Would you like to read an outsider's view of Australia?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326126)
Rockingham, Australia
November 7, 2020 4:54am CST
As one of the few Australians here, it’s difficult sometimes to explain our culture/country but this turned up recently which I thought, if you read it, it will save me a lot of explanation.
It’s written by the late Douglas Adams, author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’ll add a link and I’m sure you’d get a giggle or three if you have time to read it.
The bit I liked best was the following: ‘It is true that of the 10 most poisonous arachnids on the planet, Australia has 9 of them. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that of the 9 most poisonous arachnids, Australia has all of them. However, there are few snakes, possibly because the spiders have killed them all.’
Edit: It seems it wasn't written by Douglas Adams but by one Jeremy Lee. There is a link to the original, with explanation, on JJ's post (@myklj999).
Photo of a redback spider and a centipede locked in mortal combat on our doorstep.
https://outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/blog/australia-according-to-douglas-adams/
33 people like this
32 responses
Surely most countries have their share of spiders and creepy crawlies.
@JudyEv (326126)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 20
The snake and spider situation isn't nearly as bad as people like to make it sound - but I guess it's usefull for discouraging quite so many tourists. Can your spiders really be taught to come when they're called? That would be very cool. lol
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
7 Nov 20
@JudyEv Only one species can be taught but it is the biggest one, a tough one with hair in the ears
It is very shy and hides behind heaters or in dark places, but if you start by bringing it a fly and speak to it, it will come later at the sound of your voice. It takes a bit of time but it is a funny experience.
It is very shy and hides behind heaters or in dark places, but if you start by bringing it a fly and speak to it, it will come later at the sound of your voice. It takes a bit of time but it is a funny experience.3 people like this
@GodServantme (1548)
•
7 Nov 20
@topffer I wonder. What is the famous wild animals in france
2 people like this
@xFiacre (12633)
• Ireland
7 Nov 20
@JudyEv Pulchritudinous and mollitious seem to display the opposite of onomatopoeia. We have been watching a number of Australian TV drama type things (a lot of nonsense of course, but that's not because they're Australian) and nobody in them seems to say fair dinkum, although some older Australian stuff does.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326126)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 20
@xFiacre I guess such terms are avoided as cliches in films. Like putting 'to be sure, to be sure' in every conversation in an Irish film. It's not said a lot - neither is cobber -but you still hear it- fair dinkum that is - and I still use it from time to time.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326126)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 20
'Struth yes, cobber! One still does say fair dinkum. And 'pulchritudinous' doesn't sound like it would mean 'attractive'! What a lot of letters it has!
What a lot of letters it has!
@noni1959 (9883)
• United States
14 Nov 20
@JudyEv I've always wanted to visit but was scared because of how dangerous Australia was portrayed by others. A friend went a few years ago and said it's a wonderful place to go. Just like anyplace, you be cautious where there are poisonous or dangerous critters.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (9883)
• United States
15 Nov 20
@JudyEv It does. I saw a photo of a huge alligator walking across a golf course and yet the people that live there take it in stride. In CA, I lived with occasional rattlesnakes on the property and that scared people who came over. I had scorpions get in the house daily. Here, it's mt lions.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71665)
• United States
7 Nov 20
I thought the spider was a black widow. Thanks for the clarification.
I was just talking to my husband the other night and he said Australia has the deadliest snakes. We only have three poisonous ones here where I live which I’ve never encountered thankfully.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45555)
• India
8 Nov 20
I would like if you share a link for the book. If the book is reasonably priced, and as I am into learning about countries, their Geographies, History etc., so I would love to read it.
Looking forward to it.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45555)
• India
11 Nov 20
@JudyEv
I will try to find it at a suitable place.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16546)
• China
8 Nov 20
Wow,spiders can kill snakes ! How I want to know which is the winner between the redback spider and the centipede !
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326126)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Nov 20
@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, that's possible. lol
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86819)
• United States
16 Jan 21
Love to learn about your place and culture always Judy. My fav person on here xo
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86819)
• United States
16 Jan 21
@JudyEv No its not..but its a name I wanted when I was a child haha..Shirley Temple movies..Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
As long as I have been on myLot everyone usually calls me Ocean.
As long as I have been on myLot everyone usually calls me Ocean.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326126)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Jan 21
@RebeccasFarm Oh okay. It's good to know that.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
8 Nov 20
@JudyEv I know people who left Australia and they had plenty of encounters with those nasty spiders. And a friend was bitten by a spider in a fancy hotel in her hotel closet in Sydney. The spider was hiding in her purse. I'd rather encounter bears and skunks every day than one spider. They terrify me.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129540)
• Israel
8 Nov 20
@JudyEv
Thank you for sharing that with us. I understand what you are saying that it is difficult to explain our cultures. That is why I want to explain our holidays here so I try to find find links that will explain about them if I cannot explain well.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157243)
• United States
7 Nov 20
We Americans believe that Australia is a very rugged country with a lot of poisonous critters. Are we right? The picture seems to say it all!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
8 Nov 20
what? ya got black widow kin jest roamin' 'round?? ours like to hide'n darkness, moist spots. don't reckon i've e'er seen one out'n daylight, e'en disputin' with 'nother critter.
got a good giggle out'ta readin' that, so thanks! 'twas needed today.
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
7 Nov 20
For an excellent view of Australia from the foreign perspective you should read Bill Bryson's "Down Under".
This particular extract, while not rip-roaringly funny in any way, does go to show what a very lucky escape you Aussies had:
“As many of you already know, the Brits sent their convicts to Australia in the late eighteenth century. While the voyage took 252 days they were lucky – upon landing, the Brits spotted two French ships in the horizon. Meaning, had they taken a day longer to arrive, Australia would have been a French colony”
Au revoir mon ami.
1 person likes this
@sweetshayens (328)
•
7 Nov 20
Luckily I never encounter with poisonous snakes or spiders
1 person likes this
