The seven most offensive ways to spend Australia Day
Australia Day is upon us, as is an influx of cheaply made Australian-flag-emblazoned merchandise. Here are the most offensive ways to ignore Australia's heritage and be just plain obnoxious on Australia day.
Australia Day, January 26, is a problematic holiday. While some Australians acknowledge issues with the national holiday's choice of date and quietly spend the day barbecueing or catching up with friends or family, others insist on spending the day in the most obnoxious way possible.
Here are seven ways to be offensive (and really, a bit bogan) on Australia Day.
1. Buy Australia Day Merchandise (made in China)
Much of the Australia Day merchandise purchased at discount stores or supermarkets is made in China, and not exactly treasured.
Throwing a t-shirt that says "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!" in the rubbish on January 27?
Sounds offensively Australian.
2. Damage local waterways with floaties
This truly was the summer of the floaty, with inflatable swans, flamingos, and rafts appearing on beaches and pools across Australia.
A few floaties can be fun, but when hundreds of people bring their inflatables (and booze) into the water, there can be massive damage to the environment.
Local councils and police services have warned against floaty parties this Australia day, including the "Oz Day Float Party" planned for the Gold Coast, Queensland, which was predicted to have more than 4000 attendees before being cancelled by organisers.
Councils such as Randwick have warned of the environmental impacts of these floaty parties, including killing endangered blue gropers, but few floaty-fans heed the warning.
As soon as one of the Facebook events is cancelled, others crop up with different names but the same goal: to get drunk and float in the ocean.
3. Wear racist undies
While the offensive articles and ads were withdrawn, those wishing to wear Aussie Bum undies this Australia Day can still purchase a pair emblazoned with the Australian flag.
4. Go to a sexist bikini party
What's more Australian than casual sexism?
If you really want to treat women like objects this Australia Day, make sure you get tickets to the Bikini and Water Gun Party in Victoria, where (for a price) you can ogle women and chase them around spraying water on them.
5. Wear a cap that forgets a state
Supermarket Woolworths was left red-faced (luckily they can cover it up with some Australia Day green and gold face paint) after shoppers found their caps were missing the Apple Isle.
The caps were pulled from sale, though it says a lot about so called Australia Day "pride in our nation" when they could make it to the shelves, and presumably past dozens of eyes, without anyone noticing the flawed geography.
6. Gorge yourself in an eating competition
For some people, there is apparently nothing more Australian than eating enough to make you sick, which must be why Australia Day seems to be the prime day for eating competitions.
From steak eating competitions in Queensland to the meat pie eating competition at Darwin's Australia Day races, January 26 seems to be the day to gorge yourself on enormous amounts of food while others in the country and around the world struggle to put meals on the table.
7. Get into a drunken fight
Sadly, with stories of injuries or deaths from coward punches appearing in the media recently, drunken violence is a dark part of life in Australia.
This fact was highlighted by Brisbane graphic designer Nick Lawler's mock-Australia Day poster, which is a sentiment we should all be able to agree with.
"This Australia Day try not to punch anyone in the head."
Theo sbs.com.au.