Tales of the Guido
 

I was in 8th grade, in Math class (musta' been late 1992 or early 93). The class had just finished taking a test. When all the tests were handed in, we had about 10 minutes left... so the class played SCRABBLE. Whoever spelled a word first "won"... and I think it was for extra credit pts on the test or something to that effect.

Well... I won. I raised my hand. I'll never forget the frown on Mrs. Holt's face.

She said, "That is NOT a word." and then proceeded to award me no extra credit pts, and continue on with the game. I said, "Umm... well it IS a word. I've seen it, or heard it somewhere. I even spelled it right."... She said "It's not a word, that doesn't count."

Frustrated, I left class feeling as if I'd done something wrong.

So what was the word? Guido. That's right. Guido. It's a f**king word, madam.

True story. :nod:

My ex just posted something similar on Facebook, in 9th grade he failed a paper for plagiarizing. He's always had a sick vocabulary but the teacher just didn't believe they were his words - they were!

Although I looked up guido online and I don't think it is a word but Guido is a name. Maybe she was offended?

:laugh:

Yeah I guess it is slang. But, a word nevertheless...

Perhaps she was offended..? I reckon I'll never know. I just remembered the whole scenario while talking with some workmates; and it always irked me, and made me laugh at the same time.

And that's why it can't be used in Scrabble.

Is it an American term? I know it's a name but I guess it has another meaning?

Edit: I just looked it up on Urban Dictionary. It sounds kinda offensive but I don't know how people take it over in the US.

Ahh! See, that I didn't know. But Mrs. Teacher didn't say because it's a name it's against the rules of Scrabble. She simply said it's not a word and went on the game.

Aren't names technically words..? You know... without getting into a semantic argument and all :laugh:

She should have been more frank with you and said something like, "It's a slang word so it can't be used." She sounds like she was a bit "buttoned up".

Here in the Boston area guido is derogatory for Italian-American guys you might find at the clubs who have less than stellar manners, to put it mildly. Like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, except without the good dance moves. ;) So I can sort of see why a certain type of 8th grade teacher would get bunched up about it. But still, get a grip lady.

Well it was kinda' like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"... saying "FUDGE"... :laugh:

I don't know where I heard it, nor did I know what it meant, at the time. I definitely didn't mean it in a derogatory way otherwise I probably would've passed on raising my hand. Oh well. ;)

Speaking of Fudge...

:laugh:


:lol:


:nod:

As a native New Yorker, I can certainly confirm that Long Island, along with much of the tri-state area, is teeming with guidos.

And for those who think that its a discriminatory catch-all term for Italian Americans, please think again...(guidos in their natural habitat)

+10 That's them! :lol: