# Dingo Column **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 18, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707 "2001-01-18T16:45:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jmz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@Jmz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jmz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707/1 "2001-01-18T16:45:31Z")
Might i say thanks for promoting australia as a wonderful place for tourists, cecil. šŸ˜› No, honestly, every word you said was true, but i can imagine health insurers over there laughing when they see the words ā€œMauled by a fairy penguinā€ in the accident description. You did forget about two of Australiaā€™s worst predators though: The stonefish and the platypus. The stonefishā€¦it also attacks unprovoked, as the name suggests it resembles a stoneā€¦and is seen in many rocky areas of the east coast. Unfortunatley, when stepping on this supposed stoneā€¦Do you want the long version or the short version? Long version: Youā€™re finished Short Version: Bye! The platypusā€¦one of the two monotremes (egg laying mammals - the echidna is the other one, also an aussie native) on earth, little known fact is the male has a poisonous spur on his back leg. This will only be used when provoked however. Iā€™m just saying you could have used these as someof your nasties about australia as well Oh yeah, and Mel Gibson mentioned on a recent edition of David Letterman that he was bitten by a dingo while hitchiking. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707/2 "2001-01-18T16:50:08Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment. Please include a link to Cecilā€™s column if itā€™s on the straight dope web site. To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL). Cecilā€™s column can be found on-line at this link: [In Australia, do dingoes really eat babies? (22-Sep-2000)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000922.html) * * * moderator, Ā«[**Comments on Cecilā€™s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)Ā» ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707/3 "2001-01-18T18:36:04Z")
Ah, but Cecil _did_ refer to the most toxic hazard in Australia: **Vegemite!** :eek: ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707/4 "2001-01-20T15:01:16Z")
Welcome to the Boards **Jmz**. The fairy penguin issue was remarked upon in an earlier thread where **JillGat** points out the hidden dangers of the [Predaceous Ravagebird](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=39747). The thread is also notable for two posts by the Perfect Master himself. As for your examples, the stonefish and the platypus: Iā€™m not sure that the stonefish can really be said to ā€œattackā€ (it just lies there and you step on it). Otherwise when I am vegetating on the couch I might equally be said to be menacing abutting principalities. As for the platypus, whilst you are right in saying they are poisonous, I donā€™t think Iā€™ve ever met anyone whoā€™s seen one in the wild. They are very shy. Good job in scaring the tourists though. šŸ™‚ As for **Colibri** : you leave our beer waste-product gourmet breakfast delights alone, bucko. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707/5 "2001-01-20T19:36:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by picmr \* > \*\*As for **Colibri** : you leave our beer waste-product gourmet breakfast delights alone, bucko. \*\* **picmr** , I knew I had been in the Antipodes _far_ too long (EnZed, to be precise) when I caught myself voluntarily putting the stuff on my toast one morning. I immediately signed myself in to detox. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![bungie\_us](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bungie\_us](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bungie_us)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dingo-column/50707/6 "2001-01-20T20:07:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Ah, but Cecil did refer to the most toxic hazard in Australia: Vegemite! You said it! My Australian step-mother once fixed me a Vegemite sandwich. She kept insisting, ā€œBut itā€™s so delightfully savory!ā€ But I couldnā€™t gargle with bleach fast enough. Sheā€™s a wonderful woman, but I havenā€™t eaten a thing sheā€™s given me since without careful inspection first.