Modern Life
The short-term fix of Olympic glory aside, Essential’s weekly poll suggests Australia is a pretty miserable place right now. We may be living in one of the most prosperous societies in history, but we aren’t happy with how our own lives are travelling.
The majority of us say we are either struggling or just coping financially; we are worried about losing our jobs and expect our personal situation to deteriorate over the next 12 months.
We actively dislike our elected leaders, both PM and Opposition are disapproved by about two thirds of us. We have have not only lost faith in government in most of our public institutions – the public service, the High Court, the Reserve Bank, business, unions, the media, even religion.
Continue reading "A nation of stressed-out, time poor, lonely worker bees" »
Anonymous says:
“I was at Town Hall station once and this woman didn’t have a ticket. She was about 22-24 - so young and a bit stupid to run from transit cops who look like Fascist’s anyway. One of the four transit cops (yes four) who chased her grabbed her bag and the contents spilled everywhere and her phone broke. I was just through the turnstile and stopped. Two more transit cops came over and stood over her so there were 6. She was crying and shaking when she stood up and they issued her a ticket.
Should I have gone back in and helped her pick up her stuff and been with her just so she wasn’t alone? I feel I should have. But I had to get to work.”
Continue reading "Friday’s dilemma: should I have helped this stranger?" »
Latest 2 of 133 comments
View all comments-
outlet says:
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe… Read more »
-
Jake says:
Has no one considered the How, you know, shit are transit system is?. Is it really worth the money?. Also anyone who has ever encounters the transit police knows that they’re a pack of bottom feeders. Read more »
BUY MILK flashes the outlook calendar as I robotically press snooze.
‘Buy milk’ it urges again five seconds later.
Outlook calendar reminders have become daily practice for me.
I’m also in the habit of snoozing ad nauesaum until I’m moved to post the same reminder (not always milk, can also be ring mum, do laundry) on my phone.
You know, for later – when I have some time to ‘get around to it’.
Facilitated by an arsenal of ‘time-saving’ devices including scrawled post it notes, an addiction to Google calendar and a filofax, I call it having efficiency in being inefficient.
Latest 2 of 5 comments
View all comments-
caroline says:
we’re in danger of outsourcing all the stuff that keeps us human. there’s a wholesome satisfaction you get from baking a birthday cake instead of buying one. i know we live in a fast-paced world and i love many things about that, but there’s a perception that if you’re not… Read more »
-
stephen says:
This, Lucy , is probably the new ‘cool’ : we are vague and seemingly disinterested in the mundane, so we outsource it to a minder. (The implication is, of course, “I have better things to do with my time”) It’s probably not simply a reaction though ; the information age… Read more »
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
Latest 2 of 38 comments
View all commentsAdd your comment