Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Apparently 'pikey' means 'cheap'

  • 18-03-2015 10:14am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭


    Apparently the word 'pikey' means 'cheap'... well, according to the BBC.,

    Basically, traveller groups complained that the use of the word pikey was racist, but BBC Trust ruled that its use related to the contemporary meaning of the word as 'cheap' rather than specifically related to travellers.

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/jeremy-clarkson-cleared-bbc-trust-5349445
    Jeremy Clarkson has been cleared over his use of the word 'pikey' on Top Gear by the BBC Trust.

    The presenter - who is currently suspended from the BBC2 show following allegations he punched a producer - put up a placard with the words Pikey's Peak on the motoring series in February last year.

    Viewers complained that the sign was "grossly offensive and racist" to the "gypsy traveller community", whose children are subjected to the word as a term of abuse in schools.

    But the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee (ESC) concluded that the word had been used to mean "cheap", rather than as a term of racist or ethnic abuse.
    The ESC said that that the word "had evolved into common parlance among a number of people to mean 'chavvy' or 'cheap' and, depending on the context, viewers would not necessarily associate it with the gypsy and traveller communities".

    But complainants said that it had been "disingenuous of the BBC to argue that there is no intended racist reference when using the word" because in its previous uses of the term, Top Gear "had made clear that 'pikey' refers to gypsies and travellers".

    whether it's offensive to travellers - I'm not a traveller, so not quite over to me to say.

    But as for the use of the word - I don't watch Top Gear, but on hearing the word 'pikey' I wouldn't really have thought of it as meaning anything other than related to travellers.

    So, interesting to hear it ruled that other viewers would
    'not necessarily associate it with the gypsy and traveller communities'

    Maybe I'm the odd one out and just not up with to speed with the contemporary use of words :P


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 898 ✭✭✭petrolcan


    Zippie84 wrote: »
    Apparently the word 'pikey' means 'cheap'... well, according to the BBC.,

    Maybe I'm the odd one out and just not up with to speed with the contemporary use of words :P

    Language evolves.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    petrolcan wrote: »
    Language evolves.

    Really? I did not know that at all.... :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,295 ✭✭✭✭Duggy747


    Gorgeous George: Oh, you bastard! I fúckin' hate pikeys!

    Translation: Oh, you silly sausage. I thoroughly dislike those of a cheap disposition.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Menas


    Its not a word we use over here, I don't think. I reckon the first time I understood it was when that movie Snatch was released.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,380 ✭✭✭✭Banjo String


    This thread'll go well.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    Its not a word we use over here, I don't think. I reckon the first time I understood it was when that movie Snatch was released.

    I think that I first became aware of it through Shameless somewhere mid 2000s... but did search boards for 'pikey' before posting this to see if it'd already been shared.... and found quite a few references to it... think all I saw were in relation to travellers.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    I only first heard of it from "Snatch." Any context I've heard for "pikey"has consistently been based on how it was presented in that movie.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,361 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    Zippie84 wrote: »
    I think that I first became aware of it through Shameless somewhere mid 2000s... but did search boards for 'pikey' before posting this to see if it'd already been shared.... and found quite a few references to it... think all I saw were in relation to travellers.


    Aye, only ever heard it used in relation to travellers, or a person that looks like a traveller (I remember one chap on "Take Me Out" a few years back, a dating show, first time I heard it :pac:).

    Doesn't surprise me that Clarkson used it though and knew of the various meanings, he's obviously got a reputation for that kind of stuff, just more storm in a teacup stuff really IMO.

    I just don't know too many travellers would take offence to it really, some people would, some people wouldn't, it's not a word I'd use myself tbh, never heard of it in the context of something being cheap or tacky, but I guess it makes sense in a derogatory way.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    petrolcan wrote: »
    Language evolves.

    Absolutely. (Which apparently means yes indeed now).

    Once upon a time a wife was always a woman and a husband was a man.

    Even the meaning of the word marriage has changed now.


    As for 'pikey', I always thought it meant a dosser traveller type person who dabbled in a bit of buying and selling. Usually dodgy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭donegaLroad


    I have been referred to as 'pikey' on a different internet forum where my username was 'Irish-guy'. It was an online games forum and I was called pikey several times by different UK based players.


  • Advertisement
  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    ^^^^ Fuckin Pikey


  • Registered Users Posts: 974 ✭✭✭Intifada


    I wonder would they excuse the word "jew" being used to describe somebody who is tight or untrustworthy
    Lapin wrote: »
    Once upon a time a wife was always a woman and a husband was a man.
    Are you saying this is no longer the case? :confused::confused:


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    Intifada wrote: »
    I wonder would they excuse the word "jew" being used to describe somebody who is tight or untrustworthy


    Are you saying this is no longer the case? :confused::confused:

    Yes. The other day I heard a bloke in a gay marriage refer to his partner as his wife.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,404 ✭✭✭✭sKeith


    At a guess, I'd say the bloke meant that his partner is taking on the role of the steriotypical 'wife' in the partnership. I doubt he was trying to change the meaning of the word wife.


  • Registered Users Posts: 974 ✭✭✭Intifada


    So he's talking about how languages evolves and the meaning of words change, giving an example of a word that hasn't evolved or changed?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,081 ✭✭✭sheesh


    It's all a bit irish really


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    Ryanair: Europe's #1 pikey fares airline!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    It could mean something else. Like how the word Jew was used above as an example. Still shouldn't be saying it on future though since its still offensive. No need to throw the book at him over a slip up.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,458 ✭✭✭✭gandalf


    LOL if someone said "pikey" I would automatically assume it was concerning Travelers. This stinks of the BBC don't want to fire Clarkson and are sweeping it under the carpet :)

    Next we'll hear he was giving that Producer an "aggressive hug" ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    gandalf wrote: »
    Next we'll hear he was giving that Producer an "aggressive hug" ;)

    Bear hugs are a thing. By real bears. With bone breaking results.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,382 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    petrolcan wrote: »
    Language evolves.

    Clarkson doesn't!

    :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,382 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Intifada wrote: »
    So he's talking about how languages evolves and the meaning of words change, giving an example of a word that hasn't evolved or changed?

    Twerk.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,694 ✭✭✭BMJD


    Clarkson's getting a sh1tload of publicity lately, he must have a new book out or something.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,562 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    BMJD wrote: »
    Clarkson's getting a sh1tload of publicity lately, he must have a new book out or something.

    The complaint was about a Top Gear episode which aired over a year ago. Anyone interested in reading the full BBC Trust adjudication, rather than relying on media reports, can wade through pages 19 to 27 here.

    http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2014/dec.pdf

    Dictionaries are a great source for the definition of words.

    http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pikey

    pikey (ˈpaɪkɪ )


    Definitions


    noun
    (British, slang, derogatory)
    1.a gypsy or vagrant
    2.a member of the underclass


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    So 'Pikey' means 'cheap'? Pretty interesting and so it's probably now safe to assume, that 'Clarkson' means 'bollocks'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,954 ✭✭✭Conall Cernach


    I saw that episode and at the time I took it to mean someone similar to a "chav".


  • Registered Users Posts: 974 ✭✭✭Intifada


    Lapin wrote: »
    Yes. The other day I heard a bloke in a gay marriage refer to his partner as his wife.
    That's just an example of somebody using words incorrectly. If I call a dog a cat, it's still a dog and I'm just a bit dim.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 762 ✭✭✭PeteFalk78


    Lapin wrote: »
    Yes. The other day I heard a bloke in a gay marriage refer to his partner as his wife.

    Ah for crying out loud :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,289 ✭✭✭✭Sleepy


    Who cares if it's offensive to the travelling community? Many aspects of their lifestyle are offensive to the rest of us (marrying girls to their cousins when they're not even old enough to have a drink at the reception, their poor record at ensuring their children attend school, poor tax compliance, poor record of respect for communal or other's property, their heavy dependence on social welfare while having an abysmal record of tax compliance etc.).

    The right to not be offended doesn't exist.

    There are laws regarding hate speak but this wouldn't come within an asses roar of that.

    If Charlie Hebdo are entitled to take the piss out of Muslims, Top Gear are entitled to take the piss out of the travelling community imho.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,279 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    Sleepy wrote: »
    Who cares if it's offensive to the travelling community?

    many do. you know, because the word might be offensive to some. which in a free democratic country like britain, one is entitled to have an issue with a word. you seem to care enough to post though.
    Sleepy wrote: »
    Many aspects of their lifestyle are offensive to the rest of us

    so? if your suggesting we should be offensive to them back because of that, then you condone what you claim to be offended by.
    Sleepy wrote: »
    poor tax compliance, poor record of respect for communal or other's property, their heavy dependence on social welfare while having an abysmal record of tax compliance etc.).

    all things not unique to the traveling community. but you don't really care about that. i'd bet you would probably not pay a cent if you thought you could get away with it. those who rant about travelers not paying tax would be the first not to pay themselves if they could get away with it
    Sleepy wrote: »
    The right to not be offended doesn't exist.

    technically it does. one is entitled to be offended by something. whether they should be offended is a different story.
    Sleepy wrote: »
    If Charlie Hebdo are entitled to take the piss out of Muslims, Top Gear are entitled to take the piss out of the travelling community imho.

    oh? of course you do. well, i suppose if it keeps the low rent happy. frankly, gutter trash like Charlie Hebdo would be no loss if it shut down

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words, nobody has better words then me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,837 ✭✭✭TheLastMohican


    In the south of England it means gypsy or the "k" word.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    I always took it to mean a collection of either fish or medieval weapons. IE: Lets go stab them guys with our pikeys or, the river is full of pikeys.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,361 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    In the south of England it means gypsy or the "k" word.


    Kinkey? :p


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    ScumLord wrote: »
    I always took it to mean a collection of either fish or medieval weapons. IE: Lets go stab them guys with our pikeys or, the river is full of pikeys.

    I'm probably wrong, but is that not 'pike / pikes' rather than 'pikey / pikies'?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Zippie84 wrote: »
    I'm probably wrong,
    Probably, you probably wouldn't call a collection of swords, swordies, or use the term fishies which shows just how wrong you are. :pac:


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    ScumLord wrote: »
    Probably, you probably wouldn't call a collection of swords, swordies, or use the term fishies which shows just how wrong you are. :pac:

    So, the word used in the programme is 'pikey' and you're saying that the word used to describe a medieval sword is the same word - 'pikey' as opposed to 'pike'?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 762 ✭✭✭PeteFalk78


    ScumLord wrote: »
    I always took it to mean a collection of either fish or medieval weapons.

    Ah jaysus you've never heard of a shoal of fish? And a collection of weapons in an arsenal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Zippie84 wrote: »
    So, the word used in the programme is 'pikey' and you're saying that the word used to describe a medieval sword is the same word - 'pikey' as opposed to 'pike'?
    What I'm saying is you add "ey" to the end of any word to describe multiples of that thing.
    PeteFalk78 wrote: »
    Ah jaysus you've never heard of a shoal of fish? And a collection of weapons in an arsenal.
    Arsenal is a football team and a shoal is something my granny used to wear, unless she was wearing two of them then shed be wearing shoaleys.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    ScumLord wrote: »
    What I'm saying is you add "ey" to the end of any word to describe multiples of that thing.

    So you're not talking really about the word being discussed then at all? Just talking generally about language, and not about the word 'pikey'? :rolleyes:

    Here's a bit of info on your pike medieval sword for you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    Sleepy wrote: »
    Who cares if it's offensive to the travelling community? Many aspects of their lifestyle are offensive to the rest of us (marrying girls to their cousins when they're not even old enough to have a drink at the reception, their poor record at ensuring their children attend school, poor tax compliance, poor record of respect for communal or other's property, their heavy dependence on social welfare while having an abysmal record of tax compliance etc.).

    The right to not be offended doesn't exist.

    There are laws regarding hate speak but this wouldn't come within an asses roar of that.

    If Charlie Hebdo are entitled to take the piss out of Muslims, Top Gear are entitled to take the piss out of the travelling community imho.

    Mod: watch it with the stereotyping


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    Zippie84 wrote: »
    So you're not talking really about the word being discussed then at all? Just talking generally about language, and not about the word 'pikey'? :rolleyes:
    I talking complete and utter nonsense, but it's not at all surprising to see it taken up as a sensible argument in a Clarkson thread.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    ScumLord wrote: »
    I talking complete and utter nonsense, but it's not at all surprising to see it taken up as a sensible argument in a Clarkson thread.

    No sensible or otherwise argument there. Always thought you were talking complete and utter nonsense ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,465 ✭✭✭✭darkpagandeath


    What key opens any lock ?












































    A Pikey :pac:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 760 ✭✭✭Desolation Of Smug


    Pfft. Cheap? The cheek.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,434 ✭✭✭Robsweezie


    What key opens any lock ?


    Jack dee ;)))


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,434 ✭✭✭Robsweezie


    To be honest I'm done with offensive. Stereotypes are just stereotypes and if you choose to believe them or take them seriously than more fool you. Everything is offensive nowadays. Looking at someone sideways is offensive. To me the Stephen Fry quote will always stand out as the true summary of "offense". Boo hoo.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭Zippie84


    I don't even get why things are about whether they are offensive or not.

    I prefer to think about whether things cause harm or not. Now, that's much more relevant, and the word offensive doesn't actually mean all that much in reality, it's just stuck on everything.

    Does X cause harm? Much better question.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,382 ✭✭✭AndonHandon


    Intifada wrote: »
    I wonder would they excuse the word "jew" being used to describe somebody who is tight or untrustworthy

    Considering the amount of Jews in the BBC it is essentially a nailed on certainty that the word Jew would not be forgiven the way pikey was.


  • Registered Users Posts: 850 ✭✭✭Hans Bricks


    many do. you know, because the word might be offensive to some. which in a free democratic country like britain, one is entitled to have an issue with a word. you seem to care enough to post though.


    all things not unique to the traveling community. but you don't really care about that. i'd bet you would probably not pay a cent if you thought you could get away with it. those who rant about travelers not paying tax would be the first not to pay themselves if they could get away with it

    Ah shure they get away with scrounging and not contributing to the state. Leave them alone with your hard truths.

    Stellar argument.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,837 ✭✭✭TheLastMohican


    Kinkey? :p
    Are you a perv?


  • Advertisement
Advertisement