Is the term "Pom" offensive?

[Ace]

Well after all the uproar on the news they have declared that the term pom isnt racist as long as you dont use the word Whinging in front of it or bastard etc after is. A question for the UK members amonsgt us. Do you find being called a Pom offensive or not? Matt

[101RRS]

Not if you are an Aussie and Pom with Bastard sounds even better:wasntme:

He said it

Tom

[Reads90]

Well after all the uproar on the news they have declared that the term pom isnt racist as long as you dont use the word Whinging in front of it or bastard etc after is. A question for the UK members amonsgt us. Do you find being called a Pom offensive or not? Matt

Nah i don't mind be called a pom after all you don't mind if i call you a colonial criminal:D :D

Joking aside i don't give a crap .But then again its in my hummor to like a bit of banter. I othen call myself a pom when talking to people.
Hey i knew i was going to called it before i even got here. So if you don't like being called it then don't come here, you do have a choice. :D

Quite often at work they will call me a winging pom and i then respone with Tut Bloody colonials, but that as i said before is my sense of humour, and nother bad is mean't by it, just harmless banter

[dobbo]

I was born there, have spent more years here

I am a Bastard
I whinge
I classify myself as an Aussie and couldn't give a crap if you called me a pom (in pun) in anger is a different matter alltogether
I drive English cars
I drink Irish and German beer
I love Thai, Greek and Italian food

You tell me WTF I am

[101RRS]

They way I look at it is that when I lived in the UK - the locals who I considered to be my mates were not backward in giving me a bit of stick about my ancestry (actually scottish/irish once removed).

The term Pom is really a term of endearment rather than being derogratory - a bit like calling your best mate a dork when he has pinched your beer. There is nothing in it.

Gazz

[dobbo]

80% of the population have ancestry back in Scotland, Wales, Ireland or England

[Tyrepower]

Had a mate who we called "OPC", stood for Old Pommy C**T. Death notices from his family refered to him as OPC. Had a great sense of humour and took the bagging very well. Mind you he gave as good as he got.

[gruntfuttock]

I was told that the correct spelling of the word POM is POHM. Being
Prisioner
Of
Her / His
Majesty.

[Greylandy]

As a Sef Efrican I really enjoy the banter amongst aussies, kiwi's and poms, irish, scots etc. especially when union or cricket is on. I seldom come across people that find these "nicknames" offensive ... look at the kiwi's .. they even seem happy to be called sheep shaggers ;) Only joking fellas!

Its all good I say!

[one_iota]

this is interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_words_for_British

Hey Henry what have you against the rooinek after all the Aussies claim Breaker Morant ;)

Follow the link to other terms of derision by nationality (moderator's language warning):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offensive_terms_per_nationality

[drivesafe]

Hi folks, you all have it wrong, including Wikipedia.

The term pommy comes from POME and was first used on grave stones to describe the deceased as being a Prisoner Of Mother England. :nazilock:

Can’t see how this could be offensive, with or without extra wording being tagged on.

Cheers.:wasntme:

[one_iota]

The term pommy comes from POME and was first used on grave stones to describe the deceased as being a Prisoner Of Mother England. :nazilock:



Cheers.:wasntme:

That's interesting. What source?

Did you know that you can contribute that to Wikipedia?

[JDNSW]

According to the Australian National Dictionary the word comes (earliest recorded 1912, but probably in use before then) as an abbreviation of the earlier "pomegranate" being rhyming slang for immigrant, which goes back to the early 19th century.
The other origins of the word, although more colourful, and indeed attractive, seem to have no basis in fact.

John

[Bigbjorn]

Well after all the uproar on the news they have declared that the term pom isnt racist as long as you dont use the word Whinging in front of it or bastard etc after is. A question for the UK members amonsgt us. Do you find being called a Pom offensive or not? Matt

If you know a way to offend the rhino-skinned pommy b------s, please let me know.

[Bigbjorn]

As a Sef Efrican I really enjoy the banter amongst aussies, kiwi's and poms, irish, scots etc. especially when union or cricket is on. I seldom come across people that find these "nicknames" offensive ... look at the kiwi's .. they even seem happy to be called sheep shaggers ;) Only joking fellas!

Its all good I say!

A white Zimbabwean ( sorry, Terry, Rhodesian) friend of mine used to refer to Serth Efrikans as "the van der merwes" and told "van der merwe" jokes. His father regarded Boers and kaffirs as being in the same social class (the lowest).

[one_iota]

If you know a way to offend the rhino-skinned pommy b------s, please let me know.

We know that calling them an Aussie doesn't work...how about this:

"I didn't quite get your accent....are you French?" :twisted:

[FenianEel]

I was born there, have spent more years here

I am a Bastard
I whinge
I classify myself as an Aussie and couldn't give a crap if you called me a pom (in pun) in anger is a different matter alltogether
I drive English cars
I drink Irish and German beer
I love Thai, Greek and Italian food

You tell me WTF I am

A herm_ _ ....

[FenianEel]

Well,

I had to have 2c in this thread didnt I.

I don't think the term POM is offensive anymore.

As for the POMS themselves though!:twisted: :D

[one_iota]

A herm_ _ ....

Self fertilisation is not strictly on topic unless it is a term of derision :p

[51jay]

As with calling anyone anything...it's probably only offensive if you intend it to be offensive

[one_iota]

As with calling anyone anything...it's probably only offensive if you intend it to be offensive

:D

How true

It is not what you say but the way that you say it

[drivesafe]

Do a google search, there are plenty of references to POME, some saying it's a load of bull, others saying the term “ Prisoner Of Mother England “ dates back as far as Queen Elizabeth the 1st.

So I guess you have to come to your own conclusion?

[DEFENDERZOOK]

I was told that the correct spelling of the word POM is POHM. Being
Prisioner
Of
Her / His
Majesty.



i think you will find it actually is :
Prisoner
Of
Mother
England

[DirtyDawg]

I hope its offensive as I will have to stop using it if it's friendly:D:D

[Vandermorph]

Wouldnt it depend on what different people thought? Some people might take offence while people like Big Ace just let insults slide off them

[RichardK]

I'm a Pom, doesn't worry me, i've been in Aussie nearly all my life and certainly wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Mind you I'm not a bastard.............well I don't think so......... my parents brought me up to believe they were married when I arrived into this world.

[YRVGreen]

Words are not offensive, The intention behind it, is what makes something offensive,
That’s why I have a real Problem with them Changing the words in nursery rhymes,.. Things like Bar Bar Black Sheep have you any wool, said and meant in nothing but innocence, I cant see the problem with it,.. our differences is something to be celebrated, and using them as a means of Identifying each other, is time honoured… yet left wing pinkos (see I am using the way they are different to identify them :) ) would have us simply calling everyone by “you there” or “Person”..
If you call some one a Britt or a Pom and it was done with respect, how can that be wrong,
When I used to take my shirt off at the pool, everyone is tanned but me,. I expect to be called the Great white, or blinded by the white,.
I have no Quarm with calling friends by features or Locations, calling people from France Frogs, Or people from NZ Kiwi’s,.. and if they want to call us Skips, or Joey,.. or if we eat to many pies and get called wombats, that’s cool too,.. if it is said in the interest of friendship,

After all,…
I Came out to Australia to see the Great out back, I Joined a roaming Party on the Over-Landers Track,. I am the Honourable Thomas John Montgomery Fitzkque…
But the Stockman call me Tommy,.. The Pommy Jackaroo, :)

[camel_landy]

Nah i don't mind be called a pom after all you don't mind if i call you a colonial criminal:D :D

I couldn't have put it better myself.... :p :p

Me... Couldn't give a toss. I usually answer to most things anyway. :D

M

[Bigbjorn]

Nah i don't mind be called a pom after all you don't mind if i call you a colonial criminal:D :D

Joking aside i don't give a crap .But then again its in my hummor to like a bit of banter. I othen call myself a pom when talking to people.
Hey i knew i was going to called it before i even got here. So if you don't like being called it then don't come here, you do have a choice. :D

Quite often at work they will call me a winging pom and i then respone with Tut Bloody colonials, but that as i said before is my sense of humour, and nother bad is mean't by it, just harmless banter

I thought the criminals were British. And, very few were exported. Most were kept at home to educate their descendants, who still populate the large American aircraft carrier USS British Isles.

[Reads90]

We know that calling them an Aussie doesn't work...how about this:

"I didn't quite get your accent....are you French?" :twisted:

:mad: :mad: Cor now thats fighting talk:mad: :mad:

Being called a pom os fine But being classed anything like the french well thats bang out of order





:D :D :D

[Ace]

I was born here but mum and dad are from the Uk and i can safely say it wouldnt bother me either way. Matt

[markyc]

It's never bothered me; I've been called far worse in my time and some of that from my mother! (or 'from me mam' as Yorkshire folk would say!)

[Reads90]

It's never bothered me; I've been called far worse in my time and some of that from my mother! (or 'from me mam' as Yorkshire folk would say!)

ehh up , go down pub
:D :D

[UncleHo]

G'day All :)
the Missus is a Pom, doesn't mind it a bit, even if she is a Scouser:eek: but she really gets uptight if somebody asks "are you a Kiwi ?":firedevil: that really ticks her off, as she tried so hard to lose her accent:)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

In a previous life, an English Gentleman friend used to go on about rallying Escorts
"Back 'Ome"

took all of two weeks after meeting him,,

by general consensus--

Back ome he was!

hey Back Ome! its your shout!

he loved it---:D

[Reads90]

G'day All :)
the Missus is a Pom, doesn't mind it a bit, even if she is a Scouser:eek: but she really gets uptight if somebody asks "are you a Kiwi ?":firedevil: that really ticks her off, as she tried so hard to lose her accent:)

My boss is a Kiwi and his wife is welsh , bloody hell what a combination. You can just imagine what we take this **** out him for

For all you non poms. the Welsh is who we take the **** out of for shagging sheep

[Bigbjorn]

ehh up , go down pub
:D :D

Haw-wee noo, bonny lad, gannin doon t'pit t'noo. Yards gannin be a'short teem. Nay gelt, nay poob.

[Ralph1Malph]

Sorry,
I don't often enter these type of debates as there is no winner.
All I will offer is that I don't care.
The courts or the ACB or the West Woop Woop Netball Association can censure me and the public as often as they like. It still remains that if I can't say it, I can think it and if enough think it, it becomes rule.
PS I am of anglo saxon heritage and my great grand thingies were whinging pommie B******s
Ralph

[Quiggers]

"You from England are ya?"

Jeeeezzz, I object to that.

I often get it when I'm in the US of A....

No mate I'm from Australia!

I really object to being called a pommie, because I'm not.
(Nothing personal poms).

Reminds me of an interesting aside:

"I'd rather be a turnip than a Swede, (etc)."

It's an old Simon and Garfunkel number....


cheers, GQ

[Bigbjorn]

"You from England are ya?"

Jeeeezzz, I object to that.

I often get it when I'm in the US of A....

No mate I'm from Australia!

I really object to being called a pommie, because I'm not.
(Nothing personal poms).

Reminds me of an interesting aside:

"I'd rather be a turnip than a Swede, (etc)."

It's an old Simon and Garfunkel number....


cheers, GQ

Yanks often get Australia confused with Austria. On a training course at Detroit Diesel Indianapolis, I was regularly complimented on my speaking good English. My usual reply was "So do you for an American. Did you learn here or in an English-speaking country?"

[Milton477]

Now there I was thinking that Pom meant "Person of Means" which referred to those who arrived in Aus under their own steam rather than at the invitation of HMG.

[ladas]

I am a 'two and from' pom, pohm or pome

Pome = prisoner of mother england.

I find the term quite endearing - but certainly without the adjectives - I do find that a little offensive.

[harro]

I am a 'two and from' pom, pohm or pome

Pome = prisoner of mother england.

I find the term quite endearing - but certainly without the adjectives - I do find that a little offensive.
Any particular one?

BLOODY pom

WHINGING pom

FUC#ING pom

LAZY pom

pommy BASTARD

pommy CARNT:D

All that aside, no pommies no Landrovers, ya gotta love em!:twobeers:

[Reads90]

Ok got to start another thread then :D :D

[Bytemrk]

I was born a POM... but I've been here since 1964 (I was 2 when we came here).

I think it depends on how the term is used and by whom.

At work we have a Vietnamese, an Indian, a Canadian, an Aussie and me...

We all regularly refer to our backgrounds in good humoured banter...

My wife's best friend is affectionately known as the wog... but no one is offended as everyone knows there is no malice involved..


Anyway.... with half the guys at work that call me a POM.... I've been here years longer than them as most are at least 10 years my junior:p

I'm too thick skinned to let a little thing like that hurt me.... even if it was meant in an insulting way....

Mark

[chunk]

the word pom can be used in a racist and offensive manor, but it all depends on how its used. if its used in jest no problem but if its used as an insult it is. a lot of my old school mates found out the hard way not to call me a pommy basted unless they were smiling.:D :D

[Quiggers]

ThanksBrian, must get back to the US of A one day, just to perplex some...

To this day I still think they (some) think "G'DAY MATE!" has a hidden agenda...but I love 'em they're sooo cute, yanks...

They try and be sooooo serious, but they kinda know we're having a serious lend of them...

Off track a bit, the US of A is still my alltime favorite destination holiday and experience wise. Those septics know how to do what they do so well.

The USA is fascinating.

GQ

[dobbo]

Are poms thick skinned or is it just accumilated dirt from pommie washes?