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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 8 2004, 09:17 PM (21,690 Views) | |
| Jervis Bay | Nov 13 2004, 07:06 PM Post #301 |
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Regional Affairs Minister, Literary Junkie and Resident DJ
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Heh, that is hilarious. Maybe they are trying to market it to people like me, who by virtue of that fact that I live in sexually liberal Europe, have been able to view "Ken Park" at my leisure - in fact, my local cinema is showing it this week in fact. It is a pity that it has been banned - yes it is a shocking and disturbing film, but at the same time it is one of the best films I have seen in the past year. The production, the themes, the casting has all been superb. It is stupid that Australians are not given the right to choose whether to view such films. Instead, the censorship authority is designed to be more on the side of banning films (you can check out their procedures at the OFLC website), which allows small groups of fundamentalist Christians to control the viewing choices of the population. In fact, one small group from far north Queensland has been able to twist the arm of the OFLC for the past decade, in one case nearly having over 100 albums banned (including works by Eminem), before JJJ publicised it and caused a public backlash. But this hasn't stopped their efforts. It is about time the intelligent people of Australia stood up to this. The arguments that such films lead to rape and violence are lies - Ken Park or no, the rugby league rape scandals still happen - the influences that cause crime and hate in our society are not film, books or even the television - it is lack of education, and the skewed values that our society has for people. Sportsmen are lauded as gods, and they start to behave like them, immune from the law. We need a fundamental shift in Australia to start respecting the people that actually contribute. After the Olympics, even a hardened cynic like myself could see that the praise for the volunteers was the spark that could change our society, but then Australia forgot them, and then public liability wiped out the rest. As a volunteer myself, I watched program after program get squeezed out, and group after group disband because they couldn't sustain themselves. What this all comes down to is that we need to start respecting the people that really matter - the people that are the backbone of Australian society. Not your sportsmen and women, hardworking as they may be, but the volunteers, the educators, the carers. These people work hardest to precent our country from decline, yet they get the least respect. It is time that this changed. (Westaway - Keep on rocking. In my eyes education is one of the most noble vocations that a person can take.) |
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| Westaway | Nov 13 2004, 07:59 PM Post #302 |
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They just keep bouncing :)
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TY jervis
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| Abral Narth | Nov 13 2004, 10:00 PM Post #303 |
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Forum Freedom Fighter
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yeah, especially such an uphill struggle. I mean you can probably get by doing something after year 9 without nfurther education, whioch is why in the uk there are mounting calls for less academic pupils to be taught to lay bricks and plumb (we are short on plumbers, who right now can earn £70k a year) and do the jobs which they will likely end up doing anyway. Just that way we a) teach them skills relevant to their future career and b ) get them into that career quicker rather than them spending years drifting beforehand, possibly contributing to crime. Though I do counter argue that with the fact that you really need at least up to 16 levels of reading and numeracy if you want to get by in life. I dont mean top grade, but at least the the ability to do numbers and read a bit, as being able to read a newspaper feature in five minutes, or count how much money you have in your account and work out if its enough very roughly even with a calculator is something some people dont seem to have any more. But I guess they could include money and reading modules in it, as spending 2 years analyzing full stops and different interpretations of what seems pretty clear in truth and probably is, seemed like a waste to me, and Im at uni now. But yeah the task of the educator is not helped by our system and I very much doubt its any different in Australia. So its a brave choice to try to help anyway, even if you know what you can do has its limits, you are doing all you can to help within those limits. Respect is due.
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| at lantis | Nov 13 2004, 10:46 PM Post #304 |
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Swing those sexy hips!
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The description of your week was mind boggling Westie! One of the guys at work has a wife who is a maths teacher at school. He's always telling me stories about the kids and the stuff they have to put up with. Its bad because, teachers are not legally allowed to discipline the children in any way, and they know it and take full advantage. Of course, teachers don't get that kind of protection, they get harassed by the kids all the time. Not that discipline should be up to the teachers - it should bloody well start at home! Obviously there are also some parental skills lacking, if the new generation have so little respect. |
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| Westaway | Nov 14 2004, 04:32 PM Post #305 |
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They just keep bouncing :)
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The parents believe it's our responsoibility. There's no winning. Iur year 9 and 10 programme is aimed at giving the kids skills required in real life. A large preportion leave once they are old enough...shame really but, all we can do it try to educate. |
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| Bogans and Boozers | Nov 14 2004, 10:00 PM Post #306 |
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Tasmania for the 18th AFL License!
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That would have to be the work of the Family First Nazis. I think in future, I'll just refer to them as the FFN. |
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| Bogans and Boozers | Nov 14 2004, 10:06 PM Post #307 |
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Tasmania for the 18th AFL License!
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The problem is that I never got an opportunity to actually bring up my CV. When I told them I was a uni student, they lost interest and the interview ended abruptly. |
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| at lantis | Nov 15 2004, 08:44 AM Post #308 |
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Swing those sexy hips!
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thats strange - being a uni student is usually an indication of learning, and intelligence. Ok, so they're interested in people with experience, but its always hard to crack into the job market with little experience. Just always emphasise the fact that, although you're not as experienced as you'd like, you're enthusiastic and always willing to learn. unless your marks at uni are not good, i kinda figured that being at university was a good thing for an employer... |
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| Abral Narth | Nov 15 2004, 09:28 AM Post #309 |
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Forum Freedom Fighter
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argh horrible, I think its bad enough that cannible corpse albums are banned in some countries, and they have titles like "meat hook sodomy" (a mild one) freedom of speach an all that. Plus you cant understand death metal anyway. But eminem. Hes weak anyway. I mean he lost his bite after albums 2 when he bcame happy. All kudos to him. He should have stopped and retired and been happy then though, rather than ruining his legacy. as for the uni student thing, maybe they wanted someone full time all the time. You are better off offering yourself as a dogsbody. Someone who will be their bitch for a handful of weeks every year, at which point they can give everyone else thier holidays. Everyone wins. Normal jobs in uni time suck. I just work flat out in holidays and have fun at term time. Basically what at lantis said. Ypu offer yourself as willing to learn and work hard. Being a uni student is eomthing that you shouldnt hide, nor bring up straight away. Just as necessary... |
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| Trento | Nov 15 2004, 09:52 AM Post #310 |
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Trento
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i hav absolutely no idea what you guys are talking about, who wants a beer
:beer: ? My B'day in 2 days
What holiday dyu guys rekon is better, Australia Day or Christmas?
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| at lantis | Nov 15 2004, 12:55 PM Post #311 |
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Swing those sexy hips!
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eminem was awful from day one, imo. for some reason, i never took to him at all. ban him - no big loss
do we actually have a provision for freedom of speech in our consitution? i like working and uni at the same time - its a tight schedule, and it can be exhausting, but i like it anyway, for some strange reason... (and no, i don't really need the money) and for the record, Christmas is way better than Australia day! (although I truly like the fact that its a public holiday )
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| Westaway | Nov 15 2004, 06:09 PM Post #312 |
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They just keep bouncing :)
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Christmas cos of the celebrations and pressies and the fact it's the day an important person was born....I do love birthdays
:dance: Australia Day is also a birthday of sorts so......yay, that's a good day too
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| Jervis Bay | Nov 15 2004, 06:21 PM Post #313 |
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Regional Affairs Minister, Literary Junkie and Resident DJ
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Technically, I shouldn't celebrate either of those public holidays. Considering I am a non-religious person who refers to the 26th as 'Invasion Day', it just seems rather hypocritical of me to actually do anything on those days. However, I still enjoy spending Christmas with my family, and on Australia Day this year, I took advantage of the fact the museums in Sydney were all offering free admission. There was a wonderful exhibit on the Aboriginal Rights Movement, so I got my guilt-free fix. Still, I am not saying that everybody else shouldn't celebrate these days, go nuts. I am just mentioning that I don't. I also recognise that there is no chance of moving "Australia Day" to a more culturally acceptable date, like Federation Day, as this is already New Year's Day, and there is no way in hell that I or any other Aussie would dare give up a public holiday. I'll just stick to observing ANZAC day as the national day. |
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| Abral Narth | Nov 15 2004, 08:16 PM Post #314 |
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Forum Freedom Fighter
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once apon a time, between all that faux chavenism and macho anger he had a point about stuff. He was a man who had seen america from the bottom and realised how horrible it was and how hollow some people were. Im pretty sure there was some immature humour there too. These days I find heavy metal is much better at politics than anyone. They arent big and popular bands, but say Lamb of God are quite happy to rip bush apart in a at least semi intellegent (and thats being hard on them, their criticims is far more articulate and emotive than most people manage) way in thier songs. As for Jervis. *claps* yeah Australia is a wonderful place with great opportunities. Unless you are an aborigine. Not only that but Australia is pretty much closed to immigrants, despite its... origins. Some British colonialists (yuck) deciding they owned a continent. |
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| at lantis | Nov 16 2004, 08:28 AM Post #315 |
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Swing those sexy hips!
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Immigration policy is certainly tighter in recent years, but it has not always been. My family moved here under a liberal immigration policy back in the 80s. I think tightening immigration is crazy and stupid. Australia, being part of the so called 'developed' world, has fertility rates declining at an alarming rate, not to mention that people are having kids later in life as well. Immigration is the thing that will stimulate (or at least maintain) population growth in the future. And they gotta encourage people to stay in the country too, not have them leave all over the place. |
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or Christmas?

10:29 AM Jul 11