Gareth Magennis wrote:
"Ron" wrote in message
...
jakdedert wrote:
Gareth Magennis wrote:
"jakdedert" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
jakdedert wrote:
Ron wrote:
Arfa Daily wrote:

The blower and ball system is a lot more random than the current
computer system, which generates very definite patterns, no matter
what the bingo clubs would have you believe to the contrary.
Actually Arfa, it`s very easy for an experienced bingo caller to
manipulate games using the old blower machine. He can make games
last longer in slack periods or get them over quick when it`s busy,
and in bingo halls or stalls with fixed cards, a good operator can
direct the wins to various areas of the house - possibly even to
individual players. It was even easier to manipulate a game in the
earlier days of the game, where wooden balls were rolled down a
chute directed by the stallholder.

Ron(UK)

Listening to you teabags (I use the term affectionately) discuss
this, it's obvious that Bingo--however it's played there--is a lot
more mainstream than here. Here, it's played mostly by little old
ladies at church socials. That said, many casinos have Bingo rooms,
but I've never bothered to peek in. Possibly it's a different
demographic, but somehow I doubt it.
Oh well I come from a fairground family, I spent my childhood and
teens working on a fair. My grounding in electrickery was maintaining
slot machines, later manufacturing them on a small scale. As a yoof, I
spent many hours 'geeing'[1] on the various stalls, including several
bingos.

Ron

[1] playing for nothing, pretending to be a punter to encourage others
to play. " Another Winner!"
Do they have the term 'carnie' over there? I think that's the closest
term to describe it. Unfortunately it has a somewhat seedy
connotation...no offense.

jak

Closest to that is "Pikey". i.e. "Gypsies", travellers, people with no
fixed abode, or those who live in caravans. Which includes those
working travelling fairs I guess. It also has a somewhat seedy
connotation, based on the belief that such people must, of course, be
criminals.


Gareth.

I think the operative part is 'itinerant', which defines carnies.
Fixed-base tourist attraction proprietors have a different cache
altogether...some good, some bad, but usually based on their own merits
without a stereotype. Most of the carnies I've met did (at least) skirt
the law. That's not to say that I've known all that many, but enough
to confirm the general opinion...at least IMM.
Certainly in the UK, fairground people aren't itinerant, most stall or
ride owners own houses (some of them quite spectacular). Fairgrounds in
the UK don't tour in the Winter apart from maybe Christmas time and there
are wintering grounds which have been established for many many years.
There may be a few who still winter in living vans but I expect they are
few these days.


Pikeys are a different kettle of fish altogether from both gypsies and
travellers.




Like a lot of definitions, including Gypsy, and Traveller, the term "Pikey"
has different meaning to different groups of people, and is constantly
evolving.
In the UK it is generally considered pretty offensive, given that its use is
intended primarily as an instrument of predudice and hate. Not that far
from the use of the word "Paki". (But of couse you have to take the
context and intent behind each actual use of the word rather than draw a
blanket conclusion as to its offensiveness).

I'm not sure how offensive "Carnie" is perceived in the US.


Gareth.


To the carnies themselves, probably not at all...maybe even a badge of
distinction. To others...well.

jak