To
live in Australia, Aussies have to have a sense of humour. It's a cheap form of
entertainment and helps pass the time.
Their sardonic and laconic attitude creeps into every conversation. If you display any form of weakness they will tear at it like a dog with a bone. This irreverent and ruthless lot will aim their jokes at any country and people with any advantage or disadvantage. This is not a back-stabbing population. They will tell anti-English jokes to the English, anti-Irish jokes to the Irish and Ethiopian jokes to anorexics. The English can expect to hear:
Q:
How can you tell when the plane that lands is full of Poms?
A: When the motors stop, the whining continues.
The Kiwis (the butt-end of much Aussie humour) are very quickly reminded of the special relationship they have with their sheep by such as:
Q:
Why
do New Zealand men marry New Zealand women?
A: Because sheep can't cook.
Q:
What do you call a New Zealander with forty sheep?
A: A pimp.
To
Parliament for another example. A bill was being debated which affected rural
people. One of the elderly rural backbenchers felt so involved as to actually
awaken and make an extremely rare address. He
started in his slow way: "Mis—ter Spea—ker, I am a count—ry member".
At this point, before he could say another word, came a cry from the front
benches "We remember!"
The
Aussies can easily laugh at themselves but of course, with their isolation they
have often had little choice. But beware, they don't care for outsiders to do
it.
THE BOTTOM LINE THE BOTTOM LINE THE BOTTOM LINE THE BOTTOM LINE THE BOTTOM LINE THE BOTTOM LINE THE BOTTOM LINE