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All Ogle, No Cash -- It's Not Just Annoying, It's Un-American

Discussion Threads

Discussion of episodes currently airing in Un-American locations (anything that's aired in Australia is fair game), as well as anything else the Un-Americans feel like talking about or we feel like asking them. Please use the show discussion threads for any current-season discussion.

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billytea - Feb 04, 2003 8:49:02 am PST #1732 of 9843
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

Pomeranians? Pom-tiddly-poms? Do tell how this word is cheerily derogatory towards Britain. Or towards stupid people? Aspiring slangists want to know.

Well, that's a tricky one. The origin's not terribly well documented; it probably arose through rhyming slang for 'immigrant'. Immigrants were referred to as 'Jimmy Grants', then 'Pomegranates' (hey, why not?) which got shortened to 'Pommies'. Incidentally, in the 19th century, it seems that 'pomegranate' was properly pronounced in England to rhyme not with 'commie-granate' but 'home-granate'. (But in Australia the second pronunciation was already common.)

As most immigrants at the time came from England, the term came to mean specifically English immigrants, and from there the English generally. There's really little that's derogatory in its origins, and it can be used without such connotations (much as we'd use the term 'Yank' for an American). But one of its more popular usages is in the phrase 'whingeing Pom', which is derogatory, and retains that immigrant link - it refers particularly to English who come out to Australia (henceforth to be referred to as God's own country) and then complain incessantly about things not being like they were at home.

evil jimi - Feb 04, 2003 8:50:55 am PST #1733 of 9843
Lurching from one disaster to the next.

Please don't call our national hero -that stupid arrogant stuck up prig who's ignorance and cowardice got us all killed- names.

AshleyActually, he's my stupid arrogant stuck up prig who's ignorance and cowardice got us all killed, as well. I'm an expat Dundonian, living in Australia since I was 3.

evil jimi - Feb 04, 2003 8:53:18 am PST #1734 of 9843
Lurching from one disaster to the next.

billytea ... there's also the theory that the term "Pom" sprang from the acronym, "PHOM" or "Prisoner of His Majesty". Not sure what the status is on that theory.

Nutty - Feb 04, 2003 9:06:03 am PST #1735 of 9843
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."

Thanks for the Pom answers. Heh.

Jimi, what's a Dundonian? Does that mean from Dundalk? (Which, okay, is a city in Maryland, but I'm sure also a city in Scotland, considering like 3/4 of city names in Maryland are also cities in Scotland?)

Yes! Hello, I'm the pig-ignorant, but endlessly curious merrykin today.

evil jimi - Feb 04, 2003 9:26:41 am PST #1736 of 9843
Lurching from one disaster to the next.

Jimi, what's a Dundonian?

A resident -- or former -- of Dundee, Scotland. :)

Zoe Finch - Feb 04, 2003 9:26:57 am PST #1737 of 9843
Gradh tu fhein

what's a Dundonian? Does that mean from Dundalk? (Which, okay, is a city in Maryland, but I'm sure also a city in Scotland, considering like 3/4 of city names in Maryland are also cities in Scotland?)

Dundonians come from up the road in Dundee.

Edit: extra info inf you like: Dun: means old fortess and Dee is the name of a river, hence Dun Dee means the castle on the river Dee.

I am from Dun Ferme Lynne (Dunfermline), tower on the winding burn/stream.

billytea - Feb 04, 2003 9:32:12 am PST #1738 of 9843
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.

billytea ... there's also the theory that the term "Pom" sprang from the acronym, "PHOM" or "Prisoner of His Majesty". Not sure what the status is on that theory.

Yes, there is. It is a possibility, but I think the immigrant connection is considered better supported.

There are a number of other theories too, but they become increasingly fanciful. Much safer bet to stick with criminals and fruits.

§ ita § - Feb 04, 2003 9:33:31 am PST #1739 of 9843
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

So that means the pom/pomme de terre/potato connection is spurious? It's what I was told.

evil jimi - Feb 04, 2003 9:33:46 am PST #1740 of 9843
Lurching from one disaster to the next.

Much safer bet to stick with criminals and fruits.

Yeah because we know how fruity criminals can become over time.

Betsy HP - Feb 04, 2003 9:36:13 am PST #1741 of 9843
If I only had a brain...

An Irish friend of mine claims the plural of "grouse" is "grice". Is she pulling my leg?

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