What is a POM?
May 6th 2005, 6:01 am
#16
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by TopCat3
I'm definitely not going to be called a Pom. Given that it's considered racist and terribly non-pc to use the terms: wog, wop, slopehead, lebo, slanteyes, chink, nip, Abo, etc., it absolutely riles me to hear English/British whatever referred to as Poms, particularly when it's done by the ABC and the pollies. Whoarr, feel much better now I've got that off my chest. Ooh I love this forum I'm so glad I found you all. (after 18 years here...) 
From our experience us Irish are regarded as just Irish, no nicknames whatsoever, I guess the Aussies like us 'Paddys' and as two different nationalities we get on famously.
Don't take the word 'Pom' personally !
May 6th 2005, 6:02 am
#17
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Re: What is a POM?
What is the sentiment towards Scots and English like? Is there a bias toward either?
Come to that, has anybody here experienced the kind of derisory use of the word "POM" that i talked about earlier.
Come to that, has anybody here experienced the kind of derisory use of the word "POM" that i talked about earlier.
May 6th 2005, 6:04 am
#18
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Re: What is a POM?
Remember in England since immigration back in the 1950s and even present day - Irish are regarded as 'Paddys', Scottish as 'Jocks', Welsh as 'Taffies', Pakistanis as 'Pakis' etc etc.....you cannot expect to give it and not recieve it !!!!
May 6th 2005, 6:05 am
#19
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by beebopaloola
found this on the WEB....
Pommy" (or "pom" or "pommie") is a primarily Australian (and largely derisive) slang term used to indicate a recent immigrant from Great Britain, :scared: or a Brit in general. (includes Scotland!!!
)The origins of "pommy" having been lost in the mists of time, someone needed to cook up an etymology for it, preferably one equal to the pejorative sense of the word. Accordingly, we now have the story that criminals transported to Australia were designated "Prisoners of His Majesty" or "Prisoners of Mother England" (some versions claim the convicts bore one of these legends printed on the backs of their shirts), and thus the acronym "POHM" or "POME" eventually evolved into the slang term "pom" or "pommy."
This amusing anecdote is doubtful as anything more than a fanciful invention, as acronymic origins antedating the mid-twentieth century are automatically suspect, and the use of "pommy" has been recorded at least as far back as 1915. Moreover, nobody has yet turned up corroborating evidence that "Prisoner of His Majesty" or "Prisoners of Mother England" were actually common designations for criminals transported to Australia. The best guess at this time is that "pommy" was based on the word "pomegranate" -- either because the redness of the fruit supposedly matched the typically florid British complexion, or because (like "Johnny Grant") it was used as rhyming slang for "immigrant."
Pommy" (or "pom" or "pommie") is a primarily Australian (and largely derisive) slang term used to indicate a recent immigrant from Great Britain, :scared: or a Brit in general. (includes Scotland!!!
)The origins of "pommy" having been lost in the mists of time, someone needed to cook up an etymology for it, preferably one equal to the pejorative sense of the word. Accordingly, we now have the story that criminals transported to Australia were designated "Prisoners of His Majesty" or "Prisoners of Mother England" (some versions claim the convicts bore one of these legends printed on the backs of their shirts), and thus the acronym "POHM" or "POME" eventually evolved into the slang term "pom" or "pommy." This amusing anecdote is doubtful as anything more than a fanciful invention, as acronymic origins antedating the mid-twentieth century are automatically suspect, and the use of "pommy" has been recorded at least as far back as 1915. Moreover, nobody has yet turned up corroborating evidence that "Prisoner of His Majesty" or "Prisoners of Mother England" were actually common designations for criminals transported to Australia. The best guess at this time is that "pommy" was based on the word "pomegranate" -- either because the redness of the fruit supposedly matched the typically florid British complexion, or because (like "Johnny Grant") it was used as rhyming slang for "immigrant."
May 6th 2005, 6:06 am
#20
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by Australia Bound
I don't mind being called a "Jock" or anything else for that matter. Water off a ducks back.
May 6th 2005, 6:22 am
#21
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by Phil-UK
So as most of us believe that POHM aka POM stands for Prisoner of Her Majesty then wouldn't that make the first Aussies POMs rather than new immigrants, if they were the convicts sent out there ?
Prepare for incoming
Prepare for incoming
Must be for so many to want to come out.
Badge
May 6th 2005, 6:30 am
#22
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Re: What is a POM?
I don't care about being called a pom any more than the Aussies care about being called an Aussie.
I don't care if i'm percieved as winging if i am complaing either, its tough really. If i winge and am called a winging pom i couldn't give a monkeys (it hasn't happened yet) I won't change the way i am just to be seen to be a "non winging pom". I just don't care either way really
I don't care if i'm percieved as winging if i am complaing either, its tough really. If i winge and am called a winging pom i couldn't give a monkeys (it hasn't happened yet) I won't change the way i am just to be seen to be a "non winging pom". I just don't care either way really
May 6th 2005, 6:48 am
#23
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by irishmolly
From our experience us Irish are regarded as just Irish, no nicknames whatsoever, I guess the Aussies like us 'Paddys' and as two different nationalities we get on famously.
More a nickname for a Catholic of Irish descent.
May 6th 2005, 7:18 am
#24
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by Badge
There is no reason why Scottish people should not be poms as they presumably would also have been transported and therefore be a pom,or have their skin go red (depending on where the origin came from).
It is quite possible that in everyday usage Aussies have decided that Pom be a thing for an English person exclusively, wrongly or rightly but it would not be accurate.
I don't find Pom in the least offensive. It is only offensive when a Pom is acting in a way which is likely to carry the tab "whinging" and thus tars us all with the same brush lol. Most whinging poms earn their title justifably.
Guess what. Last night I was told by a waitress that I was the most UNwhinging ''Pom'' she had ever met...(we had been having a chat with some Aussie mates with her) hows that for a stamp of approval.. I was dumbstruck
Badge
It is quite possible that in everyday usage Aussies have decided that Pom be a thing for an English person exclusively, wrongly or rightly but it would not be accurate.
I don't find Pom in the least offensive. It is only offensive when a Pom is acting in a way which is likely to carry the tab "whinging" and thus tars us all with the same brush lol. Most whinging poms earn their title justifably.
Guess what. Last night I was told by a waitress that I was the most UNwhinging ''Pom'' she had ever met...(we had been having a chat with some Aussie mates with her) hows that for a stamp of approval.. I was dumbstruck
Badge
May 6th 2005, 7:25 am
#25
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by TopCat3
I'd call it a back-handed compliment.
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May 6th 2005, 7:36 am
#26
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by Megalania
Irish? Spud?
More a nickname for a Catholic of Irish descent.
More a nickname for a Catholic of Irish descent.
May 6th 2005, 7:41 am
#27
Joined: Aug 2003
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by irishmolly
Never heard of that one ? and why only Catholics ? do Irish Prodestants not eat potatoes ?
May 6th 2005, 9:22 am
#28
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by yamahaha
I heard that POM is an acronym for "Prisoner of Mother England" and therefore should actually be spelt "POME"
Also being Scotish am I classed as a POM/POME be it whingeing or nay???
If not whats does that make other UK residents like the Scots/Irish/Welsh?
Just a thought....
Also being Scotish am I classed as a POM/POME be it whingeing or nay???
If not whats does that make other UK residents like the Scots/Irish/Welsh?
Just a thought....
I read recently in the Australian National Museum, Canberra, that the term does come from the colour of the English skin turning as red as a pomegranite (sp?). They totally dismissed the prisoner thing (which I had thought it meant)
Phil x
May 6th 2005, 9:39 am
#29
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by philian4
I read recently in the Australian National Museum, Canberra, that the term does come from the colour of the English skin turning as red as a pomegranite (sp?). They totally dismissed the prisoner thing (which I had thought it meant)
Phil x
Phil x
Yes, well, they would, wouldn't they...?
May 6th 2005, 9:42 am
#30
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Re: What is a POM?
Originally Posted by Badge
not really. Sounds like you have taken it all the wrong way, or have had a few bad experiences. ... etc
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