I get it, the word "gypsy" is now offensive. But please don't equate it with the "n word".

[Anonymous]

Somebody better tell Cher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe not in North America. But in Europe it is definitely on the same level as the N word is here. And frankly, who are you to decide what's more offensive to respective minority?

this exactly.

So tired of others helpfully dictating to me the ranking order of offensiveness. If you are the son of two sharecroppers, by definition you have no experience with being the son of 4 grandparents who were made to walk the Trail of Tears at gunpoint. Stuff it

How can anyone be the son of 4 grandparents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The word gypsy isn't used exclusively to refer to the Roma. It has many commonly accepted uses in the English language.

+1

Not everyone thinks it is offensive, even among the Roma. Kinda more like Redskins than the N word, when you get right down to it.[/quote

My cousin married a Roma. This. She even calls herself gypsy from time to time.

Is it time for the "marginalized communities can self-identify and re-claim words as they wish" conversation again? Just because a member of a marginalized community uses a certain word does not mean it is not a slur.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone thinks it is offensive, even among the Roma. Kinda more like Redskins than the N word, when you get right down to it.

My cousin married a Roma. This. She even calls herself gypsy from time to time.

I think that's different. AAs's use of the "n" word is acceptable but doesn't mean non-AAs use the "n" word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not everyone thinks it is offensive, even among the Roma. Kinda more like Redskins than the N word, when you get right down to it.

My cousin married a Roma. This. She even calls herself gypsy from time to time.

I think that's different. AAs's use of the "n" word is acceptable but doesn't mean non-AAs use the "n" word.

One group of people isn't the same as another. It would be useful to ask the cousin, rather than extrapolate what she would or would not be offended, based on another group of people.

[Anonymous]

That's why we just call them Tinkers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is actually a TV show in England called "my Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" -- and that is a highly regulated tv market -- so no, nowhere remotely close to the "n" word, even in Europe. (And England does have gypsies/travelers who face discrimination etc)

That said, Michelle Obama said "gypped" a while back -- that's been considered offensive for a while now.

LOL

Sorry, but the imagery of our FLOTUS saying, "gypped" is hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's why we just call them Tinkers

As in SHET YER TINKER MOWF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gypsy just means a traveling people or a wanderer.

I have seem the Roma gypsies in DC metro stations with the fake babies and all. I also saw a lot of problems with them in Italy and France when I lived there (homelessness, leaving trash everywhere and stealing).

How dare you those were not fake babies they were drugged babies

[Anonymous]

Can we not "trail of tears" derail

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gypsy just means a traveling people or a wanderer.

I have seem the Roma gypsies in DC metro stations with the fake babies and all. I also saw a lot of problems with them in Italy and France when I lived there (homelessness, leaving trash everywhere and stealing).

How dare you those were not fake babies they were drugged babies

That's actually not true. "Gypsy" is a word that came from a mistaken impression of where the Roma/Sinti came from. Although many came to Europe via northern Africa, as an ethnic group they originated in Northern India. So, they migrated via what is now Egypt, and then Europeans started calling them Egyptians. That's where the gyp in gypsy comes from, and why they are called tsigani in most Slavic languages (from Egyptsia).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gypsy just means a traveling people or a wanderer.

I have seem the Roma gypsies in DC metro stations with the fake babies and all. I also saw a lot of problems with them in Italy and France when I lived there (homelessness, leaving trash everywhere and stealing).

How dare you those were not fake babies they were drugged babies

The one I saw often at Farragut West was plastic... but yes I've heard of drugged babies too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we not "trail of tears" derail

NP but people keep bring up the n word

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we not "trail of tears" derail

NP but people keep bring up the n word

It's in the thread title.

[Anonymous]

People can no more change their race/culture/heritage than they can change their sexual identity. Its not like choosing what clothes to wear in the morning!