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AMA

I'm just an average gypsy AMA

1000 replies

GypsyAMA · 23/04/2024 21:36

I've noticed a lot of hatred towards gypsies on here so I thought I'd answer any questions anyone may have that could help you to understand my culture more. You might still disagree with many aspects, but at least you'll be coming from facts and not stereotypes.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Craicbaby · 24/04/2024 16:38

godmum56 · 24/04/2024 16:34

I think it makes it wrong if it limits the freedom and choice of their children, especially their girl children. I would say this about any ethnicity.

Of course it ‘makes it wrong’. @MillshakePickle, did you see the Taliban forbidding girls an education and attempting to assassinate Malala Yousafzai for her activism as just a ‘cultural quirk’?

Nanny0gg · 24/04/2024 16:39

GypsyAMA · 24/04/2024 15:20

Personal choice after doing my own research

Sorry, that's just insane.
How did you research? Dr Google? Medical textbooks? News articles? Hearsay?

And I'm not going to back down. I remember polio

Nanny0gg · 24/04/2024 16:40

GypsyAMA · 24/04/2024 15:24

Racist, prejudice. Yawn.

So many people have been able to ask productive and challenging questions and that's what you choose to write. Pathetic.

It's not pathetic to those of us who have experienced it

EatCrow · 24/04/2024 16:40

Were gypsy curses ever a thing? In fact, do you believe curses are a thing?

DomPom47 · 24/04/2024 16:40

Do you think outside of schools PSHEE curriculum where Relationships and Sex Education parents do a good and fair job of teaching their children about healthy/unhealthy relationships, safe sex, STIs etc? I guess what I m trying to ask is do you think it would be better that the girls stayed in school to benefit from these lessons or do you think the average parent does a better job than schools?

GypsyAMA · 24/04/2024 16:41

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 24/04/2024 16:21

OP can you post more about the fashion/dress sense for men and women? Post or link to some pictures? (Of just the type of things people in your culture would wear rather than personal pictures).

Thank you, this was a good read.

The men are easy. Shirt/polo tucked into their jeans with a belt and boots and slicked back hair.

Women are more difficult but a lot of designer bags and shoes, matching sets, that sort of thing. They tend to dress (what they would consider) quite glamourosly. Then most will have long hair too and dark skin, probably from sunbeds or self tan.

OP posts:
GypsyAMA · 24/04/2024 16:42

Side note: ignoring all comments likening me to the Taliban or a 9/11 terrorist.

OP posts:
fieldsofbutterflies · 24/04/2024 16:44

I certainly don't feel superior to anyone and hope I haven't given than impression

I'm afraid you do come across that way - your belief that you need to keep your daughters away from other teenagers because they might be influenced to drink or date or have sex shows that quite clearly imo.

GypsyAMA · 24/04/2024 16:45

DomPom47 · 24/04/2024 16:40

Do you think outside of schools PSHEE curriculum where Relationships and Sex Education parents do a good and fair job of teaching their children about healthy/unhealthy relationships, safe sex, STIs etc? I guess what I m trying to ask is do you think it would be better that the girls stayed in school to benefit from these lessons or do you think the average parent does a better job than schools?

A lot of emphasis is placed on healthy relationships, in our own way. Girls are always told not to accept poor treatment from a man and they will always have a place at home should they choose to leave. Men are taught how to protect and provide.

STIs don't really get discussed but most people's only partner is the person they marry.

OP posts:
Karensalright · 24/04/2024 16:45

@GypsyAMA I would ignore all the racist and judgemental comments and if i were you, just respond to the reasonable, enquiries. Will save you quite a lot of time!!

Cannot believe some of the comments they are shocking!!!

peebles32 · 24/04/2024 16:46

Hi OP
You say that you may get asked to pay before you eat. I just wonder how would anyone know you were a gypsy?

Copenhagener · 24/04/2024 16:48

WearyAuldWumman · 23/04/2024 22:10

I'm a Scottish secondary school teacher. A Traveller Liaison Officer told staff at my school that there's a great deal of rivalry and animosity between Romanies, Scottish/Irish Travellers and Carnival people. Is this true?

I've witnessed Scottish/Irish Traveller children being quite hateful towards Romanies and claiming that only they (S/T Travellers) are "true" gypsies.

‘Carnival person’ (proper term is showman) here.

Yes, it’s very true. Showmen get super offended to be lumped in with gypsies/travellers.

WittiestUsernameEver · 24/04/2024 16:49

AmethystSparkles · 24/04/2024 16:23

@Craicbaby how patronising! The OP is clearly far far more intelligent than most of the people on this thread!

😂😂😂

She thinks girls shouldn't be educated about sex.

She thinks children should be pulled out of school at 12/13.

She thinks that you shouldn't immunise children against deadly diseases.

Sooooo intelligent.

BeakyPIinders · 24/04/2024 16:50

GypsyAMA · 23/04/2024 22:07

Yes regularly followed, asked to pay before eating, refused entry and service. It's appalling.

What is it that they see, that makes them follow you or refuse entry?
And, why don't you alter that facet to not get picked on?

crumblingschools · 24/04/2024 16:50

In a number of cultures men won't sleep with other women within their own culture before marriage, but will have sex with women outside of their culture. Does this happen with in your culture @GypsyAMA?

siameselife · 24/04/2024 16:51

I see nothing in your posting OP that would make you a terrorist OP but your views on educating girls seem pretty much identical to those of the Taliban.

CactusMactus · 24/04/2024 16:52

Just realised 'cult' is an abbreviation of 'culture'... ooooooooo

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 24/04/2024 16:52

Craicbaby · 24/04/2024 16:21

I find it unfathomable why you aren’t horrified by widespread cultural decisions that so significantly limit girls and women’s choices. I wonder whether it’s because you yourself are so uneducated that you can’t grasp what an enormous disservice you are doing to your own daughters, and the girls of your entire community, by removing them from school before secondary on the spurious grounds of sex education. Without educated Gypsy women nothing will change, and your community will continue to face prejudice and hostility. This woman, Dr Sindy Joyce, a sociologist and the first Irish Traveller to get a PhD, has done enormous amounts of activist work to battle ongoing prejudice and her community’s horrifying male suicide rate, but she’s empowered by her education:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sindy-joyce-is-first-traveller-to-graduate-with-a-phd-in-ireland-1.3759198

https://limerick.academia.edu/SindyJoyce

https://www.travellersvoice.ie/2021/06/10/irish-travellers-access-to-justice/

Bit she, and lots of the other women working in Traveller activism in Ireland have made a difference because they pursued an education. You complain about prejudice and stereotyping, but what are you doing about it, and why are you blocking off the next generation’s access to something that can only empower and enhance their lives? Why are you so afraid of knowledge?

👏

MillshakePickle · 24/04/2024 16:53

godmum56 · 24/04/2024 16:34

I think it makes it wrong if it limits the freedom and choice of their children, especially their girl children. I would say this about any ethnicity.

That's the type of colonial mindset that needs to be changed. We need to stop interfering with other cultures and countries. In the majority of cases they are not oppressed and don't need saving.( I do however, agree that there are several which are oppressive and do not allow basic human rights. I am far from ignorant)

The op has said she would support her children's choices.

Garlicked · 24/04/2024 16:54

AmethystSparkles · 24/04/2024 16:23

@Craicbaby how patronising! The OP is clearly far far more intelligent than most of the people on this thread!

She's clearly intelligent. But she is not educated, and that's coming across. I will never apologise for my dislike (to put it mildly) of cultural opposition to education. There is plenty of that, even in these islands, and it is nearly always associated with sectarian religions. It isn't hard to work out why such belief systems don't want their young people learning very much.

Much of what you write, @GypsyAMA, comes across like those "surrendered wives" in America, rabbiting on about how happy it makes them to be non-earning, home-focused, religiously observant, domestic services to the men in their lives. I'm not questioning your declaration of personal happiness, I criticise the assumption of superiority - as I do with any rigid cultural system.

For transparency: I'm a quarter Roma and know a fair amount about the histories and culture of the Romani diaspora, though I haven't kept up to date. My lovely Gran knew both meanings of the word "ignorant" and was very keen for us to be neither, particularly encouraging education for us girls.

Although you clearly won't agree, can you at least see why so many of us feel lack of education creates traps for young people and especially girls?

NonPlayerCharacter · 24/04/2024 16:55

GypsyAMA · 24/04/2024 16:45

A lot of emphasis is placed on healthy relationships, in our own way. Girls are always told not to accept poor treatment from a man and they will always have a place at home should they choose to leave. Men are taught how to protect and provide.

STIs don't really get discussed but most people's only partner is the person they marry.

Is that true of men too?

What would constitute poor treatment from a man?

(I hope these questions don't seem aggressive; they are genuine.)

Thomasthe · 24/04/2024 16:55

Is it common for those in the community to marry outside of the community? And is it more common for men or for women?

fieldsofbutterflies · 24/04/2024 16:56

The op has said she would support her children's choices.

But how can she do that when she left school at 12 and says she won't let her children attend mainstream secondary?

Nevercloserfortherestofourlives · 24/04/2024 16:57

Bloopp · 24/04/2024 16:32

I'm surprised how many people seem to think gypsies and travellers are the same thing. My understanding was that its travellers who take over, cause trouble and make a mess. Romany gypsies are a different kettle of fish. I only know of one romany family but they are very nice, respectable people and have a daughter my age who has a degree, post grad qualifications and a very good job...

Edited

So it’s fine in your view to stereotype and vilify one group but not another. Can you not see the irony ?

Where are your stats for what you have just asserted ?
Or is your opinion just ‘bigoted nonsense’ as you seem to think it is when applied to other ethnic groups

godmum56 · 24/04/2024 17:01

MillshakePickle · 24/04/2024 16:53

That's the type of colonial mindset that needs to be changed. We need to stop interfering with other cultures and countries. In the majority of cases they are not oppressed and don't need saving.( I do however, agree that there are several which are oppressive and do not allow basic human rights. I am far from ignorant)

The op has said she would support her children's choices.

did I say I would interfere? i certainly would not defend or support. The Op has said she would not allow her children to complete school. That may not be overtly oppressive but certainly is a good way of limiting choice and keeping children within the group.

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