Guest manchesterman Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I am in Australia from manchester and I don't understand why Aussies call Me a Pom. I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. That would mean the first Aussies where the POMs then not us Brits. Wouldn't that make Aussies POMs not Brits? I never hear Aussies call other Aussies POMs not even their own forefarthers and people desended from Brits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fatpom Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I am in Australia from manchester and I don't understand why Aussies call Me a Pom.I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. That would mean the first Aussies where the POMs then not us Brits. Wouldn't that make Aussies POMs not Brits? I never hear Aussies call other Aussies POMs not even their own forefarthers and people desended from Brits. Worth a try but destined to fail. :smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest30038 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. If nobody bites would it mean Pis*ed Off Manchesterman? :biglaugh: kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millars Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I am in Australia from manchester and I don't understand why Aussies call Me a Pom.I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. That would mean the first Aussies where the POMs then not us Brits. Wouldn't that make Aussies POMs not Brits? I never hear Aussies call other Aussies POMs not even their own forefarthers and people desended from Brits. I heard POM stood for Prisoner Of her Majesty (same thing really) I don't take offence & call myself a pom! But if they get nasty with it my hubby just says on the building site " But you are the original poms & at least I arrived on a plane not a boat" usually shuts em up! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Regardless of the historical meaning of the word (and there a couple of varying meanings) we will always be called poms in the aussies eyes, always have been ,always will be,lol Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest proud2beaussie Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Despite the fact that I have been here 44 years I still get called a pom by some of my mates,I don't let it bother me. Over the years there have been many theories about what p.o.m.means but even Wikipedia doesn't have a definitive answer and to tell you the truth I don't think it really matters. When Brits I know are called pom's they just reply,"yep and I'm proud of it" that generally shut's the aussies up. I should say though that the aussies generally (I can't say always) don't mean it nastily anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aldo Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 POM is fine so is paki shop IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest manchesterman Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Thanks all Aussies I talk to say POM is Prisoner of Mother England Brits are not the prisoners its the Aussies who where POMS. I think they are going through an identity crisis. Everytime they call us POMs are they really saying we are there forefarthers? I think English people came up with the word POM as a word to undermine the early aussie convicts. I think today the Aussies are trying to turn it back on us, but they have not really thought it through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Emcooper Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 i think its been used so long and 'passed down' through generations that alot of people dont actually know the meaning. My dad is English (lives in oz) yet calls all the rellies Poms, i think its seen similar to the aussies calling New Zealanders kiwis, and Americans Yanks. I never knew the meaning for a loooonng time but never saw the word and putting someone down, As far as I was aware, I was an aussie and the relatives were poms. My dad on the other hand is apparently a pozzie.lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest madplumber1 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Thanks all Aussies I talk to say POM is Prisoner of Mother EnglandBrits are not the prisoners its the Aussies who where POMS. I think they are going through an identity crisis. Everytime they call us POMs are they really saying we are there forefarthers? I think English people came up with the word POM as a word to undermine the early aussie convicts. I think today the Aussies are trying to turn it back on us, but they have not really thought it through. I get called POME all the time....I reply "if it wasn't for us you wouldn't be here"....the best reply i've had is "at least I haven't paid through the nose to get here"...I couldn't answer that one back....lmco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Locke Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I think today the Aussies are trying to turn it back on us, but they have not really thought it through. In a sense, its like a cat chasing its own tail...I think Australians call us Brits Poms to distance themselves from what is a bit of a humble beginning....ie the British invasion, as it`s refered to, and further ascertain their own identity in the world (and can`t blame them, really)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aldo Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 I get called POME all the time....I reply "if it wasn't for us you wouldn't be here"....the best reply i've had is "at least I haven't paid through the nose to get here"...I couldn't answer that one back....lmco Pome :biglaugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest busylass Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Despite the fact that I have been here 44 years I still get called a pom by some of my mates,I don't let it bother me.Over the years there have been many theories about what p.o.m.means but even Wikipedia doesn't have a definitive answer and to tell you the truth I don't think it really matters. When Brits I know are called pom's they just reply,"yep and I'm proud of it" that generally shut's the aussies up. I should say though that the aussies generally (I can't say always) don't mean it nastily anyway. i agree they dont usually mean it offensively and i just retort by saying yeh im proud to be one and it usually shuts em up!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jeza Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I am from Nz and it is def NOT an offensive term here - simply slang for british. I think it is different from the word kiwi though - cause kiwi has a whole really positive idenity with it that we are all very proud of - small but hardy types. I would think that the term 'british' has a similar connotation - british conjures up history and well, everything british! POm is just a friendly word - usually if you are not totally sure of where in the otherside of the world someone is from. A bit like aussies and nz get confused, as do americans and canadians. I love your slant on the word pom though. Never thought about it like that - aussies being poms!!! lol!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I did some digging on this a while back and the "Prisoner of Her Majesty" origin is generally debunked. The use of "Pom" started in the late 19th or early 20th century, long after the practice of transporting convicts ceased. It seems to be commonly accepted now that the phrase actually comes from "pomegranate" but, at that point, there are a couple of theories about the etymology. One is simply that the red, sunburnt cheeks of recent arrivals look like "pomegranates in the sun" and the other is that pomegranate was used as rhyming slang for immigrant. Several sources say that it's probably a combination of the two. Either way, I've never had the term used against me in an insulting manner. It's more akin to "Aussie" or "Kiwi" than anything derogatory. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sh7t man no way Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I am in Australia from manchester and I don't understand why Aussies call Me a Pom.I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. That would mean the first Aussies where the POMs then not us Brits. Wouldn't that make Aussies POMs not Brits? I never hear Aussies call other Aussies POMs not even their own forefarthers and people desended from Brits. to me all aussies are in essence poms,and they should be proud of the fact,and should shout it out from the rooftops---its an exclusive club my aussie friends,and i for one are happy to have you aboard--its all in the name POMS in oz,so if your a member of this site surely your a pom--unless we have a sister site called AUSSIES in oz--perhape the sun/surf gang can look into this:wubclub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunbury61 Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I am in Australia from manchester and I don't understand why Aussies call Me a Pom.I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. That would mean the first Aussies where the POMs then not us Brits. Wouldn't that make Aussies POMs not Brits? I never hear Aussies call other Aussies POMs not even their own forefarthers and people desended from Brits. #:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:.......i love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunbury61 Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I am in Australia from manchester and I don't understand why Aussies call Me a Pom.I am told by Aussies that POM means Prisoner of Mother England. That would mean the first Aussies where the POMs then not us Brits. Wouldn't that make Aussies POMs not Brits? I never hear Aussies call other Aussies POMs not even their own forefarthers and people desended from Brits. Ps - if this is a genuine post .......take it as a term of endearment . Its when the aussies dont call you anything .......its time to worry Drink their beer .......dress like they do .......same humour as them ......fight them if necessary ......then youre in ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest busylass Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 i agree they dont usually mean it offensively and i just retort by saying yeh im proud to be one and it usually shuts em up!! LOL who gives a ****!! we have history and heritage in excesss of their 200+ YEARS and we are proud of it and deep down they love our history cos theirs is not nearly as long as ours but that is how history evolves with time. As poms we have to educate them!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash77 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 i am in australia from manchester and i don't understand why aussies call me a pom.I am told by aussies that pom means prisoner of mother england. That would mean the first aussies where the poms then not us brits. Wouldn't that make aussies poms not brits? I never hear aussies call other aussies poms not even their own forefarthers and people desended from brits. here here!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash77 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Ps - if this is a genuine post .......take it as a term of endearment . Its when the aussies dont call you anything .......its time to worry Drink their beer .......dress like they do .......same humour as them ......fight them if necessary ......then youre in ! A up...are you having a giraffe!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Oh dear. What's the name of this forum again?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Seriously this thread dates back to September 2009, somebody feeling a bit bored today ?:wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Seriously this thread dates back to September 2009, somebody feeling a bit bored today ?:wink: Wasn't me what dragged it up! But I do find it ironic complaining about being called a pom when you're a member of a forum called Poms in Oz. I was curious and looked up pom on wikipedia where I found this gem: "many British people or those of British origin consider the expression offensive or racist when used by people not of British origin to describe English or British people, yet acceptable when used within that community". Guess that explains it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 This is rather an old post (2009). Perhaps better to close it and a new thread/topic can be started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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