I have felt scared since I arrived - in fact I feel more relaxed about New York than here. There is something desperate about the way people drink here
Poul Svetstrup Nielsen, Danish News Editor, 1975
The fact remains that the common speech of the Commonwealth of Australia represents the most brutal mistreatment which has ever been inflicted upon the mother-tounge of the great English speaking nations.
William Churchill, Beach-la-mar (1911)
If their culture is to be judged by the general standard of education and the arts among the population, once again it must be said that Australia has little or none. Indeed, there is a terrifying crudity in the manners and pursuits of the masses
John Pringle, Australian Accent (1958).
Drinking is deeply important to Australians... It is only by drinking that you can prove your manhood in Australia.
Jonathan King, Waltzing Materalism, 1976
Quite inexplicably, the Australian culture and language has, for at least the last one hundred years, copped quite a bit of negative exposure. Here at AustralianBeers.com, we are not sure why people would disparage what must surely be one of the friendliest cultures in this generally uncaring world. It is the possibly pot-bellied Aussie who will greet you with a cheery "G'day mate!" before promptly shouting you a pot of his favourite amber nectar and inviting you to join him for a feed of dinkum Australian tucker. It is the Aussie who will yabber happily on about his favourite sport, using his colourful and fun language. He won't be obsessed about money, or status, or anything like that. He will just want to enjoy himself over a few quiet ales, and join you and a few mates for a laugh and a yarn. If he is in the right mood, he may even break into song. True, he could whinge a bit about the pollies, but generally speaking he won't get too worked up over it. Because after all, we all cark it in the end and life doesn't really change much no matter what the pollies do.
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| Dinkum Aussies |
Now why would anyone would speak poorly about this golden culture. Perhaps it is because it isn't profitable. Or perhaps it is true that globally the wowsers are taking over, and the easy going, piss swilling, swearing, fair dinkum, dinki-di, true blue Aussie battler and his upfront ocker culture is slowly becoming a thing of the past. If this is the case then you had better relish it while you can. But while you do, any foreigners should read the following tips and this site carefully to maximise your exposure and appreciation while minimising your risk of giving offence.
First, know the shout ethic - bludgers are not highly received. Second, try not to be a piker - we don't like them either. Third, don't bignote, whatever you do. That may be the norm in your highly competitive society, but it certainly isn't on here. Fourth, learn the lingo, for it is the easiest and most entertaining language you will ever learn. Bloody oath it is.
I like the
Australians. They're just a lot of fun.
Ted Turner, 60 Minutes, 3 October, 1999
And of course, since World War II Australian women have been getting out of their homes and into the workforce and pubs, you so you might see a few of them around the traps. Best learn their history in Australian society as well.
Perhaps Nino Culotta (John O'Grady) put it best (They're a weird mob, 1957):
There is no better way of life in the world than that of the Australian. I firmly believe this. The grumbling, growling, cursing, profane, laughing, beer drinking, abusive, loyal-to-his-mates Australian is one of the few free men left on this earth. He fears no one, crawls to no one, bludges on no one, and acknowledges no master. Learn his way. Learn his language. Get yourself accepted as one of him; and you will enter a world that you never dreamed existed. And once you have entered it, you will never leave it.
And you won't, either.
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| It doesn't get any better than this! |
Take a break from drinking like the author of this article did - Read why and how in his book Between Drinks: Escape the Routine, Take Control and Join the Clear Thinkers