Not just Australians, Americans too. When I first moved here, I
lived in Seattle and had to take the bus everywhere. The first
couple of times, when the person seated next to me chatted with me,
I thought she was so genuine and I put effort into the
conversation. The second time it happened, I thought the same
thing. After the third and subsequent times, I was emotionally
tired. Good Gawd, they tell you personal things about their life,
family, etc, for all and sundry to hear. Then you have other people
piping in, in agreement or worse still, to share their own sorry
tale. On subsequent rides, I would make myself less accessible by
burying my nose in a book. 
