Survivor 14

Alex · 05-15-2007, 06:58 AM

I'd say the ****** version is reasonably well known though, of course, not universally so. Especially among younger people. Non-****** versions of the rhyme long pre-date, but it was the dominant form of the poem in American for quite a while.

It was one of three pop-cultural uses of the word "******" I grew up with (though only used when very young before I even knew what the word meant. My mom straightened me out pretty quickly (because of IHOP, actually).

****** knocking (knocking on a door and running away)
****** toes (Brazil nuts)
"catch a ****** by his toe"

But it is one of those things that every once in a while gets someone in trouble for using it without being aware of how it is perceived by many American blacks. A few years ago a flight attendant used the rhyme (a clean version) and black passengers sued because they felt humiliated (I believe they lost).

I have no idea what Lisi intended, but for PR purposes with an all black final three it was at best an unfortunate choice.

Stan4dSteph · 05-15-2007, 07:46 AM

I've never heard the eeny meeny with "catch a ****** by his toe." Is it a regional thing? I grew up in Upstate NY.

05-15-2007, 06:58 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I'd say the **** version is reasonably well known though, of course, not universally so. Especially among younger people. Non-** versions of the rhyme long pre-date, but it was the dominant form of the poem in American for quite a while. It was one of three pop-cultural uses of the word "**" I grew up with (though only used when very young before I even knew what the word meant. My mom straightened me out pretty quickly (because of IHOP, actually). ** knocking (knocking on a door and running away) ** toes (Brazil nuts) "catch a **** by his toe" But it is one of those things that every once in a while gets someone in trouble for using it without being aware of how it is perceived by many American blacks. A few years ago a flight attendant used the rhyme (a clean version) and black passengers sued because they felt humiliated (I believe they lost). I have no idea what Lisi intended, but for PR purposes with an all black final three it was at best an unfortunate choice.
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05-15-2007, 07:46 AM	#2
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	I've never heard the eeny meeny with "catch a ****** by his toe." Is it a regional thing? I grew up in Upstate NY.
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