consensus on the word "gypped"?

[Anonymous]

Gypsy isn't a race. It's a term used to describe an itinerant lifestyle and can be (and has been) used to describe any race or ethicity. Just because it has been used to describe the Roma doesn't mean that using the term s a racial against them.

The contemporary use of the word primarily relates to a free spirit lifestyle. My friend who has lived in a dozen states, had a million jobs and screwed tons of men refers to herself as a gypsy (proudly)...and she's the whitest white girl I know.

Relax white people....we have plenty to feel sorry about, but using the word gypped isn't on the list.

And the idiotic PP who compared it to "Jew me down" needs to get a grip...not comparable at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 20:50 - People aren't being racist. No one is saying cruel things about the Roma people...that would be racist. But making comments about the word gypsy which currently is interpreted to mean people who travel from place to place running schemes, scams and committing burglaries doesn't equate to racism. Gypsy isn't a race.

No, Gypsy isn't a race. "Gypsy" is the word people in the US usually use to mean "Roma", although not (as I understand it) the word the Roma would like people to use. The fact that Fleetwood Mac had a song called "Gypsy" doesn't make this any less true.

No, most people don't use it to mean "Roma" Bet most people would think you meant Roman and left of the n. By Gypsy they are thinking of tarot card readers, long skirts, gold hope earrings. Some people may use the term gypsy to refer to "travelers" the scammers that want to pave your driveway or steal stuff during an open house.

[Anonymous]

This thread just makes me want to use the term "gypped" all the more. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most people who use it have no idea it is a slur.

Yup. It's one of those words that is more often spoken so people don't even realize how it's spelled therefore how it could be offensive.

I think people don't realize it is a slur because we have zero (anyone?) gypsies here in the U.S. In Romania, it (the equivalent in Romanian) is likely an intentional slur!

[Anonymous]

Well this is the US, so I don't think we need to worry about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 20:50 - People aren't being racist. No one is saying cruel things about the Roma people...that would be racist. But making comments about the word gypsy which currently is interpreted to mean people who travel from place to place running schemes, scams and committing burglaries doesn't equate to racism. Gypsy isn't a race.

No, Gypsy isn't a race. "Gypsy" is the word people in the US usually use to mean "Roma", although not (as I understand it) the word the Roma would like people to use. The fact that Fleetwood Mac had a song called "Gypsy" doesn't make this any less true.

No, most people don't use it to mean "Roma" Bet most people would think you meant Roman and left of the n. By Gypsy they are thinking of tarot card readers, long skirts, gold hope earrings. Some people may use the term gypsy to refer to "travelers" the scammers that want to pave your driveway or steal stuff during an open house.

In other words, people use the word "gypsy" to refer to Gypsies (aka Roma).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gypsy isn't a race. It's a term used to describe an itinerant lifestyle and can be (and has been) used to describe any race or ethicity. Just because it has been used to describe the Roma doesn't mean that using the term s a racial against them.

The contemporary use of the word primarily relates to a free spirit lifestyle. My friend who has lived in a dozen states, had a million jobs and screwed tons of men refers to herself as a gypsy (proudly)...and she's the whitest white girl I know.

Relax white people....we have plenty to feel sorry about, but using the word gypped isn't on the list.

And the idiotic PP who compared it to "Jew me down" needs to get a grip...not comparable at all.

I'm sorry but it's pretty much the exact same thing-- it's a minority group that people think is cheating you. The suggestion that gypsy has no meaning now except "free-spirit" is more idiotic.

[Anonymous]

I think we should be more concerned about how offended Chinese & Mexicans must be when we order Sweet & Sour Chicken or a Taco Bell Grande.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most people who use it have no idea it is a slur.

Yup. It's one of those words that is more often spoken so people don't even realize how it's spelled therefore how it could be offensive.

I think people don't realize it is a slur because we have zero (anyone?) gypsies here in the U.S. In Romania, it (the equivalent in Romanian) is likely an intentional slur!

Yes, we do have Gypsies, right here in the US!

http://smithsonianeducation.org/migrations/gyp/gypstart.html
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2025316,00.html
http://www.voanews.com/content/for-roma-life-in-us-has-challenges-119394819/163156.html
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/05/15/is_my_big_fat_gypsy_wedding_unfair_to_the_roma_community_.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 20:50 - People aren't being racist. No one is saying cruel things about the Roma people...that would be racist. But making comments about the word gypsy which currently is interpreted to mean people who travel from place to place running schemes, scams and committing burglaries doesn't equate to racism. Gypsy isn't a race.

No, Gypsy isn't a race. "Gypsy" is the word people in the US usually use to mean "Roma", although not (as I understand it) the word the Roma would like people to use. The fact that Fleetwood Mac had a song called "Gypsy" doesn't make this any less true.

No, most people don't use it to mean "Roma" Bet most people would think you meant Roman and left of the n. By Gypsy they are thinking of tarot card readers, long skirts, gold hope earrings. Some people may use the term gypsy to refer to "travelers" the scammers that want to pave your driveway or steal stuff during an open house.

In other words, people use the word "gypsy" to refer to Gypsies (aka Roma).

So, last poster, you are saying all Roma woman read tarot cards, wear long skirts, and gold hoop earnings? That is a pretty offensive generalization.

[Anonymous]

But it isn't a minority group! Just because YOU embrace an outdated stereotype when using the word doesn't mean the rest of American society uses the word in the same way.

And the fact that many people don't know the historical origin of the word --- as opposed to the universal understanding of the anti-Semitic phrase Jew me down --- makes your comparison hateful and truly idiotic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of words that used to be okay but that PC police have decided we can no longer use.

Shorter PP: I used to be able to offend people and get away with it. Ah, the good old days.

Can't say I've ever spoken to a gypsy. Not really worried about offending them.

[Anonymous]

http://smithsonianeducation.org/migrations/gyp/gypstart.html

The smithsonian link proves that the word gypsy is an adjective referring to a lifestyle as opposed to one ethnic group (note how several ethic groups hailing from a handful of countries are listed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 20:50 - People aren't being racist. No one is saying cruel things about the Roma people...that would be racist. But making comments about the word gypsy which currently is interpreted to mean people who travel from place to place running schemes, scams and committing burglaries doesn't equate to racism. Gypsy isn't a race.

No, Gypsy isn't a race. "Gypsy" is the word people in the US usually use to mean "Roma", although not (as I understand it) the word the Roma would like people to use. The fact that Fleetwood Mac had a song called "Gypsy" doesn't make this any less true.

No, most people don't use it to mean "Roma" Bet most people would think you meant Roman and left of the n. By Gypsy they are thinking of tarot card readers, long skirts, gold hope earrings. Some people may use the term gypsy to refer to "travelers" the scammers that want to pave your driveway or steal stuff during an open house.

In other words, people use the word "gypsy" to refer to Gypsies (aka Roma).

So, last poster, you are saying all Roma woman read tarot cards, wear long skirts, and gold hoop earnings? That is a pretty offensive generalization.

No, I am saying that people's stereotype of Gypsy (Roma) women is that they read tarot cards and wear long skirts and gold hoop earrings.

[Anonymous]

Um, wrong PP. How old are you? Five? That's a stereotypical Halloween costume...it's not the commonly accepted contemporary use of the adjective.