Racism - Australia
#62
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Racism - Australia
To clarify. By Prisoners of Mother England they don't mean Prisoners FROM Mother England as most Poms seem to interpret it. It means Prisoners OF Mother England in the same vein as Prisoner of Her Majesty.
It's a joke implying that the Poms are stuck in the prison called England instead of being free in Aus.
I think some Poms are too caught up with the Aussies are convicts thing to spot the joke.
It's a joke implying that the Poms are stuck in the prison called England instead of being free in Aus.
I think some Poms are too caught up with the Aussies are convicts thing to spot the joke.
#63
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
#64
Account Closed
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,195
Re: Racism - Australia
To clarify. By Prisoners of Mother England they don't mean Prisoners FROM Mother England as most Poms seem to interpret it. It means Prisoners OF Mother England in the same vein as Prisoner of Her Majesty.
It's a joke implying that the Poms are stuck in the prison called England instead of being free in Aus.
I think some Poms are too caught up with the Aussies are convicts thing to spot the joke.
It's a joke implying that the Poms are stuck in the prison called England instead of being free in Aus.
I think some Poms are too caught up with the Aussies are convicts thing to spot the joke.
#65
Re: Racism - Australia
the whole prisoner thing as the origin of "Pom" doesn't seem to be taken seriously by (ahem) experts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alterna..._British#Pommy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alterna..._British#Pommy
#67
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 2,269
Re: Racism - Australia
Its interesting.....
I think Oz is more racist than UK generally. They do it in a mild mannered kind of way but more frequently. In UK when it does happen it is more extreme. However I think Oz is more tolerant of poms now than it was 20 years ago. The focus now seems more upon those who are different (from caucasians).
When I first arrived here, I went back to Uni for a while and had a meeting/interview with the head of faculty, who proceeded to inform how ll the poms coming over here taking Aus jobs was intolerable! This was 1987. I was absolutely gobsmacked and couldn't believe this from someone "educated"
and felt very strange afterward having been judged on my origins.
I am frequently called pom etc but this doesn't bother me, its almost affection I think when its used. The former incident did bother me. A lot.
I think Oz is more racist than UK generally. They do it in a mild mannered kind of way but more frequently. In UK when it does happen it is more extreme. However I think Oz is more tolerant of poms now than it was 20 years ago. The focus now seems more upon those who are different (from caucasians).
When I first arrived here, I went back to Uni for a while and had a meeting/interview with the head of faculty, who proceeded to inform how ll the poms coming over here taking Aus jobs was intolerable! This was 1987. I was absolutely gobsmacked and couldn't believe this from someone "educated"
and felt very strange afterward having been judged on my origins.
I am frequently called pom etc but this doesn't bother me, its almost affection I think when its used. The former incident did bother me. A lot.
#68
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Racism - Australia
#70
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: Racism - Australia
I've never understood why certain Poms complain about racism towards themselves, but feel that it is perfectly acceptable to call oriental people "Chinks".
I cringe every time I hear it over here. It's totally unacceptable Down Under, but in the UK nobody seems to care.
Anyone using that word in Australia is asking for a slap - and should get one.
I cringe every time I hear it over here. It's totally unacceptable Down Under, but in the UK nobody seems to care.
Anyone using that word in Australia is asking for a slap - and should get one.
Personally I only mind the use of the word pom when it is used negatively and not in jest.
The only truly anti-pommie experience I had was after the Rugby world cup. Some sore loser thought that I should be supporting the Wallabies despite not being a citizen at the time. I copped a mouthful but couldn't stop laughing at the tosser. It was a great night.
#75
Re: Racism - Australia
When my Husband moved here (England) from Ireland he used to go NUTS if someone called him Paddy, he took it really offensively. I had to explain to him for a long while that it is actually not meant to be offensive and if anythng was said on friendly terms....he just likes any excuse to knock someones head off