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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by karen_kay on August 15, 2007, at 12:25:47
is p*m p*m ******????
according to the definition, which i looked up (a sin in my book):
*Main Entry: 1pom-p*m
Pronunciation: 'päm-"päm
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of pompon
1 : an ornamental ball or tuft used especially on clothing, caps, or costumes
2 : a handheld usually brightly colored fluffy ball flourished by cheerleadersso why?
confused,
kk
Posted by 10derheart on August 15, 2007, at 15:15:26
In reply to why in the world?, posted by karen_kay on August 15, 2007, at 12:25:47
hey kk,
Because, in particular for our UK (or perhaps specifically English) Babblers, there are other, slang meanings of p*m, so in the interest of being sensitive to those Babblers who might know it as an insult, Dr.Bob leaves it as a 'bad' word....sort of just in case....?
At least that's close to the way I recall it being explained the last time this came up.
From one of the many slang dictionaries on the Web:
P*M
Somewhat derogatory term used by Australians when referring to anyone from England.
Slang interpretation as Prisoners Of Mother England. Referring to the transportation to Australia from England of convicts considered the dregs of society.
Between 1788 and 1868, about 160,000 people were herded onto ships in Great Britain and 'transported' to Australia with the expectation that due to the 12,000 miles distance they would never return.
EX: "Are you a Yank, a Kiwi or a P*mmie b*st*rd?"
-----------------------------------------------Some say instead of the acronym, the term came from the fact the fair-skinned British were frequently sunburned when in Australia, and so their skin appeared to the indigenous people as the same red as a familiar fruit - POMegranate. Seems to be several conflicting histories on the word....
(I didn't include any links to this dictionary (which is full of fascinating stuff if you like words like I do!) as it contains many, many naughty words ;-) But it's pretty easy to find if you Google "slang and p*m [p*m].)
And I KNOW our knowledgeable posters from Oz and NZ and the UK can probably explain this way better than my basic attempt here, or fill what the term 'really' means these days - if it's even is use?? Words are soooo cool!! [yeah, so I'm a dork/nerd]
Posted by karen_kay on August 15, 2007, at 16:17:26
In reply to Re: why in the world? » karen_kay, posted by 10derheart on August 15, 2007, at 15:15:26
so, when i tell my son to play with a p*m p*m, i must be very careful, eh?
thanks for the lesson. i don't think you're a nerd at all. and so strange of the * thingie to catch somethign as abstract as that (or at least to me, it's abstract.. not to be deragatory in any way).
really, thanks for the lesson. i'll never look at p*m p*ms in the same way again :)
kk
Posted by 10derheart on August 15, 2007, at 16:49:46
In reply to yows wowsa! you're a smart one! » 10derheart, posted by karen_kay on August 15, 2007, at 16:17:26
Posted by cactus on August 16, 2007, at 7:34:55
In reply to Re: why in the world? » karen_kay, posted by 10derheart on August 15, 2007, at 15:15:26
Oh that made me laugh, being an aussie. I didn't actuallty realise it was offensive until recently.
Somewhat derogatory term used by Australians when referring to anyone from England.
Slang interpretation as Prisoners Of Mother England. Referring to the transportation to Australia from England of convicts considered the dregs of society.
Between 1788 and 1868, about 160,000 people were herded onto ships in Great Britain and 'transported' to Australia with the expectation that due to the 12,000 miles distance they would never return.
EX: "Are you a Yank, a Kiwi or a P*mmie b*st*rd?"
Most english people don't take offense to it but some do so fair enough to have it included as offensive.
This is the end of the thread.
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