I find that some people from different cultures do not understand the Australian etiquette of taking the piss.

I have found this site that talks to about how we, as Australian, like to take the piss (plus other aussie etiquette topics) and how the person who is having the piss taken out of them should react.

If you are offended by an Australian taking the piss, it is best to smile and change the topic. Showing the joke hurt your feelings may simply increase the motivation of the Australian to keep saying the joke. Getting angrier and threatening violence may simply result in the Australian taking you up on your offer.

http://convictcreations.com/culture/socialrules.htm

I expect that most people here are Aussies or have learned to accept the Aussie tendency to "take the piss"

On the internet, Aussies still are Aussies and we take the piss at every chance. Particularly if someone doesn't like it. We have examples here that being called a name, a name they have used themselves, all of a sudden it causes offence and they whine like a bitch.

I like our approach to dealing with someone having a go at us. It serves me well as I travel. I find it difficult to understand why others have trouble with understanding that their own reaction to someone "taking the piss" can lead to them being the butt of jokes forever once they react to the piss being taken out of them.

I am thinking this thread can be used to share your thoughts and experiences on how our Taking the Piss Etiquette makes us stronger and truly uniquely Australian.


Further Extract from Link.

Around the world, most jokes are based on some variety of derogatory theme. In order to avoid offending the victim's feelings, most nationalities usually only say the joke when its victim is not present. In Australia, this can be a risky thing to do. Some Australians don't like people making jokes about groups that they are not part of. If they hear a joke about a different group, instead of laughing, they may get angry and call the joke teller a bigot.

Australians seem fonder of using derogatory jokes when the victim of the joke is present. For example, when an Australian meets a New Zealander on holiday, they may ask if they brought velcro gloves in order to get a better grip on those Australian sheep.

"Taking the piss" is the term given to making a joke about someone or an ethnic group, when that person or ethnic group is present. If an American lady married an Australian man, she should expect to hear lots of her husband's friends and family asking her why she would want to marry such a low-life bastard. They don't actually mean that he is a low life bastard, they are just trying to say that they think he is a good bloke.

Targets of a piss-take are expected to reply in kind. An insulting joke in return often increases an Australian's appreciation for you. The English are usually quite good at returning insults. Convicts, Rolf Harris, and voting to retain an English Queen give the Poms good material to work with. Americans seem to have more trouble at taking the piss and perhaps relations between Australia and America are so good as a consequence.

If you are offended by an Australian taking the piss, it is best to smile and change the topic. Showing the joke hurt your feelings may simply increase the motivation of the Australian to keep saying the joke. Getting angrier and threatening violence may simply result in the Australian taking you up on your offer.

Jasin wrote on Nov 16^th, 2020 at 5:59pm:


Thank you.

I also think that we have learned not to take ourselves too seriously and have learned to laugh at ourselves.

We learn to choose not to take offence.

No topic is taboo in the social etiquette model.

Super Nova wrote on Nov 16^th, 2020 at 6:05pm:

I was taking the piss.
HTFU - there is no etiquette ya f*uckin drongo.

Mimo the mong has the same name for everyone -  "moron."

It might have something to do with his limited vocabulary?

Super Nova wrote on Nov 16^th, 2020 at 10:23pm:


Ha!  See - that was just an example of the typical taking the piss.
It's almost not too dissimilar to that 'aggressive friendliness' of Australians as shown in the movie Wake in Fright.
Mental jousting. Taking the piss. Baiting the potential enemy. Ever take the piss out of women. Some think its a good come-on approach even if you are using humour and wit to insult them. A woman could tell Peckerhead at a Bar that he had a head like a kicked in kerosene can (

*as she flicks his nose to get the 'ding/ting' sound

). And he still thinks she likes him.

Super Nova wrote on Nov 16^th, 2020 at 5:40pm:


I think it is a lot more nuanced than simply accepting someone taking the piss
Context, a power imbalance, social values, the relationship between the parties and the setting can all influence whether "taking the piss" is acceptable or not. Those who don't have the emotional intelligence to be able to behave appropriately are usually the ones whining about "political correctness"

For example, If I had a close friend who I called a "sheep rooter" as a nickname, that would be acceptable in private. It would also probably be acceptable in a group of friends. It would probably be unacceptable in a public place like a restaurant and would definitely be unacceptable in the work place.

Context is everything

Super Nova wrote on Nov 17^th, 2020 at 12:51am:

I would have laughed at the few inconsistencies there.
You don't like being called a Drongo.
You don't like being called anything.
You say the word is an insult and disrespective - to Drongos: As you also call em.