You forgot "is anyone surprised?"
The Down Under Lounge
- Thread starter TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME
- Start date
You forgot "is anyone surprised?"
The main benefit to Ian Thorpe openly admitting he is gay is that he serves as a role model for gay children and teenagers.
Though it also gets argued that coming out by sports stars would be more meaningful if they didn't leave until their careers were over but that argument can be seen from both sides.
Though some Australian sports stars out out of the closet but they are in sports that seem to be less hostile to gays and lesbians.
Hello, Respected Australian a Persons!...Usurper American HIjol here, with a touristy question, if I may...and, of course, I am not a Real Man, I just play one in my Country......I saw the briefest of snatches of a Travel program showcasing Melbourne...there appears to be a street trolley car done up as a moving restaurant...it looked so very cool! as with most things in your Rockin' Country...could someone please give me information, if you have it...or if you have actually been on it...???...much appreciated, in advance!!!
Buy a sandwich and get on one of the several W class trams (the really old ones) still in service and have the same experience. Restaurant will be stupid expensive and crappy food.
There is a free tram that goes around the city which is usually one of the old ones as well. Otherwise newer trams are everywhere, you can jump on a tram in the city center and go to the beach.
(Just looked at Australis's tram restaurant link, $80!! You could get a fantastic meal here if you were spending that much and not have it lurching all over your lap LOL. )
This is a quick article on how entrenched aus sports are with the "ewww" factor towards gays.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/d...ows-how-far-we-have-to-go-20140713-zt5sk.html
http://www.theage.com.au/national/d...ows-how-far-we-have-to-go-20140713-zt5sk.html
Hello, Respected Australian a Persons!...Usurper American HIjol here, with a touristy question, if I may...and, of course, I am not a Real Man, I just play one in my Country...
Buy a sandwich and get on one of the several W class trams (the really old ones) still in service and have the same experience. Restaurant will be stupid expensive and crappy food.
There is a free tram that goes around the city which is usually one of the old ones as well. Otherwise newer trams are everywhere, you can jump on a tram in the city center and go to the beach.
(Just looked at Australis's tram restaurant link, $80!! You could get a fantastic meal here if you were spending that much and not have it lurching all over your lap LOL. )
And my advice for all its worth is never ever buy a meal on a train in Australia. 12 years later I can still remember the horror of that mistake.
Yes. This happened to me once too on a train from Melbourne to Canberra. Boredom, extreeeeeeeeeeem boredom drove me to it. I have blanked out the actual meal but I know half a plastic cheese square (fetchingly cut as a triangle) and some natty slices of pickled beetroot constituted the "salad".
*waves* It's great to see another name I recognise. I'm great - happy and healthy for the most part
Stick around and say hello occasionally.
I kind of agree with you in that I think it would be nice if people came out earlier, but something is better than nothing. It is still sending a message to LGBT youth that they aren't alone and that they're ok exactly how they are.
Nor do I think it is necessarily fair to adult LGBT to expect them to come out for the sake of someone else. Not when we consider the cost it may have for them personally.
I remember when Ellen came out. I loved that show, and I could have sent the message to me that been gay was ok. Instead the world wasn't ready for it, and all that happened was that I was no longer allowed to watch it. In the end, the message I got was the absolute opposite. If you are gay and someone finds out, expect to be punished. If that is the outcome of a sports star coming out, then I am glad if they wait until that is less of a risk.
Mine was Sydney - Port Macquarie and it was a meat-dish.
Irish Stew or something. The smell of it as you opened the plastic seal.
Much much worse than any airline food ever, ever.
Stupid stupid stupid.
It used to be shocking. Now it is better, often tasty and at the least diverts you. From the boredom.
But if you fly from Melbourne to Sydney all you get is a juice box and a roll
But if you fly from Melbourne to Sydney all you get is a juice box and a roll
Of all the times I've been to Melbourne in the last few years, only once have i taken the train down - due to the fact it was cheaper back in April when I was there. Plus it was different too. And I never buy food or drinks on the plane. I'd rather bring something with me, or buy something there.
On Ian Thorpe - I saw something on facebook about it from a friend. I think most people knew already.
On Ian Thorpe - I saw something on facebook about it from a friend. I think most people knew already.
The tram restaurant is for tourists and suburbanites. teacake is right in that it is expensive and the food is mediocre at best. One nice benefit I guess is the restaurant tram gives is it actually cover a lot of the more intersting and picturesque routes. Something you may not normally get on the regular tram routes (well without having to catch 8 different ones)
As to Ian Thorpe... The poor boy was thrust in the national spotlight at 14 and being a national hero at 17. That alone would warp things and ones mind and coming out would've been the last thing he probably could've dealt with. That I can understand.
Remember Daniel Kowalski (one gold medal and a number of silver) and Ji Wallace (silver medalist) didn't come out until after they retired and Natalie Cook (Gold medalist), while still playing was well past her gold winning prime as well when she came out.
However I am heavily involved in gay sports and there is a big push for the no-to-homophobia campaign at the professional level at the moment. While all the support that the campaign gets is wonderful, it is sometimes sad to see how far we need to go. We have had some outstanding success in the rugby union world with gay inclusive teams playing in each of the Melbourne. Sydney & Brisbane comps, full support of the ARU board and the players (no dickheads like Acker in rugby thank god) as well as the gay rugby World Cup in Sydney in five weeks. However I acknowledge Rugby Union can be a rather interesting outlier compared to other sports (especial AFL & League), having Ian Thorpe be a proud gay athlete can only be a good thing. But we need to examine as well why he wasn't ready to come out sooner as is it a part of the sporting culture that needs to change
As to Ian Thorpe... The poor boy was thrust in the national spotlight at 14 and being a national hero at 17. That alone would warp things and ones mind and coming out would've been the last thing he probably could've dealt with. That I can understand.
Remember Daniel Kowalski (one gold medal and a number of silver) and Ji Wallace (silver medalist) didn't come out until after they retired and Natalie Cook (Gold medalist), while still playing was well past her gold winning prime as well when she came out.
However I am heavily involved in gay sports and there is a big push for the no-to-homophobia campaign at the professional level at the moment. While all the support that the campaign gets is wonderful, it is sometimes sad to see how far we need to go. We have had some outstanding success in the rugby union world with gay inclusive teams playing in each of the Melbourne. Sydney & Brisbane comps, full support of the ARU board and the players (no dickheads like Acker in rugby thank god) as well as the gay rugby World Cup in Sydney in five weeks. However I acknowledge Rugby Union can be a rather interesting outlier compared to other sports (especial AFL & League), having Ian Thorpe be a proud gay athlete can only be a good thing. But we need to examine as well why he wasn't ready to come out sooner as is it a part of the sporting culture that needs to change
This is totally off-topic as far as sports, sexual preferences and plane food are concerned, but since it is about an Aussie I thought I'd share today's police report with you:
last night the Bavarian police caught a 73 year old Australian tourist roaming the streets of Rothenburg in nothing but his undies and a tee shirt. He seemed somewhat confused and couldn't account for how he had gotten there. Contrary to first suspicions he was absolutely sober. Apparently he was sleepwalking.
Since he seemed slightly hypothermic they got him to hospital, just in case. (Nights over here are currently unusually cold for this time of the year: only 12-15°C.)
Source: http://www.br.de/nachrichten/mittelfranken/inhalt/rothenburg-tourist-schlafwandler-100.html
He might perhaps consider tying his ankle to the bedpost tonight
last night the Bavarian police caught a 73 year old Australian tourist roaming the streets of Rothenburg in nothing but his undies and a tee shirt. He seemed somewhat confused and couldn't account for how he had gotten there. Contrary to first suspicions he was absolutely sober. Apparently he was sleepwalking.
Since he seemed slightly hypothermic they got him to hospital, just in case. (Nights over here are currently unusually cold for this time of the year: only 12-15°C.)
Source: http://www.br.de/nachrichten/mittelfranken/inhalt/rothenburg-tourist-schlafwandler-100.html
He might perhaps consider tying his ankle to the bedpost tonight
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12 to 15 C is approaching the unholy season of winter. NO. Bad temperatures!
You must be 17 to enjoy this ride.
You must be 17 to enjoy this ride.
Winter can go die in a hole.
12 degrees in winter is OK for me. I only start to complain when the daily maximums are in single figures.
