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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to buy this toy for DD?

109 replies

Inthenightskyallday · 02/09/2023 18:27

DD wants to buy the jellycat kangaroo toy as we are going on holiday in October to Australia. I’m not sure about buying it for her because some (not all) Australians see kangaroos as pests and I don’t want people to mean to her as a result for having a kangaroo. Just in terms of if anyone horrible was to say something like “why has she got a soft toy of a pest” or something more horrible. DD definitely wants to take it with her when we go so I wouldn’t be able to avoid it coming to Australia with us either. Aibu to not buy it her for this reason or am I worrying for nothing?

OP posts:
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6
LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 02/09/2023 20:56

I would either buy it her to take or wait and buy one there

QuillBill · 02/09/2023 21:36

Every Australian I've had come to visit (many) can't wait to see a squirrel. Not once have I been offended,

WhereHaveAllTheMooncupsGone · 02/09/2023 21:39

The older I get the more I lose track with what is considered offensive these days. Just buy the toy.

Someone wise once said "those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter."

TeachesOfPeaches · 02/09/2023 21:40

Peak MN

dikwad · 02/09/2023 21:44

God I hope this is real and that people have such little worries in their lives that this is an actual concern! Those pesky Australians, bullying children!

LookatEsa · 02/09/2023 22:23

@dikwad even worse pesky Australians selling cute toy kangaroos just so they have something to bully them about!

ToastyCrumpets · 02/09/2023 22:27

I’d be more worried if she was asking for a drop bear soft toy

https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/drop-bear/

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 02/09/2023 23:09

Nope. I've got nothing.

saraclara · 02/09/2023 23:18

@Inthenightskyallday you can't move for toy/souvenir kangaroos in Australia! Seriously, you're being ridiculous, and I don't know why you're "still thinking about it."

Honestly, if the sale of soft toy kangaroos dried up, Australia would probably go bankrupt. They're absolutely bloody everywhere (and on keyrings, fridge magnets, stubbie holders, tea towels, bottle openers etc etc etc etc etc).

user1473878824 · 03/09/2023 03:01

LookItsMeAgain · 02/09/2023 19:57

Isn't the Australian rugby team (the Wallabies), isn't their symbol a kangaroo type animal? It's a national symbol in Australia. I'd hardly think that they would put a national symbol of something that they would consider vermin on everything?

Why would you think that?

Do you think it might be a wallaby @LookItsMeAgain 😃

WhichEllie · 03/09/2023 03:08

If there’s one thing Australians are known for it’s becoming irrationally offended by stuffed toys.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 03/09/2023 03:10

Oh Good Lord, you actually made me snort with laughter. Picking in a child because she has a toy kangaroo?

What must you think of Australians to think we'd sink that low?????

HelenTudorFisk · 03/09/2023 03:12

As an Australian, I can confirm that just this week I have made fun of at least three English children in the street for carrying stuffed kangaroos.
You should probably be more concerned about encountering the dropbears, though.

Missingthegore · 03/09/2023 03:15

HelenTudorFisk · 03/09/2023 03:12

As an Australian, I can confirm that just this week I have made fun of at least three English children in the street for carrying stuffed kangaroos.
You should probably be more concerned about encountering the dropbears, though.

I called immigration and had the child deported.

Totallyterrific · 03/09/2023 03:19

Totally unreasonable to buy either prior to going to Australia - you will have so many to choose from in the shops actually in Auz once you get there. And no of course people wont say mean things. Why would they??

HelenTudorFisk · 03/09/2023 03:58

@Missingthegore
Thank goodness for those of us so committed to our civic duty 🤣🤣🤣

VintageTuppence · 03/09/2023 04:12

Snittle · 02/09/2023 19:22

And in case the OP thinks this is a joke. It’s not. Pet rabbits are forbidden in Australia as they are such a pest.

Now if you feel the same about the rabbit toy, and every other cartoon rabbit out there, then no, don’t buy the kangaroo.

Show quote history

Aussie here too. Some states allow pet rabbits and the Easter Bunny still reigns despite efforts to introduce the Easter Bilby.

‘if’ your child is teased at all, it will be because that’s what Australian’s do about nearly everything. I think we got it from our early British Heritage and it grew.

VioletPickles · 03/09/2023 05:17

Inthenightskyallday · 02/09/2023 18:34

its not her birthday or Christmas money. I would be buying it for her

Show quote history

Have you decided yet Op? Quite the dilemma!

whoactuallyreallycares · 03/09/2023 06:04

Surely this is a joke? I wish this is all I had to worry about hahaha 😂

sashh · 03/09/2023 07:14

Rabbits are a pest in this country - pleanty of toy rabbits.
Bears - not great in many parts of the world - you still get teddies.

FFS I used to have a fridge magnet of a red back spider, bought n Oz. I still have a toy wombat.

All the tourist places sell stuffed kandaroo toys, along with koalas.

But yes do be careful of the drop bears.

Catsmere · 03/09/2023 07:44

Snittle · 02/09/2023 19:22

And in case the OP thinks this is a joke. It’s not. Pet rabbits are forbidden in Australia as they are such a pest.

Now if you feel the same about the rabbit toy, and every other cartoon rabbit out there, then no, don’t buy the kangaroo.

Show quote history

No, they're only forbidden in Queensland.

Catsmere · 03/09/2023 07:46

The only people I can imagine thinking of kangaroos as pests would be some farmers - are you planning on staying in the outback, OP?

Anyway kangaroos and wallabies are protected species.

BigOldBlue1 · 03/09/2023 08:09

1/10

On the very slim off-chance this is genuine...

Would you have a go at a kid for having a soft toy rat or pigeon?

There you go then

Seashellies · 03/09/2023 08:11

I thought I was an overthinker but wow! Of course it'd be fine OP. I would probably wait and buy one over there as a special souvenir though personally.