Last night I went out for a very pleasant evening with a group of ladies to a local tavern. I (being the only dirty smoker in the group!) nipped outside to the patio for a quick ciggie on my own to be greeted my a group of about a dozen local lads, who, upon seeing went deathly silent, then started to make wispered comments then started to ask how I was, was I single, was I on my own, etc.

Comments continued to get progressively worse once I stated that I wasn't single to such things as 'If I took you to the toilets and f***** you, would you tell?' I walked back in to jeers and whilstles and, as I'm the kind of person who can cope with most things, just let it go over my head.

But I really must say, I have never, ever been subjected to such disgusting behaviour before, I certainly have never heard a group of British men speak to a woman way way I was spoken to last night - a bunch of neanderthals, the lot of them!

Perhaps they are just not used to seeing a woman wearing makeup and shoes!

wow.

I don't know how to respond to that. I know British men can be pretty foul to women (and men) at times, but I'd not expect that sort of comment from anything other than drunk rugby players or chavs. Even rugby players would probably have kept it more "wahey! tits out, love!" followed by laughter, puking and passing out, which while totally unaceptable, at least isn't as aggressively scary as what those tossers at your bar were saying.

How old were they, and is this an "acceptable" part of male culture in parts of oz?

Ick - what a pathetic bunch of tossers.

Was this at the RSL up TTG way?

No it was the Golden Grove Tavern, they were all about 20-30 and I have no idea if is an 'acceptable' part of male culture in Oz - I do hope not

It's not what I call culture of any kind. It's the behaviour of wild animals.

Look on the bright side in years to come you now have a cute story to tell your grandchildren about life in Oz

I'm not sure 'cute' is quite what I'd call it either!

What would be quite cute is to see these losers hung upside down by their testicles from a lamp-post for all the ladies to laugh at!

Ive come across tossers like that in the Uk many a time. and i just give them a withering look and say in your dreams ass oles...

its not just Oz, so don't blame it on that for god sake

Now that's more like it I think you could sell tickets!!

(hope you realised I was joking by using the work "cute")

Ah yes the Tav, lovely NOT.

Maybe try the Fox and Firkin next time, a bit classier and serves a selection of gourmet beer on tap, has a fake English interior and is nicer IMO.

Put a bunch of liquored up young males in a crowd outnumbering a lone female and they are a bunch of heroes eh.

Dunno that that is just Aus though, I had a few not so nice experiences in the UK also.

I'm also a smoker and often leave my pals inside whilst I go to the patio or veranda or just outside the front door for a quick smoke.

I have on occasion been chatted up but once it is understood that I'm "partnered" with kids I generally get left well alone. One or two british lads I have to say have been more interested in the fact that I moved out - set up a new life etc and respectful of my life were actually genuinely interested - enough to offer me a pint anyway !
Not all who look like thugs are thugs.

Not all that look like thugs are thugs, might be true, but I often wonder why they allow themselves to look like thugs if they're not.

It IS something they can easily control by simply dressing a bit better and by having an appropriate hairstyle, not having excessive piercings etc.

Why would you choose to look like a thug if you're actually a decent human being?

Ahhh! So you have come across the Australian neanderthal knuckle dragger too

I admit they exist in every country, but the Aussie version is a bit like a charactature of the stereotype. I work in a very male dominated industry. I have got to the point where I find it hilariously funny.
The whole cenario is purely to bolster their status within the pack they are with. All born out of their own inner insecurity.
I am a lucky lady. I have a man who is so content with who he is and how much of a man he is, he doesnt need to "prove" it by acting like a tw*t in front of women. Boy, am i thankful for that!!