Re: sensitivities - in the UK, taking the piss is pretty much a national passtime, but in Australia I think it's maybe even more so. So maybe that's part of it?

Ah, that's the phrase. Yep, taking the piss is something of a national pastime, certainly more so than here.

Edit: and now I'm recalling the survey of national humour preferences that did the rounds last year, and also my own observation that American remakes of British sitcoms don't generally do well. The survey said that humour which relied on, basically, laughing at someone (due to foolishness, gullibility, moral turpitude or whatever) tends to be more popular than in Britain and Australia. Now, I think that needs some qualification. On Coupling, for instance, characters like Jeff certainly invite a great deal of the point-and-laugh. But (IMO), such characters also evoke greater sympathy than corresponding characters on American sitcoms.

I think this greater tendency to take the piss in normal relationships accounts for a lot of this. Ridicule can obscure a person's basic humanity; British sitcoms (good ones, anyway) are better at sidestepping this, because there's more of a tradition of doing so good-naturedly. (Paradoxically, this allows them to be more savage too at times.) But when you have a US remake, this gets lost, and all you have is a show based on ridiculing some sad bastards. And they already have reality shows for that.

Ok, I learned something new.

Oh, BTW - if I use heavy handed sarcasm, am I taking the piss? Or does the phrase only apply to a lighter touch?

Oh, BTW - if I use heavy handed sarcasm, am I taking the piss? Or does the phrase only apply to a lighter touch?

A skilful touch is always a good thing. But heavy-handed can still be taking the piss. Context is important, as are intent and the nature of your relationship with the other person. (Obviously, the better the friendship, the greater the allowable piss-taking.)

You can probably date a lot of this (in Australia at least) to its convict origins. The virtues of a convict existence tend to be egalitarianism, mateship and a refusal to bow to authority. So in the Australian psyche there grew a strong sense of 'Jack's as good as his master'. This meant that should anyone be seen as giving themselves airs, a quick putdown, to level the playing field as it were, would not be far behind.

I forgot to mention that the other day I was reading an Archives text written by Austrailians and they mentioned how being descended from the convict set is now fashionable in some circles. They were discussing in in the context of records appraisal, and how one cannot always determine the future value of records to society.

I think this greater tendency to take the piss in normal relationships accounts for a lot of this. Ridicule can obscure a person's basic humanity; British sitcoms (good ones, anyway) are better at sidestepping this, because there's more of a tradition of doing so good-naturedly. (Paradoxically, this allows them to be more savage too at times.) But when you have a US remake, this gets lost, and all you have is a show based on ridiculing some sad bastards. And they already have reality shows for that.

I think billytea is right. Speaking for myself ( and my only qualification here is being in the UK ) I find ridicule shows cringeworthy and love "it's funny cos it's true" humour. There are some great US comedies but the British do it best. IMO

"it's funny cos it's true" humour

Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.

Mmmmm.

George Bernard Shaw:

"Tell the truth. It's the funniest joke in the world."

Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.

Also, Waiting For G-d. (Or, what I expect being old will be like.)

On Coupling, for instance...

You'll be able to make a proper comparison in the very near future, since the pilot of the Amercian version of Coupling was shot last October according to IMDb.