# Airline sued for "eeny meenie miney mo" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 11, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352 "2003-02-11T15:10:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/41 "2003-02-11T17:32:23Z")
I learned the “nigger” version of eeny meenie, but always thought it was “neeger”. In primary school I didn’t know what either meant, but it sounded like neeger, so that’s what I always said. The revelation came when I was 16 and a teacher told me that the “tiger” version was better. I didn’t know what was more embarrassing - having my teacher think I was racist, or that I was an idiot who recited rhymes with words I didn’t understand. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/42 "2003-02-11T17:35:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sperfur \* > \*\*I use the term ‘Jimmy-rig’ occasionally. Does that mean I’m discriminating against people named Jimmy? > \*\* Yes. You must now be wallopped. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/43 "2003-02-11T17:42:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sperfur \* > **I use the term ‘Jimmy-rig’ occasionally. Does that mean I’m discriminating against people named Jimmy?** Well, originally the phrase was “Jerry-rig.” It was coined by the English…and you should know that “Jerry” was a British epithet used against the Germans during The Wars. Get yer apologizin’ boots on! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/44 "2003-02-11T17:43:28Z")
Where are our resident lawyers here? How can they sue? How have they suffered damages? Is being offended considered ‘damage’ now? Are they claiming to traumatized by the incident? Really, I’m asking. What do they have a legal claim to recover? **Minty**? **Bricker**? ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/45 "2003-02-11T17:50:52Z")
Another for the database: born in '64, raised in da Bronx, where frankly there were plenty of things to offend every sense and sensibility, learned only the tiger version. Heard about the n version when I was in my twenties, but it would not have occured to me if I overheard that flight attendent. How old are the people suing and where are they from? ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/46 "2003-02-11T17:52:59Z")
Never mind, it was in the link. But the stewardess was 22–odds are she simply never HEARD the racist version, and besides it seems to have been a SW thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/47 "2003-02-11T17:53:20Z")
I learned (small town Georgia, late 50’s or early 60’s) “catch a \*monkey[/] by his toe.” I’ve never heard the “tiger” version before today. Interesting. Although I guess “monkey” could be construed by some as insulting also. I’ve always said "jury-rigged, " thus (I guess) insulting juries all over the country. _Sigh_… ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/48 "2003-02-11T17:58:54Z")
When I was a kid I learned the “tiger” version, but in one of the Mary Poppins books they used “Indian” (or perhaps it was “Injun”). ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/49 "2003-02-11T18:05:06Z")
Ok, I only PRETEND to be able to code. …must remember… preview… is… my… friend… sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/50 "2003-02-11T18:06:07Z")
I always liked the version from _Natural Born Killers_, “Catch a redneck by his toe.” Having grown up in the South, that version made me smile. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/51 "2003-02-11T18:12:23Z")
The n-word version is the one used in 1949’s _Kind Hearts and Coronets_. Agatha Christie used the n-word a lot…once she had a character that the cook would have a really _rich_ nigger-in-his-shirt at lunch. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/52 "2003-02-11T18:13:30Z")
I mean the character _hoped_ that the cook ect. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/53 "2003-02-11T18:13:40Z")
Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but it seems to me like the stewardess wasn’t even addressing the two black passengers specifically, rather making an announcement to the whole plane. If these were the only people still standing perhaps it makes a difference but it’s still ridiculous that someone could be chastized for racism for something that’s had its racism removed. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/54 "2003-02-11T18:16:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by auntie em \* > \*\*That said, I hate the little songs and rhymes on Southwest Airlines. Once the flight attendant sang a little made-up ditty to the tune of “Rockin’ Robin” that was annoying as hell. \*\* But… but… but, that’s why I _like_ bumpin’-and-grindin’ my ass to the turbulence tango on Southwest’s planes. They’re funny! I hope a friggin’ tiger eats your toes. And then travels back home to Asia on a Southwest flight so that the torture (at least for the toes) continues. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/55 "2003-02-11T18:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RenMan \* > \*\*Hey, good thing the stewardess didn’t say: > > “Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posy, asses, asses, must all be sat down!!” > > Because there might have been some bubonic plague sufferers on board. > > 🙂 \*\* You better be [careful.](http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/11/07/ny.plague/) You never know. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/56 "2003-02-11T18:30:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RenMan \* > \*\*Hey, good thing the stewardess didn’t say: > > “Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posy, asses, asses, must all be sat down!!” > > Because there might have been some bubonic plague sufferers on board. > > 🙂 \*\* Unless they were [Snopes readers.](http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.htm) Then they’d be okay. 😉 _::d&r::_ ---
**Author:** ![RenMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@RenMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RenMan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/57 "2003-02-11T18:41:42Z")
> [@](#): > > posted by SkipMagic > Unless they were Snopes readers. Then they’d be okay. Doh! I need to commit a weekend to reading Snopes’ entire content. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/58 "2003-02-11T19:23:48Z")
Irish here, born mid 70’s. I grew up with the “catch a nigger by the toe” version. Didn’t have a clue what a “nigger” might be, and never wondered about it. Didn’t know what “posies” were either, but I sang that as well. It was only when (a few years ago) I read the “tiger” version in a book that I registered what I had actually been singing all those years ago. Tacky, but I have worse things on my conscience. ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/59 "2003-02-11T19:39:28Z")
The real question here is how do you go about catching a person (of any heritage) or a tiger (or any other animal, really), by the toe? A very small snare, I suppose. But then, what are the chances of a toe actually happening to slip into such a device? And then, once thusly ensnared, how difficult would it be to escape? No, no, no. Toe-catching clearly will not work. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352/60 "2003-02-11T19:59:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ReservoirDog \* > **The real question here is how do you go about catching a person (of any heritage) or a tiger (or any other animal, really), by the toe?** My cat does it by waiting until I’m asleep and pouncing on anything moving under the blankets. She has caught toes on occasion, although hands are more common. I don’t think this would work on a tiger. I catch my cat’s toes by luring them onto my lap, using one hand on the ears and the other to nab the little kitty toes. This might work on a tiger, but I’m not going to test the theory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-sued-for-eeny-meenie-miney-mo/154352.md?page=4)