I'm a traveller- AMA

[Pinkyyy]

I was actually asked on another post to start this thread, I've been debating the idea for a while but usually decide not to because I've seen threads like this turn sour before. Hopefully I can avoid that and actually provide information and educate people on a way of life they may well know very little about.

I invite you to ask any questions you may have, and I will do my best to answer them all honestly. I ask that you don't bother to comment if you're going to bombard me with racism and ignorance. If you'd like to question a common stereotype, by all means go ahead but I will not respond to those who are simply here to be hateful. I also hope you'll respect that I don't like to share too much of my personal details on here, so I'm aiming more to speak about travellers as a a whole and not so much about me personally.

So.... AMA

Thank you for starting this thread Pinkyyy, I've read three pages and will return later.

It's very interesting, I've not had much to do with travellers and your answers to questions others have put are enlightening.

I agree with what you've said about social strata, the travellers we hear about who cause trouble are generally of the lower orders from the Irish traveller community. However there are good and bad in all.

See you later.

It is sad, from a non Traveller perspective. But, that is projecting. I have seen some very bright Traveller children be supported by their parents into secondary education and beyond. I've also seen very bright non Traveller children with unsupportive parents struggle in school and go missing from education...so it works both ways.

Travellers tend to be VERY protective of children (and adults) with SN...they view them as innocents. One family I know have two daughter with very complex needs who attend a local SEN school.

@jessstan2 thank you for taking the time to read it

You say it is only a small minority that behave badly, have you ever been to Appleby Fair?

It attracts travellers from all over the country and they all behave abhorrently, it's certainly more than a small minority.

Sorry but I've only ever had unfortunate experiences and it always seems to be trespassing on my land and using my private tracks for their 10 plus pony and traps.

I do genuinely hope one day I will meet a pleasant traveller like you......

A really interesting thread. Do you all have the gift of fortune telling and palm reading? I remember as a small child being told about gypsy curses. Is there any truth in this at all?

@BayandBlonde it's funny you should say that, because Appleby fair is the biggest meet up of the year for the lower class of travellers. Upper class don't really attend which would probably explain why you've only managed to meet the 'bad' ones. I really hope so too!

Also, Travellers in general, tend to look after each other...men will always be able to find work with their family member's businesses and there is a big focus on everyone supporting young couples starting out to do well. We (the non Traveller community) project our values onto them as it's not a life we imagine we could enjoy, but that doesn't mean Travellers feel the same way.

Pinkyyy, you write very well. What sort of education did you receive?

@interestednotnosey I don't, but my granny gifted me my great granny's crystal ball which I treasure. It's not really something that ever gets spoken of, so I wouldn't know if people believe in it or not but many people's grandparents may have worked as a fortune teller etc

@TheTroutofNoCraic a lot of what you have said is very true and it's good to hear someone who understands our views and actually appreciates them instead of criticising them.

@raisinsraisins I left school in year 8, when I was 12/13

Is it difficult for travellers to access health care if they are not settled?

You write very well for someone who left education so young.
Thank you for your interesting thread.

I have had unpleasant incidents with (Irish) travellers, it's very useful to find out a little more about other travellers. Thanks.

@Pinkyyy I've had Gypsy and Traveller friends all my life. Grew up in Ireland, and now live in England. I started out as a 'normal' teacher but now work exclusively with Gypsy and Traveller families. Spend a lot of my time on local sites, and have a really built up really strong relationship with those families.
People don't understand the way of life because all they are presented with is ridiculous, sensationalised CH4 shows and Daily Mail stories. If people would just, you know, talk to Travellers rather than believing everything they see/read in media they might gain a bit more understanding.

Interesting that the Foodbank Challenge before Christmas was largely ignored by the mainstream media!! Not surprised at all as it doesn't fit the narrative.

@Creatureofthenight it can be, but there are usually hospitals for emergencies

@SuziQ10 thank you, I like to think that shows my point about education not always having to come from schooling

@zzzzz no, I have never known anyone to steal a child, traveller or otherwise

Does everyone know you're a traveller or do you ever try to hide it?

@TheTroutofNoCraic that sounds wonderful, I'm so glad you're able to be an advocate of sorts. I was surprised that the foodbank challenge got such little recognition, I had mixed views about it due to me not believing that charity should be done purely to be shown off, but at the heart of it you could see how generous travellers really are

@interestednotnosey everyone knows, it's something I'm proud of. It's not uncommon for travellers to have to pretend they're not a traveller when looking for work though, due to stigma and the fact that racism towards travellers is for some reason completely acceptable

Do gypsy families still burn the caravan when a person dies?
(I'm not a traveller but own a 25 year old caravan and I once had a traveller man knock at my door asking if it was for sale. It's too decrepit for living in and I thought this might be the reason he wanted it).

I am also a traveler and I'm always get asked how can you be a traveler if you stay in the a house, it's so frustrating!!! I wish people took time to understand us the way they do Muslims etc.

@MrsMoastyToasty yes that's still a common practice, I'm not sure that's why they'd have wanted yours though as the point is to burn the one they lived in prior to dying

Has anyone married into your family who weren't travellers? How is that viewed?

Where are you from originally?

@zzzzz don't worry I didn't think you were implying that was the case, more just curious if there was any history there. There could well be, but I'm just not aware of it

Thank you for answering my earlier question. I'm now wondering what proportion of youngsters (or more mature travellers) go to university these days? Is it encouraged ?