"Un-Australian": Aussies called out over "selfish" summer habit
Australians have been called out for taking part in a "selfish" summer trend that has left many people fuming.
The trend began as many erupted over the increase use of beach cabanas and "reserving" spaces on the sand, which then led to similar behaviour at campsites and carparks.
Eager Aussies would set up a cabana or rope off a campsite and leave their belongings behind, only to return a matter of hours later and still have their spot reserved.
One of Australia's leading etiquette experts, Jo Hayes, spoke to Yahoo News on the matter, and said the "poor" trend is "reflective of a general societal decline".
She argued such acts are "bad form" and even branded them "un-Australian".
It turns out the "reservations" aren't exclusive to beaches or campsites, as one woman was recently photographed standing in the middle of a car park at Balmoral Beach in Sydney, in a bid to deter others from seizing the spot, arguing her "husband was coming soon".
Hayes said the "only people who have the right to do such reserving" are the local council/regulators in charge of that area, adding, "It's not fair."
"There are ways that one can reserve the best, desired spots, that align with common decency and proper etiquette," Hayes said. "This is the way things were done in previous generations. Get to the venue early, claim your spot and set up your gear, then stay there — you must have at least one person staying with the claimed spot."
"If you've taken the time to get there ahead of others — all power to you. Well done. But you don't have the right to lay down a blanket, or cordon off an area with your own self-made sign, and then choof off."
Hayes said that when in doubt, apply the golden rule of thumb: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
"The average Joe doesn't have the right to 'reserve' a spot and leave," she reiterated. "If a group wants to have an event at a council park, they can contact local council to officially reserve the spot. Council puts up a sign stating that the area is reserved for an event. One can't just put up their own sign."
Image credits: Facebook