[QUOTE=kambuckta]
You know there are no such thing as dropbears, but you agree to an unwritten pact that you will perpetuate the myth, especially to US backpackers.
[/QUOTE]
Myth? But we have dropbears in the states, or at least a dropbear.
Scratching!
Okay, I need to replace the batteries in my keyboard. (Hey, it’s an excuse for my crappy typing) 
[QUOTE=kambuckta]
You know there are no such thing as dropbears, but you agree to an unwritten pact that you will perpetuate the myth, especially to US backpackers.
[/QUOTE]
You guys really do that? I thought it was just a Pratchettism!
[QUOTE=Anaamika]
You guys really do that? I thought it was just a Pratchettism!
[/QUOTE]
I’ve done it. It usually works best as a throw-away line:
US backpaker: “We’re going up to the Blue Mountains for a few days”
Me: “Beautiful place, I’m sure you’ll have a great time…just watch out for the Dropbears.” <walks away without providing further details>
[QUOTE=Vagus]
I’ve done it. It usually works best as a throw-away line:
US backpaker: “We’re going up to the Blue Mountains for a few days”
Me: “Beautiful place, I’m sure you’ll have a great time…just watch out for the Dropbears.” <walks away without providing further details>
[/QUOTE]
I knew there was a reason I liked Aussies.
The great thing about dropbears is that they work on foreigners AND small children…
I remember being on camp, having half my bunkmates terrified out of their brains on a night walk due to being told about the Dropbears…
[QUOTE=Cicero]
You know you are Australian if you have been sending Tim Tams to online friends in the USA for 8 years.
[/QUOTE]
Those are good, but I was sent some Jaffas and a Cherry Ripe candy bar and fell in love. I’ve got to find an online source in the USA.
[QUOTE=Baker]
Those are good, but I was sent some Jaffas and a Cherry Ripe candy bar and fell in love. I’ve got to find an online source in the USA.
[/QUOTE]
It almost sent me broke sending Tim Tams, Cherry Ripes and Violet Crumble bars to the USA. But I get Salsa and Oreo’s in return 
Back to the topic: You Cannot be an Australian male if you have a name like Alistair, Robin or Gerald.
[QUOTE=Cicero]
Back to the topic: You Cannot be an Australian male if you have a name like Alistair, Robin or Gerald.
[/QUOTE]
Sure you can!! We embrace all sorts in Australia, even those with weird names like those.
Just don’t be surprised if those names get modified to Azza, Razza and Gazza.
[QUOTE=kambuckta]
Sure you can!! We embrace all sorts in Australia, even those with weird names like those.
Just don’t be surprised if those names get modified to Azza, Razza and Gazza.
[/QUOTE]
Coming from Melbourne I am not in the least surprised.
I was actually there last week- great fog.
[QUOTE=Cunctator]
I fail on all of these and I *am * Australian.
[/QUOTE]
You and me both.
[QUOTE=Cicero]
You (if you’re male) have had a girlfriend whose name ends in lene as in
Raelene
Marlene
Sharlene
Noelene
[/QUOTE]
Now, now, that’s a little ageist. I do not personally know of anyone in the zero-to-mid-30s age group with those names.
On the other hand, when I went through school every second girl was called Karen or Sharon. For the guys the names-of-the-decade were Matthew and Mark. Perhaps we could amend your statement to add:
I reckon we’d get a decent hit rate off that. 
You know, I previewed that and *still *didn’t pick up that I hadn’t typed what I’d intended to type. Which was:
I’ve become far too accustomed to typing things out properly for my US mates.
You might be Australian if you come to Canada and everyone just loves you. We do love us some Aussies here.
[QUOTE=Bites When Provoked]
Now, now, that’s a little ageist. I do not personally know of anyone in the zero-to-mid-30s age group with those names.
On the other hand, when I went through school every second girl was called Karen or Sharon. For the guys the names-of-the-decade were Matthew and Mark. Perhaps we could amend your statement to add:
I reckon we’d get a decent hit rate off that.
[/QUOTE]
Every Australian girl my husband dated before me (he’s 38) was named some version of Suzanne. He has two friends married to Sooz-es.
You might be Australian if you’re originally from New Zealand.
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
You might be Australian if you’re originally from New Zealand.
[/QUOTE]
Heh heh heh!
[QUOTE=C3]
Every Australian girl my husband dated before me (he’s 38) was named some version of Suzanne. He has two friends married to Sooz-es.
[/quote]
How weird is that? I’ve met a couple of people with Suzanne (or variant of Suzanne) as a name (including a double-s ‘Sussan’ *pronounced *like Suzanne) and now I think of it, *all *of them have been only a little bit older than me. Was there a rush on that name from 1967-68? Enquiring minds want to know!
Still have yet to meet a Raelene or Marlene who’s younger than my mother, though, and haven’t met a Sharlene or Noeline at all.
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]
You might be Australian if you’re originally from New Zealand.
[/QUOTE]
And you’re successful at something. We only claim the successes as our own.
[QUOTE=Giles]
Well, the dropbears have been mentioned, but not the spiders and the snakes.
The average backyard around Sydney will have several species of venomous spiders – yes, I’ve seen some in my own backyard. However, don’t worry about it: although children (and adults) will play barefoot in the backyard, it’s quite rare for a pider to bite them, and if they are bitten, there are antivenemes available easily.
On the other hand, venomous snakes live away from cities and town, so I’ve not seen them outside zoos.
And I might add that all monotremes – echidnas and platypus – are venomous, too, though I don’t think humans ever get poisoned by them.
Now someone can tell you lot about sharks and crocodiles.
[/QUOTE]
Well… almost never.