Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[TheChipPrince]

is it bad that I can think of more negative things that people might say than positive?

[RED-DOG]

is it bad that I can think of more negative things that people might say than positive?

Lol no. Absolutely not. that was just what happend when we used to do it "live"

It was great really. We made them all sit with pens poised, not knowing what was coming, and when we told them, they had to write straight away without stopping to think. Most of them surprised themselves.

[cia260895]

Red never had the chance to slip this in before but will do now, on some food show Lee Ryan (not very good singer from some boy band) got most upset when the chef (think it was marco pierre white) mentioned the word Pikey and a big hooo har kicked off with Lee ryan saying it was a racist comment.

Is it racist and do gypsies find it offensive and why?

I know when i was young gypsies were collectively known as gyppos or pikeys but have never known why pikey?

[kinboshi]

I'm guessing what people would say:

Negatives:
Thieves
Dirty
Tax-dodgers
Eat loads at DTD

Positives:
Loyal
Skilled artisans
Fair-minded
Patient poker players

[AndrewT]

I'm guessing what people would say:

Negatives:
Thieves
Dirty
Tax-dodgers
Eat loads at DTD

Positives:
Loyal
Skilled artisans
Fair-minded
Patient poker players

Do you have Gypsy blood in you somewhere Dan?

I know one thing my Dad always said about Gypsies (and he is not always the most tolerant of men) was that they were always good with kids. If a kid wandered off from their parent or got lost, and were found by a Gypsy, they'd always be well looked after - no need to worry about child abduction or anything.

[RED-DOG]

"Is it racist and do gypsies find it offensive and why?"

Great questions. Basic answer is yes to both, but like most things, it's offensive because people say it in a derogatory fashion.

For a bit broader explanation, check out these links.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikey


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pikey


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7446274.stm


BTW- Upper case "G" for Gypsy please 

[RED-DOG]

I'm guessing what people would say:

Negatives:
Thieves
Dirty
Tax-dodgers
Eat loads at DTD

Positives:
Loyal
Skilled artisans
Fair-minded
Patient poker players

That's the spirit kin. Well done.

[kinboshi]

I must admit, I use the term 'pikey' - but not to refer to travellers (Gypsy or not), but just to mean someone who is a scab, a parasite on society.

[kinboshi]

I'm guessing what people would say:

Negatives:
Thieves
Dirty
Tax-dodgers
Eat loads at DTD

Positives:
Loyal
Skilled artisans
Fair-minded
Patient poker players

That's the spirit kin. Well done.

Two of those were my own.  See if you can guess which they were

AndrewT mentioned 'being good with children' - I'd also add that a common conception is that they're either good with animals, or possibly the exact reverse?

[AndrewT]

I must admit, I use the term 'pikey' - but not to refer to travellers (Gypsy or not), but just to mean someone who is a scab, a parasite on society.

Yeah, I think this came up when we discussed Pikey before - the fact that the term is generally applied to travellers, and that not all travellers are Gypsies. Through wider use, it came to be used to describe anyone who exhibited the perceived negative traits of travellers.

[RED-DOG]

I'm guessing what people would say:

Negatives:
Thieves
Dirty
Tax-dodgers
Eat loads at DTD

Positives:
Loyal
Skilled artisans
Fair-minded
Patient poker players

That's the spirit kin. Well done.

Two of those were my own.  See if you can guess which they were

AndrewT mentioned 'being good with children' - I'd also add that a common conception is that they're either good with animals, or possibly the exact reverse?

Interesting that you should say that Kin. In my experience, the vast majority of Gypsies are animal lovers and great stockmen, but in isolated cases, some of the worst cases of animal cruelty I have ever seen has been commited by Gypsies.

[EvilPie]

"Is it racist and do gypsies find it offensive and why?"

Great questions. Basic answer is yes to both, but like most things, it's offensive because people say it in a derogatory fashion.

For a bit broader explanation, check out these links.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikey


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pikey


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7446274.stm


BTW- Upper case "G" for Gypsy please 

I love the urban dictionary definitions.

You can just tell that each and every one of the contributors has watched 'Snatch'

[TightEnd]

3 Positives

Loyalty
Skilled tradesmen
Horses

Negatives

Crime/Theft
Rubbish
Ostracised from society

[RED-DOG]

"Is it racist and do gypsies find it offensive and why?"

Great questions. Basic answer is yes to both, but like most things, it's offensive because people say it in a derogatory fashion.

For a bit broader explanation, check out these links.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikey


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pikey


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7446274.stm


BTW- Upper case "G" for Gypsy please 

I love the urban dictionary definitions.

You can just tell that each and every one of the contributors has watched 'Snatch'

I loved the portrayal of Gypsies or "Pikeys" in Snatch. Some of it was scarily accurate and some was so far off the mark it was hilarious.

[RED-DOG]

3 Positives

Loyalty
Skilled tradesmen
Horses

Negatives

Crime/Theft
Rubbish
Ostracised from society

Thanks Rich. It's amazing how many people just wrote "Horses" without saying weather it was a negative or a positive.