Sorry Amicus - I should have said you haven't been there recently, have you?

If you think most people in the Northern Rivers region are on the dole, why don't you check out the real estate prices? (That's a rhetorical question, Amicus - but feel free to apologise when you've acquainted yourself with contemporary facts, rather than your memories from decades ago).

cj - vitriol at the messenger, how quaint. When you don't like the truth, the message, you resort to your usual poison pen.

The Nimbin, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay area has a reputation which it cannot shake, people who go there see it as it is and as reflected by other posters.

The author doesn't like the truth either, Piers Ackerman commented about "hippies" and gets flamed (gosh, that will change perceptions). Piers is drawing on the widely held perception that many up there are dole bludging no hopers, whose brains are addled by substance abuse.

You don't change perceptions by attacking people who have them you change it by changing the source, and it takes time.

Do you reckon it will change?

I still am involved in the area, have an interest in a manufacturing business, so I am well aware of the "social" challenges. I don't live there and never stay more than a day or so, I don't like country much, I prefer the cities.

Here's a thing, we can't get workers for the business, so have had to bring them up from "down south", why?

It's hard work, it's regular, this business draws on the dairy industry so work starts early .. young people up there don't want that, they want casual work that doesn't impact their other activities .. social activities of course.

Can you expand on your claim of "social development", is it more than partying and facebook? I don't believe it's advancing, the people coming in and buying up land are boomers who are retiring, they are not starting businesses but they do want services.

So are services being developed, no, they don't like "non locals" do they? There is a huge opportunity for industry and business, but what are they doing .. social development. Yep, that's helpful, that's the Aussie way, and they'll all whine when some outsiders come in and take over all the business and services .. but they'll be OK, they will have "social development"

Vitriol, Amicus? Wasn't it you who began your contributions to this thread with

<< People visit Nimbin because it's a freak show, not because they admire the lifestyle or people there.

There's not much else happening up that way in Northern NSW is there? >>

You've now changed your story a couple of times. Apparently because you can't get young people to work in your manufacturing business at Byron Bay, everybody in the Northern Rivers is a 'dole bludger'.

All I've done is disagree with you, on the basis of my own extended experience of the area. I've got family and many friends in the Northern Rivers, and not one of them is on the dole. Some have their own small businesses, others work as teachers, nurses, lawyers, graphic designers, sound engineers, musicians, scientists, tradesmen etc.

Perhaps you could attract workers if you paid more, or otherwise improved conditions at your factory. In current conditions of nearly full employment, every business is competing for staff - I know, because I'm an employer.

Ackerman was criticised because he made a stupid generalisation based on a tired stereotype, as did you. However, Ackerman is a notorious wingnut tool - what's your excuse?

cj, it's about perception, that's the point of the whole article and my responses - you've raced off as usual with various tedious accusations ... get over it sheesh, you seem to feel very strongly about it .. wonder why?

Can you show me where I said "everybody in the Northern Rivers is a 'dole bludger"

Typical hysterical exaggeration from cj .. why do I bother? (that's rhetorical, it requires no answer)

have a good weekend cj, try not to stress out about the little things, like people's perceptions that can't be changed by getting hysterical.

This is reminiscent of the thread on nation branding. Difficult to shake a reputation even an overgeneralised one. I have never been to Nimbin but it is always wise to read beyond what a media article might purport.

Having experienced the backlash from friends about the 60 Minutes piece many years ago which painted all Canberrans living in the lap of luxury in big mansions while the rest of the country does it tough (using Mugga Way as the aytpical street - Mugga Way is in elite Red Hill/Forrest area). This media misrepresentation was enough to put me off 60 Minutes for a long time - even now I rarely switch it on.

Media needs more than any town like Nimbin, to get its act together as regards integrity in reporting, but why let facts get in the way of a good story when you want to give people something to whinge about.

I recall seeing a show about 10 years or so ago, where people from the traditionalist farming community and alternative lifestyle residents, were brought together for a natter. Basically they showed that they had integrated fairly well.

The alternative folk had started out dancing naked around maypoles and such but years later ended up, having experienced sunburn, ticks and the like, piece by piece adopting the same clothing as the farmers. A lot of alternatives had also gradually taken various types of paid work around the northern rivers region; having discovered that life gets a bit dull and grim when doing without some goods that just can't be produced in a cottage industry. However, they didn't appear to have completely sold out to conservatism or to capitalism.

CJ - (hiya!) I also have many relatives and friends throughout the northern rivers region - every single one of them employed and industrious homeowners or farmers and a few (working) non-conformists thrown in to boot.

Amicus <- oi. You related to rehctub by any chance? There is a dedicated region of drug culture in NSW and it isn't in Nimbin. In fact I have often wondered if the drug users from Nimbin moved to new digs. It's true that the main 'street' in Nimbin is a bit shabby, in an interesting sort of way; there is also the occasional old dread locked hippy ambling about like a quaint reminder of times past - but all is overwhelmed by the much more prominent business fronts; busy people, traffic and the like.