Why do aussies have the stereotype that we're 'lazy good-for-nothings'?

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Ozmaniac

Some people confuse our relaxed attitude to life with laziness, but they're very mistaken. While we have our share of lazy good-for-nothings, so do other countries including the USA and the UK and in several years of working overseas, most of the hardest working people I've ever known and worked with have been Aussies. We work hard and if we're able to turn off and laze about or otherwise enjoy ourselves at other times, I can't see what's wrong with that.

Chriso

They are just ignorant bastards who probably have never seen an Australian or been to Australia. We aren't like that, and people also need to realize Americans aren't all idiots or inbred hillbillies, not all of the middle-eastern people are terrorists, and that dark skinned people have as much right to have freedoms as anyone else

justina

I'm from canada,and I have only heard good things about aussies!
My dad and his wife spent 3 months down there and they wished they didn't have to come back,they did say there were alot of flies though,but hey..we have alot of cow ****! I know that heaps of people make fun of canadians as well.Apparently we say"eh" alot,which has never been part of my vocabulary and people make it out that we're not all that bright! But,whatever..no matter where you live or who you are there's always somebody that has to start negative rumors.

Yote

I've never heard of that stereotype. o_O

haha nah i think we're just more layed back, more relaxed. not lazy.

DARYL

i try to live up to that reputation

â™ĄMissionDeliciousâ™Ą

I agree.
I also hate the stereotypical sayings like "G'Day Mate" that people assume we all use. I've never said that in my entire life!!
Oh and how we all have pet kangaroos... *rolls eyes*

I think it may be something to do with how we've been advertised to promote tourism.

Everywhere has there own stereotype, but ours is just silly.

fÄşoo poĎ‰dÎµr

Yeah I have heard of that before unfortunately!

It is a very arrogant stereotype and whoever thinks that probably hasn't even been to Australia before and is too full of themselves.

Chriso has hit the nail on the head in regards to this question.

â†’ Mitch â†

Americans are 'lazy good-for-nothings'
Australians are 'lazy good-for-somethings'

The stat i still can't get my head around is the Australia apparently has a larger % of obese people then America....can you believe that!?

Robbie

I have never heard it either. When I worked in London everyone there said Aussies were known to be hard workers.

Elizabeth

Where did you hear that?

I've heard us described as laid back and easy going BUT that's totally different to lazy and good-for-nothing.

Edit:
Maybe you should change the people you hang out with.

Mel

I always think of that as more an individual label then a label for a country. I too have not heard it as a description for Australians.

When I read the question I thought you meant, why do Aussies think we're lazy good for nothings.. I was expecting you to go on and say 'we Americans'. So yeh I would think America over Australia when I read that sentence.

strine strumpet

Where are you from then? I doubt anyone can be worse than Americans, hee hee....

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