Nignogs
Back to the late 70's.
It was in the geography lesson that our teacher, Mr.(Lenny) Piper called young Indian student Zia a silly nignog.
Zia told his father what had happened and he was, understandably, rather upset by this racist outburst. An appointment to see the headmaster was made and Mr Piper was called in.
Mr Gibson, the headmaster, asked Mr. Piper if he'd called the lad a "Nignog"
"Probably", said Lenny P, "I've got a classroom full of them"
Much jaw drapping in Mr G.s office
"Not that your son usually is one, he's generally one of the brighter ones"
The penny suddenly dropped - good old Lenny P genuinely had no idea there was a racist side to his comment. The term nignog was, in Lennys younger days, simply a term for an idiot or fool.
He was an old fashioned teacher, smart suit, polished shoes, perfectly knotted tie and black cloak. I doubt he'd ever watched Love Thy Neighbour and I wouldn't imagine that his circle of friends would use racist language.
Zia's father listed to the headmasters explanation of the situation and could tell by Mr Pipers reaction to the accusation that he meant nothing by it.
That was it. Lenny, even though he couldn't see what the fuss was all about, apologised and everyone went away happy.

Can't imagine such a quick and amicable end to that nowadays.

Lenny could rarely remember names and refered to the girls as Jemima and the boys as willyboy. Willy boy!!!
(daveduke67, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 10:26, 5 replies)

Hmm
I have lots of niggers in my class!
(mpaz52, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 10:50, closed)

Ha ha
Willy boy .... I'm going to use that !
( Ramsay Tupper, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 11:20, closed)

like bollocks that's what it meant.

(foxy01, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 15:47, closed)

Blimey, you must be terribly clever be able to know the intent of a comment you never heard, made over thirty years ago. Can you tell from the intonation of the typing?

The term nig-nog was used to refer to someone clumsy or uncoordinated long before it was used as a racist term.
(Cave Duck, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 20:15, closed)

In the southwest of Ireland
especially Cork city, it's customary to refer to a male friend or colleague as "boy"
as in "alright boy, how're things?"

Picture the scene, a New York diner, 4 Cork waiters, 6 Jamacian chefs, with long knives and short tempers. That was a lot of explaining.
(knackerz is skinning up, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 8:48, closed)