Annoyed Aussie Sports Fan Sounds Off About Brits And Yanks
In 2006, I took a trip to Brisbane, Australia. I had read that Aussies liked sports, but as an American who didn't follow sports, I hadn't explored this dimension. For example, I was aware there was some kind of distinction between cricket and rugby, but what that distinction might be was of absolutely no interest.

Coincidentally, I flew into Brisbane from Sydney on the same plane as the championship rugby team from Great Britain. There was supposed to be some big game soon. They seemed like a fun crew. My interest was piqued.

A week later, late at night, I was riding a local train. On the train, a fellow in a colorful yellow-and-green rugby jacket, and his girl friend, both dozed. I wondered who had won the big rugby game, which had occurred that evening. I moved closer, hoping to ask the question, if circumstances allowed.

Suddenly the train stopped. An accident had occurred on the tracks ahead. We were to disembark and get on buses instead. (In 2005, a well-known local man had committed suicide by throwing himself under a train, starting a rash of suicide copycats. This suicide was part of that fad.) The rugby fellow and his girl friend both awoke.

I approached and asked "did Great Britain or Brisbane win today's game?" The girl friend corrected: "Australia defeated Great Britain" (I later learned, by the score 33 - 10). The fellow, somewhat sarcastically, asked "do you know where you are?" I cheerily answered "Barely!" He asked, with voice dropping in extreme disappointment, "you're an American, aren't you?" I cheerily replied "Yes!" With diplomatic unction his girl friend said, "oh, we've seen many international folks today - Germans, Czechs, etc." I continued: "You see, when I flew into Brisbane on Wednesday, I flew in with the Great Britain rugby team!" Rugby guy answered with heavy sarcasm: "Then you must have felt right at home." I said, "no, rather...."

He interrupted: "Listen! I hate Poms and I hate Yanks, the two most loser nations in the world!" Girl friend tried to smooth over the discord and said "hush, don't be rude."

I had read in the tourist guidebooks that the Australian in his native habitat can be breathtakingly frank when provoked - a trait that can be very refreshing, or very alarming, depending on circumstance. I broke off the conversation, and began considering what might lay at hand for possible use as weapons.

The fellow then began muttering all kinds of venomous anti-American things to the girl friend, among which I heard the name George Bush mentioned frequently.

When I left the train, the conductor asked him how he was. "I've been better," he replied.
(Perv With A Dog had his eyes pecked out by scrub jays on, Fri 8 Feb 2013, 21:36, 11 replies)

I can't believe George Bush is your girlfriend! That's well cool.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 8 Feb 2013, 21:38, closed)

I can
but I've no idea what he's on about. Is he challenged?
( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Fri 8 Feb 2013, 22:34, closed)

Congratulations on meeting your first
bogan.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 8 Feb 2013, 23:05, closed)

Fancy that, an ignorant xenophobic Aussie.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Fri 8 Feb 2013, 23:13, closed)

Oh look
is this pommie whinging?
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Fri 8 Feb 2013, 23:20, closed)

Nah Bruce, yah don unnerstand, it's them fucking Abos, they don WANNA work, jus sit around all day getting drunk an fucked up, 's blokes like ME what built Straylia?
An' don get me STARTED on them whinging poms?
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Sat 9 Feb 2013, 10:04, closed)

Attention to detail? I like it?
Eh? (Or is that Kiwi?)
( Ghoti Fingers, Sat 9 Feb 2013, 11:59, closed)

They're all just colonials as far as I'm concerned.
:)
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Sat 9 Feb 2013, 12:20, closed)

Only Queenslanders voices go up at the end of a sentence which makes them sound as tho they're asking a question?
EDIT: And clearly stuj has never met any of our grammar nazis.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 10 Feb 2013, 0:28, closed)

All of my friends really enjoy employing the "mid-Atlantic interrogative" ?

( 4Q just lurking, Sun 10 Feb 2013, 2:31, closed)

This isn't really being told off is it? More like 'annoying American tourist annoys Australian'.

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Sat 9 Feb 2013, 13:29, closed)