Happy New Year all!
Was watching the 9pm fireworks (live) last night and just couldn't help but think that they were sorta boring.
Felt a sense of déjà vu as the years seem to go by so fast marked by fireworks each NYE. Found it so boring that didn't bother to turn on the tele for the 12am fireworks.
Does anyone else feel the same or is this feeling just a sign of ageing? Are there better ways to spend tax payers money (noting that the fireworks are a big drawcard for tourism etc)?
it would be more exciting if OP was able light their own fireworks
I’m 33 and moved to Germany last year. One thing I wanted to do in NYE was let off fireworks.
It was so much fun. 2 hours of amazing nonsense.
Did your username check out (from a wayward firecracker)?
It all pales into comparison to the good old days when you could buy as many fireworks as you liked for cracker night, throw double-bungers at your mates, and all that good stuff.
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-the…
Yeah, who needs all their fingers anyway?
Personal responsibility is dangerous, especially when you have to pay for other people's health care and welfare. Who needs freedom anyway?
The nanny state's obsession with safety takes all of the fun out of life. Enjoyable things have an element of risk.
@Thaal Sinestro: Sure but then everyone starts suing the council/landlord/government when they injure themselves
It would be better if those messing about with low grade explosives injured only themselves, but it's commonly others that suffer and end up with life long injuries. Very similar to other "fun stuff" that's had varying levels of acceptability over the years, e.g. drink driving, hooning etc.
Checked, AU is the only country that banned fireworks. The rest of civilized world allows it: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_fireworks
Australians are by in large, incompetent and untrustworthy. We seem to point our fireworks at each other and can't seem to behave with alcohol. There's some need to assault or kill someone when it comes to items that are suppose to be for leisure and fun.
Lol! Makes me wonder when driving a car will be outlawed too. 2050?
@Bluto Mindpretzel: Norway, Germany, Finland allow fireworks. I think safety standards there are OK too. AU just gets high on banning stuff, for no reason, it seems.
@[Deactivated]: We are quite a lot more flammable than Norway, Germany and Finland. Especially at this time of year. I’m assuming that’s the reason.
@[Deactivated]: It’s coz us aussies live being told what’s safe and unsafe- it shifts responsibility from oneself to somewhere else.
@HelpMeiCantSee: I sadly agree with this.
Common sense doesn't exist here. Everything has to be clearly written and explicitly told. Otherwise it's the fault of person that not giving the warning.
@ribze1: Liberals like banning things, but the ALP is thrice as bad in that regard. The ALP's model of government is based on a huge bureaucracy that interferes with every aspect of our life. I surprised they haven't made cigarettes and alcohol illegal yet, though they certainly want to. Even a harmless activity like vaping is illegal. Nicotine is no mire pernicious than the caffeine in people's overpriced coffees.
@Thaal Sinestro: Except that nicotine causes cancer, and caffeine does very little when used in normal doses.
@Thaal Sinestro: @Thaal Sinestro
What a load of hyperbolic drivel.
Liberals like banning things, but the ALP is thrice as bad in that regard.
Evidence please. Which jurisdictions? State? Federal? Can you supply a list of things banned by Liberals versus a list of things banned by ALP in similar timeframes.
ALP's model of government is based on a huge bureaucracy that interferes with every aspect of our life.
Again, evidence please. In which states (and/or Federal) has the public service markedly increased in size since the election of a Labor government? I understand average and relative public sector size has been fairly constant in states, territories and federally for some decades now. But I am willing to have my mind changed with facts.
Every aspect of our life? I'm struggling to see where the Labor Party has impinged on my hobby of antique porcelain doll collecting. But I'm willing to hear about it.
haven't made cigarettes and alcohol illegal yet, though they certainly want to.
Please point to the published policies of the ALP where this is outlined. Nearly all governments around the world have placed some restrictions on smoking in some environments. And many (mostly conservative Islamic) governments have bans on alcohol.
Even a harmless activity like vaping is illegal.
Where? How? Is this still to do with your rant about the ALP? Interestingly, most Australian governments (both ALP and Lib/Nat) have placed restrictions on nicotine based vaping.
Really, you just wanted to grumble about the Labor Party, and latched onto this thread. Why not start a new thread, with an honest title, such as: "I hate the ALP, and this is why"?
Just got back from NZ today.
We're surely the nanny state compared to the average kiwi where safety standards are optional.
The minority, and overreaching government, ruining it for the majority, as always.
@brendanm: Huh what? You got it backwards..
Only the majority can pass laws in parliament.
And only those who win the votes from the majority go to the parliament.
It is the majority who are always ruining it for the minority, in almost all aspects of life.
@leiiv: We are not a Democratic country
We are a country with a two party system that rarely actually represents what the people want
Only citizens can vote, not residents
Only the rich can afford the luxury of an education and then a parliamentary life in Australia - very few politicians are representative of the masses
@fishing: Citizenship demonstrates commitment. Merely residing in a nation shouldn't give the right to vote. I agree with you that our democracy is broken though - lobbying is just legal bribery.
@leiiv: When I said the minority, I mean the minority of people are morons who blow off their hands, I thought that was rather obvious.
@leiiv: The current mob got the majority in parliament with a minority of votes. I guess you’re both right.
This really hits the nail on the head…and yes..it's the same when people get into cars, all sense goes out of the window
Nah, I'm pretty sure we've crossed that point a long time ago. At this point our politicians are power tripping like overzealous hall monitors. The just get a high off banning things and just try to see how far they can push the envelope by targeting the goofiest crap. Just not too long ago I read an article that they banned tentacle hentai of all things from being imported into the country. It boggles my mind that there were politicians even debating this with all the shit going on the past few years.
Why do you choose to read what you want?
Categorisation of fireworks
Fireworks in the Europe Union are classified into four categories:
Category F1: fireworks which pose very little danger (such as sparklers), and are intended for use in a closed space, including fireworks intended for use outside residential buildings;
Category F2: fireworks which pose little danger, and are intended for use outside residential buildings in a closed space;
Category F3: fireworks which pose average danger, and are intended for use outside residential buildings in a large open space;
Category F4: fireworks which pose grave danger, and are exclusively intended for persons with specialised knowledge, often called "fireworks for professional usage".
With this in mind, read again your posted article.
And your point was ??
Checked, AU is the only country that banned fireworks. The rest of civilized world allows it: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_fireworks
Imagine Australians allowed to celebrate the fourth of July.
Can't celebrate independence when we never achieved independence
Did you even read the article you posted or did you mean to post something else? Wrong link?
Whats wrong in it? It says clearly “In Australia, most states and territories outlaw fireworks for consumers.”
@[Deactivated]: rules are not drastically different from many other developed countries and there's an indication of a trend for rules on fireworks to be tightened everywhere. This Wiki article doesn't single out Australia in any way imo.
Its like saying "Australia has the toughest gun laws among developed countries". Its just a clickbait headline, its more complicated than that and just not true.
@ripprind: AU banned fireworks. Other countries did not. It is that simple and is all I wanted to say.
@[Deactivated]: ok, but that simply isn't what that wiki is saying.
So maybe don't use that as a supporting evidence for your claim.
throw double-bungers at your mates
I wonder why they got banned.
Must still be easy for young kids to obtain.
Staying with family in Melb, and every night since the 24th - there's been kids setting off fireworks in the nearby streets (sometimes as late as 1:30am).
The real crux of the issue is that nothing is more amazing or interesting or beautiful than anything else.
Once you understand this fully, and you can see everything through new eyes (as a newborn baby would, or a visitor from another planet would), everything becomes phenomenally interesting and amazing.
If you can look at a tree and really see the tree (not your memory of the tree, and not just a representation of the word "tree"), the tree looks different, like something you've never seen before.
From this perspective, yes fireworks displays are no more amazing than a plain night sky. But that's because the plain night sky is incredibly interesting in the first place.
Once you understand this fully, and you can see everything through new eyes
Psychadelics help. Nothing like watching a tree's leaves move in the breeze after drinking a big cup of mushroom tea.
blue meanies or goldtops?
That seems like a cop out.
Like needing alcohol to have fun at parties.
Wait. what? You can have fun at parties without alcohol. I've seen the light. 2023 is going to be awesome.
Hey I'm not saying it's necessary but it will definitely speed up the process. Haven't done psych's in a decade but I can still appreciate a nice eucalypt swaying in the breeze and watching the light play off all the leaves as they flip and turn and listening to the sound they make. It's like watching one of those demo videos on the most HD screen ever made.
LSD making a come back from the 60's
Psilocybin is the coolest psychedelic now. People are researching low dose hallucinogens for treating anxiety and depression. There is even a legalize psilocybin movement in the US (not in AU though, we aren't even going to legalize pot - I hate this country).
I don't necessarily accept the first sentence (though it may be fundamental) but having children and observing them has been phenomenal for reawakening my own sense of wonder at all things in the world.
But as an adult it is something that must be deliberately practiced. Something that must be worked at.
Yes, that is what fireworks do
Boomer? I hardly know 'er!
Agree.. lets stop it.
The $ better goes to more public library, cheaper transport, more hospitals. Make citizens smart, not burning money into smoke and get ppl drunk while watching it.
It's easy to say things like that but the reality is, for the approx $7m the fireworks costs, it brings in over $130m in tourism revenue which helps the economy considerably.
Does it though?
Helps airlines, hotel chains and maybe some retailers in the CBD and then maybe some tourism outfits around town
Oh and also removes accessibility to the harbour for local Sydneysiders
Which helps keep people employed, and taxes get paid.
Why are people so short sighted on this sort of thing?
but the reality is, for the approx $7m the fireworks costs, it brings in over $130m in tourism revenue which helps the economy considerably
I see these sorts of figures being quoted for a whole range of 'events' but I have never been able to locate any hard numbers that prove the point.
Any chance you could point me towards a source for these figures that are not just based on estimates and assumptions?
(not being critical of your post, I just genuinely am interested in seeing the hard numbers that prove these claims)
Probably in the same report that show how beneficial sports events like the F1 is…
Can't remember the city or year but there was one year the state or council had bragged about a "record" high spending on fireworks, and any questioning of what those extra millions bought the city (aside from extra fireworks minutes) was just howled down with the strawman party-pooper anti-fireworks argument.
Personally I really doubt fireworks are excluded from the laws of diminishing returns so aside from inflation pumping extra millions ain't getting those millions back … and unlike a rail line or road there's nothing to show for it.
Just assume the $130m is made up or incorrectly attributed specifically to the fireworks show, because I couldn't find the source either.
I know you're after the source, and unfortunately, I can't offer that, but there are a few other factors involved than just tourism. Imagine how joyless a state would be if they just cancelled New Year celebrations, or if they decided Christmas wasn't worth a public holiday anymore.
There's more to these celebrations than money; sometimes it's family/social life, other times it's for individuals' mental health, or maybe it's just to bring kids joy every now and then. Not everything is about the money. If it costs $7m for fireworks for elderly, adults, teenagers and kids to enjoy a night out, then that's a pretty good investment.
Tourists would still come here in summer without fireworks so these numbers are always exaggerated.
The fireworks have been the same for possibly 30 years, or close to it. OP was asking are they boring and the answer is very much yes. I've been there a few times in the past and it's generally not a great experience, overcrowded with too many drunken idiots.
And the government ticketed vantage points bring in considerable more revenue. Everyone taking public transport on the day. 1 mil people were in the city on the day. Considering everyone paid the lowest fare will alone bring in north of $2.5 mil in revenue. Mrs Macquarie Point tickets alone sold it for $500k+ with only 7000 people capacity and Silver tickets costing $70 pp and $150 pp for Gold. When you add in more vantage points, the revenue is even higher.
where is greta and her environment agenda people?
Not just you. Was underwhelming. Perhaps one has to be there. But then there's the drunks, the kids, the getting home.
Nope, I'd rather be in bed by 12:01 🤣😴
Well if you're doing the same things every year, that would also be part of it. And the same fireworks locations too. I think you need to change things up then and see the fireworks as not just the fireworks but if i was just watching them on tv I'd prob end up feeling the same. On the beach is best.
I think that the government has got it wrong and we should have used drones.
Drone light shows are epic, but problems can happen too: https://www.australianphotography.com/news/100k-of-drones-fa…
That's like cancelling the fireworks due to bad weather, shit happens lol
Yeah, I know… Hence my use of the word “too”…
Yes, with enough of them, drones could probably do everything fireworks can do, and much much more.
I feel the same - I sure hope it’s the fireworks’ fault and not the fact I haven’t been happy since I was 12.
😂🥲
It's always easier to blame someone else. I think the fireworks need to step up and take some ownership here.
I feel sorry for your parents :)
First world problem if ever I heard one.
Whats the point in celebrating anyway its just happen then the calendar needs to start somewhere… its just 1st as a number on calendar… the sun earth house family job are still the same. We just got tricked in thinking today is special. It's not.
Hope, sharing time with people you love, the idea of a new start, new challlenges and what's the year going to bring. I guess it means different things to different people.
you can conclude that everything is pointless in life with this kind of logic. so just let people be.
Melb 5 min fireworks, Syd 10 min fireworks.
Not work the hassle . HNY 🥳
"More and More Boring Each Year?"
That's basically life innit?
Everything gets more and more boring and by the time you are old you can spend half the day reading a book then get onto other boring time consuming stuff and it's perfectly fine because everything else is just as boring.
Agree with Bingsta. In Melbourne, if you don't go the the wasteland that used to be the city, all you see is a splutterfest..
Hundreds of thousands line up around the bay and get bugger all.
Politicians are too busy blowing our money on vote winner.
"No soup for you"
Woke TV presentations dont help
You could have also used ‘wokerati’ and maybe crowbarred the word ‘elites’ in there to score extra Murdoch points.
Come on, give us an "MSM".
Personal fireworks are much more thrilling, like this video where a stray firework ignited the guys box of fireworks, what a show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYAeOOt73_g
The sheep love it
Each year there are more young people born ready to enjoy them with fresh eyes. It's the same with super hero movies and Caramello Koala.
It's similar to marital relationships with the wife
first big bang - and then the comedown
Depends on which city, in Sydney, they block road to prevent more people from entering, record number trying to watch fireworks on site. Can't remember the last time roads being blocked to prevent people from entering on new year eve.
they've fenced off areas for years - they'll say for 'safety' - I'm feeling it's a scam contract with the fencing company mates with someone getting paid plenty moolah for putting fences every goddam where
what P'd me off extra this year was seeing the south edge of Darling Harbour Cockle Bay with 2m black plastic screening behind the waterfront steps/seating - obs so they could charge for tickets to the waterfront and DELIBERATELY PREVENT the public behind there from seeing it for free - that's just OFFENSIVE to me.
Go to city. Get stuck in a tunnel, nearly die, happy new year!
I quite liked it personally but I think your reaction is just a function of desensitisation over time. You've seen fireworks many times. It has become stale for you. Personally I would attempt to consider strongly how to transcend that response but you could just make peace with it. It's unavoidable in most things in life and just understanding what is happening and why should afford you some comfort.
Last night we were in the center of Budapest for NYE (apologies for the humble brag, but we did buy OzB flights).
No government fireworks, but locals can buy fireworks for 48 hours - it is bedlam, but fantastic. The crowd was crushed in a central square, fireworks impressively blasting every minute then a crescendo at midnight.
It actually opened my eyes to the way things can work in a libertarian model - it was ok for someone to buy a $30 box of fireworks, put it on the edge of the footpath and yell “step back!”
For me, growing up on safe Sydney government crackers it was wild, but nobody got hurt, a fun time was had, and the wildness added to the excitement.
I was able to judge my own risk level - I could back away if things looked bad, or close in for a better show.
So I will bow to the libertarians who frequent here, I was proved wrong on how I thought this would go. @ozhunter @Gervais fanboy you can have this one!
no you just getting older, and the novelty of fireworks is getting boring for you as you see them every year,