to be very unbothered that an EVIL hoard of (shock, horror) GYPSIES are coming...

[BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead]

I had a request to join a group on facebook a few days ago, "say no to the gypsy camp in ".
I ignored it, thinking, "yeah whatever, random facebook scaremongering".

Today, three teenage boys knocked my door with a petition, to stop this (apparently it is real) camp being built near enough on my doorstep.

But I just dont care.

AIBU to not be bothered by this? Or naive?

I personally have no views either way. I have met some very nice travellers. And I have met some that made me go

And I have met some very nice non-travellers. And some that made me go

My only concern is the mess a camp leaves behind. And the fact it is a bit of an eyesore. But I was equally bothered by neighbours at my previous house having a broken fridge freezer in the front garden for months and having loud drunken arguments in the street.

We have people coming round with petitions for all sorts.

Our local respite centre was renovated last year. The renovations included a lovely garden with accessible play area. The locals complained because they didnt want to look out of their windows and see 'children like that'.

They opened a small centre for recovering drug addicts and people were going squirrely at the idea of needles scattered hither and yon. The fact we live in an area of high crime, drug abuse and deprivation and all this goes on unabated didnt seem ironic to those who were opposed to someone actually doing something about it.

You are right to be bothered by the racism inherent in residents mounting a campaign in advance against 'gypsies', if that's what is bothering you (because that is what this campaign is).

People have a right to be bothered but they do not have a right to mount a racist campaign.

Your local council planning board is legally obliged to decide on applications for sites based entirely on the merits or otherwise of the plans and without regard to who makes the application. They are obliged to foster good inter-community relations. Responsibilities of councils here.

Har so thats where the Dale Farm residents moved onto

We have travellers who moved into an illegal site less than a minute walk from our house. They've tarmaced it, etc so I guess they're here for the long haul, they've bought the land.

Like you I'm not bothered. If they do cause trouble then that will change but I'm happy to give them a chance.

(phew, people who understand my incoherent ramblings! [hgrin] )

Replace 'traveller' with black/Asian/gay etc. How does it sound?

You really ought to be ashamed of yourselves, some of you.

Hiding this thread.

You might be both ? its about what kind of site.

I read here but don?t say much as theres not much point but Im a mum an aunt and a grandmum and have a lot of the same problems and fears you all do too.

Those talking about us as if we?re all one type of people who all live the same way, its like us seeing you all as the same - based on your worst kinds of people.

I?m on site for winter in a very posh bit of London. Its not council.
The ONLY complaints made against us from neighbours is we wont sell up so they can build expensive houses here and make money from this land, and from the council that we dont let all comers on - or use their services that they think we should. Most local people don?t even know we?re here or that weve been here for a very long time in amongst them and its not killed anyone.

You should be ashamed.

I'm reporting this thread.

Ok

For the avoidance of doubt I'm not ashamed either.

Travellers in this country are defined as a racial group, so I think you'll find you are being racist.

Some of the loveliest people I know are travellers - people who would do anything for you. I find it deeply depressing that you feel entitled and and have no shame about being so openly prejudiced. You have had a bad experience with travellers, so you don't like travellers? Do you extend that genius thinking to other groups of people, too, or is just travellers that some of you seem so comfortable with castigating?

I have reported this thread. I tell you something - for all your high and mighty morals, some of you aren't very good examples to your children with the attitudes you hold.

BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead if you are referring to an illegal site then as a good citizen you should be concerned. If it's legal then it's none of your business.

In other words you should not be concerned about travellers arriving, but criminals arriving is bad news whatever nationality they are.

Why should anyone be ashamed. My two experiences of travellers have been awful I am stating a fact. I would not judge all travellers by my past experiences. I'm sure there are some lovely travellers.

If I had a bad experience with a gay, black, asian person it wouldn't make me judge all gay, black Asian people by that one experience. If I met a rude, grumpy old person I wouldn't decide they were all rude and grumpy.
Saying people are racist is just silly.

Oh FGS.

If a poster said 'I've got some black people moving in, AIBU not to care?' and got some of the replies this thread has got it would be obvious to you. But because it is acceptable to be openly prejudice towards travellers in this country, you feel OK about it. Open your eyes!

The level of casual, nasty prejudice against travellers is quite disturbing on MN and in wider society.

Really am hiding this thread now.

I haven't had A bad experience with travellers, I have had hundreds. Week in week out for the past 2 years, with hundreds of different individuals.

Of course that is going to make me suspicious of them! I'm not tarnishing them all with the same brush based on one individual.

I also stated that there are good and bad in every community, I am unfortunate that I don't come across the good ones in my line of work but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

'If I had a bad experience with a gay, black, asian person it wouldn't make me judge all gay, black Asian people by that one experience.'

But would you feel so free to recount it?

No mathanxiety most people wouldn't because as in this case everyone would start yelling about racism.
Maybe we are only allowed to have bad experiences with white middle class yada, yada people.
Every person on here who has related having a bad experience with travellers has accepted their own experience wouldn't taint their view of all travellers. The trouble is some people just like to jump on the pc bandwagon because they think it makes them better than others.

Unfortunately (unlike other minorities) travellers tend to gather in large groups. A group of 100 people who are causing problems is going to get a lot more attention than just 1 person. So the problems people experience are more publicised giving travellers the reputation they have.

At the end of the day though if someone has been abused no matter who it is by they have a right to relate the incident without being unfairly accused of racism.

Sorry I am ranting and probably not making a great deal of sense.

Onagar it is a legal site, and therefore none of my business [hink]
But surely also not the business of the racist petitioners either, especially not enough to send their children out knocking doors...?

• [hwink]

Btw, we dont have "trouble" with travellers in this city, never mind this area, so its very unlikely that all of these people have their own negative experiences of them, and considerably more likely that its to do with media perceptions...

I do agree that your petitioners are being racist op. They have based their opinion on reputation travellers have which is wrong.
I really hope your experience is more positive than that of others.