... To ask if you agree that "pikey" is a racist term and not just "slang"?

[carabos]

I am following a thread on another forum where a poster has used the word "pikey" in the context of a discussion about burglary. I called the poster on it and pointed out that I believe the term to be deeply offensive.

Another poster has come on and said that the first poster has been "naughty" for using "slang" and to watch out for the politically correct brigade. I am . AIBU?

I am not originally from the UK so I may be missing some nuances here.

The Roma were treated appallingly by the Ceaucesu govt in Roumania. Not sure where that fits in, but that is fact.

I was trying to word that correctly Maryz and you have done it perfectly.

Yes Maryz I do. I'm trying here. I really am.

Don't really know about the word "pikey", I haven't heard it used very much, but the word "chav" makes my skin crawl. It's so dismissive.

In Ireland, travellers are often referred to as Knackers, this would be seen as more offensive than pikey.

I thought pikey was a general term for travellers, less offensive than gyppo and preferable to quite a few other terms in common use. Is it racist? Well the UN classification obviously makes sense to them but not to me. The Roma in southern and central Europe don't seem to me to have anything in common with travellers of Irish descent apart from some kind of nomadic lifestyle. In conversation with dark-skinned self-identified Roma I have heard them complain about "travellers" who they fear and resent.

Hearing the word "pikey" makes me feel very dismissive and judgemental about a low class of person.The person who is ill-educated enough to use that sort of pejorative term.

I never heard the word till a couple of years ago, and the person who came out with it was someone who clearly thought herself terribly hip and cool. I had sort of gone along with her assessment of herself till that point...

A Diddakoi is a Romany term for a half Romany. This definition is from one of my favourite childhood books by Rumer Godden called 'The Diddakoi'.

Some folks on this thread would do well to read it....and weep...

As with all name calling - the key factor is the intent. I told some friends of mine that I came from a Romany family - the family moved into houses in the 1800's as far as I am aware but wagons and cobs were part of family life for a lot of my older relations. I am very proud of my Romany roots and have no problems telling anyone who expresses an interest. They were very surprised and loved looking at my photos and hearing about stories passed down to me. These are good friends so I trust their intent. We recently lost the lead off a building at work and one of them without missing a beat looked at me and said "come on Pikey, where is it?" I knew there was no malice intended and enjoyed the banter. If however someone I didn?t know referred to me as a Pikey I'd happily deck them!

The English language doesn't work like that. An offensive term is offensive no matter who says it

A mere cursory glance at MN threads tells you there are words that some people are offended by and others are not.

I think the English language probably suffers more than most from having an entire industry dedicated to Being Offended - nearly always on someone else's behalf, I note.

when I was a child it was used to describe travellers as thieves and scroungers: "pikey, pikey, do as you likey"

I hate threads like these.OP YABU. I don't think Pikey is such a bad word. I use it a lot. I called anyone one in a jokey way if they do something that I feel is being a pikey.

I don't give a rats arse if anyone calls me ignorant for that. I think they're being ignorant themselves for expecting everyone to agree with them in being so fricking PC.

So I am ignorant to expect people not to racially abuse me and my family by calling us pikeys just because you Misschief101 dont think its such a bad word,weird logic there.I fail to understand why when we live in a multi-cultural society ,people still think its okay to use racially offensive terms.

why would you use a word that is offensive and feel that the arguement of "some people find it offensive, some don't" makes it somehow okay?

there are so many unoffensive and effective words around, everyone who says pikey knows that SOME people find it offensive and still use it so they are BU, so what if SOME people don't, you still know you are upsetting people and it's so easy not to!

bubbles4 Who here on this thread is calling you and your family pikey or giving you racial abuse?! Do show me? Seriously get over yourself. If you wish to not refer to words that you find offensive that's entirely up to you. But you have no right branding other's who don't find it offensive, ignorant.

I don't waste my time worrying about what others are saying and whether I think it's offensive or not. I have a life to get on with.

StewieGriffinsMom No not at all. I'm really not bothered about what a few people who post online who I'll never meet think about my online persona. I hate these threads because I honestly think some of you need to get a life instead of worrying what other people are doing or saying.

Misschief101,I cant see what you dont get,plenty of people on here have stated that pikey is an offensive term,but you come along and say that it is an okay word and you use it,nobody on here has called me a pikey but my children have been called it at school,probably pivked up from people like you,who just dont get that it is an offensive word.

bubbles4 Yeah I just love going round calling random people I don't know names. especially children..... It really get me going Where have I said I don;t get why people don't find it offensive. I don't give two shits if you do or you don't. Told you already I have a life. I suggest you go and get one instead of wasting time on the internet worrying about people like me who call my friends names in jest are racist or not.