Australians have been called “fake nice” and residents have been accused of hiding an “extremely clique culture” behind a friendly facade.
Hundreds of people commented on the reality of loneliness in Australia after a 20-year-old in Western Australia spoke out about the depression he suffers from.
The young Australian captured the attention of thousands of people this week when he described the country as lonely and expensive, with “poor water quality” and a brutal work culture.
And Daily Mail Australia readers agree, with many saying they too struggle, especially when it comes to maintaining and building friendships as adults.
“I’m almost 40 and I hardly have any new friends apart from old school friends and a few colleagues,” one woman admitted.
Another, in his seventies, warned that insulation It only gets worse as one gets older, until eventually couples find themselves with only their partner for company.
Younger people agreed, believing the problem is “pretty standard” in Australia and likely due to the country’s “obsession with work”.
“It’s a sad situation. It used to be such a social, fun, connected place to live, but now we just work, work, work,” one woman said.
Australians and expats have said that big cities like Sydney and Perth can be notoriously difficult places to make new friends
But there were also cities that were named and shamed for having the “worst” offenders.
‘Since the 90s Sydney has always been a clique town and impossible to make new friends. Most people are either so worked up or jealous that they won’t even look at you,’ someone noted.
“It’s almost impossible to get into the Northern Beaches community, even if you’re Anglo-Australian. You have to be born there and your parents have lived there for decades,” one resident agreed.
Others argued that Australians from different backgrounds found it most difficult to form new circles of friends.
‘Multicultural Australia is very divided. Ethnic groups, including Australians, are unlikely to accept you if you are an outsider,’ said one man.
One woman agreed, saying these were “completely unattractive and unattractive qualities,” and that the culture Down Under was so “regressive” it was “absurd.”
‘It explains so much, I’ll pack my bags right away, this confirms what I already knew, you can have it [Australia]’, a man shouted.
One woman said it was impossible to penetrate the community on Sydney’s northern beaches, even if you were Anglo-Australian
Others defended the country and suggested that those who were not satisfied should just leave.
“Australia is not obligated,” he wrote.
The man who posted the original Reddit thread was overwhelmed by the impact of his rant.
Although he comes from an African family, he has in Western Australia since he was a baby. HHe loves Australia’s education, safety and healthcare, but he feels incredibly lonely, despite being a naturally ‘lively’ person.
“It’s really hard to make and keep friends here because a lot of people keep their school/work/university friends around them and can form cliques because of it,” he wrote on Reddit.
“Hey, I should catch up” is said often, when most of the time it is just a courtesy to not turn down an invitation to get together.
He has tried visiting beaches, parks and workplaces, but nothing changes. Everyone in his ‘little group’ is still reluctant to interact with strangers.
The young man, who believes that “being an adult is stupid”, also pointed to the high cost of living and the fact that Australians absolutely live to work, not work to live.
“I just want to know if anyone else feels the same way I do about living here?” he asked.
People suffering from depression and loneliness can turn to various support services, such as: Beyond Blue Australia.