12 April 2012

Jeez Mardi, way to sell your home to the world

| johnboy
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The SMH has a lengthy piece on the torrent of abuse unleashed on Canberra last night on American TV (and on Eleven last night too where it raised my eyebrows).

If Guy Pearce wants to slag us off I guess that’s fine, and who cares what Ajay Rochester thinks about anything.

But local girl “Mardi” seems to think the only thing worth doing in Canberra is going to Sydney.

Which suggests to me she really needs to get out more, or possibly stay there.

So does anyone know this woman (the one on the right)?

mardi

Perhaps Craig should at least make a visit before devoting his show to slagging off 300,000 people.

Here’s the full horror show:

If the embedded player isn’t working you can see it on Eleven’s catch-up site.


UPDATE 12/04/12 12:40: Multiple sources have confirmed it’s one Mardi Croke of Jerrabomberra, who frequently stars in the Queanbeyan Age on netball related matters. Trading up Quangers for Canberra just to slag it seems like an odd strategy.


UPDATE 12/04/12 13:37: And for those whom Eleven is not working we now have it via YouTube:


UPDATE: And now the magic of YouTube brings us Ajay and Mardi enjoying their three minutes and twenty seconds of fame:


UPDATE 12/04/12 16:14: The Canberra Times has had a chat to Mardi who now says it was Ferguson’s idea:

Part of me did get the guilts because I do love Canberra and I often go there for the beautiful restaurants.”

But Mardi says the whole thing was meant to be taken as a joke.

“It was all very quick, it was all very funny and it was all light-hearted and I just can’t believe it’s turned into this. I love a good laugh as much as anyone else,” she said.

Mardi now jokes she’ll be wearing her “I love Queanbeyan” t-shirt when she gets home after having to deny where she was from on US television.

“I’m a staunch Queanbeyanite and love my home town,” she said.

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enpointe said :

So why was johnboy watching a classy bit of TV like The Late Late Show in the first place? Surely “vibrant” Canberra had something better on offer?
RiotAct regularly puts the boot into “Qangers”, isn’t ironic that you so quickly “cry into your beer” when Canberra catches some humorous flack.

More importantly, surely you have something better to do than resurrect a thread that’s been dead for 4 months?
BTW, it’s not RA (JB) that might bag Quangers, but more likely some *posters* on RA. FWIW, Quangers people give it back too. No harm, no foul! So try not to take it too personally.
However, here’s a good example of us all geting along!
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/health/act-surgeons-cross-border-20120817-24cgz.html
Sounds like a great idea to me. Qbn hospital is considered underutilised, and Cbr overutilised, so sense seems to have prevailed.

Overall, Qbn vs. Cbr is just like the north/south Cbr debate (or Springfield vs. Shelbyville)!
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-is-a-divided-capital-new-figures-say-20120815-2499c.html
🙂

So why was johnboy watching a classy bit of TV like The Late Late Show in the first place? Surely “vibrant” Canberra had something better on offer?
RiotAct regularly puts the boot into “Qangers”, isn’t ironic that you so quickly “cry into your beer” when Canberra catches some humorous flack.

My heartfelt apologies for daring to be home at 11pm at night one night of the year.

cleo said :

I had lived in Canberra for twenty years, it wasn’t a matter of choice, I found Canberra to be a sterile place, no atmosphere, boring, people very clicky, incestuous almost, while it looks pretty, it’s a Mickey Mouse town, most people are in denial what really goes on in this town.
You hardly see people in the streets, it’s almost deserted, you could shoot a cannon down the main street in winter, no body would notice.
When the kids grow up, they leave to move interstate, I laugh when people say it’s a great place to bring up kids, are they joking? There is a massive drug problem, most teenagers are bored out of their brains, no fun things to do. How many times can you visit the museum’s, not too many times.
I’m with Ben Dove # 43.
I was told once by a teacher when doing a Taft course that ‘it’s who you know, not what you know’ in Canberra, to get work, she was so right.
I await to hear from the incestuous lot, lol
And Yes I finally left Canberra or should I say escaped, now living in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and loving it, people are so friendly.

So why are you posting on a Canberra-centric forum?

Jesus, you sound just like Frustrated. How passive are you that you stay for decades in a spot you hate, associating with people you don’t like, waiting for someone to entertain you which never comes?

Everyone has a choice. You might be weak, your mind might be closed, or the options might not be easy or appealing, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a choice.

I’ve had the opposite experience, because I made the effort. I’ve met great people who help me out and I help them out, and I’ve had a ball.

My kids will be taught MTBing, kayak, camping, rollerblading, shooting, and any number of outdoor pursuits. We’ll go paintballing and we’ll go down to the coast for surfing. We’ll go skiing in Winter. And as they become teenages, they’ll know what to do with themselves in a town full of opportunity.

I mean FFS how pathetic do you have to be to look at all the people, groups, clubs, and activities in Canberra and say there’s nothing to do.

I don’t give a toss about what people think of the place or me, but it shits me that uninspiring people use blanket statements to dismiss the efforts of better people than them. There are a lot of good people in Canberra who do a lot for others.

I had lived in Canberra for twenty years, it wasn’t a matter of choice, I found Canberra to be a sterile place, no atmosphere, boring, people very clicky, incestuous almost, while it looks pretty, it’s a Mickey Mouse town, most people are in denial what really goes on in this town.
You hardly see people in the streets, it’s almost deserted, you could shoot a cannon down the main street in winter, no body would notice.
When the kids grow up, they leave to move interstate, I laugh when people say it’s a great place to bring up kids, are they joking? There is a massive drug problem, most teenagers are bored out of their brains, no fun things to do. How many times can you visit the museum’s, not too many times.
I’m with Ben Dove # 43.
I was told once by a teacher when doing a Taft course that ‘it’s who you know, not what you know’ in Canberra, to get work, she was so right.
I await to hear from the incestuous lot, lol
And Yes I finally left Canberra or should I say escaped, now living in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and loving it, people are so friendly.

Ben_Dover said :

“Capital” carries some weight with it, Canberra does not have the weight, grandiosity, or substance, to live up to the name.

Except for one minor point, it is a capital.

It is, yes, in name.

In style, feel, size, history, facilities, renown, stature, gravity, and so many other ways, it is not.

These are not negatives, in fact for most who live here they are positives.

People who call canberra the areshole of the world are obviously just passing through

I lived in Canberra from 1977 until 1992; most of that was being posted there with the Defence Forces. Perhaps the same reason “SnapperJack” feels trapped in the place. At first it was difficult because you have to be ‘in the know’ before you can really enjoy the place.

About the only thing I did resent about being a ‘Canberran’ was having self government forced upon us. Despite a referendum saying “NO” we were still forced to have it. I sold our house in Gowrie and moved to Queanbeyan in anticipation of the increases that would be forced upon Canberrans.

There is a lot to like about Canberra and there are plenty of things to do. I think what is needed is that people have to develop a wider range of interests and tastes. Just because Nirvana doesnt play at Bruce stadium every second weekend the place is not boring – you are.

I get the chance to go back and visit and I enjoy the experience immensely. However, I do see the limitations that self government has placed upon it. Nothing was ever a problem when the Federal government was handing out the money.

EvanJames said :

I read the article in the SMH, and Guy Pearce’s diatribe, that started it, was noteable in how he couldn’t come up with any specifics about why Canberra was so awful other than the usual roundabouts chestnut. Sounds like he was driven through once, 10 years ago, and hardly noticed.

And now Guy Pearce has sucked it in and apologised for his comments.

I’m writing to sincerely apologise for the comments I recently made about Canberra on the USA talk show ‘Craig Ferguson’.

I’m such a twit for doing this and feel so embarrassed and mortified at what I said.

I regretted it as soon as I walked off the set. I stupidly ran with a joke which I took too far for no other reason than to get laughs and I know I’ve offended many Canberrans and Australians in general.

I feel horrible about myself for doing this and I’m truly very sorry.

The thing is, what I said doesn’t even reflect my true feelings. I actually really like Canberra, and in the few times I’ve been I’ve really enjoyed it and found it to be extremely beautiful, so I’m so sorry for being such a dickhead.

I have no excuse for doing what I did. I’m so proud of Australia and that I get to still WORK AND LIVE here and the last thing I want is alienate anyone or offend them.

Please accept my apology. I give you permission to abuse me in the street and tell me my films are crap…………

Again, my sincerest apologies,

Guy Pearce

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/guy-pearce-im-a-dickhead-20120413-1wyik.html#ixzz1rulNgSJz

I’ll bet Mardi can’t wait to get home. She’ll get a really warm welcome when she goes to the restaurant in Canberra. Her school must be thrilled that she’s hanging out with a positive role model like convicted fraudster Ajay and having it trumpeted all over the media as well.

Valleyboy said :

From across the border in Quangers, Mardi’s probably just envious of the bright lights of Canberra.

Oh wait … the brightest lights you can see from Jerra are those of the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

Bwahahaha!

The lights reflect beautifully off the surface of Lake Burley Griffin, which, incidentally, is filled with our piss and s***.

From across the border in Quangers, Mardi’s probably just envious of the bright lights of Canberra.

Oh wait … the brightest lights you can see from Jerra are those of the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

Bwahahaha!

Ferguson was right: his show IS “all sorts of crap stuck together”…

Canberra is a great place to live, and I love living here; which is why I’ve chosen to stay here and raise my family here. While it can’t be everything to everyone, those who wouldn’t be caught dead living here are free go back and enjoy their own home, having seen very little of what the place offers. If they need to put down other places to feel superior about their own choice of living location; that says a lot more about them and their inability to find true happiness and fulfilment…

dan w said :

IMHO boredom is a reflection of your willingness to open yourself to the experiences and positives that surround you. If you still don’t like what you find, keep exploring, or create something new. To complain is just…. boring.

I have to disagree. If one has a passion for something, say watching major bands, surfing, big festivals, and enjoys living the life style that a big city offers, then just telling them to find new passions is a bit rich. Canberra cannot be ‘all things to all people”. Most of us love it for what it is, a very pleasant, small city, located in the middle of nowhere much, and with a certain amount of interest for those who seek it out. Canberra’s problem is it’s seen as pretending to be a Capital, whereas really it is only an administrative centre. “Capital” carries some weight with it, Canberra does not have the weight, grandiosity, or substance, to live up to the name.

Hadley said :

YOU KNOW WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT CANBERRA?

ROUNDABOUT.

I AM IN A MOVIE LOOK AT MY JAW!

I think that one was better!

Before deciding to cast the ‘boring’ or ‘nothing-to-do-here’ net over Canberra, one may wish to consider how that reflects on how informed or engaged you are in this city.

For a facts-based analysis of the level of bordem in the capital, please consider this by-no-means exhaustive list of options for you this weekend alone:
– get you feet squishy harvesting local wine at the Harvest festival with over 20 participating wineries, live music in the vines, fine food etc.
– sample some of the best beers from the region and around the world at the craft beer fest, including some from our multi-award winning local homebrewers – rated the best in the country.
– learn about the history and heritage of where you live at any one of more than 20 seperate activities (many with a variety of sub-activities) happening as part of the Heritage Festival from border-marker bushwalks, to tool-making and bush tucker sampling with indigenous rangers, to getting your frock on for the Jane Austen Fesitval Ball
– compete against more than 5,000 others in the Canberra Marathon.
– Find out just how world class the local music scene is by taking in a gig at the Front, the Phoenix, or the Basement (compare them to the musos they’ll play alongside from Sweden, Brisbane, and Sydney).
– Laugh at a live performance from one of the best comedians of our time – John Cleese (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc).
– Take in a special exhibit on top of the already impressive collections at most of our National Institutions.
– Check out some mint Italian cars on the lawns of old parli house.

… just starting to scape the surface here… and April is considered a relatively quiet period in Canberra.

Yep, we got no beach (forget Casurina Sands, Kambah Pools, Pine Island, and Point Hut Crossing). We’re instead surrounded by national parks no more than 45mins from your door, in which you can regularly hike, rock climb, mountain bike, paddle, fish, ski, and free fly, often with eagles.

IMHO boredom is a reflection of your willingness to open yourself to the experiences and positives that surround you. If you still don’t like what you find, keep exploring, or create something new. To complain is just…. boring.

poetix said :

Hadley said :

I ALSO ENJOY CANBERRA FOR THE RESTAURANT.

I WAS SAD I AM FROM QUEANBEYAN BUT PRETENDED TO BE FROM CANBERRA.

I HATE IT HERE BECAUSE I HAVE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

WHY WON’T SOMEONE FIX IT FOR ME

We all know it’s the capital…

+1
best laugh of the week!

Although whinges about the cold are insightful and fair and interesting.

Frustrated said :

SnapperJack said :

Is this fair dinkum? A show on US TV hosted by a Pom interviewing an Australian? Which country is suffering the cultural cringe now?

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

Secondly, as someone who has been here since 1981, I still proudly tell people if they ask, I wasn’t born here.

Canberra is a shocking place, mostly bad people these days, boring soul-less city and poor weather etc etc

Thirdly, I am another who wont retire here and happy tell anyone who cares to listen.

You hate the place so much you’re still here after 30 years? I think you’ve just defined what a loser is.

LSWCHP said :

Frustrated said :

SnapperJack said :

Is this fair dinkum? A show on US TV hosted by a Pom interviewing an Australian? Which country is suffering the cultural cringe now?

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

Secondly, as someone who has been here since 1981, I still proudly tell people if they ask, I wasn’t born here.

Canberra is a shocking place, mostly bad people these days, boring soul-less city and poor weather etc etc

Thirdly, I am another who wont retire here and happy tell anyone who cares to listen.

I suggest you run along then, otherwise the ennui, tedium, boredom, soullessness and bad weather will surely lead you to an early grave.

I suspect that someone like this will be unhappy no matter where they live.

Hadley said :

I ALSO ENJOY CANBERRA FOR THE RESTAURANT.

I WAS SAD I AM FROM QUEANBEYAN BUT PRETENDED TO BE FROM CANBERRA.

I HATE IT HERE BECAUSE I HAVE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

WHY WON’T SOMEONE FIX IT FOR ME

We all know it’s the capital…

Frustrated said :

SnapperJack said :

Is this fair dinkum? A show on US TV hosted by a Pom interviewing an Australian? Which country is suffering the cultural cringe now?

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

Secondly, as someone who has been here since 1981, I still proudly tell people if they ask, I wasn’t born here.

Canberra is a shocking place, mostly bad people these days, boring soul-less city and poor weather etc etc

Thirdly, I am another who wont retire here and happy tell anyone who cares to listen.

Uh oh, sounds like someone neglected to tell you you’re free to leave home once you’re 18 years old.

I ALSO ENJOY CANBERRA FOR THE RESTAURANT.

I WAS SAD I AM FROM QUEANBEYAN BUT PRETENDED TO BE FROM CANBERRA.

I HATE IT HERE BECAUSE I HAVE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

WHY WON’T SOMEONE FIX IT FOR ME

molongloid said :

Sufficient size – 350,000 people is plenty. Structure is the problem – split across five town centres we’ve not reached critical mass. Less than the sum of its parts even. Love the place, but it has to work against the original planning before we get the extra bustle and buzz that you get in other towns of similar size.

That makes no sense. There’s not a major city in the world that isn’t broken down into town centres, boroughs or so on. Indeed true “London” is only a square mile in size with about 10,000 or so population. The other 300,000+ who work in London commute from the town centres of Greater London – hence the congestion. So it makes perfect sense to decentralise as the designer of Canberra intended, to avoid packing people in like that.

Population is the problem. Canberra’s design was predicated on a much larger population, in the 70s predicted at half a million by 1990. Didn’t even get close to reaching the target on time.

Frustrated said :

SnapperJack said :

Is this fair dinkum? A show on US TV hosted by a Pom interviewing an Australian? Which country is suffering the cultural cringe now?

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

Secondly, as someone who has been here since 1981, I still proudly tell people if they ask, I wasn’t born here.

Canberra is a shocking place, mostly bad people these days, boring soul-less city and poor weather etc etc

Thirdly, I am another who wont retire here and happy tell anyone who cares to listen.

I suggest you run along then, otherwise the ennui, tedium, boredom, soullessness and bad weather will surely lead you to an early grave.

The only funny thing about the Mardi & Ajay clip is that neither of the dumb moles noticed that Ferguson actually pulled the New Zealand flag out of his pocket……….

smont said :

I don’t there’s necessarily any particular ‘thing’ that Canberra lacks or needs to make it more interesting – but it definitely does lack ‘something’, and I’ve never been able to put my finger on quite what it is……Love the place – but it’s definitely missing that vibrant, interesting character of each of the other capitals. And it’s nothing to do with size. Wellington, NZ, is no bigger than Canberra, and it has a great feel about it – like a little San Francisco or Sydney. My theory is that Canberra is a little too ‘over planned’, they tried a bit too hard with the utopian city thing – which ironically has actually stunted the development of the city’s natural, vibrant feel.

+1

Sufficient size – 350,000 people is plenty. Structure is the problem – split across five town centres we’ve not reached critical mass. Less than the sum of its parts even. Love the place, but it has to work against the original planning before we get the extra bustle and buzz that you get in other towns of similar size.

Frustrated said :

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

Secondly, as someone who has been here since 1981, I still proudly tell people if they ask, I wasn’t born here.

Canberra is a shocking place, mostly bad people these days, boring soul-less city and poor weather etc etc

Thirdly, I am another who wont retire here and happy tell anyone who cares to listen.

Hahaha! Gold!
Though, the funny thing about this is, when you’re on your death bed, how much you’re going to regret wasting a large chunk of your life in Canberra.
What a pity! You should have left ages ago by the sounds of it. You only get one shot at life mate, why waste it somewhere you hate? Still, you’ll have your invalid retirement years to enjoy somewhere else. Hahahaha! Silly bugger.

Frustrated said :

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

According to Oxford English Dictionary, Pom is applicable to any British person, i.e. from the United Kingdom.

He’s an ex-pom.

Nifty said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

To be fair, Queanbeyan really is a far better place to live than Canberra. And Jerrabomberra is the best part of Queanbeyan.

Go on, tell us about the fine dining options and boutiques in Jerra. It’s a commuter wasteland populated by cashed up bogans like Ms Mardi. The only excitement is when a Snowtown bound jet strays off the flight path and starts the rottweilers barking…

PS

Jerra-ites don’t consider themselves part of Queanbeyan: they point proudly to the fact that they have their own postcode to prove it!

The best part about living in Queanbeyan: the lack of delusional Jerra-ites.

Perhaps the problem of Canberra is a lack of aptitude for change. Alot of people have forgotten how to have fun, and wait around for somebody to create “fun” for them.

SnapperJack said :

Is this fair dinkum? A show on US TV hosted by a Pom interviewing an Australian? Which country is suffering the cultural cringe now?

First of all, Ferguson is an ex-pat Scot, you moron.

Secondly, as someone who has been here since 1981, I still proudly tell people if they ask, I wasn’t born here. Canberra is a shocking place, mostly bad people these days, boring soul-less city and poor weather etc etc

Thirdly, I am another who wont retire here and happy tell anyone who cares to listen.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

To be fair, Queanbeyan really is a far better place to live than Canberra. And Jerrabomberra is the best part of Queanbeyan.

Jerrabomberra is the Wanniassa you have when you aren’t having a Wanniassa.

I don’t there’s necessarily any particular ‘thing’ that Canberra lacks or needs to make it more interesting – but it definitely does lack ‘something’, and I’ve never been able to put my finger on quite what it is. In the last 20 years I’ve either lived in, or regularly worked in, every mainland capital, and currently own a house and am raising a family in Canberra. Love the place – but it’s definitely missing that vibrant, interesting character of each of the other capitals. And it’s nothing to do with size. Wellington, NZ, is no bigger than Canberra, and it has a great feel about it – like a little San Francisco or Sydney. My theory is that Canberra is a little too ‘over planned’, they tried a bit too hard with the utopian city thing – which ironically has actually stunted the development of the city’s natural, vibrant feel. Ever walked down the National Mall in the centre of Washington DC? Washington is a planned city, and it has an incredibly vibrant, grandiose, proud feel about it. Canberra – regardless of the difference in size – does not have that same feel; but could if the ‘trying too hard to be the utopian city’ development controls were just relaxed a little bit. I love living in Canberra, and often find myself leaping to it’s defence. But you ask what it’s lacking? Well, that’s my two bob’s worth …

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

To be fair, Queanbeyan really is a far better place to live than Canberra. And Jerrabomberra is the best part of Queanbeyan.

Go on, tell us about the fine dining options and boutiques in Jerra. It’s a commuter wasteland populated by cashed up bogans like Ms Mardi. The only excitement is when a Snowtown bound jet strays off the flight path and starts the rottweilers barking…

PS Jerra-ites don’t consider themselves part of Queanbeyan: they point proudly to the fact that they have their own postcode to prove it!

This has got me all thinking what would you do right now to make Canberra more interesting and fun to live in.. suggestions other than make it the size of Sydney and the population will take care of itself. If you were Head of tourism or events here what would you do to make it more interesting. Personally on the food and drink front alone, I think better public transport at night between City, Belco, Woden etc so people dont see it as a costly and massive effort to do anything but stay at home, more options to eat at night after 10pm not just McDonalds.. what do other people suggest?

diced_mango said :

Ben_Dover said :

People still talk fondly of the times Nirvana (20 yrs ago) and Iron Maiden (27 years ago) played here.

In 20 years I suspect I will be talking fondly of the time The Darkness played ANU Bar back in May of 2012.

I doubt it, The Drakness are virtually a 70’s tribute band as it is.

Ben_Dover said :

People still talk fondly of the times Nirvana (20 yrs ago) and Iron Maiden (27 years ago) played here.

In 20 years I suspect I will be talking fondly of the time The Darkness played ANU Bar back in May of 2012.

While the people we pay to spruik our tourism will no doubt be rocking in the foetal position today, it’s water off a duck’s back. People hear what they want to hear, and if this confirms their view, then they weren’t going to visit anyway.

A lot of our tourism seems to be based around government, diplomacy and academic conferences, and Year 6 kids (and their families). No physicist or biologist considering applying for a job at ANU or UC will think “I really want this job, but Craig Ferguson said it was boring, so I can’t live there”.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back5:09 pm 12 Apr 12

R. Slicker said :

Postalgeek said :

Seriously, what do people require not to be bored?

I’d like to go back to the 1980s and early 1990s when every public toilet in the ACT was a gay beat and there were no less than six separate businesses in Mitchell, O’Connor and Fyshwick allowing gay sex on the premises.

Nowadays you have to go up to Sydney just to get your rocks off.

I only believe in gay marriage when both chicks are hot.

Postalgeek said :

Seriously, what do people require not to be bored?

I’d like to go back to the 1980s and early 1990s when every public toilet in the ACT was a gay beat and there were no less than six separate businesses in Mitchell, O’Connor and Fyshwick allowing gay sex on the premises.

Nowadays you have to go up to Sydney just to get your rocks off.

Seriously, what do people require not to be bored? What manufactured entertainment or artificial glamour do they crave that they can find in one city but not in another?

When I meet someone who is ‘bored’, generally it’s not the location that is the problem.

Sydney, London, Paris: a lot of people would live exactly the same shitty lifestyle: go to work, buy something to eat, go home to a pokey apartment and plug into the TV or computer. Put them in Canberra and suddenly they’re bored…

I think this is a good thing .. the last thing this beautiful town needs is a bunch of big city wanks invading it. Keep the barbarians at bay for God’s sake.

April Mully nomination?

Ben_Dover said :

People still talk fondly of the times Nirvana (20 yrs ago) and Iron Maiden (27 years ago) played here.

Probably because they were epic shows.

But we’ve got live music coming out the wazoo – the amount and quality of live, original music in Canberra is outstanding. Quite often with better crowds than comparable shows in Sydney.

I always thought that the people who slagged off Canberra as boring were little more than unimaginative conformists – interested only in events and artforms sanctioned by whatever the mainstream media had decided was ‘the big thing’ at the time.

tonkatuff82 said :

I’d still say Canberra is a terribly boring place to live. Because it is…

Boring isn’t the right word, though it’s far from exciting and happening. Canberra is plaeasnt, it’s quiet and clean, it’s nice.

Though for a young person, say anyone under 30, it’s not exactly ever going to be like living in Paris, Washington DC, Madrid, London, or even Cardiff for that matter.

Canberra is small, it’s a capital, but it’s not a Capital.

Most who live here love it, I’ve never had a visitor who has stayed with us here go away with a negative thing to say about the place. (But there again, most of my friends are 40 + )

It’s a bit staid. One only has to check the RiotAct’s regular “DIY guide to the weekend” to see how poorly we are catered for in terms of major events. People still talk fondly of the times Nirvana (20 yrs ago) and Iron Maiden (27 years ago) played here.

rebeccag said :

Canberra is actually pretty boring though, for a Capital City…

It’s only a boring city if you don’t have a brain or any imagination.

But I’ll accept we don’t have some of the excitement other capitals have.

Washington after all has ghettos in every direction from the Capitol building where the murder and gun crime rates are some of the highest in the country, and higher the Mexico City. There’s some areas so bad the police do road blocks much as the military does in Iraq or Afghanistan. Worst we can do is Charnwood and Quangers over the border.

London’s really nice, except that in the past 5 years deployments of S019 have increased many times over due to the gang violence in particular and you have to pay to drive into London.

So sick of unimaginative, lazy people slagging off this city.

tonkatuff82 said :

…. I live in Rivett, I’d still say Canberra is a terribly boring place to live. Because it is…

Does this mean Rivett is as close as Canberra gets to the excitment of a big city? Hmmm, maybe I should check it out!!

See Ajay may not know this, but she is actually a very important person. Her mere existence manages to disprove both intelligent creation and Darwin’s theory of evolution at the same time.

Her appearance above however does confirm the existence of oompa loompas – plump, weird orange complexion and repeating the same tired lines over and over.

As for “Canberran” Mardi – come on, we all know about Quangers. But in the spirit of her slagging of Canberra, I’ll respond in kind. Perhaps now that she’s left Quangers, she should take that flee collar off.

BlueChris said :

Mardi, I hope your five minutes of fame is worth all the backlash over your comments about Canberra? Moving to Sydney may be a good option?

Oh no the riotact is upset, run for the hills.

Is this fair dinkum? A show on US TV hosted by a Pom interviewing an Australian? Which country is suffering the cultural cringe now?

EvanJames said :

…I just figure it’s a function of the constant media/politician Canberra bashing, like a broken record. And broken records work. The earworm is planted that Canberra means Crap, you don’t have to justify it, it’s like Hitler, it’s automatically a Bad Thing.

Cato the Elder started it, ending every speech with “… and that is why Carthage must be destroyed”, even if the speech had nothing to do with Carthage. The earworm was planted that Carthage must be destroyed, and so it was…..

As has been said before, it’s really not helped when the media et al uses ‘Canberra’ as a term for ‘The Federal Govt’, such as in the intro to this story:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-11/newman-to-voice-carbon-tax-opposition/3942454

“….saying he will demand Canberra returns all the money it collects from the mining tax….”

Really? I didn’t know I had anything to do with stealing mining tax money from the S&Ts….!

It’s the use of ‘Canberra’ this way that makes everyone else in Aus angry when they hear the word mentioned! Oh well, it’s unlikely to change…..

You guys are far too serious! It’s just a joke. Probably blabbed on about it for too long I agree @johnboy. Mardi was just going along with the joke for some fun. Canberra is actually pretty boring though, for a Capital City…

BlueChris said :

Mardi, I hope your five minutes of fame is worth all the backlash over your comments about Canberra? Moving to Sydney may be a good option?

Yep, I’m sure the ranting above will make her want to move. I live in Rivett, I’d still say Canberra is a terribly boring place to live. Because it is…

veronicamars3:03 pm 12 Apr 12

geetee said :

People like me defend Adelaide as being a nice quiet smaller city, with lots of parkland and fairly safe streets and nice cafes and restaurants.

It’s very similar to Canberra, except it is only a short drive to the beaches, has some industry and a decent football team.

Absolutely, totally agree with you.
Canberra is a really nice place to live too. I miss the beach nearby though.

geetee said :

People like me defend Adelaide as being a nice quiet smaller city, with lots of parkland and fairly safe streets and nice cafes and restaurants.

It’s very similar to Canberra, except it is only a short drive to the beaches, has some industry and a decent football team.

geetee said :

People like me defend Adelaide as being a nice quiet smaller city, with lots of parkland and fairly safe streets and nice cafes and restaurants.

It’s very similar to Canberra, except it is only a short drive to the beaches, has some industry and a decent football team.

But they don’t play football in South Australia just that cross country ballet game they copied from Victoria?

People like me defend Adelaide as being a nice quiet smaller city, with lots of parkland and fairly safe streets and nice cafes and restaurants.

It’s very similar to Canberra, except it is only a short drive to the beaches, has some industry and a decent football team.

And now the magic of YouTube brings us Ajay and Mardi enjoying their three minutes and twenty seconds of fame

FioBla said :

John Safran called Adelaide a hole. Sticks and stones, and all that.

It is.

dpm said :

johnboy said :

So a jerra girl is doing the slagging? that’s some insult to injury.

Hahahaha! So people who are upset at someone making judgement and bagging out the place they live are now (subtly) making judgement and bagging out the place someone lives!
It’s all relative then?! Hahaha!

snap! 🙂

so, where’s ms archer on this forum?? hello, robyn?? you’re on…

Mardi, I hope your five minutes of fame is worth all the backlash over your comments about Canberra? Moving to Sydney may be a good option?

What if she’s right about our town?

BenMac said :

Facebook

Appears she’s born and raised in Queanbeyan, having attend Karabar High.

A bit of cross-border rivalry?

Obviously a mole.

Facebook

Appears she’s born and raised in Queanbeyan, having attend Karabar High.

A bit of cross-border rivalry?

johnboy said :

So a jerra girl is doing the slagging? that’s some insult to injury.

Hahahaha! So people who are upset at someone making judgement and bagging out the place they live are now (subtly) making judgement and bagging out the place someone lives!
It’s all relative then?! Hahaha!

I read the article in the SMH, and Guy Pearce’s diatribe, that started it, was noteable in how he couldn’t come up with any specifics about why Canberra was so awful other than the usual roundabouts chestnut. Sounds like he was driven through once, 10 years ago, and hardly noticed.

I just figure it’s a function of the constant media/politician Canberra bashing, like a broken record. And broken records work. The earworm is planted that Canberra means Crap, you don’t have to justify it, it’s like Hitler, it’s automatically a Bad Thing.

Cato the Elder started it, ending every speech with “… and that is why Carthage must be destroyed”, even if the speech had nothing to do with Carthage. The earworm was planted that Carthage must be destroyed, and so it was.

Old Whatshisname (Ruckson?) of the RSL tried that tactic some years back, ending every statement with “and that is why the flag must remain the same”.

The Canberra thing isn’t helped by the way that gutless Canberrans will simper and agree when people put the boot into Canberra. Like it’s Hitler, indefensible. People like that need to bugger off. If they don’t like it, or wish is was “like Sydney”, why the hell are they here? Go away!

VYBerlinaV8_is_back12:03 pm 12 Apr 12

To be fair, Queanbeyan really is a far better place to live than Canberra. And Jerrabomberra is the best part of Queanbeyan.

BlueChris said :

she was from Jerrabomberra/Queanbeyan NSW??

johnboy said :

Dunno, she turns up a lot in the Queanbeyan Age talking netball related issues.

So in summary: Pot calling the kettle black…

BenMac said :

BenMac said :

One of the comments on the SMH pages says that “Mardi” is from Jerrabomberra and is a teacher from the local school.

Her name is Mardi Croke from Queanbeyan.

Someone from Quangers sledging Canberra as boring … BWAAAAA HAH AHAHAHAHAHA

Mind you, I suppose it *is* boring being able to walk to the shops without worrying about being stabbed.

Roundabouts and lack of excitement – is that really the best they’ve got?

I’d say precisely 100% of my born-and-raised Canberran friends love to slag the place as soon as they move elsewhere, which I’m sure is true of just about everyone who moves from a smaller place to a bigger place. That’s life.

The Canberra Bashing Session on Craig Ferguson could have all been avoided if only Mardi had told the truth and said she was from Jerrabomberra/Queanbeyan NSW??

BenMac said :

BenMac said :

One of the comments on the SMH pages says that “Mardi” is from Jerrabomberra and is a teacher from the local school.

Her name is Mardi Croke from Queanbeyan.

…. and this is her 5 mins of fame. Whoopie

Dunno, she turns up a lot in the Queanbeyan Age talking netball related issues.

BenMac said :

One of the comments on the SMH pages says that “Mardi” is from Jerrabomberra and is a teacher from the local school.

Her name is Mardi Croke from Queanbeyan.

One of the comments on the SMH pages says that “Mardi” is from Jerrabomberra and is a teacher from the local school.

It’s not just Canberrans who get to bash Canberra then. This website is pretty much about a town full of cushy public servants, without an Ikea, and residents who can’t park properly. And cyclists. Light rail.

Bashing is entertainment after all. John Safran called Adelaide a hole. Sticks and stones, and all that.

geoffappleby said :

Sounds like you’re all being a bit too sensitive, honestly. that’s the most common stereotype about Canberra, so of course that’s the one the gets mentioned. i love this town dearly, but its really not that far off the mark. Every person i know that used to live here and then moved away had the same complaint. Everyone i know that still lives here stays here because its quiet and comfortable *shrug*

oh no, what will the americans think of us?

who gives a crap?

I don’t live here because it’s quiet and comfortable.

geoffappleby11:11 am 12 Apr 12

johnboy said :

don’t forget years-out-of-date jokes about fireworks and porn!

It’s not that they’re out of date – they’re just old. Nothing happens here, so there’s nothing new to joke about 😛

So a jerra girl is doing the slagging? that’s some insult to injury.

Who cares?

Vapid showbiz types don’t like anywhere that’s smaller than Sydney? Colour me unsurprised.

Who gives a sh1t?

I can’t imagine ever wanting to spend time with (or even near) people like that, so it suits me fine.

YOU KNOW WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT CANBERRA?

ROUNDABOUT.

I AM IN A MOVIE LOOK AT MY JAW!

don’t forget years-out-of-date jokes about fireworks and porn!

geoffappleby10:45 am 12 Apr 12

Sounds like you’re all being a bit too sensitive, honestly. that’s the most common stereotype about Canberra, so of course that’s the one the gets mentioned. i love this town dearly, but its really not that far off the mark. Every person i know that used to live here and then moved away had the same complaint. Everyone i know that still lives here stays here because its quiet and comfortable *shrug*

oh no, what will the americans think of us?

who gives a crap?

CrocodileGandhi10:35 am 12 Apr 12

Ferguson has to be the most disruptive interviewer on television (and not in a good way like Stephen Colbert). I understand that he’s supposed to be a comedian (something not clearly evidenced by what he tries to pass off as comedy) but there’s a reson why people come on his show – to spruik whatever they’re doing. They don’t come on the show to be cut off mid-sentence for ten minutes.

Also, nice to see that “Canberra is boring and crap. lulz” still passes for entertainment these days.

That clip is what passes for humour in America is it? Ferguson is useless, so bad he had to leave the UK to find work, and sank so low as to end up on American late night TV.

Actually I normally don’t mind the show. But can’t recall him singling out a target like that before.

Its fashionable to bash canberra.

I guess in Ajay’s case she’s still sore about being caught and convicted for welfare fraud.

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