It is, of course, possible that the proliferation of signs prohibiting this and that is a reflection of the Australian psyche after all.

When I was a kid, my mum made an interesting comment that, for some reason, has stuck with me (probably because I found it interesting).

She noted that, while growing up in Rhodesia, there were very few signs telling her what she couldn't do. It was simply accepted (a generalisation, I'm sure) that unless a sign said you COULD do something, you couldn't do it. Thus there was no need for signs saying "no entry" above doorways - unless the sign said "enter here", people stayed away. "Keep off the lawn", "consumption of alcohol strictly prohibited", "Do not touch" - all of these signs were unnecessary.

The interesting part was that she noticed a different mindset in Australia. Not necessarily better or worse - just different. Here, unless there was a sign saying "do not touch", touching was implicitly permitted. An open door without a sign saying "keep out" was an invitation to enter. Now, my mother's observations only apply to the post-1988 world. But they do suggest a certain freedom of spirit in Australia - one that isn't necessarily shared by the rest of the English-speaking world. Maybe Australia HAS changed, and Australians haven't?

Sorry to continue the irrelevant nitpicking, but I'm assuming your friend didn't pass through France on the journey to Spain. In Paris, in the Champagne region, in Provence and on the Cote d'Azur, I could barely take two steps without seeing a police officer.

the proliferation of signs prohibiting this and that is a reflection of the Australian psyche after all.
Otokonoko,
I think you've hit the nail on the head with this one. Sad but entirely true.

I tend to agree, Individual. We live in a proscriptive, bureaucratically controlled country these days. I suspect there are a few factora at play. Firstly, the short length of Parliamentary terms encourages simplistic solutions and the simplest possible solution to any problem is to prohibit the activity that may lead to it; second, the politicisation of the public service that was started under Fraser, continued under Hawke and completed under Howard, which means the once-independent, "without fear or favour" advice that was such a strong stabilising influence on the excesses of Govt is no more; third, the rise of women into positions of decision-making authority, with all the "mother-knows-best" authoritarianism that they so often demonstrate, as well as the feminist drive to dominate and control.

Add to that the influence of corporations which seek to make every interaction a commercial one and you have Australia today, where to be an Australian who expresses traditional Australian values and behaviours is to be vilified, while being a "dobber", once something contemptible in this nation, now has billboards devoted to it, proudly telling us that if we inform on someone "no one need ever know your name".

It's Mrs Grundy's country these days.

'This was a time when gay rights was highly motivated and women took control.

Since then it has felt like a continuous slide down hill. Every time something goes wrong we make a new law to stop it or dull it down.'

Interesting.

Picked it in one Nairbe.

We had better get used to a lot more signs in future. Every tree will have to have a sign saying "climbing trees can be dangerous" every building with steps "mind the step", etc. All to avoid getting sued by some smart alack, after an easy buck.

Oh, & ladies, you will have to get used to having a sign around your neck at work in future. It will read, "attempting to kiss this worker can be expensive". After all, that can be dangerous to your wealth. Some smart little ##** can make a lot of money out of it.

Hasbeen..welcome to Singapore :) (re your last post-signs)

The impression I got when going for a jog though the nearby UNI to the H/Q of an organization I formerly served with was:

sign 1 "Pedestrian crossing 1 km ahead"
sign 2 "Shared roadway ahead.. caution"
sign 3 "10km/hr on shared roadway"
sign 4 "did you pay attention to signs 1,2 and 3 ?"

Yes..exaggeration :) but it FELT like that.

As for good old Aus? yep..still just a 3rd world colony.
"Developing" malaysia has a fast train from their Airport.
We have.. 'tulla' and the EXORBITANT extortional car parking fees.