Quick Racism Question

Dylan_James

Gypos? Is that an offensive racist term?

The reason I am asking is that on our company's intraweb there is a discussion board where someone has stated:

"It's not like we're gypos or can't afford it - we do have jobs." in relation to the lack of free drinks at the Christmas party.

Dizzyblonde

I would consider it racist. And particularly ignorant too.

Rob_l

yes it is go on hunger strike in protest

6th

Sure its an intranet so its not accessable by the general public? If you find it offensive then mention it to someone, if you dont then surely someone who is offended by it will report it.

Senna

Everything is Racist now and yes i'm sure Gypos is racist. Not a good idea on a work forum.

SuperSean11

Well theres a band called The Starving Gypos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starving_Gypo%27s

So it cant be to racial

TwoShedsJackson

In the context used there it was obviously meant to be an insult. 'Pikey' is the accepted nomenclature these days.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Yes I'd consider it racist, its also a stupid and ignorant thing to say.

However the lack of free drinks at a Christmas office party concern's me more, name & shame this place you work.

Terry

Dylan_James wrote: »

Gypos? Is that an offensive racist term?

The reason I am asking is that on our company's intraweb there is a discussion board where someone has stated:

"It's not like we're gypos or can't afford it - we do have jobs." in relation to the lack of free drinks at the Christmas party.

In that context, yes.

Ciaran500

Gypsies are a race?

daveharnett

Given the context, definately yes.

Thing is, travellers are the only ethnic minority against whom racism is considered acceptable by most people. Frankly, until they lose the culture of omerta and stop protecting the criminals in their community, i'm not going to shed any tears for them.

togster

Do gypsies have slang names for each other, like you whats up gypo or do they refer to each other as pikeys?

Rob_l

togster wrote: »

Do gypsies have slang names for each other, like you whats up gypo or do they refer to each other as pikeys?

I believe they have this strange custom of naming their children and then in bizarro world fashion refer to these offspring using these assigned names

arseagon

Rob_l wrote: »

I believe they have this strange custom of naming their children and then in bizarro world fashion refer to these offspring using these assigned names

Now that's just downright odd.

Senna

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Well theres a band called The Starving Gypos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starving_Gypo%27s

So it cant be to racial

Hardly think thats a good argument, what about the band **** With Attitude, doesn't make that term any less racist.

super_furry

I'd associate it with Bohemians fans, so while not racist, it's a terrible, terrible insult.

daveharnett

togster wrote: »

Do gypsies have slang names for each other, like you whats up gypo or do they refer to each other as pikeys?

I have heard a travellers refer to another traveller as a knacker in a derogitory way. In general though, the persecution complex is far too strong.

togster

Rob_l wrote: »

I believe they have this strange custom of naming their children and then in bizarro world fashion refer to these offspring using these assigned names

Most are called pa or nelly, so how do they distinguish?

_blank_

super_furry wrote: »

I'd associate it with Bohemians fans, so while not racist, it's a terrible, terrible insult.

True that.

Dyr

has there ever been a quick racism question here

Someone call me when this hit's page 6

LadyJ

[sings in culchie accent] Jimmy looked at her with a twinkle in his eye,
sayin' a gypo gave me this for you, it's a surprise. He said who wears it will live contentedly, providin' that they don't tell any lies.

And he handed her a blue green bangle....[/sings in culchie accent]

godtabh

Senna wrote: »

Hardly think thats a good argument, what about the band **** With Attitude, doesn't make that term any less racist.

Thats why the N word cant be used at all. It cant be ok for one race to use it and not another.

Pigman II

togster wrote: »

Do gypsies have slang names for each other, like you whats up gypo or do they refer to each other as pikeys?

I was watching that movie Pavee Lackeen recently so to answer your question "I've absolutely no idea" cos I couldn't make out a word they were saying.

Degsy

Gyppos was actually first coined in relation to egyptians,not gypsies.irish travellers arent gypsies anyway so none of it makes any sense.

justsomebloke

if it is posted on your company intranet then it really is a stupid thing to say as chances are that it will get who ever posted a trip to HR to explain the actions

just remember kids racism is all fun and games untill some one makes a complaint

Lux23

Degsy wrote: »

Gyppos was actually first coined in relation to egyptians,not gypsies.irish travellers arent gypsies anyway so none of it makes any sense.

Well that depends on your definition of gypsy.

As a rule of thumb if you have to ask if something is racist, it probably is. If your man had said 'its not like we are all blacks .. we have jobs' he could have been sacked.

GhostInTheRuins

jsb wrote: »

just remember kids racism is all fun and games untill some one makes a complaint

Haha, that made my day

cance

lets just hope these "gypo" folks dont learn to read!

arybvtcw0eolkf

cance wrote: »

lets just hope these "gypo" folks dont learn to read!

I beg your pardon?.

[insert controversial, unfunny link between gypo's and begging underneath quote of Mairt's post here]

Mairt

Mairt wrote: »

Yes I'd consider it racist, its also a stupid and ignorant thing to say

Also, regarding this quote above..........I think you're attitude reeks of double standards when you take offense at the word "gypo" but find other, equally as rascist words fine.......
Link and another link here

togster

Watch it or he will kick the sh !t out of you

LadyJ

Deleted User wrote: »

Also, regarding this quote above..........I think you're attitude reeks of double standards when you take offense at the word "gypo" but find other, equally as rascist words fine.......
Link and another link here

Tbh, he was referring to the food, rather than the people... Though I guess it's still derived from the racism aspect.....Ah it's too hard to be PC these days!

Abortions for some, miniture american flags for others!

Degsy

Deleted User wrote: »

Also, regarding this quote above..........I think you're attitude reeks of double standards when you take offense at the word "gypo" but find other, equally as rascist words fine.......
Link and another link here

Oh for ****s sake..has anybody got anything better to do these days?:rolleyes:

cance

Mairt wrote: »

I beg your pardon?.

no need to beg mate, what can i clear up for you?

justsomebloke

Degsy wrote: »

Oh for ****s sake..has anybody got anything better to do these days?:rolleyes:

do you really think if any of us had anything better to do that we would still be posting here

Degsy

Degsy wrote: »

Oh for ****s sake..has anybody got anything better to do these days?:rolleyes:

Sorry degsy, I didn't deliberately go trawling through Mairt's posts looking for occasions where he was blatantly racist, it's just that i remember seeing the first link at the time and thinking "I can't believe the PC brigade haven't jumped all over him for that"

I personally couldn't give a flying f*ck what he or anyone elses uses to describe different ethnicities (or i would have reported the post at the time) but i do think it's a bit rich for him to admonish someone else for using racist terminology towards one minority group while engaging in the same behaviour himself.

The Novacastrian

PC sh1t drives me mad, so do gypos and knackers;)

arybvtcw0eolkf

Deleted User wrote: »

Also, regarding this quote above..........I think you're attitude reeks of double standards when you take offense at the word "gypo" but find other, equally as rascist words fine.......
Link and another link here

I always wondered....

How do you do those linky thingies?.

Com'on man, share it with a brother dude

The easiest way is to type the word that you want to be clickable, highlight it, and then click on the "insert link" button and paste the destination link into the pop-up box.

MagicMarker

That's disgraceful!!!!!

Gypos can afford a lot more than most would think.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker wrote: »

That's disgraceful!!!!!

Gypos can afford a lot more than most would think.

That is true.

Has anyone ever been to the Tuam graveyard (or alternatively any graveyard where Travellers are buried). Their graves are immense, some with marble life-size versions of the Virgin Mary

EamonnKeane

Rob_l wrote: »

I believe they have this strange custom of naming their children and then in bizarro world fashion refer to these offspring using these assigned names

They don't actaully. A gypsy's mother chooses a name and then tells no-one, because demons or some crap'd get you if they knew your true name. So all gypsy names are technically nicknames.

Degsy wrote: »

Gyppos was actually first coined in relation to egyptians,not gypsies.irish travellers arent gypsies anyway so none of it makes any sense.

No, it was because it used be thought they came from Egypt. (They actually derive from India, although they didn't even know that, it took clever linguists who live in houses to work this out)