Australians are the toughest people to offend. They are generally laid back, fun-loving, extremely friendly. But despite their jovial outlook in life, Aussies follow a certain code of conduct in dealing with other people. You go against this code and you upset the blokes that are basically known for their amenable attitude.
Here are five things that sounds pretty normal for us, but Aussies really frown upon. You’ve been warned.
In the United States, Canada and most parts of the world, taking the backseat of a taxi might be the protocol, as sometimes taking the shotgun might be throwing a hint that you’re going to rob or put the driver in harm.
Taking the back seat in Australia, however, is a faux pas. It violates the spirit of mateship and trying to send the message that you are above the driver. Aussies’ cordial mindset draws upon the concept of Egalitarianism, the idea of judging a person based on his/her character, and not on economic background, race, and job. So when taking a cab, go for the front seat, have a chat, and know the Aussies’ way of life. It’s much more fun.
Again, this goes with the idea of mateship. Being mates means you don’t talk down on the other guy in any aspects of his character, political stance, religion, race, or job. Being highly opinionated can turn people off instantaneously.
Other cultures might think a bit of arrogance is cool, as it shows confidence, brash, and ability. But Aussies appreciate warmth and connection more than displays of bravado. Not that they are a bunch of overly sensitive people. They just understand that the best friendship means that the other guy is not always trying to say he’s better than the rest.
“Taking the piss” is a British slang meaning having fun at the expense of someone present. And this is OK with Australians. Throwing and hurling back friendly insults is one of the few things Australians can do all day. What is not OK, however, is making fun of the person or a group of people not around.
See, Aussies value honesty more than any virtue. And having amusement at the expense of somebody not around is a back stab on their character, since they are not around to defend themselves and /or throw the insult back. If you don’t want to risk being labeled as a bigot, a self-deprecating humor is the best alternative.
Being a country that whole-heartedly appreciates beer (except the warm variety), it is not surprising that a significant part of its social protocols involves drinking. Buying the rounds of drink (or shouts) is one of them.
Each person in the group, in the spirit of goodwill, is supposed to buy the rounds for each member. This practice of fair-and-square deal eliminates the feeling of being an outsider, since you get to partake in an activity where everybody equally pays and equally receives.
Just because somebody offered the shouts (or any other favor for that matter) without asking any in return, you should accept it right away. You are displaying yourself as a freeloader, and basically a stoop down of your level.
When offered a favor, Australians expect you to offer resistance or at least provide also a favor in return. Do not be a person who will grab any opportunity to get freebies.