//I'm not entirely sure what a Bogan is? Neither is it listed in the Oxford English Dictionary//

Actually, turns out it is. It has two definitions: the familiar Australian one, and a Canadian one which meaning a small sluggish creek. You learn something new every day. The second definition may provide some clue as to why the Bogan River goes by that name. I assume that the town Bogan Gate is named after the river.

I'm not sure if the following three qualify as bogans, they may only be ferals, there is a slight difference.

Scene; Bus Stop 10.30am a Tuesday morning, a work day.

Characters; Female aged about 35 looked 50, dressed in dirty flowery bloomer pants, mobile phone in hand. 1st male big strong looking about 35 front teeth missing, sweety unshaven, can of beer in hand. 2nd Male sitting on seat, weedy, sickly looking, most teeth missing unshaven, dressed in dirty tracky-dacks mobile and can of beer in hand. And me causal bus commuter.

Conversation'

Female: looks at timetable (bus about 5 mins late), "Where's the f#$& BUS!

1st Male; "I don't F'n know.
Female; (Wonders out into middle of busy road) "Where's that F&^# BUS!
1st Male; Shut up! Its not like yah got a job to go to, shut up, or I'll make ya walk to the next stop.
Female; Yah made me walk from the pub to here, sh^% face! I want a fag, got any fags?
1st Male: Nah!, anyway ya can't smoke at a bus stop, its the law.
Female; F%$& the law, what about you Grub, any fags?
2nd Male; Nah, F OFF!
Female; I wanna make a call, got no F'n credit!

The bus came, they pushed in front, jumped on, no ticket, ran down the back and sat down, talked loudly until they got off at the same stop as me. Darted across the road, into another pub!

Are these people bogans or ferals, I know they are losers, what are these people.

I'm not sure why there is confusion as to what a bogan is. Some of it seems deliberate.

The Oxford dictionary defines a bogan as, "An uncouth or unsophisticated person regarded as being of low social status". (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bogan)

When I think of a bogan, I think of your typical working-class, beer-drinking, fast-car-loving, ute-driving, sports-watching guy who's not real bright but is a bit of a handy man around the house and swears like a trooper.

Dear Paul1405,

The people you are describing are drug addicts and no-hopers.

As a sociologist, the simplest definition of a bogan I can offer for your consideration is that of the American hillbilly. I think there are lots of similarities between the Australian bogan and the American hillbilly. In fact it begs the question: Is the Australian bogan just another hillbilly?

Dear Hassie,

You seem to infer that Bogans are the Best
Australia has to offer?

Really?

//As a sociologist, the simplest definition of a bogan I can offer for your consideration is that of the American hillbilly. I think there are lots of similarities between the Australian bogan and the American hillbilly. In fact it begs the question: Is the Australian bogan just another hillbilly?//

Hillbillies come from rural areas, whereas your bogan can be rural or urban. I would argue that urban bogans more closely resemble the English chav than they do the hillbilly.