What's different about AUS compared to USA?

Jeremy's perspective on 'What's different about Australia?', Part 1.

Many folks back home have been asking me to comment on what's different about Australia.  The short answer is simple and kind of boring: the little things.  That is, I notice way more similarities than differences; but there are lots of little things that are different, and they do 'add up' to leave one (or me anyway) with a very different sense of place.  Anyway, rather than try to point out a whole bunch of the things we've noticed all at once, I figured I'd create a series of posts.  This is the first in that series.  So here goes...What's different about Australia?  The Fences

If good fences really do create good neighbors, then Australia is way ahead of the U.S.  There are fences everywhere, made of practically every conceivable material.  Yeah, fenced backyards are really common in the U.S., but they fence the front yard here too.  I estimate about 2/3s of homes in our area have fenced front yards--nearly everyone fences the back and side yards. After some consideration, I've lumped these fences into three types: the 'reminder', the 'hybrid', and the 'keep-the-f--- out!' fence.  

The 'reminder' fences are not much more than small walls--usually 1 to 2 feet high, and made from brick, stone or concrete.  They function as a reminder to 'stay off of my lawn!'  

The hybrid is just a reminder fence with posts and (usually) wrought iron in between.  These are generally tall enough to effectively exclude people from entry, but they do allow you to see in someone's yard.  

Finally, the keep-the-f---out! fences are tall (from shoulder to above the head) fences that both exclude people and largely block you from seeing in.  (They are the sort of thing I would expect to find in the yards of some end-of-the-roader or prepper living in a rural Idaho compound.)  These fences are made from everything!  

Most commonly around here are the bundled stick fences (they probably have a better commercial name, LOL) that make me think of the three little pigs, and the metal siding fences that end up looking like the homeowner is attempting to turn their entire estate into a giant pole barn. As you can probably tell, I'm not a fan of this last type of fence. In stretches where they are really prevalent, the streets look like closed-off industrial areas as opposed to open and inviting neighborhoods.  And I suspect that policies encouraging this sort of thing likely reduce social capital in an area--though that's just a hunch.  On the upside, the other types of fences I've seen are often beautifully constructed and well-maintained; they can make even modest homes seem downright fancy.  

[Liz's editorial entry: In Jeremy's fence observations, we also came across this example of a frigtheningly unsafe combination of pointy fence and trampoline without a safety net that will readily produce kid kabobs, pictured below. #thisisnotpublichealth ]

Stay tuned for Part 2!