[LINK] Fwd: MR 113/07: Australians have a voracious appetite for telecommunications [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Ivan Trundle]

On 24/09/2007, at 10:23 AM, Stilgherrian wrote:

>>> From: "Australian Communications & Media Authority"
>>> <media at acma.gov.au>
>>> Date: 21 September 2007 11:02:05 AM
>>> To: <tony at tony-barry.emu.id.au>
>>> Subject: MR 113/07: Australians have a voracious appetite for
>>> telecommunications [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
>
> "Voracious"? Isn't that a value judgement?
>
> For me, "voracious" has a flavour of excess about it, or at least  
> implying
> that we're somehow greedy or big consumers. Are we? Really?

No, not at all. 'Voracious', in my dictionaries, means, 'a keen  
appetite' or 'having a very eager approach to an activity'.

The implication here is that we are enthusiastic adopters of  
telecommunications - which can either be compared to the rate of take- 
up with other countries, or alternatively compared with our previous  
record of take-up of telcoms.

IF it is true that we are taking it up faster than others, then the  
word 'voracious' seems entirely appropriate.

I'd say that Australians, as a general rule, have voracious consumer  
appetites for all things, but especially technology - a reflection of  
the fact that we have a high level of personal wealth, and a  
fascination with toys.

iT