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.

Don't you think that the lack of engagement perpetuates the prejudice and if there was more integration other non-gypsies would understand your culture better and be less hostile?
Do you think that perhaps that "isolation" and the reluctance to pursue schooling is due to fear that your culture might be diluted or threatened in some way?
Is there a strong religious element to gypsy culture in Britain?
Do you think there are many similarities with gypsy communities in other countries?
Do you have a word to refer to non-gypsies?
Thanks!

My most recent experience of 'travellers' was a group who camped in a local recreation ground. They had a pony which looked really neglected. They made a huge mess. When they were moved on they didn't clear up the mess.

Why do you want your girls to grow up in a misogynistic way of life @GypsyAMA

That is utterly disgraceful.

Some kids do choose to stay in school and I think that's great, but I wouldn't allow mine to. If they wanted higher education I'd be very supportive but I wouldn't allow it in a school setting.

This is bonkers, @GypsyAMA

How do you think kids access higher education? They have to do well at school first.

You're condemning your kids to a life of being poorly educated and limiting their life choices.

@MsLuxLisbon it truly, truly is. Heartbreaking.

I think that's the idea, - limiting life choices so they don't leave the cult. Like Amish or any cult.

I may be assuming a lot here but I get the impression that gypsies don't do the kind of jobs where tax and NI is paid. In that case why do they feel entitled to use schools /health care etc and stay on council or private owned land (leaving the owner with at best a mess to clean up, at worst a legal battle) while not contributing in any way to society? If we all lived that way there would be none of those things available.

@FiveFoxes Have you watched Peaky Blinders?

Good question.

Yes, I agree and that's what I was getting at, but if missing that class allows them to stay in school maybe it might work.

Unless the OP is worried their peers might tell them what they learned....and definitely re abusive relationships, I think any relationship that traps a woman at home without her having actively weighed up that choice with knowledge of both sides and having options to function outside it is abusive.

I don't understand.

What have they seen when they look at you to make them think that you are going to commit a crime? There would presumably be absolute outrage if people were treated like this based on skin colour for example.

If the men are the workers how do they earn their money if they don’t have an education? If they are self employed how do they learn about tax returns etc .
Do they have their own accountants ?

According to the OP they all look British.

I did ask about this (and if her excellent SPaG was self-taught) but she didn't manage to answer.

No, why? I wasn't sure I'd like it!

You may have that impression, but that doesn't make it true.

Is the "travelling" way of life less common within your culture than it was? I may be misunderstanding but it sounds to me like you're settled in a house.

Are settled gypsies and travellers considered as "lesser" by the community that still moves around?

I just wondered if you spent a lot of your day cleaning and I do apologise if that is an offensive or stereotypical thing to say.

My only real “knowledge” was gained from watching the tv programme about the gypsy weddings.
I was telling my son about it the other day and the strict moral code of a girl not being alone with a boy.
Also, the young wives seemed to spend their day keeping their homes pristine.
I had a huge amount of respect for them and for the culture in general.

Yep. IME gypsies/travellers steal (go to restaurants with no intention of paying ), they create mess and havoc (illegally staying in local park, they broke up fences to burn, left human shit everywhere), and generally don't GAF about anyone else.

Op is being very selective about the posts they answer 🙄

It's fair to give the OP some time to respond. She's one person and there's a large volume of questions. (And some really offensive statements tucked in as well)

Ihad a huge amount of respect for them and for the culture in general.

Why, @InsolentNoise? What is to respect?

You've probably had lots more but you don't realise because we are just normal people

&

because we look just like you, you don't notice the good.

&

I can tell instantly, but I'm not sure people who aren't from one of the groups would be able to as we all just look British

So how do people distinguish you in order to eg follow you round shops, ask you to pay before you eat, or refuse you entry as you've said?

This has been rather a disappointing AMA to be honest.

The OP's answers are so short and basic, that anyone could've answered them really.

People of colour are often followed around stores etc.
Look and how many stop and searches happen to men of colour

You didn't answer my question about the mess left on fields.

But I've lived here 20 years and every year the field gets taken over and it's never once been left clean and not once have the people there been friendly or not caused trouble in the local area/shops/restaurants.

This isn't stereotyping, this is my own personal experience of living next to a piece of land that gets gypsy caravan as at least once a year every year.

And I don't think it's the same group coming back every time

So I don't see how it's a stereotype when the same thing happens everytime gypsy's arrive. It just seems to be their way of life.