"Like Canberra"? A list compiled after a heavy blow to the head?

The Like Canberra campaign made no attempt to censor any of the ‘likes’. The intent was to solicit authentic and heartfelt responses, in whatever way they were expressed and however odd, quirky or individual they might be. Other than racist, sexist or any other inappropriate suggestions, no filter was part of the process.

The categories on the website were created to facilitate voting. They attempt to group the ‘likes’ so that people don’t have to scroll through over 1,000 nominations to vote.

The Centenary marketing team is working to improve the design of the website to make it more user-friendly. We appreciate your feedback.

Jeremy Lasek.

chris820 said :

damien haas said :

Sometimes I prefer to use the tab key to browse the Internets, instead of a mouse/trackpad. But the likecanberra website is unusable.

Surely this site is just an accessibility kerfuffle waiting to happen? There’s no way that could be WCAG compliant…

damien haas said :

out of morbid curiosity i looked at the website – its absolutely appalling. i am not exactly sure how its supposed to be navigated.

+1
Sometimes I prefer to use the tab key to browse the Internets, instead of a mouse/trackpad. But the likecanberra website is unusable.

damien haas said :

[U]nless web designers learn from the end user, they will continue to foist poorly thought out web interfaces on us.

It was truly said that the best thing about the collapse of the dot-com bubble was the decline in the number of “creative” web sites. Sadly, it didn’t last.

I like everything about Canberra except it could use more culturally based options. I couldn’t have a career in film & TV there but there are only a few cities in Australia that you can. If it ticked those I would be back in a flash!

It seems like there is no limit to the number of times one can vote for a particular suburb.

I’ll be voting at least once a day for Charny in that case.

out of morbid curiosity i looked at the website – its absolutely appalling. i am not exactly sure how its supposed to be navigated. i was at a page of squares and i see ‘tinys green shed’. why would anyone nominate a tip shop? i click on it to find out more and discover i have just voted for it. What The F?

fearing any more undeserved ‘votes’ i decided to just exit the whole site.

as well as whining on RA i decided to email Cr8ive and went to their website. They dont have a feedback form, so i clicked on ‘new business’ and left my comments. unless web designers learn from the end user, they will continue to foist poorly thought out web interfaces on us.

maybe we should convince the bloke who fooled the HWT online vote system to study the canberra likes website?

poetix said :

LSWCHP said :

poetix said :

Oh God! I just inadvertently voted for ‘the odd mix of establishments in Fyshwick’. I clicked the square thinking it would open up with more information. That’s one way to get votes.

I’ve worked in Fyshwick for nearly 25 years, the last 20 or so years one door down from a knocking shop. So thank you for your vote, even if it was unintentional.. We Fyshwick non-sex workers need all the morale boosting we can get. 🙂

So long as it’s only your morale…

And, as we push this thread inevitably towards the top 100 things we hate about the top 100 things ‘we’ like about Canberra, can I just add one more? ‘Great hairdressers.’ I spent some time today with a friend from St Kilda who informed me that they have great hairdressers in that part of Melbourne! And shops!

However, I think she was just jealous…despite the clarity of the purple dye in one lock of her gorgeous hair.

I am terribly sorry, it says ‘good hairdressers’, not great. But all the above still applies.

LSWCHP said :

poetix said :

Oh God! I just inadvertently voted for ‘the odd mix of establishments in Fyshwick’. I clicked the square thinking it would open up with more information. That’s one way to get votes.

I’ve worked in Fyshwick for nearly 25 years, the last 20 or so years one door down from a knocking shop. So thank you for your vote, even if it was unintentional.. We Fyshwick non-sex workers need all the morale boosting we can get. 🙂

So long as it’s only your morale…

And, as we push this thread inevitably towards the top 100 things we hate about the top 100 things ‘we’ like about Canberra, can I just add one more? ‘Great hairdressers.’ I spent some time today with a friend from St Kilda who informed me that they have great hairdressers in that part of Melbourne! And shops!

However, I think she was just jealous…despite the clarity of the purple dye in one lock of her gorgeous hair.

poetix said :

Oh God! I just inadvertently voted for ‘the odd mix of establishments in Fyshwick’. I clicked the square thinking it would open up with more information. That’s one way to get votes.

I’ve worked in Fyshwick for nearly 25 years, the last 20 or so years one door down from a knocking shop. So thank you for your vote, even if it was unintentional.. We Fyshwick non-sex workers need all the morale boosting we can get. 🙂

My original suggestion as to what i likes about Canberra was the hyperbole- Based on the fantasies of various political leaders and self appointed ACT opinion makers and glitterati, I recalled such visions as our world standard Fussball court/field, the artificial surf beach and flying boats landing on Lake Burley Griffen, our high speed light rail /TGV connecting Civic with Gungahlin or Sydney or even Perth as well as the many reports commissioned on the subject. It is also wonderful to think of the absolute chutzpah of calling a water starved townshipthe Garden capital.

Managed to put 3 votes in for “Andrew Barr” already. Anyone got a spare BotNet?

DrKoresh said :

The one about Bumping into the Prime Minister makes me want to puke in my mouth. This list is making us look a bunch of bumpkins, only worse, because it makes us look like pretentious hipster-bumpkins.

😀

johnboy said :

I think I saw the folkie in there…

But so hard to tell with the absence of a consistent taxonomy.

Ahh, it is under ‘cultural events’… not ‘Festivals’. How interesting.

No National Folk Festival I notice.

Is this part of the whole “vote for the top 100 things you like about Canberra and we’ll give you access to them during the centenary year” campaign? I’m having a quiet giggle to myself visualising everyone on buses being given the grand tour of Charnwood before being taken out to the odd establishments in Fyshwick. But seriously, how pathetic. We get a load of money to have centenary celebrations and we come up with this rubbish. How much did the junket last year gouge from the budget? Can we not do anything right?

Roundhead89 said :

poetix said :

Tymefor said :

where”s the Manuka being pronounced marnika option i thought that would get into quirky stuff 🙁

Today I had a chat with a person in NZ who checked his Maori dictionary, and ‘Marnika’ is the correct pronunciation. The choice of name dates back to when it looked like NZ might join Australia. Pakeha often stuff it up in NZ, too.

You’ve got that totally wrong. The NZ version is not Manuka but Manakau, pronounced “Manna-cow”.

It is a suburb of Auckland. Manuka is a tree, pronounced manooka, as is the honey from the tree’s flowers.

You have that partially right. There are actually *two* very similarly-named places on the North Island of NZ. Manukau (or Manukau City) is the suburb of Auckland while Manakau is a small town between Palmerston North and Wellington. That must cause a bit of confusion over there.

johnboy said :

poetix said :

I assume it was the latter scenario, then?

Well we didn’t enter ourselves, so who knows?

There may be some rioters who are sucks, but certainly not those of us who reside in inner north areas with a vibrant fixie-riding youth culture with our own shop…

poetix said :

I assume it was the latter scenario, then?

Well we didn’t enter ourselves, so who knows?

These people were walking up to randoms in Garema Place and putting them on the spot about their favourite thing about Canberra. Everyone I saw them ask struggled with an answer and then came up with something crap.

johnboy said :

Chop71 said :

Where is the RiotACT tab?

Either we’re not the shameless self promoters of the gray media (CT and 2CC), or we were culled in the laughable editorial process!

I assume it was the latter scenario, then?

The one about Bumping into the Prime Minister makes me want to puke in my mouth. This list is making us look a bunch of bumpkins, only worse, because it makes us look like pretentious hipster-bumpkins.

What is canberra good at? Tailgating!

johnboy said :

Chop71 said :

Where is the RiotACT tab?

Either we’re not the shameless self promoters of the gray media (CT and 2CC), or we were culled in the laughable editorial process!

Looks like a standard mudmap of public submissions – plenty of dupes and typos and yes, some of it is poorly categorised. To be fair it’s a positive message and it’s opened my eyes to a few things I didn’t know about.

poetix said :

Tymefor said :

where”s the Manuka being pronounced marnika option i thought that would get into quirky stuff 🙁

Today I had a chat with a person in NZ who checked his Maori dictionary, and ‘Marnika’ is the correct pronunciation. The choice of name dates back to when it looked like NZ might join Australia. Pakeha often stuff it up in NZ, too.

You’ve got that totally wrong. The NZ version is not Manuka but Manakau, pronounced “Manna-cow”. It is a suburb of Auckland. Manuka is a tree, pronounced manooka, as is the honey from the tree’s flowers.

Chop71 said :

Where is the RiotACT tab?

Either we’re not the shameless self promoters of the gray media (CT and 2CC), or we were culled in the laughable editorial process!

Where is the RiotACT tab?

My favourites so far:

Ease of Living: Sense of entitlement

Although I have just realised that if you click “View all responses” you get a list, but you can only vote on the ones that come up in the stupid squares. Shame.

NoAddedMSG said :

poetix said :

Tymefor said :

where”s the Manuka being pronounced marnika option i thought that would get into quirky stuff 🙁

Today I had a chat with a person in NZ who checked his Maori dictionary, and ‘Marnika’ is the correct pronunciation. The choice of name dates back to when it looked like NZ might join Australia. Pakeha often stuff it up in NZ, too.

Sorry, can’t let that one stand….. The Canberran “Marnika” is not remotely close to how the Maori word is pronounced. I would be highly suss of NZer who had to consult a Maori dictionary for pronounciation anyway, because of the way the written language works once you know a few basic rules it is possible to accurately pronounce pretty much every word including the ones you haven’t encountered before. The main bit is the vowel sounds which differ to how they are in English, and they are drilled in at primary school through a series of songs which stick in your head forever.

I am now going to go and walk the dog, singing “Oma r?peti, oma r?peti, Oma, oma, oma, Oma r?peti, oma r?peti” as I go…….

Fair enough, I will tell my friend how sus his grasp of Maori is! On top of the Black Caps, too.

Can we have a concerted and organised effort by the Riotact faithful to guarantee that the most ridiculous choices make it to the top.

Where’s the “Swideswipin’ cyclists in muh Tradie ute”?

But I guess categorisation would be an issue. Does it fit in Cultural vibe, Canberra-only events, Lots to do, Sporting events, Family fun, or Opportunities?

miz said :

And FWIW, I agree with the general ‘god what a horrible website’ comments.

Clearly designed by someone who’s fallen deeply in love with Microsoft’s Metro interface.

poetix said :

Tymefor said :

where”s the Manuka being pronounced marnika option i thought that would get into quirky stuff 🙁

Today I had a chat with a person in NZ who checked his Maori dictionary, and ‘Marnika’ is the correct pronunciation. The choice of name dates back to when it looked like NZ might join Australia. Pakeha often stuff it up in NZ, too.

Sorry, can’t let that one stand….. The Canberran “Marnika” is not remotely close to how the Maori word is pronounced. I would be highly suss of NZer who had to consult a Maori dictionary for pronounciation anyway, because of the way the written language works once you know a few basic rules it is possible to accurately pronounce pretty much every word including the ones you haven’t encountered before. The main bit is the vowel sounds which differ to how they are in English, and they are drilled in at primary school through a series of songs which stick in your head forever.

I am now going to go and walk the dog, singing “Oma r?peti, oma r?peti, Oma, oma, oma, Oma r?peti, oma r?peti” as I go…….

I clicked on “Politics and Government” and was confronted with

* “Leading the Nation on climate change”
* “Open government”
* “Having our own Legislative Assembly”
* “Government departments are of a high quality” and
* “Andrew Barr”.

I could not find “A Fabian socialist government that co-opts the Centenary of Canberra it inflict Goebbels-esque propaganda upon the seemingly acquiescent citizenry, while fudging hospital waiting list data”, so I didn’t vote.

Under ‘Infrastructure’ it says, rather strangely, ‘The best universities in Canberra!’ You don’t need a degree to see that was meant to say Australia, and probably will, very soon.

Another gem from the site, under ‘Multiculturalism’:
“Being free to wear my burqa”.
Yup, I can definitely relate to that one…
Maybe this is one of those marketing ploys where they deliberately make the content groan-inducing to polarise and inspire debate and discussion about a certain topic? At least we’re talking about the Centenary, right?

poetix said :

Oh God! I just inadvertently voted for ‘the odd mix of establishments in Fyshwick’. I clicked the square thinking it would open up with more information. That’s one way to get votes.

You’re not the only one!

Canberra-only events. Carols by Candlelight and fireworks. Dunno what I’ve been watching on tv from interstate then?

bigfeet said :

dpm said :

EvanJames said :

And why 100? Artibrary number. Why not 50? or 35? Or all the good ones?

Centenary?

Well the original media release and the website both said you would be able to vote for ALL submissions.

I can’t seem to find the ones I submitted in relation to the lax and inefficient justice system.

Hahahaha! Gold.

And FWIW, I agree with the general ‘god what a horrible website’ comments.

The only unique thing I can see is under Environment – ‘a horizon full of mountains including the Brindabellas’.

Certainly it is unique to be able to see the Brindabellas from practically everywhere in Canberra. If you can’t – I’m sorry.

I sincerely hope we don’t lose this in the name of ‘progress’.

johnboy said :

I’m thinking this is why you need to curate user-generated data.

A basic spell check even.

“Only in Canberra – Dress up parties” – I obviously never get invited to those type of parties.

dpm said :

EvanJames said :

And why 100? Artibrary number. Why not 50? or 35? Or all the good ones?

Centenary?

Well the original media release and the website both said you would be able to vote for ALL submissions.

I can’t seem to find the ones I submitted in relation to the lax and inefficient justice system.

Tymefor said :

where”s the Manuka being pronounced marnika option i thought that would get into quirky stuff 🙁

Today I had a chat with a person in NZ who checked his Maori dictionary, and ‘Marnika’ is the correct pronunciation. The choice of name dates back to when it looked like NZ might join Australia. Pakeha often stuff it up in NZ, too.

“Cinema, Arts, Culture and Music” has the national franchise of Dendy, but doesn’t mention Arc Cinema at NFSA, the ANU Film Group, Lights! Canberra! Action! or the local Reel McCoy and Big House film societies?

I call BS on this whole campaign.

Things to do – People watching….. wouldn’t that be illegal

where”s the Manuka being pronounced marnika option i thought that would get into quirky stuff 🙁

Bumping into the Prime Minister? Does bumping into Gillard at the Manuka Coles before she was PM count?

Also wtf is ‘Canberra markets’ –
and ‘pretty city’ –
and ‘the turkish restaurant in Erindale’ –

and they have McDonalds and Guzmen but forgot Courgette, Aubergine and Water’s Edge

stuff it. It’s all messed up.

‘Robyn Archer and her ideas for this city’. Chalk monitor for life, whoever submitted that gem.

Then there’s:

‘The artsy youth scene in the Inner North.’ Is this satiric? I mean, artsy? Youth scene? I don’t know the appropriate acronym to express my disbelief, being a middle aged dag, so the word tragic may just have to do.

EvanJames said :

And why 100? Artibrary number. Why not 50? or 35? Or all the good ones?

Centenary?

Oh God! I just inadvertently voted for ‘the odd mix of establishments in Fyshwick’. I clicked the square thinking it would open up with more information. That’s one way to get votes.

Well I’ve just voted for Charny, and will vote for it again from other computers.

They started the p!ss taking, I’ll play along.

Stupid website, with very stupid choices.

Vote for Page Tavern…What?..;(

Gershwin said :

“Charnwood” as a favorite suburb is right up there in the “WTF?” stakes.

Like Cameron Ling = hottest man in the AFL.

Charny will get votes.

“Quest for fitness” only in Canberra? I’m sure all those members of gyms beyond our borders would dispute that, not to mention all those boot campers at Bondi Beach and other locales around the country (and beyond).

And why 100? Artibrary number. Why not 50? or 35? Or all the good ones?

“Each suburb has its own local shop”. So long as you don’t count Giralang, McKellar, Flynn, Aranda, Crace, Harrison, Franklin, Downer, Turner, etc as Suburbs.

Conan of Cooma said :

It’s like facebook; there’s no option to ‘dislike’.

On FB, this :poop: is quite good as a graphical dislike.

Probably doesn’t work on this weird orange site though.

Oh God. It’s like the most awful mix between unprompted vox pop and people who’ve called into radio stations to win tacky prizes.
Having said that, I personally can’t think of anything worth adding. Maybe Summernats and it’s magnetic pull for revheads to the Northside causing a quiet few days in the South?

Love Canberra…
Hate Website…

Motherhood statements don’t come much more inane than ‘lovely for pregnant women.’ As opposed to the relentless persecution of pregnant women in Melbourne and Sydney?

Kingsleys! (Sorry Poetix, but at least it’s not pork!) 🙂
Actually, think there’s one in Quangers too….

It’s like facebook; there’s no option to ‘dislike’.

“I’m buggered if I can see anything there that is completely unique to Canberra.

Anyone else waded deep enough into the website to find any other gems?”

Cafés and restaurants:
– Lots of McDonalds restaurants

People:
– Very social people
– People are physically attractive
– Relaxed, not status conscious or consumption oriented

Three degrees of separation:
– Bumping into friends

Opportunities:
– You can be a big fish
– High opportunities for getting involved in anything

Cinema, arts, culture and music:
– Queanbeyan swap meet

Suburbs:
– The odd mix of establishments in Fyshwick

Quirky and cool:
– The name Canberra—it rhymes with nothing
– Humans vs Zombies in Haig Park
– The fact that when we drive in other states with ACT plates, everyone avoids us

Lots to do:
– Showing visitors around Canberra
– Lots of stimulating activities for retirees

Politics and government:
– Having our own Legislative Assembly
– Andrew Barr
– Being able to see Julia Gillard
– Most progressive thinking city in Australia

Location and proximity:
– Being able to commute by bicycle
– Proximity to Queanbeyan
– Stumble on kangaroos on the way home

“Charnwood” as a favorite suburb is right up there in the “WTF?” stakes.

So many of the items are so similar eg all the different bike related ones (bell or no bell). Yep, crap interface as well!

Wow, it’s a bit slooooooooow. And the lack of any counter/activity after you click on one of the blue squares makes you think nothing is happening. But many seconds later the yellow squares appear.

Magic!