James

[color=#707875]I don't know...I think that some of the points brought up here are reasonable. Yes, it's nice to talk about anime that [i]isn't[/i] Dragon Ball or Pokemon, for instance. However, I don't think we should make the mistake misrepresenting a lot of people who are watching these shows. Tony at least points out that most of these people only have access to a limited number of shows. And if you look at the thread about what people's parents think of anime...you can see that for some kids, getting hold of [i]any[/i] anime can be quite a chore. The fundamental point is that I want OtakuBoards to be inclusive. If you want to talk about Dragon Ball, go ahead. Nobody can deny that it's popular, regardless of the reason (and whether or not you see that reason as being valid). But at the same time, I do want to encourage people to be able to talk about all sorts of different series. And that's primarily what Otaku Lounge is for. It's a wide-open place, where all kinds of anime topics can be discussed. The thing is, I don't think it's necessarily fair to say "you could be [b]better[/b] by encouraging this or this". Who determines what makes us better in a qualitative sense? What's better for one person isn't necessarily better for everyone else. As long as we don't block a particular kind of anime discussion (and for the most part, we don't), I don't see a problem. The fact is, I can't simply introduce forums for lesser-known anime and expect discussion to shift in any major way. It doesn't work like that. OtakuBoards is ultimately the result of our own membership. Yes, we create rules and we do our best to keep things high quality. But that kind of encouragement and enforcement can only work over a long period of time. From my point of view, it's not an option to come here one day and say "Right, now we're going to focus primarily on all the cool anime that nobody has ever seen before". That would be highly unrealistic. In addition, I don't make any secret about what OtakuBoards is all about and who it serves. We serve a very general audience here. An audience of all tastes and of all ages. We have not positioned this site as some kind of niche community (within the anime area), for series with smaller viewer numbers. For us to change what we're about immediately might effectively kill a large amount of our userbase and support. Having said that, I can tell you two things. Firstly, we [i]have[/i] and [i]are[/i] making efforts to develop an environment where the somewhat spammy "I love Gohan!!! do u?/!!!" threads don't exist. And I can also tell you that OtakuBoards v7 will be the biggest step forward we will have ever taken. I'm not just talking about technology, either. In fact, I am primarily talking about the issues you've raised here. OtakuBoards v7 will be aimed at a slightly older audience...and it will be a deliberate change. Does that mean we'll be alienating those who love Dragon Ball and who only watch that show? No. Nothing will change there. People will still be able to come here and discuss the "mainstream" series. There will likely always be a place for that. It's just that, next time around, there will be a greater focus on quality in all areas. Also, there are a few other things to consider. While I personally agree with the notion that a lot of anime is rubbish (I've certainly seen a lot of anime that has left a bad taste in my mouth), you won't see me standing on my soapbox about it. I'm simply not going to insult people's intelligence by claiming myself as some sort of elite anime connoisseur who looks down on all of the lesser life forms. lol And I do see some of that here. =I've also seen it in other threads on the boards. And that's the one thing that I want to get away from. It doesn't mean that we can't promote the idea of watching different types of anime...and having variety...but it is nevertheless a problematic attitude. I would also point out that Otaku Lounge is our site's most popular forum. Why do I say that? I say that because OtakuBoards, while still an anime-centric forum, is also far more than that. You could almost say that anime is maybe 25% of our entire focus. Perhaps as a result of that, we are not lending ourself to a broader variety of anime discussion. Anime, while important, isn't what we've put 100% of our focus on. But I don't think there is necessarily anything negative about that. It's just the way things have developed over the years, as a response to our audience and to our own ideas. At the end of the day...I guess that I can summarize all of my thoughts by making a few brief points. 1) OtakuBoards is more than anime. If you explore us a little more, you may find that this place is worthwhile, even if it's not necessarily catering to a specific anime series or group of series. 2) We have made attempts to create variety in our anime discussions over the years. We have more anime forums now than we've ever had. And Otaku Lounge has gone a long way to improving that situation. It's a gradual evolution. 3) OtakuBoards v7 will go a long way to fixing this "problem". An increased focus on quality and variety will definitely exist. Anime forums will be less in number but broader in scope. Finally...I don't think I will ever be in a position to delete Dragon Ball or Digimon or any of those forums. At the very worst, they'll be archived. But I'm even reclutant to do that. You have to understand...these forums are a part of our site's history. And a lot of members value that history. I think it's important to balance the important historical aspects of the site with the desire to make significant progress in the future. OBv7 will hopefully achieve that in some important ways. I know I've probably rambled a bit here...but hopefully I've put a view across that will fill in some of the blanks for you. I'm not unsympathetic to what you're asking for and I do want to move in that direction. But I'm not convinced that more and more niche support equates to being "better". And I also have to juggle a lot of variables when I make these decisions. I frankly don't want to make a choice that 10 people love, and 1,000 people hate. The key is to satisfy both groups. So, that's the challenge myself and Adam are facing, I guess. Oh and...before I forget. theOtaku.com is in a state of flux right now. When you look at theOtaku.com in 2004, you'll notice that it looks quite different to how it might look now. I can guarantee you that our "mainstream" sites will probably be dwarfed by our "non-mainstream" anime sections. You'll see what I mean as time goes on, and sections are added.[/color]

[color=#707875]I think that either you have an inbuilt ability to draw or you don't. But if you do...you can usually improve and develop your skills a lot more. Before starting tertiary study, I felt like I'd lost my ability to draw. I hadn't drawn anything in a couple of years. Although, I remember doing a really elaborate portrait-like picture in Year 12 of high school...but I gave that to a friend and never kept it. That would have been a good one for my folio, come to think of it. Anyway, once I started doing life drawing...I really blossomed again. I was surprised at how fast my skills developed over the last semester. And now, I feel like I'm much better at creating form than I was only a couple of years ago. So that's good...it's good to get back to the basics and develop yourself. In terms of when I started drawing...I've been drawing forever. I used to draw a lot as a kid and in some ways, I think my skills were actually better when I was younger. I remember drawing Teknoman characters, with very precise proportions. At the time I didn't appreciate it, but looking back at it, I do.[/color]

[color=#707875]Cocomi, I must warn you not to double post. It's against the rules at OtakuBoards. If you feel that reading the rules would help you, click here: [url]http://www.theotaku.com/rules.shtml[/url] Anyway, I can only agree with what you've said here. The "gem hunting" levels and the shooting levels really came across as afterthoughts. I really got the impression that Yuji Naka was forgetting what his own franchise is all about, which is worrying in a way. Sonic Heroes looks like it might fix a few of these issues though. Here's hoping.

[color=#707875]Yeah, I think that if you want to have a successful page...the key is not to bombard people with stuff. I would personally be inclined to close any page that starts me on an MP3 download or something, particularly because I'm on a 56K connection. In terms of adding other things to your blog and such...I've seen a few interesting formatting ideas going around. It's great to see people customise their pages like that.[/color]

[color=#707875]That's true. If you look at a diagram of the brain and you examine the areas that perform different functions...you soon realize that the 10% figure is something that really came from nowhere. Gah. These conspiracy theory discussions always annoy me. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]Does anyone realize that the ship itself had lights on its exterior? Does anyone understand how much modern technology is a result of both the moon landing and subsequent space missions (which themselves were made possible by the moon landing). Put simply, it's too far-fetched to call the whole thing a hoax. That really borders on an insane conspiracy theory. There is [b]too much[/b] technology, research and other evidence that has come about due to the moon landing program. Most of these claims about shadows and no stars...it's based on ignorance. Go and do some [b]real[/b] research about the moon landing and its results before you go around saying it was a hoax. lol Geesh. What a redundant topic.[/color]

[color=#707875]We won't be letting users specify category in that way. At the moment, I am already finding myself correcting the headings of certain images (either I'm fixing misspelling or adding capital letters, as per Adam's request). It's useful for browsing purposes. What I would like however...is if I can automatically slot a picture into a new category of my own, when I approve pictures. That'd be very handy.[/color]

[color=#707875]People are sending in pictures to the Original Anime category and they aren't actually sending in "original anime". They're taking anime that has no category...and putting it in Original Anime, as though that category were a Misc. category. So, if people are going to do that...I will hopefully be at a point soon where I can easily add new categories to the front page. I can add categories for myOtaku users, but at the moment I have no way of putting them up for everyone to browse. This is one of the little things that Adam will need to attend to when he returns. So yeah, for the time being...I'm asking people not to send in pictures of any anime that we don't currently support with a category of its own.[/color]

[color=#707875]There's one main reason why we don't have an "other" category. Let's say you send us 20 pictures of Spirited Away or something...and we have no SA category. Then, when we add one, we would theoretically need to move all of your Spirited Away pictures from "Other" to "Spirited Away". See where I'm going with that? It makes any kind of expansion extremely difficult, because ultimately it would confuse viewers. So, at the moment, I would ask people to please just send in art for the categories that exist. I assure you that once Adam returns, I'll begin adding new categories. I already tried to add a couple and had problems...but Adam will be able to assist me with that. Basically, as soon as people send in one or two pics for a category that we don't have...we'll add that category for you. So if you send in five Spirited Away pics in a row, we'll probably add that as a category. See what I mean? That's the best way to expand the site without being too confusing.[/color]

[color=#707875]I can't think of a situation like this one in my own life. But, in this case...I think one of three scenarios exist. Either Kenshin has a girlfriend and for whatever reason, he doesn't want you to meet her. Or, he's gay and doesn't want you to know. Or, he is simply embarassed by not having a girlfriend. o_O I don't know whether this is something that should be chased up or not, though. I mean...in a way, I'm inclined to say "it's nobody's business but his...so don't worry about it." However, what you've mentioned seems like quite an extreme case to me. Perhaps there [i]is[/i] a more serious problem that he is hiding. It's really hard to say.

[color=#707875]I think you raise a very good point there, Manic. I remember watching a little documentary on Christina Aguilera (I hope I spelt her last name correctly). And I was quite surprised at what they were saying...in particular, the way she had struggled for a period of time against those who want to craft a very specific image. I was impressed by some of the things I heard about her (her ability to record one of her tracks without any takes or rehearsal) and so on. I'm certainly not a big fan of Christina, nor do I personally see much merit in her music in general. But I would be ignorant to simply dismiss her as I once did. She's certainly not the most creative woman in the world, but she's a lot more clever and savvy than people have previously given her credit for. And so, that's why, even though I doubt I'd buy her music itself, I still have an increased level of respect for what she does. As for pop being a genre...that's really a wide open question. I mean, Linkin Park was classified as "Pop Rock" in all the music stores here. Yet I originally heard (and still do hear) people saying how "hardcore" and alternative that band is. Obviously it's a relatively mainstream, "pop" band...or it wouldn't be enjoying the success that it has, on a wider basis. Yet, I feel reluctant to say that because there is this negative connotation that goes along with the word "pop". And there shouldn't be. Pop simply means "popular". It's not a derogatory term by any means.[/color]

[color=#707875]What you're describing is essentially how it is anyway though. You do have a significant degree of control over where your character moves, when you're bouncing between enemies. And, moreover, Sega don't want to be getting down to that degree of precision, I think. If Sonic Heroes remains a very fast-paced game...it's something I'd compare with Panzer Dragoon. You might say that charging up and firing a handful of missiles with an auto-aim makes the game too easy, but when you play, the fast-paced nature lends itself to that kind of system. In other words, it's very arcade-based. From my point of view, I'd rather see a greater degree of control with certain other movements. Like for instance, when you're running around a loop...normally you kind of hit a boost pad and it does the work for you. I remember that in SA especially, there were some stretches that were almost exclusively based on those speed ramp things. And that definitely made things too easy. The original 2D Sonic games had some level of automation (when it came to guiding your character through a loop or down a hill or whatever), but you could always change course and you always had to somewhat judge the speed with which you enter a loop and so on. My feeling is that even with the Sonic/Shadow levels...they really didn't hit the mark in a few ways. It's a shame, because a 3D Sonic game could be so much more than what we've seen so far.[/color]

[color=#707875]Welcome, GizMoMan. First, it's important for me to point out that we don't allow "introduction" threads at OtakuBoards. We prefer it if members introduce themselves via their regular posts. Secondly, the JukeBox isn't working because Adam forgot to upload the sound files before he left for his trip. But he'll be back in three or four days, so you can expect to see this problem (and others) fully eliminated. Thirdly...you're really going to have to improve your post quality if you wish to remain at OB. I know that might sound harsh, but we really put a strong emphasis on post quality at OB. So, it's worth considering things like spelling, grammar and so on. These things are important because they make your posts a little easier to understand...and they improve the level of conversation in general. If you have any further questions, feel free to PM either myself or one of the other staff. Either that, or you can use the Suggestions & Feedback forum.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yep. And you know what's even funnier? Sometimes someone on here will talk about a song that they see as being "non-pop". Yet, while it may not be popular in America...it [i]might[/i] be popular down here. And I'm sure the reverse can also be true. It's hilarious, because they're talking about music that they think isn't pop...yet it actually is. I mean, it's the same with Japanese music. If I say to you "I listen to Japanese music and nothing else", I could still be listening to the Japanese equivalent of Kylie Minogue. So, I guess what I'm saying, is that the whole pop/non-pop thing is utterly ridiculous. That's why I don't like the elitism that also can surround music. Like when someone says "you're a teenie bopper, go away" or something. It's pointless, really. Having an acquired taste in music (especially if it's something that the mass market doesn't appreciate), does not necessarily mean that you're more qualified to tell others that what they listen to sucks. lol I mean, it's all subjective in the end. ^_^[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Emme888 [/i] [B] I hate all POP!!! [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]You [i]do[/i] realize that "pop" means "popular", right? That "pop" isn't a genre in and of itself? Does this mean that if you like a song and it becomes popular...you automatically hate it? I get really tired of this kind of stuff. Music is music. You like a song or you don't. Saying that you "hate all pop" is ridiculous for a whole variety of reasons.[/color]

[color=#707875]I actually think that the homing attack was very well done. I think it's really suitable...because you really have no other way of launching yourself at enemies. It makes sense, especially when you use enemies to cross large gaps or something. In any case, I hated the non-Sonic/Shadow levels in SA2. Same goes for the non-Sonic/Tails levels in SA. They were horrible. It's my hope that Sonic Heroes really fixes some of the fundamentals...camera being one, the other being those horrible puzzle levels. It doesn't seem like those levels are included, so here's hoping. lol In terms of characters...I dislike Rouge. I'd prefer it if they put Cream in there instead. ~_^ Cream & Cheese are cool.[/color]

[color=#707875]I have never roleplayed in a chat, although I've heard plenty about it. Actually, I was never a big roleplayer on the boards even. It's only been within the last year/year and a half that I've really become interested in it. And I became interested primarily because I started to read some of the great stories that people were generating. Generally, I prefer forums to chat in any event. I only like chat if it's an IM thing where I'm just talking to one person. And I generally only like chatrooms if there are a few people in there...they're not something I'd visit all the time, if there are too many people. It just gets too confusing. Having not played chat-based RPGs, I can only comment on boards-based ones. I must say though, I'd probably prefer the boards-based stuff to the chat-based stuff anyway. I like the fact that with the boards, I can add images...I can stop and think about what I want to write...I can edit what I've written to make it more understandable, and so on. I can also go through and easily read what others have posted. And when everything's done, it creates a flowing page of writing, which forms one cohesive story. That makes it easier to read and easier to interact with. I'm also really pleased that OtakuBoards has a strong RP community. Adventure Arena is our second largest forum -- and it's no wonder why. I enjoy reading what people write and I like the whole idea of a story being generated "as you go" and with multiple views. That way, you never really know where it will end up...and everyone has their own spin on the situation. It's also a great way of exercising your mind and improving your writing. So, I think there are many benefits to RPGs in general. I personally think I'd prefer forums-based RPGs because I prefer forums to chats. But I know that some people prefer the more instantaneous nature of chats.[/color]

[color=#707875]And to think, it used to be 1,000 posts before Newbies became Members. You guys have it lucky these days. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]Clavat examined his sword closely. It was high noon and golden bars of sunlight were pouring through the caravan's large rear opening. Clavat was not sure how old the sword was. He only knew that it had come from his father. And he remembered the day he had received it very clearly. It was his eighteenth birthday -- rather than have a party, Clavat had decided to undertake some fencing practice in the little courtyard outside his room. It wasn't that he didn't like parties, it was more the fact that he had very few genuine friends. Most of the "friends" he'd come across in school were people who were only interested in his father's money. Either they wanted to laze about in Clavat's opulent home, or they wanted a job with Cerion-Gall. Yes, he remembered that day very well...[/color] [color=royalblue]Clavat walked out onto the balcony. The sky was beautiful that night, like dark purple satin covered with thousands of brilliant white jewels. It was summer and all of the windows to Clavat's home were wide open. A soft breeze was dancing through the great corridors of the manor. And in the distance, Clavat could see Fountain Square, with hundreds of affulent shoppers crowded around its cobblestone streets. Despite the activity in the city, Clavat's own home was rather quiet. Although, this was not unexpected. Clavat's mother was never home; she spent most nights out around town, socialising with Kelost's upper crust. However, Clavat's father [i]was[/i] home, which was quite uncharacteristic. He was home, but a visitor to the house may not know it, as he was sitting alone in his office, which was inside an enormous tower at the north end of Bunel Manor. Nobody ever entered that tower. It was dark, eerie and frightening. And quite often, Cerion-Gall used his office to hold private meetings with business partners. Sometimes those business partners emerged a couple of hours after entering the office, with expressions of nervousness on their face. And sometimes they never returned from the office. Clavat didn't ask his father questions, for he felt that his father didn't value him at all. In fact, Clavat often wondered if his father saw him as more of a stumbling block to greater profits. Afterall, Clavat had invested all of his time in his schooling and fencing. These were two pursuits that he treasured above all else. And he refused to work for his father's mining company. So, he was essentially contributing nothing to the household. That night was Clavat's birthday. There was no cake or candles. No birthday card. Nothing. But that was okay with Clavat, he didn't want a fuss. He just wanted to be alone. And so, he took his fencing sword and made his way through the manor's expansive corridors until finally, he emerged at the courtyard below his room. The courtyard was one of his favourite places. And that night, it was bathed in deep blue moonlight. The courtyard itself was surrounded by highly manicured shrubs and bushes, with a small-yet-elaborate fountain sitting in the center. The fountain included a statue of Emperor Kelost in the center, with a garden of flowers at his feet. The Emperor was holding a small book in his left hand (which contained the Imperial Powers Act) and in his right hand, he was holding a long sword. The sword was engraved with the names of the territories of the continent that had fallen. Many of the rich saw Kelost as a wartime hero. But Clavat wasn't so sure. Clavat withdrew his sword and began sparring with an invisible opponent. He gracefully darted forwards and backwards, tracing artful linework through the air with the tip of his sword. He dropped low to the ground, balanced himself on a single foot and dodged nonexistant attacks. After several minutes, Clavat stopped to dab his forehead with a handkerchief. As he did so, he heard soft clapping from a shadowy corner of the courtyard. Clapping of large, gloved hands. "Very good, my boy," said a voice that, at first, was frightfully deep and menacing. Clavat's immediate sense of worry escaped him when he realized that it was his father. Although, he still felt reserved when in his father's presence. "Thank you," said Clavat as he sheathed his sword. Cerion-Gall walked into the moonlight and crossed his arms. He was much taller than Clavat, with wide shoulders and a square chin. His hands were covered in thick black gauntlets, which extended to his elbows. He wore a fine satin shirt of red, with a thicker black shirt over the top. The black shirt was buckled in several places with large golden rings. And over that, he wore a heavy black jacket, with gold and silver trimmings. The jacket ran down past his knees and over his leather boots. Facially, Cerion-Gall was nothing like Clavat. Clavat was more like his mother. Rather, Cerion-Gall's eyes were squarer and smaller. His eyes were a light grey colour and his face was defined by sharp edges and angular lines. He never looked happy. But tonight, he seemed to be in a somewhat pleasant mood, as he paced around the courtyard and admired the scenery. "Quite a skill you've got there. Glad to see that my money isn't going to waste," he said in a deep, monotone voice. Clavat couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or serious. "Thanks," repeated Clavat awkwardly. "Fencing is my life...I'm very appreciative that you are putting me through lessons." Cerion-Gall nodded to himself. "Yeah, you have a natural talent. That kind of skill might get you in good with the Emperor," he said. "The Emperor?" asked Clavat. "Yeah. He's always looking for recruits. I told him that you might be interested." Cerion-Gall briefly glanced at Clavat out of the corner of his eyes, to gauge his son's reaction. At first, Clavat said nothing. He wasn't sure what to say, afterall. His father knew the Emperor...and now it seemed as though both he and the Emperor were only satisfied with Clavat's progress for one reason. "Isn't the Emperor's army large enough already?" asked Clavat hopefully. Cerion-Gall let out a deep, spluttery chuckle. He grinned, showing his oddly-sharp teeth. "Who said anything about his army? I was talking about a far more interesting prospect..." Clavat rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. Cerion-Gall stepped closer and lowered his tone of voice. "Did you know that the Imperial Guard is looking for new recruits?" he breathed. Clavat merely shook his head slowly. "Well, they aren't looking for any recruits publicly...but as you know, the Emperor recruits those whom he trusts. While having lunch with him last week, I suggested that you might be a fine candidate," said Cerion-Gall, with an air of satisfaction in his voice. "Oh..." "Aren't you excited?" Clavat looked at the ground. "I guess so...yeah," he said, forcing himself not to sound too depressed. Either Cerion-Gall was foolish, or he merely ignored his son's attitude. Clavat knew it was the latter. "Of course, with those skills of yours, you'd be able to carry out assassinations...or you'd be able to spy on neighbouring villages. The possibilities are endless! This would also be a tremendous winfall for the family business, you know...all those lovely mining contracts," said Cerion-Gall. He himself seemed to be getting a little excited by the prospect. Although Clavat understood that this offer was motivated primarily by his father's greed and desire for power, he also knew that it was not wise to argue or disagree. But already, he knew that it was time to leave home. He simply couldn't stay, knowing what he knew. But for the time being, he needed to play along. "Okay, sir. It does sound like a fine opportunity," said Clavat. Cerion-Gall nodded approvingly. "Yes! It's a marvellous opportunity, of course. You would be foolish not to accept it. So, you'll give it a shot?" Clavat nodded slowly. "Sure," he said. "Excellent!" exclaimed Cerion-Gall. And before Clavat could move a muscle, his father had produced a silver sword, with an impressively-decorated hilt. "Here," he said happily. "This is for you. It's a very special sword. It has been in my side of the family for many generations. I want you to have it..." At first, this sounded like the first truly kind gesture that his father had ever made. But it soured when Cerion-Gall finished the sentence..." "...I want you to have it because it will [i]really[/i] impress the selectors when you try for the position. They are more swayed by money than anything else. If you flash this expensive sword around, I have no doubt that they'll be impressed. Of course, you'll need to have your skills about you...but an impressive wallet wouldn't hurt either!" Clavat simply nodded once more. And before he could say another word, his father had already left the courtyard and entered the manor. Clavat stood there, holding the sword in his hands. He knew that this sword would remind him never to be as greedy as his father...[/color]

[color=#707875]I have no idea what the problem is...but I'll get on top of it as soon as I can. ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875] My school has no mascot. And our "colours" are blue and white. Although, strangely enough, on the website for it, the academy's logo is in red and white. o_O [img]http://www.designacademy.org/im_base/logo.jpg[/img] That's the logo for it, if you're interested. [/color]

[color=#707875]Let me also emphasize that email is not OtakuBoards' responsibility. We have no way to monitor emails sent by users, nor do we have juristiction over private email. If you choose to make your email address public, you do so at your own risk. Our staff are busy dealing with OB-related issues on all occasions, so you can't expect us to start getting involved with private email situations. [/color]

[color=#707875]Yes, your accounts will still be here for v7. And once again, regarding Otaku Chat...theOtaku.com currently has [b]no[/b] chatroom. Any IRC-based "Otaku Chat" is completely unofficial and is not supported by us.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Valen [/i] [B]Yes, I agree with Leh on this one. Though it would be a nice addition to have OtakuBot back to PM the new members reminding them to read the rules, or if they disabled the PM option, it'd send them an email... [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]o_O Since when did OtakuBot do that? That's never what it/he/she was about. ~_^ Anyway, our rules are starting to get out of date as it is. Of course that doesn't mean that basic rules shouldn't or can't be followed. All of what's up there is still very much applicable. But we'll definitely be giving the rules more prominence with v7.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Logan [/i] [B][size=1][color=700000][b]Oh, great. Now I feel stupid. Um...lemme ask this: Is that why Austrians and Aussies sound alike? Leh[/b][/color][/size] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]The short answer is: Australians sound nothing like Austrians. Austrians sound like Germans more than anything else. The slightly longer answer is that Austria really has no role in Australia's history, in the same context as the UK. I think that people just mix the two up because "Austria" and "Australia" are kind of similar words.[/color]