To think that Channel 4 couldnt have painted Gypsys in a much worse light if they had tried?

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Cock fighting, coursing, fighting, beating children......

God I'm so childish

I read 'cock fighting' and immediately had an image of two men waving their willies at each other....like light sabers only less colourful.

As to your question, I don't know. Is it a recent programme? What's it called?

Its on now. Gypsy Blood, True Stories. It will be on 4+1 at 11.

Ooh thanks, will Sky+ it

Not very helpful, I know

It will be heavily edited to paint the picture the programme makers want to paint, but the people featured in the programme are still there saying those things and doing those things as if they are normal.

I had to turn over from disgust.

Cock-fighting, bare knuckle fighting etc is a big part of their culture. How would you like them portrayed?

There was an article in The times today about it but i've missed the programme.

It sounded pretty harsh.

But it is just a different way of life isn't it? Not far away from my Grandad's lifestyle as a young man. I think there is more than enough room for people of all sorts and upbringings - everyone has something to offer and in a sense all the nasty coursing etc is stuff that a lot of country people indulge in, certainly during my childhood it was quite normal to go coursing and shooting.

I love the juxtaposition of them watching the fight on an apple laptop - brilliant

I think they did that for themselves at Dale Farm personally.

Just said on other thread. I know a lot of Irish Travellers, very generous, gregarious, family based people. But still a law unto themselves and a closed shop. Some could be playing up to camera's, it is a very "macho" culture. Honour, "being a man" and family, order of the day with the travellers i know.

I'm surprised any of the men showed their faces to the cameras

What's the official line they used in 'My big fat gypsy wedding'?

Something like "Their faces are obscured for fear of jepordising their business" or something like that

What has happened to that man?

They talk about "fair"fighting but to see the state of him it doesn't look very fair to me.

Really? I'm surprised that they can be dismissed so easily without any thought to why their culture has evolved in this way.
As outsiders to almost every community they live in/visit, it's not hard to understand the emphasis they place on fighting which in many ways has developed (I assume) due to a need to protect themselves & their familes. Unfortuantely this makes them less 'acceptable' to those who can only view their culture from the outside.
I'm pleased to see that their children are being educated & can read & write. Through better education, their children will have more choices.
Their hunting skills show a very positive side to their culture...or is that only acceptable when done by posh toffs like hugh fearnley whittingstall

Cock-fighting, bare knuckle fighting etc is a big part of their culture. How would you like them portrayed
They are also illegal. along with hunting with dogs.

Sorry Saggy, I misunderstood your OP. I thought you were insinuating that it was an inaccurate portrayal.

I don't think that saying something is part of someone's culture can excuse the fact that it's cruel and unnecessary. What possible positive slant can be put on cock fighting? It's disgusting.

fighting is not illegal - anyone can have a fight, i think it is betting on it that is illegal without a license. And agreed the hunting thing is actually a very positive thing and shoudl not be confined to the upper classes. Loads of people round my way hunt a good deal and no one minds that because it is |British Culture innit

I'm pleased to see that their children are being educated & can read & write. Through better education, their children will have more choices

Generally speaking the girls are only allowed an education up until they finish Junior school, and even then (generally speaking again) most LA's report appauling absenteeism.

And lets not forget the small child who checked himself, when he was explaining why the dog stands up for him!

I'm pleased to see that their children are being educated & can read & write. Through better education, their children will have more choices.

In the five years I've been in an educational environment I now can't immediately spot Traveller children. That is testament to those people who work with the travelling community to integrate the children into mainstream. Those that I do know (as Travellers), well, TBH, never a more polite set of children could you ever wish to meet. Especially the boys - but I am a sucker for old fashioned manners and courtesy, which they have in abundence. They can show their "middle class" counterparts some skills, like holding the door open! Simple courtesys such as 'Good Morning, have you had a nice weekend?' with a smile. The girls tend to be human coloured, rather than day-glo orange oompah-loompah tango.cuprinol and also have the best groomng (the birdsnest back combing hasnt hit the Traveller community yet)

Generally speaking the girls are only allowed an education up until they finish Junior school, and even then (generally speaking again) most LA's report appauling absenteeism.

thats a myth - our Travelling girls all complete Y11 and go on to vocational 6th form. perhaps thats just his community rather than nationwide. Five years ago they would disappear towards the end of Y9/early Y10.

"Their hunting skills show a very positive side to their culture...or is that only acceptable when done by posh toffs like hugh fearnley whittingstall"
Hunting with dogs is illegal. Whoever does it.

...but cultural change takes years, generatons even. Through educating the boys, they hopefully will understand the benefit of education & will extend that to their daughters

The hunts in Gloucestershire regularly hunt with dogs on scent laid tracks, if they happen to come accross a fox & kill (rather than following the trail) it it's regarded as an 'accident'.
It's wrong & illegal when carried out by 2 very different communities

Hunting with dogs is illegal

No it's not!

the dogs killing the prey is illegal - its not illegal to have a pack of hounds, chase a fox and the human kill the fox

I never said it wasnt.