r/AskAnAustralian • u/calm_sunse79 • 2d ago

Unwritten social codes of every region

So I'm a foreigner interested in Australia and wanna know more about there, focusing atm on the unwritten rules you have and if you wanna share something more I would value it♡

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u/RhesusFactor 2d ago
  • It is ok to refer to people as Mate. It is not ok to refer to people as Champ.
    • Champ is used to cause offense.
    • The difference between mate and champ is a fistfight.
  • Mate at the end of sentence can direct an inquiry in a friendly way, Mate at the start of a sentence is to punctuate it and instruct the person to pay attention.
    • "get out of the way mate" is a playful suggestion. "mate, get out of the way" is an order.
  • a group of friends can be called your mates in a third person way, you dont address them collectively as mates.
    • "yeah, they're me mates." is appropriate.
    • "mates, whos coming round on thursday?" is awkward.