I'm just an average gypsy AMA

[GypsyAMA]

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.

I am sorry you find it offensive but you have to admit it happens all over the country day after day. Why drive on to cricket pitches, why after being moved on by the Courts do you leave piles of rubbish, excrement, why ruin the parks ? Of course it is not all Gypsies but it happens so often and tax payers are having to fund the clear up and the court costs.

Different rules for different families on this one. But yes our young people are just as addicted to social media as yours!

That's not necessarily a gypsy thing, as you've just described my Irish (but not traveller or gypsy) family.

I guess there are similarities everywhere.

Yes, I suppose it does.
I can only go on the portrayal on a tv series but they seemed happy with their way of life and traditions.

Do you worry about what they might access, since various steps are taken to prevent them coming across certain things in real life?

@MillshakePickle While, I may not agree with some of the cultural norms. Who am I to say anything? Each and every culture has their quirks and what is and not acceptable. Just because, I don't agree fully or understand the history that has brought it about doesn't make it wrong. It just makes it different to what we're use to.
If we are to stop hate, racism and prejudice we need to accept all cultures for who they are. Just because my belief system doesn't align with yours doesn't make it wrong or right. It just is.

Disagree. Totally

If it is the 'cultural norm' to practice FGM then it needs calling out and preventing

If it is the 'cultural norm' to prevent access to healthcare, contraception and abortion then it needs calling out

If it the 'cultural norm' to prevent a section of society from accessing education and opportunities then it needs calling out

OP did you leave school at age 12 yourself? And can I ask what you did as a job and what your crossroads choice was?

That’s very disingenuous. I have never suggested the OP is ‘thick’, only that her limited education and exposure to the wider world seems to be preventing her from realising the disservice she’s doing her daughters. Because anyone leaving education at 12 in the UK of the 21st century is going to cut themselves off from most kinds of life. And I’m not sure who is going to teach her daughters about sex and relationships if not the education system — the OP herself claims most people in her community only have sex with a single partner, the one they marry, and regard the sex education their daughters would be given at school as so heinously permissive it’s enough for them to be withdrawn entirely from education. That hardly suggests appropriate sources of information within the community. Especially as the OP appears to think she has genuinely ‘researched’ vaccinations, which suggests a poor grasp of medical facts and credible sources.

@Lifeomars, I've only now discovered that we now refer to gypsy people who've been in the UK or Northern Europe for centuries as Gypsies and the recently arrived ones from the Balkans as Roma - and that there's now a category "GRT" (Gypsy, Romani, Traveller) which looks to be about as much use as "BAME". Language keeps changing so fast now, it's bloody annoying!

Not so long ago, "gypsy" was considered demeaning so everybody said Roma instead. Even longer ago, my Gran called herself and her birth clan Gypsies but would never say either Gypsy or Roma in public. And the re-re-named Gypsies of today speak a version of Romany dialect called (checks Wikipedia) Angloromani, so that doesn't help with knowing what's what 🙄 FFS.

@AmethystSparkles, I disagree with the majority of your reply so completely that it would take many long threads to elaborate. In the unlikely event you were interested, you could find my position explained in FWR, any book on women's rights, or even a basic article on feminist principles.

With the exception of about 5 of them, these are all common gypsy surnames

I worry about any young person who has access to the internet! It needs to be monitored, regardless of who they are

but doesn't their upbringing railroad them into those decisions?
"Yes, I suppose it does.
I can only go on the portrayal on a tv series but they seemed happy with their way of life and traditions."

With respect I don't think that's enough to make it ok

THIS!

Most people I meet have zero idea of my heritage. There is a tiny minority who cause trouble, others are law abiding and just living their lives quietly.

I live in a static caravan but am in the process of building a house on the land we own.

Covering things with plastic is definitely common, especially in a caravan. It's just something I can't get on board with though because I'd rather have to replace my furniture sooner and better comfortable!

Lots of SAHMs don’t have husbands who earn a “huge” income… Judgy much.

Since it is so rare for women to work after marrying, how is the COL crisis affecting the community? How do women afford the designer accessories that you said were popular?

We have permanent traveller camps in our town, I believe there is a wash block and caravans. Are these just occupied by Irish travellers or are they mis-labelled and lived in by gypsies?

But they can't be informed choices!

Which ones are most prevalent and which are not at all typical?

Smith, Jones, Taylor and Brown are still, I think, the most common English names. Add Williams, Davies and Evans for Wales, Campbell and Stewart for Scotland, Kelly and Murphy for NI.

Since there are a lot of crossovers, are there surnames that are so gypsy you just know instantly? I’m into genealogy so I find this aspect of it fascinating!

If your children don't go to a school setting, I'm assuming you're home educating - what does home education look like for them?

In a previous post you mentioned not really valuing education for men and women - what about education is not valued and why?

Regarding vaccinations, what vaccinations have your children not had and what made you decide not to get those vaccinations for them?

Hi OP, I wondered if there are online communities or news sites that are by gypsies, for gypsies, that ‘gorgers’ would not know about? Not asking for specifics btw just generally?

The OP has said she won't let her DC go to Secondary school even if they wanted to. That is not giving them a choice

Sure. But OP is insisting she’s accepting of difference and other cultures.

Hi @GypsyAMA yes, I think it’s for the fun and the experience- I loved university (and have avoided paying back any debt by becoming a sahm then disabled 😀).

I wanted to ask a couple of things-

You said you can tell a gypsy from a traveler from their dress sense/style, but your description then sounded like all the Irish travellers I know so I wondered if there is something else that you recognise when you see another Romany person? (A bit like gay people can be quite good at spotting other gay people even when it isn’t obvious).

Please start another thread

My daughter was friends for a while with a girl who's parents travelled with carnivals some of the year. They had a settled house too which is where she spent most of her time because of school but she was certainly trained in acrobatics - lovely kid and very talented.