June 12, 2008
Guru is saddened to hear that the legendary British sense of humour has taken a knock over the use of the word 'pikey' by former racing driver and now trackside pundit Martin Brundle.
Brundle aksed Formula supremo Bernie "the prune" Ecclestone what he thought about the "pikeys relaying the tarmac on turn 10" or something similar and the shrivelled one merely shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.
But what is offensive about the term pikey?
It is said to be offensive as it means someone who travels (pikeys do), someone who has a tendency to lay Tarmac (pikeys do), and someone with scant regard for established society (pikeys are past masters at this). In which case, it's a remarkably accurate demonstration of observational skill from Mr Brundle and not at all offensive to anyone.
Yours Truly would simply point out that if Brundle had told Young Bernard that there was a whole bunch of dinner ladies fixing up turn 10, he would surely have been wrong. If he had said that traffic cops were re-laying the surface, he'd have been barking up the wrong tree. If he had called into question their family status by implying they had no fathers, he would have been going out on a limb, to say the least.
But as it was, all he did was to state the obvious.
To show their true colours, all the pikeys out there should club together and buy Brundle a trophy - or at least a box of chocolates.
And perhaps the government could declare a new bank holiday in honour of the pikeys in our midst.
Yours Truly knows all about this kind of thing, having had to put up with 'ol' blue head', baldyman and 'Buster Bloodvessel' comments for years.
And he's even been called a pikey at times as he often flits from place to place, always eats out, and never admits to ever doing anything wrong. Ever.
Posted for your edification by Guru on June 12, 2008 8:04 AM
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Comments (3)
Your astute observations Guru, are as always welcolm, and whilst this observations about pikey's being perhaps a tad genearlistic, I must take issue with your statement -
"......all the pikeys out there should club together and buy Brundle a trophy.
Surely the average pikey wouldnt buy anything surely he would nick it!!
Posted by Disciple Neil | June 12, 2008 1:59 PM
Posted on June 12, 2008 13:59
Surely a pikey wouldnt 'club together and buy' something, rather wouldnt they nick it?
Posted by Disciple Neil | June 12, 2008 2:01 PM
Posted on June 12, 2008 14:01
Whilst most of the time Guru's irreverent ramblings are to be enjoyed and applauded, I am afraid the pikey story is too far.
Yes lets not be over PC but Gypsies are a recognised racial ethnic group and like any others, prejorative terms are not really appropriate, the acid test is would Guru write and his readers laugh at a similar story re Sambos, Coons, Abduls, Kites................ etc ..............Whatever their individual failings, like everyone else, as a group the Gypsies are the last bastion of racism and despite everything, even the off message from the Personnel world must surely expect a higher standard than the man on the clapham omnibus, no offence to bus travellers and inhabitants of South London intended.
Posted by M | June 13, 2008 11:04 AM
Posted on June 13, 2008 11:04