... 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?

StewieGriffinsMom You are so right. I must call my friends up at once and apologise for my pain I have caused them all these years. I bet they have suffered in silence too. How can I live with myself! I'm such a HORRID person. I'm surprised I have so many friends. What a racist I am!

In all seriousness I am soooo glad I don't know people like you lot in real life.

I always thought pikey just meant dodgy/chavvy.
I don't like those kind of names in general : Chav, Pikey, Gyppo etc.
I wouldn't use it if it does mean traveller, but actually travellers are not a racial group.
We used to live right by a fairground site, and our house would get burgled every time the fair was in town,so if I think that some fair people are thieving gets it is based on some empirical evidence. And I say this as someone with a dollop of Roma in them.

northernwreck "but actually travellers are not a racial group"

We've got someone on here who claims they are.

I supoose it depends if you think "Northern European" is a racial group, and "Northern European who like to travel some of the time" is a lifestyle choice, or not.

Travellers are not a racial group but along with Romany gypsies they are recognised ethnic minority and are given protection under the Race Relations act.

WhatMeWorry "...entire industry dedicated to Being Offended..."

My 2yo dd calls my dh 'pikey - and to be honest he is when he hasn't had a shave!

I think that some people just really enjoy being offensive. They know perfectly well that the words they use are hurtful but they don't really give a toss. To me this is a sign that the person is probably a bit stupid; has a total lack of empathy; is hugely entitled or is just really rather unpleasant. Or all four.

This is totally different from people who may use language unthinkingly but on discovering a term is offensive, stop using it. GotArt it doesn't take much thinking to see where Paddy Wagon comes from, although like you I've never really thought about it before - one of those reminders of how much anti-Irish sentiment there was in the UK not so long ago.

Fear/dislike of the 'other' is it seems to me a very common human characteristic. It can be combated but it means we all need to challenge our own prejudices at times, and think about why we think the way we do. The belief that traveling communities are fundamentally dishonest goes back a very very long way (along with some other unpleasant myths like gypsies stealing children) and has clearly stuck.

It seems to me a very small infringement on my liberty to not use a few loaded words when there are so many to chose from rather than claiming that my right to say what the hell I like is more important than combating prejudices that cause significant harm to others.

nooka Would you ever get a life. Get off your high pony. Some of us don't care because we have more important things going on in our lives rather than worrying about whether what we say or do offends people like you.

You pretentious people are more offensive than the word pikey lol

nooka... I know exactly where Paddy Wagon comes from. I'm just saying, perhaps its getting a bit much when I realized that I was offended by my friend referring to me and all his couple friends, as breeders. I would like to add though, as we are on the topic, you offended my intellect by implying that I may be stupid.

nooka good post

I should possibly add that the tumble dryer I had taken was left outside because a local charity was coming to get it. It was in perfect working order, but the people who took it got there before the charity did. Even though it was right next to my door (not at the front, at the side) and far from the road, not really visible unless you were looking for stuff to take.

It was probably scrapped within the hour. What a waste. If they had knocked and wanted it for their own personal use I'd probably have said yes, you're welcome, but they didn't, they just took it.

What White People Like #101 Being Offended

Satire on the "more non racist than thou" types..... Do not read if easily offended or not possessing a sense of humour.

There has been a successful prosecution for racial abuse when the term pikeywas used as an insult,so not only is it highly offensive it is also legally wrong to use it.

"There has been a successful prosecution for racial abuse when the term pikeywas used "

That's interesting, have you got the link to the news report? Was it directed at a traveller?

Misschief101 - You have nothing even moderately interesting to add to this discussion other than a procession of limpdick playground abuse. STFU.

Holy crap. I can't believe this is even being argued over.

The perm "pikey" IS racist. Travellers and the like are a recognised ethnic group therefore is is not only offensive and derogatory it is racist hate speech

It's just as offensive and racist as "paki"

Nothing professionally offended about it... more being aware and not ignorant.

Well it's a derogatory term to specifically describe an ethnic group, so yup it is racist.
If people want to continue using it fine, but don't try and hide behind a fairly flimsy defence of "well that's not what it means to me."
the reason that it has come to mean chav/stingy/uncouth is because these stereotypes have become synonymous with travellers for many people. so when they say something is fairly pikey, because it's dodgy/cheap it's because they are associating whatever has happened with stereotypical actions of travellers.

Though maybe not intentionally.

Yikes

Esta3GG,you are so right.

Spot onEsta3GG