I've read through the MXTRAX thread and was considering to join in or not
. What amazes me, and which I would like to question, is why do GB based Poms take such exceptions to the word 'Pom'. I have never used it as an insult and never heard any one use it as such. In fact quite the opposite, it is used as a term of endearment, familiarity and even affection. How many Pommy Petes are there, Pommy Rob, Pommy Mate or just plain old Pom. I've even known a few Pommies call "Ya Pommy dickhead' or ' ya pommy bastard' with affection.
I have also noted with amusement that there has been a fairly construed and concerted recent effort to label us as 'convicts' - and that
is intended as an insult. Of course it has no effect - 50% of Aussies with names like Kilwolski or Nu look back at them blankly with a 'what the fork are you on about' look on their face. Whereas Anglo-Irish ratbags like my self with convict blood look back at them thinking 'yes, yes, yes, thank you, thank you, thank you for sending my forebearers away from dank cold stodgy claustrophobic England to the wide open sunny climes of Oz'.
I think the two issues of the thread are linked - the Poms willingness to take exception to Reedy and to take exception to being called Poms. As Lozza points out the same juvenile chauvinism can be seen in their attitude towards Casey. Casey has won races, set lap records and still get booed by Pommy crowds and scathingly attacked in the Pommy media for the slightest misdemeanor, perceived or real.
I think it might be their own frustration with lack of success that bubbles over as indignity at being called Poms.
