DD,
The point of this post was to identify what is meant by the term 'bogan' and to ascertain if there were common elements that might be resolved thus reducing the likelyhood of social breakdown.

Country Gal's summation is a good one.
No one is mercilessly vilafying anyone.

I think the "cafe latte set" are armchair middleclass, self important ill informed people who pontificate on all things social (as in gossip) This definition clearly fits neither the topic of bogans nor Romany. As this its a public debate I started in which I've a deep life time interest and respect all honest opinions. I am curious and bewildered as to what is your point.

bit busy again but I will answer both of you later [if topic not ruled off], but basically it is the Maelstrom I think that made ME quite ill

"I found myself amidst an insecure, violent, emotional maelstrom prone environment again, but this time I was sick, virtually defenceless, trapped."

it's very dramatic mate but way too cras - next time try "It was a dark and windy night .."

are you actually Tony Abbott? - I though John Marsden from the above but he is dead

instead of Maelstrom prone why not Maelstromic, going forward

never pass up a good opportunity to invent a new PC word - Don Watson

odd, I would've thought the politically correct approach to bogon or yobbo being antisocial would have been to pander to them and accuse their victims of racism...or yanno, some kinda *ism or bognaphobia etc bla bla..

I don't think saying what can we do about it is PC at all, I think it is what needs to be done...

Heck, if you're going to start on about the 'cafe-latte' set, may as well discuss their close cousins, the 'tofu-munchers'.
While we're at it, how about the 'intellectual elite.' Of course, some might confuse them for the 'yuppies' who are busy disparaging the 'bogans' and 'yobbos.'
That's just the broad categories. Within the 'youth' or 'yoof' bracket, we have the 'emos' and 'skaties' not to mention the 'homeboys' though they go by different nomenclature in different places.
Wait a mo - have we touched on the 'surfies'? or would that be mistaken for the 'hippies?' Maybe we can draw a circle around them and call them 'bohemian.'
Of course, we'd better not forget the country lads or 'larrikins' as the friendlier ones are called. We don't have 'rednecks' around here as much, but we've sure got 'derros' as I've heard them called.

The truth is that these groups are pretty fluid. A bohemian can be a yuppie in his work week, take to surfing in the afternoon and end up a hippie by the weekend, while being a bit of a larrikin around his mates. He may even be part of the intellectual elite and have a preference for tofu.

A country lad might seem like a bogan with a few beers under his belt, but also be a high powered businessman. He could qualify as a yuppie as well.

So what are we really talking about here? If it's an underclass who lacks education and typically has a lack of sensitivity, then this is a worldwide phenomenon with a local flavour.
As Country Gal points out, education won't work for all, but by the same token it'll work for some. All we can do is provide the opportunity and a little encouragement.
It's the level of encouragement that generally causes disagreement, because as sad as it is, some people just don't have the drive to improve that situation.
Also, some dispute that education is worthwhile - the very fact that Australia and America are some of the few countries to make the term 'intellectual' an insult, is rather telling.

bognaphobia

has a good ring [no pun intended] to it, at the end of the day, going forward towards closure

but "antisocial" - well TO whowm and BY whose standards

THAT is the problem with this thread, despite being PC, it ASSUMES a social standing ONE WAY and as for Abbott's "Mail Order Bride" quip, I find the ref to bogans by the OP as utterly offensive.

But Wanda gives the ready made apology [to follow once I get time and brownie points to post again], nudge nudge wink wink.

"why did they name their daughter after a car?"

Lets forget the word Bogan, lets ask what can we do about current front page problems with public housing developments.
And country Girl I too want no increase in welfare, but we spend so very much now why not do it better?
We can talk about it forever but names bog us down, who does not understand who we are talking about?
Why fear spending more? if the results are many times better we all win.
Right now teachers in rural community's get more funds to teach problem children, is that the only way?
Color has nothing to do with it children should go to school, parents should not be able to take money but ruin kids lives.
A new work scheme could see some being educated as the job.
We should not except some will never be educated to at least read and write and maybe understand how the world around them works.
Lets not get bogged down in Belly poor fella, I would never swap my life for anyones.
My best education was the daily lectures from mum and dad , get a job work well save work your way out of this.
Hope they are as content as I am.