Australians are happy to talk about politics. And the reason we don't talk about religion isn't to avoid offence, it's because we largely couldn't care less about religion, and prefer that those few who are super-religious would just keep it to themselves.
Your reaction is the reason she's made the video. I don't think many of these would be relevant to Americans or Brits coming here, but for people of other cultures you'd be surprised what's "normal" for them. I do agree with you on the "not gossipping" one though - surely that can't be acceptable anywhere, can it?
That's usually the case but the times its not are always something of an unpleasant shock. ^^; Edit: Though as some of these other comments are reminding me, maybe we should give more shits about stuff if that makes sense? There being a difference between being easy going and completely apathetic after all~ XD
I agree with you about discussing politics. But usually only when someone raises the topic first then I'm happy to get on my soap box. Particularly if their moron conservatives lol
Generally, people don't care what you do as long as it doesn't negatively affect them. Loud music (but not too loud) in public is okay if everyone is in a party mood like on public holidays, but you probably shouldn't do that if the people around you are trying to enjoy nature in peace. It all comes down to Australia's highest ideal which is 'being fair.'
where I live on the gold coast most people I know don't like it when the music is so loud ya hafta shout over it, they like it when it's in the background and ya can still hear people talking "normally".
As an aside to the loud music thing.. people that walk around public with their phones on speakerphone really fucking annoy me. Get some damn headphones or something if you cant hold the damn thing or are hard of hearing, I dont need to hear your conversations!
I think, sadly, that some of it is stuff we just think is "human traits" cause they should be, but in fact can be Aussie ones only, or at least missing from many countries. The hugging & rubbish are pretty clearly not universally understood in the way we do in Australia. btw if you want to see the ultimate in Australia vs the world on this sort of stuff, look at the Milligan experiment, designed to see if people would just follow orders, in the way that happened in Germany in the 30's & 40's. Turns out that if you put a lab coat on the person giving the directions to hurt another person, all countries tested to date get the same result - people blindly do as told. Exception being Australia, where we actually stand up to the authority person & support the person being hurt instead of them, we're unique in that though!
You would be surprised at the culture differences in some cases. Being late is offensive here, but perfectly normal in other cultures. Burping is polite in some countries because it means you enjoyed the meal, but offensive here.
It blows my mind how a civilised country has so much hate for anyone with a different political view or no opinion at all. Politicians don't care about us
To clarify and in some cases correct all these points: Physical distance is definitely a thing, and the further away from the major cities a person lives, the wider that space will get. Don't worry about it if someone that lives in the remote outback keeps moving further away than what a typical city living person would consider personal space, just don't try to fill the gap they create. Noise on the beach and the like, no one really gives a bugger so long as it doesn't become a regular thing or the locals might eventually get a bit annoyed with it. It's really only the tourists that complain. Oh hell yeah we gossip, but about different things to what some cultures do. We'll gossip about what people do, not what they look like or how they dress. Judging people on shallow things like race, gender, age, appearances, etc is socially taboo. But we will judge you, and gossip about you, based on your actions and behaviour. Not treating people as equals, racism, sexism, etc; will get you into a world of trouble whether you're at work or not. RSVPing... if someone says they'll be there, they'll be there. If they say they won't be able to make it, they won't be there. If they say they might show up, Don't cater food for them. They probably won't show up at all, but don't be too shocked if they do, and if they do show up they'll be late enough to miss out on the food, but they won't care and neither should you. When someone says don't bring anything, it means don't bring anything. If they say that and you bring nothing, they won't think anything of it because that's exactly what you were told to do. However, if invited to a party and you're not directly told to not bring anything, the unwritten rule is the men bring drinks to share, and women bring a plate of food to share, though the gender stereotype has in more recent decades gone out the window, so just bring something. It's very common to get an invite and get directly told to bring a plate, which of course means a plate of food, not a literal plate with nothing on it. Showing up unannounced depends a lot on where you are and who's house you're showing up at. If it's your best mate, show up unannounced, let yourself in the back door, raid the fridge, leave some cash for the beer you took on top of the fridge, and if your best mate isn't home, settle down and watch some TV until he gets back. Other less close friends and neighbours, showing up unannounced is fine, but knock and don't be upset if they tell you it's a bad time and to go away. If it's someone you know less well, yeah, don't show up without an invite. Conversations about politics and religion are fine, so long as you're not preaching about it. Never try to tell us who to vote for, or what to believe. Most Australians don't follow politics and don't follow a religion beyond a casual affiliation, but we're happy to have civil conversations about these topics. The big thing to remember is simply, don't take it too seriously and definitely don't argue about it. Speaking in other languages is fine, so long as the conversation isn't leaving anyone out. If you're talking to someone on the phone whilst with another person, another language is fine. A conversation in public is fine. But sitting around a table with a group of people, or working with a group of people, keep to a language everyone in the group understands so that no one feels left out. Yes, littering is a big no no. Don't do it. Dropping general litter can not only result in the social embarrassment of being called out for it, it can also result in a harsh fine that varies by state but most are around a couple of hundred dollars. Flicking a cigarette butt out of a car whilst driving in NSW can attract 10 demerit points off your licence and a fine of up to $11,000 due to bushfire risk. Anyone can report anyone for littering, and plenty of people will report it. Not picking up after your dog in public is another form of littering. Respecting other people and public property is important, which is why there's harsh penalties for littering, and rules about having a basic level of respect on public transport, like not putting your feet on the seats. Ripping people off is totally unacceptable, which includes trying to dodge paying the fare on public transport, trying to haggle to get a better deal than the next person, etc.
haggling's not 100% clear cut though, it's ok to ask for a price match or tell the store what another store is offering & see what they can do in response to it - imo anyway. Most would rather that chance to match/beet compared to just missing the sale. & gotta say, in the last state election, I was telling people how to vote - number every box of candidates they find tollerable, don't exhaust their preference! I'd never tell them who they should vote for, but with the optional preferencial system, some people didn't realise how that was negatively impacting the independents & smaller parties in particular, so I was certainly making sure people who didn't understand the voting system well knew that, especially non-native English speakers were often unaware of it. I agree with what you were actually saying though :)
About the haggling - if I am buying several items at the one time (I was refurnishing a house after a divorce), such as TV, lounge suit, dining suite, coffee table, 2 beds and mattresses, Fridge/freezer, washing machine etc - I was spending about 15,000 all up - I asked if I could get a bit of a deal particularly on the delivery. They knocked about 500 off the total cost and since everything was being delivered on the same day, they gave it to me for free. Mind you, when the delivery guys showed up I offered each of them a 6 pack of either beer, Beam or Coke as a thank you which they appreciated as my home had two stories and it was a bit hard getting some of it upstairs
@@skwervin1 That's not haggling in the true sense of the term. You're just politely asking if they can do you a deal. In other cultures where haggling is a thing, it's where the buyer and seller literally argue over the price, both trying to pressure the other into the best price for themselves. The seller may want $20 for the item, the buyer only wants to pay $5, so they debate over it until they come to a mutually agreeable price, which is lower than the seller wanted and higher than the buyer wanted. Often in such places the initial price is higher than the item is worth, because the seller knows they're not going to get that price. If they want $10 for something, they'll put a $15 price on it because they know they're going to get haggled into a lower price if they want to sell the item. This can be seen in Australia now and then at things like garage sales, or other second hand goods sales, especially in immigrant communities. If you want to see some real haggling in action without having to leave the country to do it, go to a garage sale being hosted by a Middle Eastern or Asian immigrant and just watch the interactions, the prices asked for, and how much is actually paid after a long discussion with another person from a similar culture. Even if they're conversing in another language you don't understand, with some good observation of body language and tone of voice, you can still see how they're haggling. It's really quite fascinating stuff.
@@mehere8038 Yeah, telling people how to vote is fine, but telling them exactly who to vote for is a whole different thing. As for haggling, price comparisons and asking if there's a deal available isn't real haggling (see my response to Wendy about that).
Im an older Australian and it is definitely considered shifty if a person avoids eye contact. Other cultures may avoid eye contact and some native Australian groups avoid eye contact as I sign of respect. Country folk generally don’t need to stand close. I had an English friend who always stood so close she was almost touching. I’d take a,step back and yes, she would move close again. I didn’t mind but it was noticeable and it may have just been her habit.
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to focus and take in information that way". (And and no, for any of the ABA-fanatics out there, eye contact is absolutey NOT a thing that needs to be "corrected" or "taught" to autistic people. It's not necessary.) I know some people might think that not maintaining eye contact indicates either lying or not listening, which is so unfortunate and unfair on people.
I'm a 49 years old Aussie I must disagree with you coz I'm not one to constantly make eye contact, I look away many times during a chat, I'm uncomfortable making non stop eye contact lol I find non stop eye contact VERY SHIFTY AND WEIRD 😂 Stufffff THAT 😳
Funny my husband and I when we got married and our celebrant was talking n we both looked at her when she was talked coz that's what we do, shed then say look at each other
I cannot look at people in the eye as it disturbs my thoughts when concentrating on what I am hearing (neurodivergent/autistic). If my head is down and leaning slightly forward, it means I am listening.
yup, took me a little while to figure out how to ride escalators far enough to the left for people to pass when first using my wheelchair on them, but yup, absolutely an essential skill to be polite in Australia :)
@@kirk5152 I always go on with little wheels higher than big wheels, so forwards up, backwards down but yeh, I hold one rail with my arm & other arm I use to hold the wheel, to keep it forward against the edge of the step ahead. Lets people go past & is actually more comfortable once used to it too, not so much stretch on my arms. Is one exception, one escalator near me is wide enough for a wheelchair, but abnormally narrow & for that one I tend to hold both rails, cause it's more comfortable with the narrow width & also for the pull off & on without much manoeuvring space. I've got weird stuff with lesions in my spine, so some high & some low paralysis & some core muscles work, so I can lean forward, which might make a difference, not sure. The way I position, unless I've got too much shopping hanging off the back, I'm balanced in situ btw, cool you know paras that use escalators too :) Some people seem to think we shouldn't & certain other countries in particular seem to think it's a suing issue & try to stop it apparently. Makes a big difference for mobility & normality though :)
In the USA you register your political affiliation. In some States it’s registered at the DMV (Transport Department) when you obtain your licence. As an Australian I could not wrap my mind around that. It’s nobody’s bloody business. I don’t think a lot of us would last in the “Bible Belt” of the USA. Lol! They can be really hardcore! I’m an older Australian and I was taught to never discuss politics or religion - unless it was with close family members.
That's true, we seem to be fine with the freedom aspect of being able to choose a religion, but when it comes to pushing it onto others we can get irritated very quickly, it's the same with politics. No-one I know could ever handle living in an area where it was forced onto them, they'd more than likely rebel against it by deliberately offending the religious/political people until they were driven out of town. When I was a kid, we were taught to never talk about politics or religion because it starts wars.
Australian politics is becoming a lot more americanised these days, with people openly flouting their political affiliation, as well as actively (and often loudly) demonising anyone who does not feel the same way. My typical response to these people is "What are you, american? Fuck off with that politics shit, mate"
My understanding of registering as a political party affiliate in the US is so you can vote in the primaries. Here in Aus we don't choose who runs for office, people just register and run. In the US you can't vote in either Democratic or Republican primaries unless you are registered in that party. If you don't want to vote in the primaries you don't have to register.
She is from a South American culture and so her observations will be in particular contrast to her expectactions and her experiences when she first came here. Every culture has do's and don'ts like this, there isn't one right way, but most Aussies and Americans will see these ones she lists as universal and obvious, but it's not obvious for those from places like Africa or Asia because their social expectations are quite different
I'm aussie and I don't care at all if people around me are talking in other languages. If they have people around them with whom they can keep their mother-tongue alive, that's awesome. Heck if I was in a room where I was trying to read and people were talking other languages, then that would actually be LESS disruptive to my focus because of less "clashing" going on in my brain.
Yeah its a holdover from the "white australia policy" days, where it was actually illegal to speak another language if an english speaking australian was present.
Australians wouldn’t get offended if you showed up empty handed it’s more that it is just good manners to bring something no matter what to show appreciation to the host.
Remember when a new Ausie was invited to an advent and bought a plate as instructed but the plate was empty. Ignorance was accepted with grace and Ausie humor making her included as a lot of help flowed explaining the vernacular
True. If we say you don’t need to bring anything means we are fully catering for our guests but it’s a great idea to bring a bottle of wine/chocolates/flowers as a way of thanking your hosts. Otherwise if it’s BYO we’ll certainly let you know! LOL
Eh, some people make their political affiliation their entire identity and get massively defensive when you start poking holes in their ideals. Unfortunately, these are usually the same people that also do not miss an opportunity to tell you all about just how aligned with their political party they are, even if you didnt ask. Politics is becoming more americanised every damn day.
When it comes to haggling we often ask “Is that the best deal?” Gerry Harvey of Harvey Norman encourages shoppers to haggle. Some stores in Australia have a 5 or 10 percent offer where they’ll beat an opposition’s product if it is exactly the same.
Agreed. Most shop floor staff aren’t authorised to undercut the ticket price by much and definitely not if you’re paying on store credit or credit card, as those have extra merchant fees and do cost the business more money. If you want a better price, it’s best to offer cash. Sometimes they’ll throw in free accessories, like a laptop bag or free mouse with a new computer but avoid extended warranties, even if they’re offered for free, as they aren’t worth it.
I'm aussie and I'm direct (but I'm also autistic). And I know others appreciate clear communication too. I never do but if I had people coming over for dinner or something, I'd say either "feel free to bring a dip or a cheese or a bottle of wine" if I meant that, but if I say bring nothing, I actually mean... bring nothing.
I'm the same, and also autistic. I can't tell you the amount of fights I've been in because people think I'm being sarcastic or not genuine when I'm being straightforward. Bitch, I dont have the executive function for double entendres and allusion! Just take me at my word!
I agree. The first time I went to Bangkok it dawned on me one day that Thais just pushed pass and nobody cared and made me realise that the Asian people in Australia weren't necessarily being rude brushing past others without an excuse me, it was just their way and we are all a bit twitchy about it. It still annoys me, but the new generations will become twitchy like the rest of us. 🫤
Honestly I'd say this lady's advise IS pretty spot on but most of the social stuff is more for people you've never met before/don't know too well rather than close friends (aka the keeping distance, the 'don't talk in languages others don't know', gossip, visiting unannounced, etc). Clarification on the gossip: Gossiping absolutely still happens but it can be quite looked down on in certain circles, especially if its negative, goes into someone's personal business (like relationships) or takes place at work (aka where one is supposed to be focusing on getting work done). So for pleasant 'social vibes' around acquaintances or co workers you're probably better off talking random 'stuff of interest that's happened to yourself/family recently', things relating to whatever you're all doing at the time, local area talk or about hobbies you love rather than 'so and so did this' kinda gossip as its very easy to dip into coming off as invasive or even a bully. This naturally fades away a bit with genuine friends so it's not a hard rule but not gonna lie my first thought upon hearing the word 'gossip' was to immediately picture someone being way too into other people's business and probably an asshole I'd want to avoid least I be their next target so er. Yeah~ XD Loud music varies but generally, if your group is say having a BBQ at a park or beach and no one else is around, decently loud music is fine. If you're somewhere busy though best to turn the music right down or off. Basically just a common courtesy kinda rule (also applies to cars and houses btw - loud enough to bop to should not be so loud that people down the street can still hear it and definitely not between the hours of 9pm to 9am). Talking about politics can vary like hell but general rule of thumb I've found is that it's usually ok to talk about specific issues, especially from a first hand 'what I've experienced' account, and to say something like 'all politicians suck/have lost touch/etc' but naming specific parties, politicians or 'groups who think this' as worthy of hate/respect is where you should be a little bit more careful and mostly only discuss with people you trust to remain civil or people you've IDK met at a bus stop, haven't exchanged names with and can expect never to encounter again once you escape from them via catching the bus (aka definitely NOT co workers if you can help it). Also if you're not sure where someone stands but you want to have a civil discussion, try to avoid potentially put people on the spot but instead share your thoughts on stuff you wish was better and how those things might improve rather than focusing on parties involved (usually if the other person has any interest in the topic they'll bring up some of their own experiences at this point or if they're daring, bring up which groups they do/don't like the approach of in this instance, thus making it easy to continue along those tracks if you find their points interesting or can shift away from the topic into something else if they drop a red flag, etc. ...Or at least, that's how most of my random 'discussion that turned to politics' talks with random little old ladies at the bus stop tend to go anyway. Might not be a universal thing but works pretty well for me at least~ XD). Bringing stuff to a party when asked not to is very region/people you're talking with specific as well; lot of asian countries (from whom we've gotten a lot of our population from over the last few decades) are very into the 'always deny an offered gift for humbleness/ALWAYS insist on giving a gift because they deserve a gift' thing so I guess some of it might've bled into our general attitude in places but elsewhere Aussies will be like 'Nah mate I told you we don't have room for anything!' and in those cases you shouldn't because it's genuinely a pain for them. I think the rule for this one is usually 'bring something anyway like snacks or drinks to any event just because it's a nice thing to do but if they go out of their way to tell you not to, ask for clarification as to why not and make it clear that you're more than happy to gift things but if it's genuinely a pain you'll back off and maybe could help sport them some cash for it instead?'. Presumably once you become really good friends you'll have a much better idea what they mean right away but when still getting used to them clarification always helps
Love the reply. Pretty much spot on. I live in a coastal tourist town in Victoria and we locals call the fly-ins terrorists not tourists! The amount of rubbish, just wandering out onto the road and not looking when crossing, letting their dog's off leash in the main street, taking up four parking spots with an RV instead of parking it just around the corner... the list goes on. We have a music festival each year, car displays and so on, and many of the houses in our street get rented out - Air BnB etc and most years I have had to call the police because of fights, windows smashed and car burnouts in our street at 3am. It's a relief when the holidays are over and it goes back to being a quiet, sleepy town again.
Not talking about anything controversial is a value inherited from England. "If you can't think of anything to talk about, speak about the weather." I thought it was just an outdated thing, until I saw the wisdom in it myself. It gives something common for you both to agree on and when you both agree on something, it makes things easier between you and the other person. Like a social cohesion tool. Plus it's easily verifiable, you just need to check the window.
Sorry but talking about the weather immediately tells everyone you are from the UK. You reminded me very much of a conversation I had while visiting the UK, when I asked why their weathermen were so bad at predicting the weather compared to those in Australia and I got told it’s because we live on an island which makes it much harder for weatherman to predict such things and had to remind them that Australia is an island too, therefore that’s really NOT a justification. The look on they faces was so funny to watch, as it was a light bulb moment for all of them. mainly as they did not know what to say! Because they didn’t understand the “Continental effect” (And how weather affects a large body of land that’s greater than say 80 km (50 miles) from any coastline has a higher tendency of having extremes in temperature leading to the likelihood of l deserts forming. Australia and most larger continents will have several and they don’t all look like the Sahara (full of sand). NSW in Oz
@@nswinoz3302 My comment was more about how agreement on things easily verifiable and generally non-controversial is a social cohesion tool. Talking about the weather was merely one example of something everyone can agree on. I recognise it's not very relevant in most of Australia, especially with slogans like "Beautiful one day, perfect the next." But in places like Melbourne, everyone talks about how there's "four seasons in one day," and many people who travel there return with stories about the weather. Anyway, I didn't mean to go on about the weather quite this much. I'll give you another example: Eurovision, whose mission is to unite Europe through the love of music. I'm sure there are other examples, but you get the gist.
When you are told "don't bring anything", it means do not bring any food or drink (unless you have special dietary restrictions that the host may not know). The proper thank you is to bring some chocolates or flowers (unless the host is diabetic or hay fever, etc) or a bottle of wine for the host's cellar (not to be consumed at this event).
Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but the maintaining eye contact stuff is connected more to westernized cultures; for ATSI populations, not making direct eye contact is actually said to be a sign of respect to the person with whom you are conversing.
Basically, if I'm going to a party I bring "booze for me" which so happens to be twice what i'd normally drink, and then just tell the host that "eh, I'll just leave it here for you guys if there's any leftover, if thats okay"
@@Mephiston I always found that weird, that you bring the booze for yourself whereas when you bring a plate the food is for everyone. Maybe she should've included that in her list - At a party, don't drink the booze somebody else brought.
I think there's a certain amount of truth to all of these points, but I like to think that a lot of them would generally be considered polite even outside Australia, and I don't think we're particularly up tight about it either. We might find it a bit annoying if you break some of these "rules", but we're unlikely to confront you about it unless you've done something egregious.
We do have a fairly large sense of personal space. Especially if you’re from a farm - even just close enough to shake hands can be uncomfortably close for some. You’ll see it clearly in the way we space ourselves out on public transport when possible. It is considered polite to bring something when you’re calling in on someone, not as much if you’ve been invited, though bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party is quite common. Or asking if you can make something to contribute to the meal. We’re having a birthday party for my cousin this weekend, and one of the guests is bringing her delicious tiramisu as the birthday cake. The casual swearing habit masks how extremely polite we are as a society. Being considerate of others (with the loud music), and taking care of shared public spaces is second nature. I’d add that the lady is in Melbourne, and we are slightly more formal than some other places. Nice to see she’s integrated so fully she’s even wearing black! It’s a stereotype because it’s true (says the former Melbournite whose wardrobe is still mostly black).
And a confession re: making Americans feel stupid when they assume we have “Kangaroos in our backyards”. I live in a city of millions of people, it’s a concrete jungle. My train was delayed a few days ago because a certain marsupial that shall remain nameless joined 6 of his mates on a journey down the Werribee line, citybound…….🤬😡
Haha, I feel like I'm adding fuel to the fire for foreigners I love to show them that I do have kangaroos, wallabies, koalas etc in my backyard 😂 but I know I'm lucky for that! Well thankfully kangaroos not often, they're a bit more scary! But wallabies everyday 😊 they are sweet hearts.
I agree that the "no littering" thing should be obvious all over the world. I'm aussie and when I moved to the UK for 18 mths, I couldn't believe the amount of litter that was around - it was everywhere, including in the forests.
A while back we went camping near Melbourne, and the rubbish was horrendous. Not just a bit of dropped litter, but lots of dumping as well. I think the nearer to the cites you are, the worse it gets.
@SlingShot they just said "The loud music thing really depends on the situation etc.", it depends on the situation, if you were at a party with loud music you wouldn't have a problem with someone, would you?
I live in a small town 100km from a major city and our local park has free poop bags so there is no excuse not to pick up your dog's poo and there is a bin near by to get rid of it. Haggling does happen a secondhand shop where I was a regular customer, the owner knew me, and everything was priced but I always asked him what was my price, and I would always get it cheaper. Also, in Adelaide we have a discount furniture chain called Haggle Co.
Definitely a tourist’s point of view here. I’ll pay some points such as eye contact, talking politics & dog poop. As for talking different languages, although HR departments frown upon it, the reality of being the world’s most multicultural country, (Melbourne winning that title too 🥳) Your workmates talking to each other in their native tongue is a fact of life here, the wonderful part is there are 100’s of different languages being spoken in lunchrooms all over the place 😊 Ticket Inspectors are definitely a thing, and again Melbourne has Jedi Level TI’s. They even go plains clothed!!! However in the Sports Capital of Planet Earth, this is considered a challenge….. Entry level contestants learn to detect the suspicious nature of two large Pacific Islander Gentlemen, an Indian Grandmother, a Millennial Nerd & a Goth Lesbian all hanging out together on a tram stop…. 😈 P.S. If there is any part of Greater Melbourne you would like to see or get clarification on I’m happy to go photograph it and send you the file 👍
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to take in info that way". (It also isn't a thing that needs to be corrected/taught to autistic people to fit in with NT folk.)
My dear old mother to pet walkers, 'Here's some newspaper. Pick up your dog's business.' 'What am I supposed to do with it?' 'Take it home and spread it on a piece of bread for your breakfast.' I laughed every time she said this.
Oh my gosh, haggling pisses me off. I'd get it all the time in my retail days. "What's the best price you can do on this? What about a senior's discount? But I came All thE WaY fRom [neighbouring suburb]!"
Im an Aussie & I love hugs & cuddles... so not all Aussies are like that .. some of it is a load of crap, can't have loud music in a caravan that's correct, gossip is everywhere not just down under.
Okay, I felt like sharing my thoughts on these, as a born and bred Aussie. Long comment ahead! ^^; Naturally, though, these are just my thoughts and experiences, so there's bound to be people who have entirely different takes. For reference, I've mostly stayed in suburban southeastern Australia for my whole life, just in case there's any major regional differences that pop up. 1. Can agree. Aussies are friendly, but we do tend to get weirded out if we've just met and you're hugging us. Public transport is possibly the main exception to this, but even then most Aussies will stay in our own little bubbles when possible, even being outright greedy with the surrounding space if we can. Friends and family are naturally an exception, and a lot of us will make some allowances if we can personally tell that the one doing it is from a culture where 'hello kisses' and the like are the norm, but that's NOT a universal thing. ^^; 2. Most Aussies feel that we're being ignored if we aren't given eye contact when speaking, or things like nodding head, humming affirmatives, that sort of thing. We prefer to feel as if there is engagement when we talk, basically. Too much being creepy is also a thing over here. Chances are, most Americans are gonna be fine, for example. 3. This is... much more variable. It seriously depends on what the music is, how loud you're playing it, the time and location it's being played, that sort of thing. When walking or on public transport then yes, definitely it's taken better for people to keep their own music to themselves, but in a more open and relaxed setting then it becomes a more case-by-case thing. It'd probably better to err on the side of caution, though, and just use headphones. 4. Asking questions is not a requirement, but it does definitely help add to a positive impression in a school or work environment. If you genuinely don't have any questions, then that's usually fine, but if it's a presentation that's gone for an hour or something, it's probably best to ask *something*. 5. Gossiping is very much a situational thing. Workplace gossip is definitely not a good thing to go for, though. As for jokes, most Aussies are fairly thick-skinned about MOST types of jokes, but things that can be called 'locker room talk' or 'toilet humour' are usually seen as more immature and less likely to be appreciated. That's not to say that no-one over here likes them, just that we generally prefer other kinds of joke more. A lot of Aussies watch British shows, so a lot of us really love wordplay, for example. 6. With the invitations, it's mostly just an organisational thing. A lot of Aussies take planning parties and get-togethers really seriously, so knowing how many people are aiming to attend can be really important. It also ties back into the "feeling like we're being listened to". 7. We have a huge 'BYO' culture over here. Saying "don't bring anything" is more to say that there should be enough food and drink for everyone attending, but extras are always appreciated. It also makes it feel like you're happy to be there if you bring something to add to the spread. 8. A lot of Aussies will try to arrive to a scheduled thing early, to the point that a lot of us will actually set our clocks forward so that we're more likely to get to our destination on time or with time to spare (which is usually used to make ourselves more presentable or just to ease any nerves if it's an important meeting). 9. There is definitely some leeway with showing up unannounced, but that may be something that's changed over the years. When I was a kid, there was an understanding that the kids in the neighbourhood would show up to check if their friends were available to hang out. Now, admittedly, this may still have been a social faux-pas for the adults, but no-one ever mentioned it to me. ^^; With *adults* doing that, though, plenty of Aussies will get irritated. 10. Most Aussies hate chatting about politics or religion. If it's actually asked about, that's one thing, but most people will get very uncomfortable if it's brought up without warning. Ask first, and if even one person shows discomfort, just drop the topic. 11. Aussies don't really have a culture of eavesdropping, but as said in the video we are a little sensitive about whether someone is potentially making fun of us, and speaking a different language nearby is one thing that does unfortunately set us off a little. 12. Australia has a culture of keeping the land relatively clean, to the point that some places even have set days where everyone is supposed to help clean up any litter that's around. Not every Aussie will be careful about our rubbish, but we do generally really dislike seeing people just leaving rubbish where they were or dropping it somewhere. There are lots of public rubbish bins over here, and we expect people to use them. 13. Picking up after your dog is more lenient in suburban areas in the fines angle, but people around you will definitely give you shit for it. Basically, if your dog shits in public, clean it up if you can. Lots of pet stores and vets will even let you buy or 'borrow' poo bags, and it's just... polite. ^^; 14. Riding for 'free' is definitely a risk. Generally it's MORE of a risk in city centres, but even in the more rural areas it's still not good to do. Just... pay the fare. 15. I've never heard of someone being fined for putting their feet on public transport seats, but I did know that it COULD be a fine. A lot of Aussies do it, but will try to have it on the edges of the seat, and only if their shoes are relatively clean. 16. Aussies hate haggling. It forces any customers who are waiting to wait even longer, it annoys the cashiers, and they're never going to budge on the price anyway. Even companies who advertise "we'll beat prices on similar items from our competitors" are not really likely to give in. 17. Nothing to add on the 'be polite' one, other than this: a lot of Aussies will mix up what phrase they're trying to say, so you may hear a lot of "you too" in response to "enjoy your food" for example. Try not to bring attention to it, if it happens. 18. Saying "what?!" in a case of misunderstanding or not hearing things correctly can come across to Aussies as being very... uh... 'redneck' (or 'bogan' as our equivalent term is). It's seen as being uncaring of how things look to those on the outside of the conversation, which a lot of Aussies may get very uncomfortable with, as they then feel like they're being put on the spot and scrutinised. If it's a purely domestic setting, then there is leeway, of course.
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to take in info that way". (And and no, for any of the ABA-fanatics out there reading this comment, eye contact is absolutey NOT a thing that needs to be "corrected" or "taught" to autistic people. It's not necessary.)
On number 16, if you can show a catalogue or something online, generally places are happy to give you the reduced price. If I have to buy an expensive item, I ask for their best price. I usually research those first. Sometimes, they might throw something in with it. No harm in asking as the worst is they say no.
If I am going to ask for a discount or similar, it won't be at the checkout. It would be with the salesperson on the floor and usually only if I am buying multiple items or if I know company X has it cheaper but I want my dollars to go to this company instead. That discount may be chewing into the ales persons commission and that would be unfair.
we aussies like eye contact because it allows us to gauge how our words are being received. lot of our linguistics come from not what you say, but how you say it.. thats why we can swear at our family, mates and other aussies without them getting offended. we need visual clues to see if we are taking it to far
As an Aussie, I disagree with the not bringing anything to a party. People I know do (don't do?) that all the time, I don't expect someone to bring anything, even if just a small box of chocolates. 14:26 exactly lol. If it's someone you know, just saying "What?" is totally fine.
About the personal space: In Newcastle where I live, there's a pretty big Asian community especially near the uni, the difference in how close we sit or stand near each other is massive - have the same experience in Sydney also- I always wondered about that, asked my Chinese friends at the uni why they will stand or sit so close to each other/strangers around (when I say this I mean when at a bustop or train station there will be a few benches nobody is sitting at, but they will sit close to someone on a bench is already taken) and its simply because they are used to it being from such a densely populated place, they were actually shocked that I found it odd, they learnt something new that day too haha. It's because Australia has such a small density population, people subconsciously give each other more space walking on the street, sitting in places or greeting each other etc, just naturally having a little more space in between than you would find in other countries.
That whole thing about speaking a different language is a bit BS, we are one of the most diverse countries with a HUGE immigrant population, its not looked down on at all, that's not to say there aren't a few areas full of boomers that grew up in the awful times of the white Australia policy (look into it), but 95% of people will not turn an eye, there are a few bad eggs no matter where you go in the world. However the rest of this video seems more like common courtesy - not Australian exclusive at all.
Basically, it's all about 'respect'. All humans should always be respectful, but of course, not all of us are. Here in OZ, you don't have to walk around trying not to 'walk on eggshells', or be scared to speak your mind, just be 'Fair Dinkum', (honest, don't bullshit, unless it's with your friends), and be yourself, not what you might think other people expect you to be.
Umm... Literally everyone says 'what?'. Honestly where I'm from (rural area) people often say huh!? Basically as long as you dont piss anyone else off its fine. OK some things I'd like to clear up: the playing music one. If you're quite a way away from the nearest campsite or nearest person it's ok to play music. But the one BIG rule is when you see their lights go out and they go to bed TURN THE MUSIC DOWN (or OFF). At 10pm 10:30 latest you should be quiet and you should not be playing music at all. As a general rule it's no loud noises from 6pm to 7am when you're camping around others. Basically you just have to respect others
its a holdover from the "white australia policy" days, where it was actually illegal to speak another language if an english speaking australian was present.
As an Aussie I hate being asked to bring food. You invited me it's your responsibility. When I have people over its more common for them to leave to leave with food because I prepare more than enough.
In my experience we do like our personal space . Stand too close and you'll see us move back a couple steps. And the height of ignorance and to piss people off really fast is to set up nearby or next to others on the beach or pinic or camp area etc., if theres plenty of space and especially not start up loud music or playing frisbee or footy or cricket. Height of rudeness. No cheek kissing at first meeting but common between friends. Depends on the context You might casually mention who youre NOT voting for, but generally no religion or politics between friends and family to maintain the friendship. Had to tell a non Aussie friend it was illegal to stub out butts on the ground and throw it in the gutter when there was a bin next to him. Cigarette butts are dirty and dont degrade when they get washed into the sewer but given our dry conditions theyre considered a fire hazard. So fines are hefty and people are sensitive to it so you'll get told off in no uncertain terms.
With regard to the space issue at a picnic. Yes this happened to us when we were having a picnic in Sydney and my friends went to buy some fresh food from a shop nearby. 2 of us stayed to sit and keep our spot. I cannot post the rest as I will be called racist. It was a bit scary actually, however someone was watching this and told these 2 policemen on horses and they came over and told these other people to get lost.
In my family my grandmother always said of gossip “listen to half of what they say and believe half of what you heard and then you probably know the truth”. Looking someone directly in the eye is supposed to mean you are sincere. If I mentally roll my eyes at what someone is saying then it is time to move on. I love that dog droppings have to be picked up. January in Paris … dog droppings all over the footpaths, it’s raining and the droppings turn into a slurry … yuck 🤮 You can “haggle” you just ask the the salesperson if they can do a better price for cash if you are buying a big ticket item like a refrigerator etc?
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to take in info that way". (And and no, for any of the ABA-fanatics out there, eye contact is absolutey *NOT* a thing that needs to be "corrected" or "taught" to autistic people. It's not necessary.) Ryan, you just do whatever level of eye contact you're personally comfortable with.
The ability of people to disagree and still be friends and talk civil is severely lacking today. Its half the reason you cannot talk politics, you don't know if you will get a guy fly of the handle or if you will get a great conversation. Its almost not worth taking that risk in a public place.
It should be an Australian who does these videos. Not to assume she isn't an Australian citizen but that's how I feel. Because her accent is very strong makes me think she didn't move here at a very young age. I watched 4 videos now and she is is incredibly inaccurate about 4% of it!
Can't avoid it these days.look what albo is trying to do to this country..we need to talk about it .Alice Springs needs us to talk about it..we need to talk about this horrible voice BS . Australia is dying ..let's talk people 🇦🇺
@@ACDZ123 I tried talking last state election and Dictator Dan still got re elected. How the hell did that happen!!! Albo was made to look like Hawke 2.0. Both raised Bogans. Hawke was strong and loved his country. Albo is still crying about being a houso and kissing arse.
@@ACDZ123 I agree 100% Sometimes you're better with the devil you know. Scomo was a wanker but credit where credits due. He did stand up to China during Covid and never backed down. One positive is better than none. I can't watch Albo any more since I saw that, I was pure cringe. The world is eating itself
There are signs in all public transport vehicles concerning the ' do not..." so consider yourself told when you use public transport. Plus, it is also common courtesy to other, or future, passengers.
We actually had an advert for chocolate in Australia, and it was telling you what to bring when they say not to bring anything 😂😂. Yes it is a thing here to bring something. We have friends who give the same bottle of wine back and forth each time they visit. It’s a great joke but now it’s tradition.
Can't agree with any of this, when I first arrived EVERYBODY hugged and kissed me, I was the one that was shocked, this had never happened to me before.
It's definitely more a European thing .I've lived in Australia all my life since the 60s and it was usually Italians and Greeks etc who did greetings like that more often .of course some Aussies do that but generally they don't like the Europeans do
Let's be real, lets talk Melbourne (Sydney is not Melbourne)... 1. Ignore the first one most of the time, but take lead from the other person, but we do hug in Victoria 2. Average eye contact is required 3. That one is anywhere in the world, no one needs to hear your music on full 4. Common and obvious 5. Gossip is everywhere, be real gossip at work is over the top at times. Gossip is a thing, but her points about firing is true 6. RSVP is not a thing, we appriciate it but it doesnt always happen 7. Yes, agreed - bring something, if they say bring nothing - bring something 8. Being on time is courteous and required in the work place, but after hours - time is just life moving forward, everyone is late in the personal lives in Melbourne (well most people) 9. The arriving unannounced is a bit of rubbish too, we love an unexpected visitor, and we are also the person that pops up. I think that is a melienial thing... Gen X and Gen Z do pop up unannounced 10.... We love to talk politics and sometimes religion... This is completely wrong. We will talk your ear off, but it is not accepted to do so in work - we really love talking about American politics, it is better than any reality show these days. But dont talk politics or religion over food, that is just rude. 11. RUBBISH, happens all the time, and no one cares, you may fell it is respectful, but people dont care - we are the worlds melting pot 12. Dont litter - anywhere - don't be a dick, put it in the bin 13. OMG, pick up your dog poop.... any where in the world, and up to $500 in fines. Don't take poop bags is your issue 14. The inspectors will hurt you, they will bash you and even kick you on the ground, they are arseholes 15. People will do it, but you will be fined - don't put your feet on seats 16. The price is the price, don't haggle... hahahahaha - nah haggle, we do it all the time. JB Hifi, Good guys, etc etc - all have better prices 17. Any where in the world, be polite, in Melbourne if you say hello, people will say hello back, in Sydney people may not talk to you you at all 18. Rubbish, "What" is common, we all say it sometimes I will say "What did you say"
I totally agree with everything you wrote. What’s she on about? Some things might have happened once to her and she thinks we are ALL like that - um 🤔 nup
So I shop in a large Woolworths supermarket in a Melbourne suburb about once a week. I see lots of people and they are. ALL wearing shoes. Don’t believe everything you hear about that. Maybe shops near the beach. A number of Queenslanders may do it, but probably not many of them in the suburban supermarkets either.
Some of these points (ie bringing a gift for your host) are definitely true in urban and affluent areas more than regional Australia. If you find “your” people - your tribe, your team, your community - you’ll find them to be welcoming and accommodating. Workplace culture varies massively between professional and trade environments, and even between retail in different shopping centres! Haggling is completely acceptable in SOME transactions. It’s very normal in secondhand sales for example; if a private seller isn’t interested in haggling, they’ll typically include that in their ad.
I remember once when I was on a train in Sydney, the train guard made an announcement “the man in carriage 2468 please remove your feet from the seat”. I looked up and noticed it was my carriage. I then heard some swearing from the person it was directed at. You don’t need an inspector to walk through, the guard was checking the monitors from the cameras in each carriage. On Sydney trains the ticket inspectors work in groups when they do come onto the trains as they are double decker trains and they split up with two upstairs and two downstairs going through the carriages. They check using a hand held device that scans our Opal cards to check if passengers have tapped on.
Aussies talk about American politics more the Australian politics only because we find that Americans are super crazy when it comes to politics. Most of us don’t give a flippin flap about politics. It’s never a real issue here
The "what?" thing is important because the connotation of "what?" is more along the lines of "say what now???", "how could you say such a thing?" or "I can't believe you just said that" or "repeat what you said with a justification".. like "whaaat???!" more than a request to repeat yourself because it wasn't heard properly.
14:10 The other week I helped my neighbour and he kept saying you didn't have to so I said it is okay so he kept going so I said yeah I didn't have to and that stopped him in his tracks. I didn't want anything. I just helped.
talking politics can cause arguments , also the feet on seats thing has been around pretty much since public transport started here in Australia. Wish they'd bring back no spitting on the ground, but hey thats probably just me. :) happy arvo!!!
7:31 I think in Australia we talk about politics and religion but we don't go to war over it. We have our views and it is interesting to hear other views. I don't think I have had arguments over it. If you ask me I will tell you what I think. The arguments start when you get shouted down. I talk you talk and all is fine.
I think the personal space issue is because we are used to open spaces. As for bring food to parties, I've never seen noticed that being an issue. People will often say BYO if its barbecue, but everyone always brings too much food and so there is always food to share around. if its not BYO, no one cares, but sometimes people bring extra food anyway.
the physical space thing is mainly with the eshays get in a 10 metre distance of a pack of eshays theyll try beat you up i recommend just punching them in the nose their wooses
14:58 English is a tough language ;) Lucky I just use it a bit since I left school.You will get on top of it one day Ryan. We can understand Americanese.
The eye contact thing yep, we like direct contact generally because we wonder if you’re being upfront with us or not - but also you should take the lead from the person if they are a first nations person because direct and excessive eye contact can be disrespectful. I agree with others, we generally don’t care what visitors do but ‘in your face’ stuff should be a little reduced just until you get to know someone. Then its on like donkey kong! 😂 Politics and religion, hate it! It just gets everything into aggressive ground and most of us like to be nice, have fun and a nice convo. We DO talk about politics but to people we know very well. Get to know someone before you start the conversation. They’ll tell you right out if it’s off the table. I think most of the things the woman spoke about are common across a few cultures though.
Hell yeah, if you get invited to something, always bring either some drinks for yourself (willing to share is even better) or some snack food thing. If the other guests don't eat it, the host can keep it for themselves. We have barbecues for our local jugger events and someone always shows up with a slab of water, guaranteed.
You get no warning for putting your feet on the seats as there are signs with pictures everywhere on the train and on the stations and tram stops explaining the does and don't's. Same at a gas station, there are always signs on the fuel bowsers telling you what you can and can't do during filling up, like turning off your engine when filling and not using a cell phone at the pump, doesn't stop people from using them and endangering other peoples lives. If the police are at the gas station and they catch you they will fine you for endangering public safety. Similar signs appear on the sliding doors when you enter the shore to pay for your gas like not wearing a motorcycle helmet for instance. The problem with people these days is they are totally unaware of their surroundings, they never read anything and are pre occupied and think they are entitled to do as they please and when they get caught they bitch and moan about it, follow the rules and you'll be fine.
The only time you shouldnt do something is if it’s going to affect someone else. Otherwise do whatever you want And yes, don’t friggen touch me ever lol
Born and bred here in Australia and I have never gone camping without my Bluetooth speaker! If a campsite or a beach on Australia Day isn't the place to play great Aussie music like cold chisel I don't know what is
Ryan, She' s not from around here. Most of us have manners, we're not quite that hung up. Sounds like she's been in Sydney or NSW too long - they love to be ars*holes there. If there's no-ne around in a public places like a beach or something, we can play music loud, like don't take your 100 watt amp but if someone takes exception and approaches you, just turn it down. We all like a laugh and offensive jokes are quite common - just not at work. Don't push your politics or religion down our throats and we're quite open to discussion, if you don't tell us you're Muslim, we might offer you a beer. If you don't tell us your Jewish we may accidently offer you a BLT but we're sensative to others as long as we know. Because we have such a multicultural nation, often we just wait or say something if others are talking a different language - some people are only just learning how to talk Aussie and thier friends are helping them out. Less understanding parts of our culture may not (Racists, Bogans and meatheats) And of course we use "What?" even when its just an unexpected remark. Some of these vids you watch are a bit whacko, mate. Listen to some 'Gurge mate it'll put ya straight - (Regurgitator, an honest asset to our nation) and watch some Andrew Ucles catching rabbits with poisonous snakes, He's mad as..
Im typical Aussie dude and she's WRONG WRONG WRONG about the kissing and hugging thing, well we Aussie's don't usually kiss ppl we just met lol bt the hugging thing is NOT considered offensive at all, even in some cases kissing will not offend some Australians. We certainly WON'T make a huge issue out of it lol
Just as a point of comparison, in general people from USA have a much bigger personal bubble than Australians do. That space is probably the reason Americans talk so loudly, too.
It all seems like pretty normal social behaviours to me. Yes, I’m Aussie, but does the rest of the world lack common courtesy more than us? I’m doubtful. I do know that when Vietnamese people I’ve encountered throw parties, it’s considered hurtful to bring food, because it implies the hosts’ food is inadequate. You can be fined for not having dog waste bags on you. It’s best to carry several when walking your pet.
Australians are happy to talk about politics. And the reason we don't talk about religion isn't to avoid offence, it's because we largely couldn't care less about religion, and prefer that those few who are super-religious would just keep it to themselves.
Yes
We don't have the type of political two party divide they have in the US ...nobody cares who you voted for
Oh sooo true!
That's right. Believe what you want, just don't tell me about it and don't try to fucking influence our law making with it.
Yep, a few boomers seem to avoid politics too still
I can’t believe she made a video on this. The things she has mentioned are all values that should be worldwide not just Australia.
Should be but the are not .
Not really, many cultures kiss as greeting or avert eye contact to show respect
I was thinking the same thing. Totally agree!
Your reaction is the reason she's made the video. I don't think many of these would be relevant to Americans or Brits coming here, but for people of other cultures you'd be surprised what's "normal" for them. I do agree with you on the "not gossipping" one though - surely that can't be acceptable anywhere, can it?
She comes from south America, where ppl are more demonstrative.
As an Australian I think I can say we really don’t care what you do as long as it’s not terrorism
Or pedo
Perfect reply TBH.
That's usually the case but the times its not are always something of an unpleasant shock. ^^;
Edit: Though as some of these other comments are reminding me, maybe we should give more shits about stuff if that makes sense? There being a difference between being easy going and completely apathetic after all~ XD
One simple must '' LEAVE YOUR GUNS IN THE USA ''
I agree with you about discussing politics. But usually only when someone raises the topic first then I'm happy to get on my soap box. Particularly if their moron conservatives lol
Generally, people don't care what you do as long as it doesn't negatively affect them. Loud music (but not too loud) in public is okay if everyone is in a party mood like on public holidays, but you probably shouldn't do that if the people around you are trying to enjoy nature in peace. It all comes down to Australia's highest ideal which is 'being fair.'
where I live on the gold coast most people I know don't like it when the music is so loud ya hafta shout over it, they like it when it's in the background and ya can still hear people talking "normally".
perfect comment
@@PoggersFloppa Thanks
If it's good music it's fine, just not doof doof music
As an aside to the loud music thing.. people that walk around public with their phones on speakerphone really fucking annoy me. Get some damn headphones or something if you cant hold the damn thing or are hard of hearing, I dont need to hear your conversations!
Its easy. Just dont take yourself to seriously. Learn how To take a joke and just chill. And don't get offended over everything.
Yep, that's us
These aren't necessarily Aussie things, just human things...
Australians are human....mostly!
I think she never socialised before she arrived and thinks it's not a human trait, but "Australian". xD
I think, sadly, that some of it is stuff we just think is "human traits" cause they should be, but in fact can be Aussie ones only, or at least missing from many countries. The hugging & rubbish are pretty clearly not universally understood in the way we do in Australia.
btw if you want to see the ultimate in Australia vs the world on this sort of stuff, look at the Milligan experiment, designed to see if people would just follow orders, in the way that happened in Germany in the 30's & 40's. Turns out that if you put a lab coat on the person giving the directions to hurt another person, all countries tested to date get the same result - people blindly do as told. Exception being Australia, where we actually stand up to the authority person & support the person being hurt instead of them, we're unique in that though!
Not all of them. The first one (don’t hug or kiss when you meet someone) at least isn’t universal. She sounds like she’s from France, and 😅
You would be surprised at the culture differences in some cases. Being late is offensive here, but perfectly normal in other cultures. Burping is polite in some countries because it means you enjoyed the meal, but offensive here.
Some of our best political discussions are how bad the USA is
It blows my mind how a civilised country has so much hate for anyone with a different political view or no opinion at all.
Politicians don't care about us
A lot of Americans don’t like our opinions on their country 😂
@@SoggyToast506 but they lack the freedoms they think they have.
Absolutely take something when going to someone's house, but you usually get to take home left overs.
This lady doesn't get out much.
Yep, and they usually contain the phrase "Well at least we're not in America"
To clarify and in some cases correct all these points:
Physical distance is definitely a thing, and the further away from the major cities a person lives, the wider that space will get. Don't worry about it if someone that lives in the remote outback keeps moving further away than what a typical city living person would consider personal space, just don't try to fill the gap they create.
Noise on the beach and the like, no one really gives a bugger so long as it doesn't become a regular thing or the locals might eventually get a bit annoyed with it. It's really only the tourists that complain.
Oh hell yeah we gossip, but about different things to what some cultures do. We'll gossip about what people do, not what they look like or how they dress. Judging people on shallow things like race, gender, age, appearances, etc is socially taboo. But we will judge you, and gossip about you, based on your actions and behaviour. Not treating people as equals, racism, sexism, etc; will get you into a world of trouble whether you're at work or not.
RSVPing... if someone says they'll be there, they'll be there. If they say they won't be able to make it, they won't be there. If they say they might show up, Don't cater food for them. They probably won't show up at all, but don't be too shocked if they do, and if they do show up they'll be late enough to miss out on the food, but they won't care and neither should you.
When someone says don't bring anything, it means don't bring anything. If they say that and you bring nothing, they won't think anything of it because that's exactly what you were told to do. However, if invited to a party and you're not directly told to not bring anything, the unwritten rule is the men bring drinks to share, and women bring a plate of food to share, though the gender stereotype has in more recent decades gone out the window, so just bring something. It's very common to get an invite and get directly told to bring a plate, which of course means a plate of food, not a literal plate with nothing on it.
Showing up unannounced depends a lot on where you are and who's house you're showing up at. If it's your best mate, show up unannounced, let yourself in the back door, raid the fridge, leave some cash for the beer you took on top of the fridge, and if your best mate isn't home, settle down and watch some TV until he gets back. Other less close friends and neighbours, showing up unannounced is fine, but knock and don't be upset if they tell you it's a bad time and to go away. If it's someone you know less well, yeah, don't show up without an invite.
Conversations about politics and religion are fine, so long as you're not preaching about it. Never try to tell us who to vote for, or what to believe. Most Australians don't follow politics and don't follow a religion beyond a casual affiliation, but we're happy to have civil conversations about these topics. The big thing to remember is simply, don't take it too seriously and definitely don't argue about it.
Speaking in other languages is fine, so long as the conversation isn't leaving anyone out. If you're talking to someone on the phone whilst with another person, another language is fine. A conversation in public is fine. But sitting around a table with a group of people, or working with a group of people, keep to a language everyone in the group understands so that no one feels left out.
Yes, littering is a big no no. Don't do it. Dropping general litter can not only result in the social embarrassment of being called out for it, it can also result in a harsh fine that varies by state but most are around a couple of hundred dollars. Flicking a cigarette butt out of a car whilst driving in NSW can attract 10 demerit points off your licence and a fine of up to $11,000 due to bushfire risk. Anyone can report anyone for littering, and plenty of people will report it. Not picking up after your dog in public is another form of littering. Respecting other people and public property is important, which is why there's harsh penalties for littering, and rules about having a basic level of respect on public transport, like not putting your feet on the seats.
Ripping people off is totally unacceptable, which includes trying to dodge paying the fare on public transport, trying to haggle to get a better deal than the next person, etc.
haggling's not 100% clear cut though, it's ok to ask for a price match or tell the store what another store is offering & see what they can do in response to it - imo anyway. Most would rather that chance to match/beet compared to just missing the sale.
& gotta say, in the last state election, I was telling people how to vote - number every box of candidates they find tollerable, don't exhaust their preference! I'd never tell them who they should vote for, but with the optional preferencial system, some people didn't realise how that was negatively impacting the independents & smaller parties in particular, so I was certainly making sure people who didn't understand the voting system well knew that, especially non-native English speakers were often unaware of it. I agree with what you were actually saying though :)
About the haggling - if I am buying several items at the one time (I was refurnishing a house after a divorce), such as TV, lounge suit, dining suite, coffee table, 2 beds and mattresses, Fridge/freezer, washing machine etc - I was spending about 15,000 all up - I asked if I could get a bit of a deal particularly on the delivery. They knocked about 500 off the total cost and since everything was being delivered on the same day, they gave it to me for free. Mind you, when the delivery guys showed up I offered each of them a 6 pack of either beer, Beam or Coke as a thank you which they appreciated as my home had two stories and it was a bit hard getting some of it upstairs
@@skwervin1 That's not haggling in the true sense of the term. You're just politely asking if they can do you a deal. In other cultures where haggling is a thing, it's where the buyer and seller literally argue over the price, both trying to pressure the other into the best price for themselves. The seller may want $20 for the item, the buyer only wants to pay $5, so they debate over it until they come to a mutually agreeable price, which is lower than the seller wanted and higher than the buyer wanted. Often in such places the initial price is higher than the item is worth, because the seller knows they're not going to get that price. If they want $10 for something, they'll put a $15 price on it because they know they're going to get haggled into a lower price if they want to sell the item. This can be seen in Australia now and then at things like garage sales, or other second hand goods sales, especially in immigrant communities. If you want to see some real haggling in action without having to leave the country to do it, go to a garage sale being hosted by a Middle Eastern or Asian immigrant and just watch the interactions, the prices asked for, and how much is actually paid after a long discussion with another person from a similar culture. Even if they're conversing in another language you don't understand, with some good observation of body language and tone of voice, you can still see how they're haggling. It's really quite fascinating stuff.
@@mehere8038 Yeah, telling people how to vote is fine, but telling them exactly who to vote for is a whole different thing.
As for haggling, price comparisons and asking if there's a deal available isn't real haggling (see my response to Wendy about that).
I think you've summed everything up really well here. Nailed it .
This lady hasn’t got out and about much , you can pretty much do what you want as long as it’s legal
yea fr, and as long as it doesn't annoy any large group of people
But will you have friends?
I broke the law 5 times on the way to get milk and bread. It's rediculous
LOL! And often if it's illegal too!
Doesn't have to be legal as long as you accept the consequences....
Im an older Australian and it is definitely considered shifty if a person avoids eye contact. Other cultures may avoid eye contact and some native Australian groups avoid eye contact as I sign of respect. Country folk generally don’t need to stand close. I had an English friend who always stood so close she was almost touching. I’d take a,step back and yes, she would move close again. I didn’t mind but it was noticeable and it may have just been her habit.
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to focus and take in information that way". (And and no, for any of the ABA-fanatics out there, eye contact is absolutey NOT a thing that needs to be "corrected" or "taught" to autistic people. It's not necessary.) I know some people might think that not maintaining eye contact indicates either lying or not listening, which is so unfortunate and unfair on people.
I'm a 49 years old Aussie I must disagree with you coz I'm not one to constantly make eye contact, I look away many times during a chat, I'm uncomfortable making non stop eye contact lol I find non stop eye contact VERY SHIFTY AND WEIRD 😂 Stufffff THAT 😳
Eye contact is for serious talks, for casual talk just looking in their direction is good enough.
Funny my husband and I when we got married and our celebrant was talking n we both looked at her when she was talked coz that's what we do, shed then say look at each other
I cannot look at people in the eye as it disturbs my thoughts when concentrating on what I am hearing (neurodivergent/autistic). If my head is down and leaning slightly forward, it means I am listening.
Another one is..." Never stand still in the middle of an escalator"
If ur not walking up it. "STAND TO THE LEFT" so other people can.
100%
yup, took me a little while to figure out how to ride escalators far enough to the left for people to pass when first using my wheelchair on them, but yup, absolutely an essential skill to be polite in Australia :)
@@mehere8038 Wait a sec.....Every para I know, goes backwards and holds onto both rails. So U go up ok holding on to just one side?
@@kirk5152 I always go on with little wheels higher than big wheels, so forwards up, backwards down but yeh, I hold one rail with my arm & other arm I use to hold the wheel, to keep it forward against the edge of the step ahead. Lets people go past & is actually more comfortable once used to it too, not so much stretch on my arms. Is one exception, one escalator near me is wide enough for a wheelchair, but abnormally narrow & for that one I tend to hold both rails, cause it's more comfortable with the narrow width & also for the pull off & on without much manoeuvring space.
I've got weird stuff with lesions in my spine, so some high & some low paralysis & some core muscles work, so I can lean forward, which might make a difference, not sure. The way I position, unless I've got too much shopping hanging off the back, I'm balanced in situ
btw, cool you know paras that use escalators too :) Some people seem to think we shouldn't & certain other countries in particular seem to think it's a suing issue & try to stop it apparently. Makes a big difference for mobility & normality though :)
@@mehere8038used to date a complete T12
In the USA you register your political affiliation. In some States it’s registered at the DMV (Transport Department) when you obtain your licence.
As an Australian I could not wrap my mind around that. It’s nobody’s bloody business.
I don’t think a lot of us would last in the “Bible Belt” of the USA. Lol! They can be really hardcore! I’m an older Australian and I was taught to never discuss politics or religion - unless it was with close family members.
That's true, we seem to be fine with the freedom aspect of being able to choose a religion, but when it comes to pushing it onto others we can get irritated very quickly, it's the same with politics. No-one I know could ever handle living in an area where it was forced onto them, they'd more than likely rebel against it by deliberately offending the religious/political people until they were driven out of town. When I was a kid, we were taught to never talk about politics or religion because it starts wars.
Australian politics is becoming a lot more americanised these days, with people openly flouting their political affiliation, as well as actively (and often loudly) demonising anyone who does not feel the same way.
My typical response to these people is "What are you, american? Fuck off with that politics shit, mate"
I certainly would be banned from the Bible Belt!
My understanding of registering as a political party affiliate in the US is so you can vote in the primaries. Here in Aus we don't choose who runs for office, people just register and run. In the US you can't vote in either Democratic or Republican primaries unless you are registered in that party. If you don't want to vote in the primaries you don't have to register.
She is from a South American culture and so her observations will be in particular contrast to her expectactions and her experiences when she first came here. Every culture has do's and don'ts like this, there isn't one right way, but most Aussies and Americans will see these ones she lists as universal and obvious, but it's not obvious for those from places like Africa or Asia because their social expectations are quite different
I'm aussie and I don't care at all if people around me are talking in other languages. If they have people around them with whom they can keep their mother-tongue alive, that's awesome. Heck if I was in a room where I was trying to read and people were talking other languages, then that would actually be LESS disruptive to my focus because of less "clashing" going on in my brain.
Yeah its a holdover from the "white australia policy" days, where it was actually illegal to speak another language if an english speaking australian was present.
Yeah it's not hard to put rubbish/trash into a bin/trash can or take it home if you can't find one. It's common courtesy really.
His Australian accent has improved so much 😂😂😂
Ikr
Australians wouldn’t get offended if you showed up empty handed it’s more that it is just good manners to bring something no matter what to show appreciation to the host.
Remember when a new Ausie was invited to an advent and bought a plate as instructed but the plate was empty. Ignorance was accepted with grace and Ausie humor making her included as a lot of help flowed explaining the vernacular
@@desmondo7042 we will always appreciate effort even if misplaced.
True. If we say you don’t need to bring anything means we are fully catering for our guests but it’s a great idea to bring a bottle of wine/chocolates/flowers as a way of thanking your hosts. Otherwise if it’s BYO we’ll certainly let you know! LOL
The thing about politics is
We don't like politicians
We know we're going to get screwed no matter what
Eh, some people make their political affiliation their entire identity and get massively defensive when you start poking holes in their ideals. Unfortunately, these are usually the same people that also do not miss an opportunity to tell you all about just how aligned with their political party they are, even if you didnt ask.
Politics is becoming more americanised every damn day.
When it comes to haggling we often ask “Is that the best deal?” Gerry Harvey of Harvey Norman encourages shoppers to haggle. Some stores in Australia have a 5 or 10 percent offer where they’ll beat an opposition’s product if it is exactly the same.
we don't do the going back and forth throwing prices at each other style haggling
Our haggling is just asking if they can do a better price
@@rosehill9537 That’s right. Sometimes you can get a discount also if you pay by cash.
Agreed. Most shop floor staff aren’t authorised to undercut the ticket price by much and definitely not if you’re paying on store credit or credit card, as those have extra merchant fees and do cost the business more money. If you want a better price, it’s best to offer cash.
Sometimes they’ll throw in free accessories, like a laptop bag or free mouse with a new computer but avoid extended warranties, even if they’re offered for free, as they aren’t worth it.
I'm aussie and I'm direct (but I'm also autistic). And I know others appreciate clear communication too. I never do but if I had people coming over for dinner or something, I'd say either "feel free to bring a dip or a cheese or a bottle of wine" if I meant that, but if I say bring nothing, I actually mean... bring nothing.
I'm the same, and also autistic. I can't tell you the amount of fights I've been in because people think I'm being sarcastic or not genuine when I'm being straightforward. Bitch, I dont have the executive function for double entendres and allusion! Just take me at my word!
The physical distance thing is called proxemic behaviour. It varies across the world. It's closer in Mediterranean countries, generally.
I agree. The first time I went to Bangkok it dawned on me one day that Thais just pushed pass and nobody cared and made me realise that the Asian people in Australia weren't necessarily being rude brushing past others without an excuse me, it was just their way and we are all a bit twitchy about it. It still annoys me, but the new generations will become twitchy like the rest of us. 🫤
Honestly I'd say this lady's advise IS pretty spot on but most of the social stuff is more for people you've never met before/don't know too well rather than close friends (aka the keeping distance, the 'don't talk in languages others don't know', gossip, visiting unannounced, etc).
Clarification on the gossip: Gossiping absolutely still happens but it can be quite looked down on in certain circles, especially if its negative, goes into someone's personal business (like relationships) or takes place at work (aka where one is supposed to be focusing on getting work done). So for pleasant 'social vibes' around acquaintances or co workers you're probably better off talking random 'stuff of interest that's happened to yourself/family recently', things relating to whatever you're all doing at the time, local area talk or about hobbies you love rather than 'so and so did this' kinda gossip as its very easy to dip into coming off as invasive or even a bully. This naturally fades away a bit with genuine friends so it's not a hard rule but not gonna lie my first thought upon hearing the word 'gossip' was to immediately picture someone being way too into other people's business and probably an asshole I'd want to avoid least I be their next target so er. Yeah~ XD
Loud music varies but generally, if your group is say having a BBQ at a park or beach and no one else is around, decently loud music is fine. If you're somewhere busy though best to turn the music right down or off. Basically just a common courtesy kinda rule (also applies to cars and houses btw - loud enough to bop to should not be so loud that people down the street can still hear it and definitely not between the hours of 9pm to 9am).
Talking about politics can vary like hell but general rule of thumb I've found is that it's usually ok to talk about specific issues, especially from a first hand 'what I've experienced' account, and to say something like 'all politicians suck/have lost touch/etc' but naming specific parties, politicians or 'groups who think this' as worthy of hate/respect is where you should be a little bit more careful and mostly only discuss with people you trust to remain civil or people you've IDK met at a bus stop, haven't exchanged names with and can expect never to encounter again once you escape from them via catching the bus (aka definitely NOT co workers if you can help it).
Also if you're not sure where someone stands but you want to have a civil discussion, try to avoid potentially put people on the spot but instead share your thoughts on stuff you wish was better and how those things might improve rather than focusing on parties involved (usually if the other person has any interest in the topic they'll bring up some of their own experiences at this point or if they're daring, bring up which groups they do/don't like the approach of in this instance, thus making it easy to continue along those tracks if you find their points interesting or can shift away from the topic into something else if they drop a red flag, etc. ...Or at least, that's how most of my random 'discussion that turned to politics' talks with random little old ladies at the bus stop tend to go anyway. Might not be a universal thing but works pretty well for me at least~ XD).
Bringing stuff to a party when asked not to is very region/people you're talking with specific as well; lot of asian countries (from whom we've gotten a lot of our population from over the last few decades) are very into the 'always deny an offered gift for humbleness/ALWAYS insist on giving a gift because they deserve a gift' thing so I guess some of it might've bled into our general attitude in places but elsewhere Aussies will be like 'Nah mate I told you we don't have room for anything!' and in those cases you shouldn't because it's genuinely a pain for them. I think the rule for this one is usually 'bring something anyway like snacks or drinks to any event just because it's a nice thing to do but if they go out of their way to tell you not to, ask for clarification as to why not and make it clear that you're more than happy to gift things but if it's genuinely a pain you'll back off and maybe could help sport them some cash for it instead?'. Presumably once you become really good friends you'll have a much better idea what they mean right away but when still getting used to them clarification always helps
Love the reply. Pretty much spot on.
I live in a coastal tourist town in Victoria and we locals call the fly-ins terrorists not tourists! The amount of rubbish, just wandering out onto the road and not looking when crossing, letting their dog's off leash in the main street, taking up four parking spots with an RV instead of parking it just around the corner... the list goes on.
We have a music festival each year, car displays and so on, and many of the houses in our street get rented out - Air BnB etc and most years I have had to call the police because of fights, windows smashed and car burnouts in our street at 3am. It's a relief when the holidays are over and it goes back to being a quiet, sleepy town again.
Not talking about anything controversial is a value inherited from England. "If you can't think of anything to talk about, speak about the weather." I thought it was just an outdated thing, until I saw the wisdom in it myself. It gives something common for you both to agree on and when you both agree on something, it makes things easier between you and the other person. Like a social cohesion tool. Plus it's easily verifiable, you just need to check the window.
Sorry but talking about the weather immediately tells everyone you are from the UK. You reminded me very much of a conversation I had while visiting the UK, when I asked why their weathermen were so bad at predicting the weather compared to those in Australia and I got told it’s because we live on an island which makes it much harder for weatherman to predict such things and had to remind them that Australia is an island too, therefore that’s really NOT a justification. The look on they faces was so funny to watch, as it was a light bulb moment for all of them. mainly as they did not know what to say! Because they didn’t understand the “Continental effect” (And how weather affects a large body of land that’s greater than say 80 km (50 miles) from any coastline has a higher tendency of having extremes in temperature leading to the likelihood of l deserts forming. Australia and most larger continents will have several and they don’t all look like the Sahara (full of sand). NSW in Oz
@@nswinoz3302 My comment was more about how agreement on things easily verifiable and generally non-controversial is a social cohesion tool. Talking about the weather was merely one example of something everyone can agree on. I recognise it's not very relevant in most of Australia, especially with slogans like "Beautiful one day, perfect the next." But in places like Melbourne, everyone talks about how there's "four seasons in one day," and many people who travel there return with stories about the weather.
Anyway, I didn't mean to go on about the weather quite this much. I'll give you another example: Eurovision, whose mission is to unite Europe through the love of music. I'm sure there are other examples, but you get the gist.
Its often called bringing a plate. ( not an empty plate but with nibbles on it)
I didnt know that being a thoughtful and polite human being was an alien concept to some people.
As an Australian, I wanna know what a**holes this woman has met here as most of these are not my experiences.
@SlingShot where r you from?
Australians spell it arsehole not asshole. Are you sure you’re an Aussie ?
@SlingShot yeah seems on point to me
I wonder where in Australia she had been. Qlder here
Considering she mentioned the grampians, I'm going to assume she's down in vic or SA, and yeah there are plenty of assholes down here.
No one cares… I’m from Sydney, be yourself
When you are told "don't bring anything", it means do not bring any food or drink (unless you have special dietary restrictions that the host may not know). The proper thank you is to bring some chocolates or flowers (unless the host is diabetic or hay fever, etc) or a bottle of wine for the host's cellar (not to be consumed at this event).
Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but the maintaining eye contact stuff is connected more to westernized cultures; for ATSI populations, not making direct eye contact is actually said to be a sign of respect to the person with whom you are conversing.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Very true. Same with neurodivergent folks. I'm autistic, and eye contact can scramble information processing and focus.
"You coming to my party tonight?" 'Yes, should I bring something?' "Oh no, not at all!" Equates to, you better bring some booz my friend!🤣
Basically, if I'm going to a party I bring "booze for me" which so happens to be twice what i'd normally drink, and then just tell the host that "eh, I'll just leave it here for you guys if there's any leftover, if thats okay"
@@Mephiston That's the way!
@@Mephiston I always found that weird, that you bring the booze for yourself whereas when you bring a plate the food is for everyone. Maybe she should've included that in her list - At a party, don't drink the booze somebody else brought.
I think there's a certain amount of truth to all of these points, but I like to think that a lot of them would generally be considered polite even outside Australia, and I don't think we're particularly up tight about it either. We might find it a bit annoying if you break some of these "rules", but we're unlikely to confront you about it unless you've done something egregious.
Except littering. I dont let that slide
We do have a fairly large sense of personal space. Especially if you’re from a farm - even just close enough to shake hands can be uncomfortably close for some. You’ll see it clearly in the way we space ourselves out on public transport when possible.
It is considered polite to bring something when you’re calling in on someone, not as much if you’ve been invited, though bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party is quite common. Or asking if you can make something to contribute to the meal. We’re having a birthday party for my cousin this weekend, and one of the guests is bringing her delicious tiramisu as the birthday cake.
The casual swearing habit masks how extremely polite we are as a society. Being considerate of others (with the loud music), and taking care of shared public spaces is second nature. I’d add that the lady is in Melbourne, and we are slightly more formal than some other places. Nice to see she’s integrated so fully she’s even wearing black! It’s a stereotype because it’s true (says the former Melbournite whose wardrobe is still mostly black).
Mostly these are just common courtesy and good manners - not necessarily Australian specific things.
And a confession re: making Americans feel stupid when they assume we have “Kangaroos in our backyards”.
I live in a city of millions of people, it’s a concrete jungle.
My train was delayed a few days ago because a certain marsupial that shall remain nameless joined 6 of his mates on a journey down the Werribee line, citybound…….🤬😡
Haha, I feel like I'm adding fuel to the fire for foreigners I love to show them that I do have kangaroos, wallabies, koalas etc in my backyard 😂 but I know I'm lucky for that! Well thankfully kangaroos not often, they're a bit more scary! But wallabies everyday 😊 they are sweet hearts.
I agree that the "no littering" thing should be obvious all over the world. I'm aussie and when I moved to the UK for 18 mths, I couldn't believe the amount of litter that was around - it was everywhere, including in the forests.
Sometimes use the phrase "Drop sumthn sport"
There used to be a special government policy slogan: 'Keep Britain Untidy'. Apparently it's been very successful.
A while back we went camping near Melbourne, and the rubbish was horrendous.
Not just a bit of dropped litter, but lots of dumping as well.
I think the nearer to the cites you are, the worse it gets.
The loud music thing really depends on the situation etc.
All these things are obviously just her experiences.
@SlingShot they just said "The loud music thing really depends on the situation etc.", it depends on the situation, if you were at a party with loud music you wouldn't have a problem with someone, would you?
@SlingShot yeah..like I said, depends on the situation.
I live in a small town 100km from a major city and our local park has free poop bags so there is no excuse not to pick up your dog's poo and there is a bin near by to get rid of it. Haggling does happen a secondhand shop where I was a regular customer, the owner knew me, and everything was priced but I always asked him what was my price, and I would always get it cheaper. Also, in Adelaide we have a discount furniture chain called Haggle Co.
Definitely a tourist’s point of view here.
I’ll pay some points such as eye contact, talking politics & dog poop.
As for talking different languages, although HR departments frown upon it, the reality of being the world’s most multicultural country, (Melbourne winning that title too 🥳)
Your workmates talking to each other in their native tongue is a fact of life here, the wonderful part is there are 100’s of different languages being spoken in lunchrooms all over the place 😊
Ticket Inspectors are definitely a thing, and again Melbourne has Jedi Level TI’s. They even go plains clothed!!!
However in the Sports Capital of Planet Earth, this is considered a challenge…..
Entry level contestants learn to detect the suspicious nature of two large Pacific Islander Gentlemen, an Indian Grandmother, a Millennial Nerd & a Goth Lesbian all hanging out together on a tram stop…. 😈
P.S. If there is any part of Greater Melbourne you would like to see or get clarification on I’m happy to go photograph it and send you the file 👍
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to take in info that way". (It also isn't a thing that needs to be corrected/taught to autistic people to fit in with NT folk.)
My dear old mother to pet walkers,
'Here's some newspaper. Pick up your dog's business.'
'What am I supposed to do with it?'
'Take it home and spread it on a piece of bread for your breakfast.'
I laughed every time she said this.
Don't kill anyone, don't drink and drive , don't barrack for Collingwood . Besides that do whatever you like. We do.
Oh my gosh, haggling pisses me off. I'd get it all the time in my retail days. "What's the best price you can do on this? What about a senior's discount? But I came All thE WaY fRom [neighbouring suburb]!"
Im an Aussie & I love hugs & cuddles... so not all Aussies are like that ..
some of it is a load of crap, can't have loud music in a caravan that's correct, gossip is everywhere not just down under.
Okay, I felt like sharing my thoughts on these, as a born and bred Aussie. Long comment ahead! ^^; Naturally, though, these are just my thoughts and experiences, so there's bound to be people who have entirely different takes. For reference, I've mostly stayed in suburban southeastern Australia for my whole life, just in case there's any major regional differences that pop up.
1. Can agree. Aussies are friendly, but we do tend to get weirded out if we've just met and you're hugging us. Public transport is possibly the main exception to this, but even then most Aussies will stay in our own little bubbles when possible, even being outright greedy with the surrounding space if we can. Friends and family are naturally an exception, and a lot of us will make some allowances if we can personally tell that the one doing it is from a culture where 'hello kisses' and the like are the norm, but that's NOT a universal thing. ^^;
2. Most Aussies feel that we're being ignored if we aren't given eye contact when speaking, or things like nodding head, humming affirmatives, that sort of thing. We prefer to feel as if there is engagement when we talk, basically. Too much being creepy is also a thing over here. Chances are, most Americans are gonna be fine, for example.
3. This is... much more variable. It seriously depends on what the music is, how loud you're playing it, the time and location it's being played, that sort of thing. When walking or on public transport then yes, definitely it's taken better for people to keep their own music to themselves, but in a more open and relaxed setting then it becomes a more case-by-case thing. It'd probably better to err on the side of caution, though, and just use headphones.
4. Asking questions is not a requirement, but it does definitely help add to a positive impression in a school or work environment. If you genuinely don't have any questions, then that's usually fine, but if it's a presentation that's gone for an hour or something, it's probably best to ask *something*.
5. Gossiping is very much a situational thing. Workplace gossip is definitely not a good thing to go for, though. As for jokes, most Aussies are fairly thick-skinned about MOST types of jokes, but things that can be called 'locker room talk' or 'toilet humour' are usually seen as more immature and less likely to be appreciated. That's not to say that no-one over here likes them, just that we generally prefer other kinds of joke more. A lot of Aussies watch British shows, so a lot of us really love wordplay, for example.
6. With the invitations, it's mostly just an organisational thing. A lot of Aussies take planning parties and get-togethers really seriously, so knowing how many people are aiming to attend can be really important. It also ties back into the "feeling like we're being listened to".
7. We have a huge 'BYO' culture over here. Saying "don't bring anything" is more to say that there should be enough food and drink for everyone attending, but extras are always appreciated. It also makes it feel like you're happy to be there if you bring something to add to the spread.
8. A lot of Aussies will try to arrive to a scheduled thing early, to the point that a lot of us will actually set our clocks forward so that we're more likely to get to our destination on time or with time to spare (which is usually used to make ourselves more presentable or just to ease any nerves if it's an important meeting).
9. There is definitely some leeway with showing up unannounced, but that may be something that's changed over the years. When I was a kid, there was an understanding that the kids in the neighbourhood would show up to check if their friends were available to hang out. Now, admittedly, this may still have been a social faux-pas for the adults, but no-one ever mentioned it to me. ^^; With *adults* doing that, though, plenty of Aussies will get irritated.
10. Most Aussies hate chatting about politics or religion. If it's actually asked about, that's one thing, but most people will get very uncomfortable if it's brought up without warning. Ask first, and if even one person shows discomfort, just drop the topic.
11. Aussies don't really have a culture of eavesdropping, but as said in the video we are a little sensitive about whether someone is potentially making fun of us, and speaking a different language nearby is one thing that does unfortunately set us off a little.
12. Australia has a culture of keeping the land relatively clean, to the point that some places even have set days where everyone is supposed to help clean up any litter that's around. Not every Aussie will be careful about our rubbish, but we do generally really dislike seeing people just leaving rubbish where they were or dropping it somewhere. There are lots of public rubbish bins over here, and we expect people to use them.
13. Picking up after your dog is more lenient in suburban areas in the fines angle, but people around you will definitely give you shit for it. Basically, if your dog shits in public, clean it up if you can. Lots of pet stores and vets will even let you buy or 'borrow' poo bags, and it's just... polite. ^^;
14. Riding for 'free' is definitely a risk. Generally it's MORE of a risk in city centres, but even in the more rural areas it's still not good to do. Just... pay the fare.
15. I've never heard of someone being fined for putting their feet on public transport seats, but I did know that it COULD be a fine. A lot of Aussies do it, but will try to have it on the edges of the seat, and only if their shoes are relatively clean.
16. Aussies hate haggling. It forces any customers who are waiting to wait even longer, it annoys the cashiers, and they're never going to budge on the price anyway. Even companies who advertise "we'll beat prices on similar items from our competitors" are not really likely to give in.
17. Nothing to add on the 'be polite' one, other than this: a lot of Aussies will mix up what phrase they're trying to say, so you may hear a lot of "you too" in response to "enjoy your food" for example. Try not to bring attention to it, if it happens.
18. Saying "what?!" in a case of misunderstanding or not hearing things correctly can come across to Aussies as being very... uh... 'redneck' (or 'bogan' as our equivalent term is). It's seen as being uncaring of how things look to those on the outside of the conversation, which a lot of Aussies may get very uncomfortable with, as they then feel like they're being put on the spot and scrutinised. If it's a purely domestic setting, then there is leeway, of course.
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to take in info that way". (And and no, for any of the ABA-fanatics out there reading this comment, eye contact is absolutey NOT a thing that needs to be "corrected" or "taught" to autistic people. It's not necessary.)
On number 16, if you can show a catalogue or something online, generally places are happy to give you the reduced price. If I have to buy an expensive item, I ask for their best price. I usually research those first. Sometimes, they might throw something in with it.
No harm in asking as the worst is they say no.
If I am going to ask for a discount or similar, it won't be at the checkout. It would be with the salesperson on the floor and usually only if I am buying multiple items or if I know company X has it cheaper but I want my dollars to go to this company instead. That discount may be chewing into the ales persons commission and that would be unfair.
@skwervin1 Woolies and Coles do it. No commission issue!
we aussies like eye contact because it allows us to gauge how our words are being received.
lot of our linguistics come from not what you say, but how you say it.. thats why we can swear at our family, mates and other aussies without them getting offended. we need visual clues to see if we are taking it to far
the physical distancing, like greeting people, I think it depends who you are.
Europeans do the kiss on the cheek thing tho ..especially Italians and French etc ..Aussies don't as much
In India people queue up with no spaces because people push in ... for example. We like space between strangers
As an Aussie, I disagree with the not bringing anything to a party. People I know do (don't do?) that all the time, I don't expect someone to bring anything, even if just a small box of chocolates.
14:26 exactly lol. If it's someone you know, just saying "What?" is totally fine.
Dude love your show. As an Aussie I love the overseas view
About the personal space:
In Newcastle where I live, there's a pretty big Asian community especially near the uni, the difference in how close we sit or stand near each other is massive - have the same experience in Sydney also- I always wondered about that, asked my Chinese friends at the uni why they will stand or sit so close to each other/strangers around (when I say this I mean when at a bustop or train station there will be a few benches nobody is sitting at, but they will sit close to someone on a bench is already taken) and its simply because they are used to it being from such a densely populated place, they were actually shocked that I found it odd, they learnt something new that day too haha. It's because Australia has such a small density population, people subconsciously give each other more space walking on the street, sitting in places or greeting each other etc, just naturally having a little more space in between than you would find in other countries.
That whole thing about speaking a different language is a bit BS, we are one of the most diverse countries with a HUGE immigrant population, its not looked down on at all, that's not to say there aren't a few areas full of boomers that grew up in the awful times of the white Australia policy (look into it), but 95% of people will not turn an eye, there are a few bad eggs no matter where you go in the world.
However the rest of this video seems more like common courtesy - not Australian exclusive at all.
Basically, it's all about 'respect'. All humans should always be respectful, but of course, not all of us are. Here in OZ, you don't have to walk around trying not to 'walk on eggshells', or be scared to speak your mind, just be 'Fair Dinkum', (honest, don't bullshit, unless it's with your friends), and be yourself, not what you might think other people expect you to be.
Umm... Literally everyone says 'what?'. Honestly where I'm from (rural area) people often say huh!? Basically as long as you dont piss anyone else off its fine. OK some things I'd like to clear up: the playing music one. If you're quite a way away from the nearest campsite or nearest person it's ok to play music. But the one BIG rule is when you see their lights go out and they go to bed TURN THE MUSIC DOWN (or OFF). At 10pm 10:30 latest you should be quiet and you should not be playing music at all. As a general rule it's no loud noises from 6pm to 7am when you're camping around others. Basically you just have to respect others
I don't mind people speaking in a different language, I actually find it quite soothing at times. Some languages are beautiful.
Not when you're in a room where they are all speaking another language and you're the only one who doesn't speak it.
@@bronwyn6415 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ who cares lol means they aren’t speaking to you lol
same
its a holdover from the "white australia policy" days, where it was actually illegal to speak another language if an english speaking australian was present.
@@circleofleaves2676 You're probably right even though I was married into the family that's why I would often leave the room.
As an Aussie I hate being asked to bring food. You invited me it's your responsibility. When I have people over its more common for them to leave to leave with food because I prepare more than enough.
In my experience we do like our personal space . Stand too close and you'll see us move back a couple steps. And the height of ignorance and to piss people off really fast is to set up nearby or next to others on the beach or pinic or camp area etc., if theres plenty of space and especially not start up loud music or playing frisbee or footy or cricket. Height of rudeness. No cheek kissing at first meeting but common between friends. Depends on the context You might casually mention who youre NOT voting for, but generally no religion or politics between friends and family to maintain the friendship. Had to tell a non Aussie friend it was illegal to stub out butts on the ground and throw it in the gutter when there was a bin next to him. Cigarette butts are dirty and dont degrade when they get washed into the sewer but given our dry conditions theyre considered a fire hazard. So fines are hefty and people are sensitive to it so you'll get told off in no uncertain terms.
With regard to the space issue at a picnic. Yes this happened to us when we were having a picnic in Sydney and my friends went to buy some fresh food from a shop nearby. 2 of us stayed to sit and keep our spot. I cannot post the rest as I will be called racist. It was a bit scary actually, however someone was watching this and told these 2 policemen on horses and they came over and told these other people to get lost.
I think in some cultures it could be considered rude to have direct eye contact e.g. Japan in particular situations
Yep, and with neurodivergent folks such as myself (I'm autistic) it can make it harder to engage, focus and process information.
We even had an ad for Cadbury chocolate where the tagline was what to bring when you’re told not to bring a thing :).
In my family my grandmother always said of gossip “listen to half of what they say and believe half of what you heard and then you probably know the truth”. Looking someone directly in the eye is supposed to mean you are sincere. If I mentally roll my eyes at what someone is saying then it is time to move on. I love that dog droppings have to be picked up. January in Paris … dog droppings all over the footpaths, it’s raining and the droppings turn into a slurry … yuck 🤮 You can “haggle” you just ask the the salesperson if they can do a better price for cash if you are buying a big ticket item like a refrigerator etc?
Eye contact depends on the individual, especially with neurodivergence. I am an Autistic aussie, and eye contact can scramble information processing, concentration and focus. If I meet a new doctor for example, I say "I'm autistic, so if I'm looking away when you're talking to me, I'm still listening, it's just easier for me to take in info that way". (And and no, for any of the ABA-fanatics out there, eye contact is absolutey *NOT* a thing that needs to be "corrected" or "taught" to autistic people. It's not necessary.) Ryan, you just do whatever level of eye contact you're personally comfortable with.
The ability of people to disagree and still be friends and talk civil is severely lacking today.
Its half the reason you cannot talk politics, you don't know if you will get a guy fly of the handle or if you will get a great conversation.
Its almost not worth taking that risk in a public place.
The division is there to keep up from realizing we all have more in common than not, to keep us from uniting against corrupt powers.
It should be an Australian who does these videos. Not to assume she isn't an Australian citizen but that's how I feel. Because her accent is very strong makes me think she didn't move here at a very young age. I watched 4 videos now and she is is incredibly inaccurate about 4% of it!
Growing up I was taught to never talk Politics or Religion, unless you're looking for a fight.
Can't avoid it these days.look what albo is trying to do to this country..we need to talk about it .Alice Springs needs us to talk about it..we need to talk about this horrible voice BS . Australia is dying ..let's talk people 🇦🇺
@@ACDZ123 I tried talking last state election and Dictator Dan still got re elected. How the hell did that happen!!!
Albo was made to look like Hawke 2.0. Both raised Bogans. Hawke was strong and loved his country. Albo is still crying about being a houso and kissing arse.
@@ACDZ123 I agree 100% Sometimes you're better with the devil you know. Scomo was a wanker but credit where credits due. He did stand up to China during Covid and never backed down. One positive is better than none. I can't watch Albo any more since I saw that, I was pure cringe. The world is eating itself
There are signs in all public transport vehicles concerning the ' do not..." so consider yourself told when you use public transport. Plus, it is also common courtesy to other, or future, passengers.
We actually had an advert for chocolate in Australia, and it was telling you what to bring when they say not to bring anything 😂😂.
Yes it is a thing here to bring something.
We have friends who give the same bottle of wine back and forth each time they visit. It’s a great joke but now it’s tradition.
Who doesn’t play music when ya camping I know I do
Yes, but nothing more annoying than when it's too loud for everyone else.
i do!! i even have disco lights in the back of my 200 series.
@@carokat1111 that is true
@@glenod I’m camping with you next time lol
Best Aussie accent I’ve heard you do Ryan
Can't agree with any of this, when I first arrived EVERYBODY hugged and kissed me, I was the one that was shocked, this had never happened to me before.
It's definitely more a European thing .I've lived in Australia all my life since the 60s and it was usually Italians and Greeks etc who did greetings like that more often .of course some Aussies do that but generally they don't like the Europeans do
You must be hot
Let's be real, lets talk Melbourne (Sydney is not Melbourne)...
1. Ignore the first one most of the time, but take lead from the other person, but we do hug in Victoria
2. Average eye contact is required
3. That one is anywhere in the world, no one needs to hear your music on full
4. Common and obvious
5. Gossip is everywhere, be real gossip at work is over the top at times. Gossip is a thing, but her points about firing is true
6. RSVP is not a thing, we appriciate it but it doesnt always happen
7. Yes, agreed - bring something, if they say bring nothing - bring something
8. Being on time is courteous and required in the work place, but after hours - time is just life moving forward, everyone is late in the personal lives in Melbourne (well most people)
9. The arriving unannounced is a bit of rubbish too, we love an unexpected visitor, and we are also the person that pops up. I think that is a melienial thing... Gen X and Gen Z do pop up unannounced
10.... We love to talk politics and sometimes religion... This is completely wrong. We will talk your ear off, but it is not accepted to do so in work - we really love talking about American politics, it is better than any reality show these days. But dont talk politics or religion over food, that is just rude.
11. RUBBISH, happens all the time, and no one cares, you may fell it is respectful, but people dont care - we are the worlds melting pot
12. Dont litter - anywhere - don't be a dick, put it in the bin
13. OMG, pick up your dog poop.... any where in the world, and up to $500 in fines. Don't take poop bags is your issue
14. The inspectors will hurt you, they will bash you and even kick you on the ground, they are arseholes
15. People will do it, but you will be fined - don't put your feet on seats
16. The price is the price, don't haggle... hahahahaha - nah haggle, we do it all the time. JB Hifi, Good guys, etc etc - all have better prices
17. Any where in the world, be polite, in Melbourne if you say hello, people will say hello back, in Sydney people may not talk to you you at all
18. Rubbish, "What" is common, we all say it sometimes I will say "What did you say"
I totally agree with everything you wrote. What’s she on about? Some things might have happened once to her and she thinks we are ALL like that - um 🤔 nup
So I shop in a large Woolworths supermarket in a Melbourne suburb about once a week. I see lots of people and they are. ALL wearing shoes. Don’t believe everything you hear about that. Maybe shops near the beach. A number of Queenslanders may do it, but probably not many of them in the suburban supermarkets either.
You can haggle over private sales but not really at shops. Like I never pay the price listed for a car or a house lol
Some of these points (ie bringing a gift for your host) are definitely true in urban and affluent areas more than regional Australia. If you find “your” people - your tribe, your team, your community - you’ll find them to be welcoming and accommodating. Workplace culture varies massively between professional and trade environments, and even between retail in different shopping centres! Haggling is completely acceptable in SOME transactions. It’s very normal in secondhand sales for example; if a private seller isn’t interested in haggling, they’ll typically include that in their ad.
RYAN 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣what you just did was a mix of a pommy and an Italian mix accent.
this is 10 things not to do if you are a human, not to do just in Australia
I remember once when I was on a train in Sydney, the train guard made an announcement “the man in carriage 2468 please remove your feet from the seat”. I looked up and noticed it was my carriage. I then heard some swearing from the person it was directed at. You don’t need an inspector to walk through, the guard was checking the monitors from the cameras in each carriage. On Sydney trains the ticket inspectors work in groups when they do come onto the trains as they are double decker trains and they split up with two upstairs and two downstairs going through the carriages. They check using a hand held device that scans our Opal cards to check if passengers have tapped on.
Aussies talk about American politics more the Australian politics only because we find that Americans are super crazy when it comes to politics. Most of us don’t give a flippin flap about politics. It’s never a real issue here
The "what?" thing is important because the connotation of "what?" is more along the lines of "say what now???", "how could you say such a thing?" or "I can't believe you just said that" or "repeat what you said with a justification".. like "whaaat???!" more than a request to repeat yourself because it wasn't heard properly.
14:10 The other week I helped my neighbour and he kept saying you didn't have to so I said it is okay so he kept going so I said yeah I didn't have to and that stopped him in his tracks. I didn't want anything. I just helped.
talking politics can cause arguments , also the feet on seats thing has been around pretty much since public transport started here in Australia. Wish they'd bring back no spitting on the ground, but hey thats probably just me. :) happy arvo!!!
7:31 I think in Australia we talk about politics and religion but we don't go to war over it. We have our views and it is interesting to hear other views. I don't think I have had arguments over it. If you ask me I will tell you what I think. The arguments start when you get shouted down. I talk you talk and all is fine.
I think the personal space issue is because we are used to open spaces. As for bring food to parties, I've never seen noticed that being an issue. People will often say BYO if its barbecue, but everyone always brings too much food and so there is always food to share around. if its not BYO, no one cares, but sometimes people bring extra food anyway.
I love how you come on and greet us its so friendly. Your just good.
Usually all I bring to a party is my own drinks.
the physical space thing is mainly with the eshays get in a 10 metre distance of a pack of eshays theyll try beat you up i recommend just punching them in the nose their wooses
14:58 English is a tough language ;) Lucky I just use it a bit since I left school.You will get on top of it one day Ryan. We can understand Americanese.
LMAO The Dog 💩and cover it with leaves and sticks....LOL Ryan 🤣
The eye contact thing yep, we like direct contact generally because we wonder if you’re being upfront with us or not - but also you should take the lead from the person if they are a first nations person because direct and excessive eye contact can be disrespectful. I agree with others, we generally don’t care what visitors do but ‘in your face’ stuff should be a little reduced just until you get to know someone. Then its on like donkey kong! 😂 Politics and religion, hate it! It just gets everything into aggressive ground and most of us like to be nice, have fun and a nice convo. We DO talk about politics but to people we know very well. Get to know someone before you start the conversation. They’ll tell you right out if it’s off the table. I think most of the things the woman spoke about are common across a few cultures though.
2:52 my dad still needs too learn that even though he has lived here in Australia for his entire life
What you said about politics is probably the most astute and thoughtful thing I’ve heard you say ! Noice one
So true! Personal space is so important to me 😊
1:43 that was actually a good Aussie accent on the “mate”! Now you’ve got to perfect “maaaaaaaate”.
Isn't this just universal good manners. You ALWAYS bring something to a party, food, wine, flowers etc.
Hell yeah, if you get invited to something, always bring either some drinks for yourself (willing to share is even better) or some snack food thing. If the other guests don't eat it, the host can keep it for themselves.
We have barbecues for our local jugger events and someone always shows up with a slab of water, guaranteed.
You get no warning for putting your feet on the seats as there are signs with pictures everywhere on the train and on the stations and tram stops explaining the does and don't's. Same at a gas station, there are always signs on the fuel bowsers telling you what you can and can't do during filling up, like turning off your engine when filling and not using a cell phone at the pump, doesn't stop people from using them and endangering other peoples lives. If the police are at the gas station and they catch you they will fine you for endangering public safety. Similar signs appear on the sliding doors when you enter the shore to pay for your gas like not wearing a motorcycle helmet for instance. The problem with people these days is they are totally unaware of their surroundings, they never read anything and are pre occupied and think they are entitled to do as they please and when they get caught they bitch and moan about it, follow the rules and you'll be fine.
You actually sounded nearly Aussie when you said “ Come in for the hug mate”. Good job.
The only time you shouldnt do something is if it’s going to affect someone else. Otherwise do whatever you want
And yes, don’t friggen touch me ever lol
Born and bred here in Australia and I have never gone camping without my Bluetooth speaker! If a campsite or a beach on Australia Day isn't the place to play great Aussie music like cold chisel I don't know what is
Ryan, She' s not from around here. Most of us have manners, we're not quite that hung up. Sounds like she's been in Sydney or NSW too long - they love to be ars*holes there. If there's no-ne around in a public places like a beach or something, we can play music loud, like don't take your 100 watt amp but if someone takes exception and approaches you, just turn it down. We all like a laugh and offensive jokes are quite common - just not at work. Don't push your politics or religion down our throats and we're quite open to discussion, if you don't tell us you're Muslim, we might offer you a beer. If you don't tell us your Jewish we may accidently offer you a BLT but we're sensative to others as long as we know. Because we have such a multicultural nation, often we just wait or say something if others are talking a different language - some people are only just learning how to talk Aussie and thier friends are helping them out. Less understanding parts of our culture may not (Racists, Bogans and meatheats) And of course we use "What?" even when its just an unexpected remark. Some of these vids you watch are a bit whacko, mate. Listen to some 'Gurge mate it'll put ya straight - (Regurgitator, an honest asset to our nation) and watch some Andrew Ucles catching rabbits with poisonous snakes, He's mad as..
Im typical Aussie dude and she's WRONG WRONG WRONG about the kissing and hugging thing, well we Aussie's don't usually kiss ppl we just met lol bt the hugging thing is NOT considered offensive at all, even in some cases kissing will not offend some Australians. We certainly WON'T make a huge issue out of it lol
Just as a point of comparison, in general people from USA have a much bigger personal bubble than Australians do.
That space is probably the reason Americans talk so loudly, too.
It all seems like pretty normal social behaviours to me. Yes, I’m Aussie, but does the rest of the world lack common courtesy more than us? I’m doubtful. I do know that when Vietnamese people I’ve encountered throw parties, it’s considered hurtful to bring food, because it implies the hosts’ food is inadequate. You can be fined for not having dog waste bags on you. It’s best to carry several when walking your pet.
Friends I greet with a kiss on the cheek and a hug. I always look people in the eyes when I speak to them.
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Ryan. We know you, you are a mate. We will be in your space 😂😂
Politics and religion is more of a "I don't care about both of those" type of thing.