Aussies agree with 'miserable' trend sweeping the nation after 20-year-old man admitted living in WA has left him depressed, poor and lonely
- Australia is being accused of being a clique-y and unfriendly place to outsiders
- READ MORE: A Swedish expat notices a lonely truth about Australians
Aussies are being called out as 'fake nice' with residents accused of hiding an 'extremely clique-y' culture behind friendly facades.
Commenting on the reality of loneliness Down Under, hundreds weighed in after a 20-year-old opened up about the depression he's suffering in Western Australia.
The young Aussie man captured the attention of thousands this week when he described the country as lonely and expensive with 'poor water quality' and a brutal work culture.
And Daily Mail Australia readers agree, with many saying they too are struggling - especially when it comes to maintaining and forming friendships as an adult.
'I'm nearly 40 and have barely any new friends outside of old school friends and some work colleagues,' one woman admitted.
Another, in their 70s, warned that isolation only gets worse with age until couples find themselves alone with only their partner for company.
Younger people agreed, and believe the problem is 'pretty standard' in Australia and likely due to the nation's 'obsession with work'.
'It's a sad state of affairs, it used to be such a socially fun and connected place to live - now we just work, work, work,' a woman said.
Aussies and expats have said that big cities such as Sydney and Perth can be notoriously difficult places to make new friends
But there were some cities that were named and shamed as having the 'worst' offenders.
'Since the 90s Sydney has always been clique-y and impossible to make new friends in. Most people are either so up themselves or jealous, so they won't give you the time of day,' one observed.
'Getting into the northern beaches community is next to impossible, even if you are Anglo-Aussie. You must be born there and your parents lived there for decades,' a resident agreed.
Others claimed that Australians of different backgrounds had it the toughest when it came to breaking into new friendship circles.
'Multicultural Australia is very fractured, ethnic groups including Aussies are unlikely to accept you if you are an outsider,' a man said.
A woman agreed and said these were 'utterly unattractive and unappealing qualities'. She thought that culture Down Under was so 'regressive' it is 'absurd'.
'Explains so much, I'm packing my bags imminently, this confirmed what I already knew, you guys can have it [Australia],' a man ranted.
One woman said it was impossible to break into the community on Sydney's norther beaches - even if you were an Anglo Australian
Others defended the country, with many suggesting those who aren't happy just up and leave.
'Australia is not compulsory,' he wrote.
The man who posted the original Reddit thread was overwhelmed by the traction his rant had.
While he is from an African family he has lived in Western Australia since he was a baby. He loves the education, safety and healthcare Down Under but he has found himself incredibly lonely despite being a naturally 'bubbly' person.
'Making and keeping friends here is very hard as many people tend to keep their school/work/uni friends around which can be very cliquey,' he wrote on Reddit.
'"Hey would should totally catch up" is said on a regular basis, when usually it’s just a courtesy to not straight up decline an invitation to hang out.'
He has tried visiting beaches, parks, and workshops but nothing changes - with everyone in their 'little groups' still reluctant to engage with strangers.
The young man, who thinks 'adulting sucks', also pointed to the harsh cost of living and the fact that Aussies definitely live to work, and don't work to live.
'I just need to know if anyone else feels the way I do about living here?' he asked.
Those experiencing depression and loneliness can reach out to various support services such as Beyond Blue Australia.
