I am very concerned lately at the lack of tolerance of other's views especially of those that are unhappy in NZ
We are all here from very different backgrounds and places and are all experiencing the move in very different ways. Most of us, including myself, are very happy here. This doesn't mean we are all happy here and those following us may also find that NZ is not for them. We need to let everybody air their experiences here or we will be lying to those following us by feeding them the tour guide version of NZ. We have all worked hard through the years to paint the warts and all picture of NZ, not just the rosy side. That cannot change!!!
I think that if the "happy camp", myself included, had to start mentioning things we are not 100% happy about, we would be moaning from now till next year. We have just decided that compared to SA, the things that are not 100% here are a small price to pay and are willing to live with it because that was the mental decision we made.
Others are not willing to live with those niggles and we have to please respect that by not shooting those folks down. If you don't agree, say so and give valid reasons for not agreeing, eg. the health care system is great here because reason reason reason. Calling the person that complained about something they didn't like in NZ a snob, ungreatfull, etc. serves no purpose but to stop the unhappy guys from airing their experiences for the benefit of others for fear of being shot down.
The guys from the "unhappy camp", please realise that the majority of folks here ARE happy with their move and will have a tendancy to defend their decision to move to NZ. Just as you encountered folks in SA that couldn't understand why you were leaving or got upset with you for saying SA sucked when you left SA.
It IS however important that you continue to tell us what you find has sucked for you in NZ, so those that have not arrived here yet can be aware of what folks have not liked about NZ. All I ask is that you don't just complain for the sake of complaining eg. saying NZ sucks is not productive, but saying something like the health care system sucks because reason reason reason is
That way we can discuss it productively or be made aware of a shortcoming we didn't know about.
Getting into "i'm right, you're wrong" type arguments are pointless as you are not going to be convinced otherwise and neither is the other party. State what sucks and your
factual reasons, or state your
factual reasons why you think xyz doesn't suck and then leave it at that.
