Origin of the word: It stemmed from the word "Prominent."
The first time it was notably used was on
Jan 20, 2004, when a
GDer named Troggard started a
namedrop thread. It shortly became a HOT (hang-out thread) called the
GPM (
Gaia's Prominent Members) in where the higher ranking members of the forum chit-chatted; often excluding the non-prominent members from their chatter. Other HOTs sprang up in the forum; GNPM, GBP, et cetera. When the mods decided the HOT threads were no longer GD material, they moved the HOTs to the Chatterbox. Many of the members still gather in the GPM guild, along with other, newer prominent members.
Selection of prominents/prommies of the GD, by fame generation:
Original to Mid 2004 - Angsty Shem, Miyuki, Hawkeye_GGK, Troggard,
Aleda, Grimm Anarchy, Samur, Alkatrazz, Crimson Teardrop,
The 5th Horseman.
Mid 2004 to Early 2005 - irrelavant,
Branwen Silverwolf, NightmareNurse, The 5th Horseman, Remodez, Twist3d Ang3l, Mephianse, and i starve,
DSK.
Mid 2005 to Early 2006 - Purple Angelica, Hazy, Conan the Barbeque,
Samael, DerangedTechnicolor, Mivzi, Pandy the
Headcrab, Sadist Boo, Jagermeister, General Engel, pidgezero_one, switchdown.
Mid 2005 to when this was written (could also be considered regulars, because the previous generation of prommies are still active in GD) -
50s Housewife, interpolly,
Sith Lord Ali.
Some prommies have continue their status into
GD's next generations.
Over the years, people have lost the meaning of what a "
prommie" is. It's more then a regular; who is someone that you just see around a lot. A prommie is someone who has better items, more friends, connections to other forums, talent (artistic ability, intelligence, whit, looks, style, or something that stands above the normal users). They also get a bad wrap from those that do not understand why they're in the position they're in. Not all prommies are jerks/trolls/attention whores. And, once you're a prommie, you'll always have that state of mind.
Things that prommies have done over the years: The HOTs, Meet-ups on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the UK, The Mung Brigade, The WTF Internet Radio Show, Gaia Radio, G and Crave, namedropping threads, trend threads, and all the drama that comes with being "elite."
Prommies have also spread their slang to other Gaian forums: prommie, qt, and the heavy use of the symbol "~".