Question for Austrailian fishies!

[battgyrll]

This might make me sound really naive and uninformed, and I hope it doesn't, but I discovered something while studying for my PR final and wanted to ask about it.

It said in my book that the "thumbs up" sign (in American meaning some sort of affirmation) is incredibly offensive to Austrailians and means something obscene. Can any of you tell me if this is true? The reason I wanted to ask was becuase I thought of the :yay smilie.

Maybe I sound ignorant, and I absolutely hate sounding ignorant, so if you want to laugh at me, feel free.:cute I really don't mind.

These are the things that sleep deprivation brings out in me...stupid questions!

:bat battgyrll :bat
Sara

[rafferty]

Hi :hugon battgyrll :hugoff,

Now this is just my explanation and I'd be interested in what other Australian :bluefishy's have to say.... but its all in the execution!!The :yay "thumbs up" if given just as a straight gesture (no upward movement of the hand and thumb) then it means exactly what it means in the US.... basically "well done" "congratulations" "top stuff"!!! But if it's given with a definite upward movement of the hand/arm it then becomes "up yours..." and or "@&%! you". It is perhaps less obscene than acutally saying the words and very often used when with people you like. the single middle finger "bird" is perhaps a little less personal and more offensive in Australia... though we tend to flick off alot of hand gestures here with little or no offensive meant.

anyway hope this helps... may come in handy if your ever travelling here!

:stars rafferty :stars

[MonStar]

now i have heard this before, other americans have asked. i have never ever know it to be offencive over here. in fact i always think of it in a postive way. in fact as i was growing up it was often teamed with g'day mate. so im really not sure where that line of thinking comes from. ohh and we ppl are spelt like this ------> Australians :) just so u know

[battgyrll]

Hey you two...thanks for the replies.

MonStar, sorry about the typo. Sometimes I don't think to check my posts for typos and other things. Like I said, I was really tired when I wrote that original post. Thanks for replying anyway. Didn't mean to offend...

:bat battgyrll :bat
Sara