To love 'the Romanians are coming' on channel 4

[OhFlippityBolax]

I love their optimism and work ethic. Why must us Brits be such cunts to them on their arrival? Would you uproot, go to a country you don't have any connection to sleep in a cardboard box and still turn up for work every morning? I know I couldn't do it!

no I am definitely referring to Romanians, not 'the Roma'

As I said, - people like snow globe who take pride in wearing their ignorance for all to see.

if you've not lived with it of course I don't expect you to understand. I also accept they're not all bad but I have only had bad experiences with them so...

Inspired by the OP I've just watched it on catch up.

It was filmed very close to my house. Within a minute's walk in a couple of sequences.

These people are not romantic and hardworking and Alex is no Robin Hood.

Totally Agree Limited.

sorry with previous comments not seen program so cannot concur there

I go to Italy a lot and I am sick of human statues around the Colosseum or the Forum or places in Florence or Verona.

It's not that I want to deprive them of a living, though they annoy me by cluttering the place up and playing pan pipes on a tape.

It's more that they are a fucking menace when people, often children, don't realise they want money for posing for pictures. They get really nasty when people don't want to give.

The men in gladiator costume outside the Colosseum are particularly frightening.

I really don't understand why the police don't move them on and I'm distressed to see them in London because it never used to happen.

How do you know they're Romanian snowglobemouse?

I was told by nurofen woman when we were still on chat in the street terms. they came from Romania with nothing, they have nothing etc etc. apparently

So how do you know they're not Roma gypsies from Romania?

To be fair to snowglobe the men in the first episode appeared to differentiate themselves from Roma and appeared very racist about them.

Then they seemed to change their tune.

I may have got that wrong, but that was my impression.

all of the Romanians I know are very decent people who go through life being confused with the Roma by people like snowglobe who take pride in wearing their ignorance for all to see.

What's wrong with being Roma Weebirdie?

I watched the programme and was humbled by the attitude and tenacity of of the people. I do know Romanian people here and they are like everybody else. Some I warm to others less so.
A friend of mine, who is English lived in Romania for many years and has described some of the poverty, racism and terrible situations most Romanians are born into. She told me many people there do not have a birth certificate, cannot vote and cannot access any form of education or social care. I found the programme quite shocking but like somebody else has said, for me it is worth watching as it gave me an insight into people who in my view are to be admired.

a person from Romania is Romanian. as a person from England is English

or am I missing the point and it's ok to dislike Roma gypsies but not ok to dislike people from romania? Why?

No its not ok to generalise/hate any race or group of people. You said they were DEFINITELY not Roma. I was curious as to how you knew.

Can't comment on the show but I have personally met and worked with some lovely Romanians ( mostly men if that's relevant) and found them to be politer and more respectful than a lot of British men.

but why would it matter what they were 'officially' if it's not ok to 'hate' one over the other? why would it matter to you if they were Roma or Romanian? I don't HATE either btw. if I had said 'oh actually they may be Roma',...why would that matter in this discussion?

I didn't say it mattered, I simply asked how you knew as you said they were definitely not Roma. Coming from a Romanian family, I was curious. You could've just answered the question.

I did answer it . I just wondered why my answer might make a difference

You didn't answer how you knew they were definitely not Roma

I actually find it really sad and exploitive they come here with so much hope and we pay them minimum wage. We should pay everyone a decent wage in the country immigrant or born here.

well that's true I suppose! I know they're Romanian, so could they also be Roma too? All I know is they're Romanian

And also Roma are the most oppressed groups in Europe even today. They were actually victims of the holocaust and before that the were forced to marry non Roma which led to a massive decrease in their numbers. They are Romanian but not ethically Romanian. This is very common thing in a lot of Eastern European countries they have citizens and then etnic people's. I also know the Roma originally came from Iraq. I read an article on them I look for it.

snowglobe
Of course it matters. Roma is an ethnic group, in the same way the Irish travellers are an ethnic group. Their behaviour and customs is not representative of Romania in the same way Irish travellers customs are not representative of Ireland. Irish travellers used to camp in a field close to my house - they left a trail of filth, were antisocial and intimidating. Going by your logic, I should have assumed that that's what the Irish people are like.