Australia seems to be a land of mystery for many — and we've often got some pretty interesting rumours circulating around the globe about us and our wildlife. Although to be fair, most of these rumours are started (and passionately backed) by all Aussies.
Well, it seems that one Reddit user was curious about what people shouldn't ask when they're chatting with Australians.
User u/truth_and_courage asked, "What should one NEVER ask an Australian?" Here are the best responses.
1. "Does all the wildlife want to kill you?"
"The answer is no, they're pretty chill. Can they? Probably yes, so don't touch the pretty, little octopus with the bright blue circles."
2. "It's all in the tone. 'You 'right, mate?' is used to check if someone is ok. 'You 'right, mate?' Is used to start a fight."
3. "Never ask them the lyrics to the second verse of the national anthem."
—u/orsesars
4. "Anything along the lines of upside down jokes. It's as original as asking a tall person what the weather is like up there."
—u/WazWaz
5. "Don't ask if we're here to fuck spiders...we never are."
6. "I personally wouldn't appreciate being asked about the demise of the Soviet Union due to cell phones and fax machines disempowering authoritarian governments by removing the state control over the flow of information, because I'm not too well-read about that."
—u/dylandongle
7. "Don't ask if we put shrimp on the barbie."
8. "If we want a Fosters'."
9. "Don't ask for tips (not the advice kind)."
10. "Should we get a bag?"
—u/princeofwoe
11. "Don't ask who we root for in relation to sport, you're gonna get a smart-arse comment, likely about rooting mothers."
—u/Skwisgaars
12. "Don't ask 'Am I ever gonna see your face again?'"
—u/AmieS82
13. "Whether the sauce [condiment] goes in the fridge or the pantry."
—u/indirosie
14. "Don't ask 'Where are you from?' The answer is always Australia, no matter how they look or sound."
—u/sockonfoots
15. "This is a bit more of a serious one, but don't ask if a dingo ate our baby. It's from a very terrible, real tragedy that completely ruined a woman's life and showed how terrible Australian media could be."
—u/TomTheJester
16. "Don't ask if we ride in kangaroo pouches. It's the one joke I'll never laugh at. It gets old fast."
17. "Don't ask what the hoodie with shorts once it drops under 20 degrees celsius is about — since obviously, Australian legs don't get cold."
18. "[Don't ask us] not to swear — we'll just swear more."
—u/Beccy_Flynn
19. "Chicken salt or plain. Always chicken."
—u/doopaye
20. "Which way the toilet flushes. Last time it led to an international incident where some poor unfortunate kid from America got a real good booting."
21. "Don't ask us if drop bears are real. Too many have suffered at the two thumbed hands of those homicidal creatures. Chances are you're going to trigger someone's PTSD."
22. "Not a question, but never say a bad word about Steve Irwin around an Aussie."
23. "What crime they committed to get sent here."
—u/PepperBun28
24. "Never, ever ask to cut someone's grass."
—u/Looty83
25. "Don't ask about the Emu War. That was the British Army, not the Australian (and they lost)."
26. "Who invented the pavlova."
—u/amboi112
Editor's note: For context — our funnier, more attractive sibling — New Zealand also claims that they invented the pav. I personally don't care where it was invented — I'm just glad it was! It's bloody delicious.
27. And finally, "Have you ever, ever felt like this?"
What do you reckon is a silly question to ask an Aussie? Let us know in the comments!
Note: Some Reddit responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.