turbulance it makes passing through air could be. $1.5 million later, the Jindalee Radar system had transformed the stealth bomber into nothing more than an unusual looking aircraft."

haha

thanks for the insight into different gun "groups" or "cultures" in the US.


Okay...I'm curious. Why would cut down anyone "who's head stick up too

good question!

Rosey Golds, a social commentator for ABC radio (Australian Broadcasting Commission) says:
"The tall poppy syndrome expressed our great reluctance to defer to authority figures (and thus establish a new class system) and our abhorrence towards a society predicated on the worship of money. We mocked the desire to impress. There was a great Australian proverb used to describe the wealthy graziers who came down from the country on holiday breaks flaunting their Akubras - the wider the brim the smaller the property "

We do it because of our background. We are by nature very cynical of authority figures. Many friends of mine in the USA think they are cynical of their political figures...but they haven't seen Australian cynicism. We often give our pollies no respect at all.

A certain amount if cynicism is good. But not too much. Another advantage of our "tall poppy syndrome" is that we treat people based on their substance...IE who they are...not how big a car they drive, what title they have, or other such social standings. In social interaction, we very rarely introduce ourselves with titles (IE Doctor, Professor, Coach, Reverend etc etc). Nor do use those titles (An exeption would be a doctor of medicine, but we would only call them doctor whilst at the hospital. At the pub we would call them Bruce). I was amazed once when visiting the states with my parents (My mum is a General Practicioner...ie a Doc). When shoping in a department store, people would call us "Sir" or "Maam" (Which is weird for us!). But when they saw Mum's credit card with "Dr" on their...we all of a sudden would get red carpet treament. Sales assistants would be there ready to help, calling her "Doctor". It was very strange, unheard of to get better treament because of your profession in Australia. When Dad visits the USA (or has colleauges visit him), every American calls him "Doctor" (He's got a PHD). I've never seen it happen here.

With all cultural things, there are often reasons why things happen that way...but as always too much can be very bad.

Sites you may find interesting is
this one. I found it using google, so haven't read it before (and thus may not agee exactly with what it says).

Mike

I've lived in Australia most my life, but have spent several years living in the USA and UK

If you must know, the Australian bastardisation of the English language is known as 'Strine'.