Quoting:
I've always preferred to look upon this as demonstrating the ignorance and stupidity of the original caller  ;D ;)
End Quote

I think this is correct.
I've read posts from people on this board who obviously haven't been out of their own country and have been told some real shite about the rest of the world.  ::)

My partner recently came back from Europe with a T-shirt.  It had a graphic of a kangaroo and the caption read "There are NO kangaroos in Austria"

Quoting:
Well, I convinced my penfriend that because I lived in the English countryside the only toilet was the one at the bottom of the garden  and that we had only had running water in the house for two years! Well she did ask......
End Quote

You was lucky... when I were a lad, the only toilet were a cardboard box in middle t' road, and that were infested with piranha which would jump up and bite yer on the knackers if you was lucky

Quoting:
The best one was managing to convince some tourists,I won't say which nationality that the Martyrs memorial(A pointed carved stone monument) was the spire of an underground cathedral which could only be reached by going into the Ladies underground toilets in the town centre.;D
End Quote

ROFL!  But isn't there a secret passage running to it from downstairs at Blackwells?

Phil

Quoting:
These are too funny. But it is not just about Australia that people are ignorant about. When I first moved to New England, I lived in a little cabin on a mountain. I called my sister and her nephew (by marriage) answered the phone and I talked to him for a bit. I told him about my little cabin that I was living in. He asked me where I was calling from. I said, "Home." He said, "Oh, you have a phone?" I told him that I had electricity and running water too. This kid about 20-21 at the time. I thought he had a bit more brains then that.


Cat
End Quote

Hehe! As Tao has already pointed out, a lot of people are very ignorant about the world outside the little area where they live. Unless they're well-travelled or well-read, some people can't imagine what other places in the world are like. The best one we get here is the one about toilets flushing in the opposite direction to those in America. If you've ever seen a toilet flush in Australia, you simply can't tell which way the water's going, except down!

Quoting:


The best one we get here is the one about toilets flushing in the opposite direction to those in America. If you've ever seen a toilet flush in Australia, you simply can't tell which way the water's going, except down!

End Quote

WOW, you guys have toilets?   ;)


Cat

Quoting:


If you've ever seen a toilet flush in Australia, you simply can't tell which way the water's going, except down!

End Quote

Hopefully  ;D

Quoting:
Those are funny, but it's hard to believe that people could actually be so ignorant!
End Quote

You'd be surprised!

These are hillarious, especially "the Vienna Boys Chior following the Hippo races".  

I'll bet the hippos beat the chior, or trample them  ;D  

But tell me, do those iguanas the Crockadile Dundee cooked really taste like sh..?  ;)  G'dy to all our friends down under. ;D

I have one question, though, and VERY serious.  If I were to visit your very lovely (I'v seen pictures) and interesting country, could I waltz Matilda?

Quoting:

I have one question, though, and VERY serious.  If I were to visit your very lovely (I'v seen pictures) and interesting country, could I waltz Matilda?
End Quote

You could if you liked, but I don't know if you'd enjoy it. "Waltzing Matilda" is tramping around carrying a blanket roll over your shoulder with all your possessions wrapped up in it. It's not particularly glamorous. Not that that would worry you , DC!  :)

Quoting:


You could if you liked, but I don't know if you'd enjoy it. "Waltzing Matilda" is tramping around carrying a blanket roll over your shoulder with all your possessions wrapped up in it. It's not particularly glamorous. Not that that would worry you , DC!  :)
End Quote

Is that like "going walk-about"?  Actually, that's what my oldest daughter and son-in-law are doing right now.  He's a geologist, she a biologist.  It actually sounds like fun - in the dry season  ;)

Quoting:
Just so long as you take the song back with you when you leave - it is hideous  :(

There are some who would have it as our National Anthem  :o
End Quote

Now I wouldn't want it as our national anthem - but I do like the song.  I love all those old traditional Aussie songs.  I dont want it as our national anthem, but I do HATE our national anthem (and our flag - but that's another discussion altogether).

Quoting:


Now I wouldn't want it as our national anthem - but I do like the song.  I love all those old traditional Aussie songs.  I dont want it as our national anthem, but I do HATE our national anthem (and our flag - but that's another discussion altogether).
End Quote

As a national anthum I would say that it lacks a certain -ju non se qua - seriousness (of course its none of my business), but I agree that it is a neet folk song  ;D

And  by the way, my Becky spend a few days diving on your Great Barrier Reef, and was DEFINATELY NOT dissapointed  ;D I'm GREEN with envey  :'(

Quoting:
These definitely had me laughing!

I live in Canada, and you would not believe the number of tourists who cross the border in August with skis strapped to their roofs - this is in Southern Ontario, which as anyone who has seen an atlas knows, has points more southern than many points in the US.  (No offence to my American friends here who I am sure know better).
End Quote

I know exactly what you mean. Being in New England, people think that I live above the Artic Circle. I was visiting my mother in NY state a few years back-in Dec. Someone asked me how much snow did we have up here. I looked outside and said, "About the same amount that you have here." It was only about a 3 hour drive's difference.


Cat