FabSwingers.com forum: "Eenie Meenie Miney Moe"

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" is it racist ?

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

ehhh ?

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By *risky_MareWoman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

""Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" is it racist ?

Yup, the n word never goes down well.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There is a racist version, with the line grab the nigger by the toe.

However as I kid I always knew it as grab a fisher by the toe.

Jeremy Clarkson got into a spot of bother about it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

apparently its an old nursery rhyme that uses the word black racist n word

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

was always fisher where i come from also ...first ive heard of this

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Just shows

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Never heard the fisher version

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

what does it show ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Just shows"

Just shows what?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

How racist people were

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I believe that the word nigger in the rhymes context is giving reference to the devil or old nick. Catch him by the toe, not likely with those hooves.

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

We always used 'grab a robber'.

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

our family were fishermen and we grew up in a fishing community ...not sure if our version is the original but it is the only one i was aware of until now

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

I think it's an horrible word, personally.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I had no idea the original Eenie meenie had an offensive word until the footage of Jeremy Clarkson was made public. Good ol' Jeremy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I think it's an horrible word, personally. "

I couldn't agree more.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I think it's an horrible word, personally. "

It sure is and don't know why people are carrying on saying it..I guess you call it "freedom of speech"

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

"How racist people were"

we havent even established what the lyrics are yet ...what it does however clearly demonstrate is how easy people jump on the ' i have been offended ' bandwagon

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"How racist people were

we havent even established what the lyrics are yet ...what it does however clearly demonstrate is how easy people jump on the ' i have been offended ' bandwagon "

Don't try and justify it...just don't use the word end of

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

It was always the N word when I was little, that was at a time when there used to be Golliwogs that you collected from jars of Robertsons jam and the Black & White Minstrels used to be on TV. We never knew any different then.

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

what exactly did i try to justify out of curiosity ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"what exactly did i try to justify out of curiosity ?"

Your trying to say people should not be offended by the word...

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

no i didnt ...id never heard the rhyme in that context before ...read back

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"no i didnt ...id never heard the rhyme in that context before ...read back "

I see my bad sorry

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

as i said previously ...we are fishermen and you have quotas of how many fish you can catch on any trawl ...if you go over your limit some have to be threw back in the sea ....deciding which ones was always my understanding of it

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

According to Wiki the origins are in New York around 1918 and went

Hana, man, mona, mike;

Barcelona, bona, strike;

Hare, ware, frown, vanac;

Harrico, warico, we wo, wac.

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

now can you explain your understanding of the rhyme for the purposes of clarity

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It was always the N word when I was little, that was at a time when there used to be Golliwogs that you collected from jars of Robertsons jam and the Black & White Minstrels used to be on TV. We never knew any different then."

Exactly the same here but fortunately we grow and evolve and form our own options

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Exactly the same here but fortunately we grow and evolve and form our own options "

Or opinions even

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

the purpose of the rhyme from a fishing point of view is some of the fish will have died whilst on board your vessel so seek out them that are still alive to put back ...what is the logic behind the other rhyme ?

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

We always used eenie meenie when we were trying to decide who was 'it' first at tag or something similar.

I use it when I need to decide which sweet to eat but don't want a commitment!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We always said catch the squirrel by the toe.,

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By *iss_Samantha_LovecockTV/TS
over a year ago

bmth /poole sometimes blandford

anyone remember.. Love Thy Neighbor very funny with the snowflake and nig-nog dialogue ..different times . lets not get to hung upon a word

theres white racists and black racists

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"anyone remember.. Love Thy Neighbor very funny with the snowflake and nig-nog dialogue ..different times . lets not get to hung upon a word

theres white racists and black racists

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"There is a racist version, with the line grab the nigger by the toe.

However as I kid I always knew it as grab a fisher by the toe.

Jeremy Clarkson got into a spot of bother about it."
I always knew it as 'Grab a tinker by the toe.'

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By *eerobCouple
over a year ago

solihull

"what exactly did i try to justify out of curiosity ?

Your trying to say people should not be offended by the word..."

Wouldnt that be a good thing if nobody was offended?

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

"How racist people were"

How can people be racist if they have never heard the version with the new word in it?

We used to say nipper when we sang it as kids. Kids aren't inherently racist. It's a learned behaviour formed later in life.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When I was younger we used to say that rhyme, but when your young the n word is just a word you don't know its racist and I'm sure in many playgrounds now it is still said.

Baa baa black sheep is also supposed to be racist and I'm sure there's many other racist rhymes. But look how many songs hip hop, raps etc use the n word and many other derogatory words and it's people of coloured origin that use these terms

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

"How racist people were

How can people be racist if they have never heard the version with the new word in it?

We used to say nipper when we sang it as kids. Kids aren't inherently racist. It's a learned behaviour formed later in life. "

I agree, a person isn't racist "just" for repeating a word. Especially when most of those people would have been children, with no concept of what the word was about.

On the other hand, the "N" word is used massively in modern (c)rap music, by people who claim to be offended by it.... there's nothing like sending folk mixed messages.

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By *eerobCouple
over a year ago

solihull

"as i said previously ...we are fishermen and you have quotas of how many fish you can catch on any trawl ...if you go over your limit some have to be threw back in the sea ....deciding which ones was always my understanding of it "

Not saying you are not correct but why fisher... and in your version is it by the toe. Wouldn't a fisher be someone who catches fish? I could understand that and then the toe reference makes sense.

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By *alandNitaCouple
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

Not saying you are not correct but why fisher... and in your version is it by the toe. Wouldn't a fisher be someone who catches fish? I could understand that and then the toe reference makes sense. "

How much sense does "Eeenie Meenie Miney Moe" make .... lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It makes as much sense as Ibble obble black bobble ibble obble out

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By *onitoMan
over a year ago

Milton of Campsie

And at the same time we used to hide under the covers if the klu klux klan appeared on the black and white tv

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As kids we were always told catch a piggy by it's toe. If it squeals let him go.

Seemed to make sense with the squealing part if u know what I mean.

Very interesting about the fishing one and the meaning behind that version.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

We used catch a nipper by its toe, I have heard the other n word used when we where kids and it wasn't classed as raciest then. However, if you where to use it today it would be racist.

Jay has a poster from one of his grandfathers music hall and the buy who was head as the bill used the catch phrase the funny n*****, so was he racist to himself?

Times change and we can't be held responsible for things from the past that we where ignorant off

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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in North Norfolk

How do you feel about black people using the word, OP?

Surely that can't be acceptable either? And yet it's prolific. Do you lecture black people too? Do you write to rappers and scold them?

I don't use the word. I don't use that rhyme. I am as offended by being lectured on here about not doing something I don't do, as you are that some people do this.

As for golliwogs with marmalade, as a child I saw those as characters. I didn't equate them with black people. I grew up in an environment with very few black people, in an area that was (and still can be) quite racist. However, I never saw black people as any different to me. I'll always say something if I encounter racism in my daily life.

So thanks all the same but I don't need you to tell me how to behave.

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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in North Norfolk

I had some of Enid Blyton's golliwog books. Again, I never equated the characters with black people. They were dolls, characters in a story and had no more significance to me than Pooh bear, Noddy or the Clangers.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

I have golliwog jam jar plaques on my kitchen wall, I also had a golliwog knitted doll someone made me, if that makes me racist then shoot me

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By *rightonsteveMan
over a year ago

Brighton - even Hove!

The word 'nigger' originates from the Latin 'niger' meaning black. I've heard the word in rap songs. It's deemed to be racist now but not back whenever. Society and expectations change. I used the term 'golly' once as an ironic old fashioned term of surprise and got accused of being racist. It's pointless arguing with stupid people.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

nigger is also a form of the word negro - i used to sing the rhyme and it was never in an offensive way just another form of ip dip doo to choose soemthing

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By *ee VianteWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in North Norfolk

I recall when I had my tonsils out, when I was about 7, one of the nursing staff was black.

To me he was the nice nurse who brought me ice cream in the early hours of the morning because my throat was sore. I noticed he was black, obviously, but it meant no more to me than noticing someone is tall, or has blue eyes.

If I referred to that nurse, before I knew his name, (Phillip), I'd have said the one who brought me ice cream.

And that was having grown up with openly racist family members. I didn't see a difference so their attitude made no sense to me and I dismissed it.

To me, some of the most racist people these days are the ones who use being part of an ethnic group as some kind of points scoring card or a means to get what they want.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It makes as much sense as Ibble obble black bobble ibble obble out"
lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I had a phone call from the head teacher recently because my son was caught shouting the "n" word and jumping up and down.

I was told if it happens again the incident would have to be reported to the board of governors. It's one of the few words they have to report.

My son makes up words all the time. He is five. He has autism.

So they hauled him into the head's office and told him not to do that again.

Unfortunately that's the best way to get my son to do something over and over - tell him not to do it. Gah!!!

And he either made the word up or got it from school as we've never used that word at home and the only TV that goes on at home is cbeebies...

Can you tell I was the tiniest bit annoyed? I wonder if they even tried to explain the concept of racism to him?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Blimey, our version was

Eanie Meanie Miny Moe

Put the baby on the po

When its done wipe its bum

With a peice if chewing gum!

I never did understand it!!

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By *onitoMan
over a year ago

Milton of Campsie

"I had a phone call from the head teacher recently because my son was caught shouting the "n" word and jumping up and down.

I was told if it happens again the incident would have to be reported to the board of governors. It's one of the few words they have to report.

My son makes up words all the time. He is five. He has autism.

So they hauled him into the head's office and told him not to do that again.

Unfortunately that's the best way to get my son to do something over and over - tell him not to do it. Gah!!!

And he either made the word up or got it from school as we've never used that word at home and the only TV that goes on at home is cbeebies...

Can you tell I was the tiniest bit annoyed? I wonder if they even tried to explain the concept of racism to him?

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By *ibbyhunterCouple
over a year ago

keighley

"Blimey, our version was

Eanie Meanie Miny Moe

Put the baby on the po

When its done wipe its bum

With a peice if chewing gum!

I never did understand it!!

our version too.

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By *risky_MareWoman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

"The word 'nigger' originates from the Latin 'niger' meaning black. I've heard the word in rap songs. It's deemed to be racist now but not back whenever. Society and expectations change. I used the term 'golly' once as an ironic old fashioned term of surprise and got accused of being racist. It's pointless arguing with stupid people. "

Yes I am very anti political correctness, it's about the spirit not the word, and some people take offence at things in a knee jerk way. But I was talking to a very good friend who is black and was moved by something he said. I remember getting golliwog badges from the robertsons jam labels as a child, and I remember the golliwog on the factory building which was near my friends home.

I never mentioned it but he told me one day how demeaned and literally HURT he felt at the sight of the golliwog doll, and despite my innocence, I felt quite ashamed! I'd never thought of it from that perspective.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Always used to say tigger, never ever used other word

Was tough it as tigger.

Can always use

Ip,dip,do if trying to eliminate a person from being it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Taught. Not tough

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By (user no longer on site)
Forum Mod
over a year ago

""Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" is it racist ?

You are 50 years old

I'm surprised you have to ask the question

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Context is all important, making something taboo give it power.

Hiphop ect using the word is about owning a word that historically hurt them. Yet if you've ever seen the famous Chris rock black civil war stand up routine he says I love black people but I hat niggers.

That shows even in that community its a word that divides opinion.

Personally nigger, chink and paki are words id love to banish into room 101. Hurtful, racist, generic words that will always cause offence no matter the context

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By *evaquitCouple
over a year ago

Catthorpe

"Context is all important, making something taboo give it power.

That shows even in that community its a word that divides opinion.

Personally nigger, chink and paki are words id love to banish into room 101. Hurtful, racist, generic words that will always cause offence no matter the context "

Well said, we like this.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And yet strangely paki is now being used by Pakistanis to describe themselves although only they can use it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

""Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" is it racist ?

Just swap a few words and its fine

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Context is all important, making something taboo give it power.

That shows even in that community its a word that divides opinion.

Personally nigger, chink and paki are words id love to banish into room 101. Hurtful, racist, generic words that will always cause offence no matter the context "

While I agree some words are bad my daughter boyfriend is black and he uses the word nigger often, just out of interest why is it OK for a black person to call another a nigger but if any other colour did its racist?

That's not me trying to justify the word by the way its a word I would never use bit it just interests me

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

See I struggle with understanding why abbreviations like Paki and Jap are considered offensive whereas Brit or Scot are absolutely fine

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By *verysmileMan
over a year ago

Canterbury

"See I struggle with understanding why abbreviations like Paki and Jap are considered offensive whereas Brit or Scot are absolutely fine"

Probably because these words have been linguistically hijacked by racists and that nowmmakes them unacceptable.

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By *londeCazWoman
over a year ago

Arse End of the Universe, Cumbria

Eeny meeny miney mo

Catch a tiger by the toe

If it hollers let it go

Eeny meny miney mo

This was the version used by Arse End folk tho I have also heard the baby on a po version...

I too was unaware that "nigger" was in common usage until the Clarkson hoo-hah. I agree it is a word with huge racist connotations and the song and dance about it has maybe brought it back to the fore so that racists can use it again.

Using this thread as a bit of a straw poll, it seems there's many that never used the rhyme with nigger in it...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We are fortunate in this country and many other countries around the world in that we as a society have the ability to own a word such as gay... when I was growing up it was used in a derogatory sense for homosexuals now luckily it is used in a good way, fortunate as it is black people are starting to do the same with the word nigga... eventually it will not be a nasty hateful term but rather a inclusive word and hopefully so will the term paki, yid and other such spiteful words. Until then it shows more about the person using it that the person it is used against. Personal opinion only

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When I was a kid it was a tinker we grabbed by the toe. Never heard anyone say n*****!

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By *awty MaxWoman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

"See I struggle with understanding why abbreviations like Paki and Jap are considered offensive whereas Brit or Scot are absolutely fine"

I understand what you mean.

I get called a Frenchie, a Frog, a snail eater or whatever else because I am French. Been called a Slut too and a Black slut!

It is all in my opinion about the context and how it is used.

There are very famous French black poets that have used the 'N' word without the poem being offensive.

It is all in the context. That's my opinion anyway.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I don't believe it is.

And the Clarkson thing was ridiculous.

I didn't say anything nor did it even air.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"See I struggle with understanding why abbreviations like Paki and Jap are considered offensive whereas Brit or Scot are absolutely fine"

Paki was used a derogatory term for anyone from that region regardless whether they were from Pakistan or not. Children didn't used to sing rhymes about Brit bashing in school. It was a term of abuse not endearment. It's a dreadful word and it was used in a way as to cause offence and intimidate.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've never heard of it till Jeremy Clarkson never said it, our version where I am from is"inky pinky pear plum, stick a banana up ya bum"

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"See I struggle with understanding why abbreviations like Paki and Jap are considered offensive whereas Brit or Scot are absolutely fine

It may have been where you grew up but it wasn't in Glasgow and we had a lot of immigrants from Pakistan in the sixties

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