Why do people still think it's ok to use racist terms re gypsies?

[GingerbreadGingerbread]

I am from a Romany gypsy family but a couple of generations ago. You would never have a clue if you met my parents and came to my family home as it was only on one parent's side and my mum and dad are wealthy and I am privately educated and have an academic career. However I am ashamed to say that I am nervous to tell anyone of my heritage. I am proud of my family and my gypsy grandparents who I was closer to than anyone in the world and spent the most time with whilst they were still alive. They were honest, principle led and amazing people. However I lost count of the number of occasions educated seemingly nice normal people come out with: "they are just disgusting gyppos aren't they?" Just now a colleague burst into my office saying someone had stolen his fork and they must be a "thieving pikey gyppo". Why is this seen as acceptable? It's disgusting and just makes me dislike the arrogant ignorant idiots! Are any MN willing to come forward and admit to using this language and explain why they find it acceptable?

It's ok, bagina. Someone has actually said they refer to their DS's mates as 'pikeys'. I think the hot beam of censure will be moving away from you......

I think a lot of people have negative experiences with the gypsy community, not exactly helped by programmes like my big fat gypsy wedding.

Certainly where I live its a well know fact they come round on a Sunday night/early Monday morning and raid the gardens for scrap metal and other things that can be sold.

Sometimes, people here leave stuff out for them and are quite cross if they miss a week!

Years and years ago when we were first married we lived on a caravan site next to a family of real Romany gypsies. They were the nicest people and the best neighbours you could hope for. However, they absolutely hated the Irish Travellers, and said they did nothing but give gypsies a bad name.

It is seen as 'not as bad' by some adults. I have had to pull staff at school up for saying someone has 'gypped' something (stolen), for example.

In the community where I teach there is a lot of contact between settled and traveller groups - many of the kids like the ways in which travellers dress their children and keep their trailers. So it becomes a term of abuse from others - GypsyWannabe and Charver are interchangeable.

It all comes down to challenging language that is not acceptable.

My big fat gypsy wedding and similar shows don't help though

They show some good sides but a lot of negative behaviour too

I work with a Romany gypsy, who prefers to refer to herself and her family as travellers. She says she knows it's not technically correct but prefers it when with non travellers or gypsies. Gypsy is not a 'bad' word at all, but if in doubt - ask!
I've had the conversation with her about use of the word 'gorja' and she says it's not meant to be offensive (there is a word for that!) but understood my point, and doesn't say it round me now. They're a misunderstood group - and not everyone who lives in a caravan is a gypsy or Irish traveller! Nor are the two groups the same. Programmes like the C4 ones don't help - my colleague hates them and says she doesn't know anyone who behaves like that. Don't trust reality tv!

Romany on my mother's side. People think gypsy and pikeys are the same thing. Big fat gyspy wedding programmes haven't helped with that I don't think. I'm proud of my Romany heritage don't really give a fig what others think. Really interesting researching names and ancestry.

Romany gypsies actually originate from India.

I wondered how long it would take for someone to post that 'Irish Travellers give Gypsies a bad name' such a ridiculous statement.

As someone with traveller heritage, i also get frustrated by the constant abuse that traveller and gypsy families receive. However, I have also seen the damage done by these illegal camps and the carnage that is left and can sympathise on some level. I dont think the traveller or gypst community helps itself by being as insular as it is as many 'settled' people find that unnerving.

But it boils down to people needing to think a little bit more before they speak.

Bingo for, all in one post
a) racism b) "PC" c) dehumanising language d) spelling mistakes

I claim my £100

From my own experience the term "pikey" was used to describe the dirty gits who would trash local beauty spots, steal from shops and generally cause a nuisance of themselves for weeks on end (and stole my dog) whereas gypsies were the traditional Romany travellers who led a peaceful life and were generally lovely.

It is a term I have used as a child/younger adult because it was the "norm" to describe such people. Until I joined Mumsnet I would never have considered it a racists slur same as I would never have considered chav to be such.

Something I've not considered before. I will sometimes use the phrase "jippy" to mean dodgy but only around health. E.g. 'I had a bit of a jippy tummy'

I don't know the meaning or derivation of the word. I mean an upset slightly dodgy gut. Not quite diarrhoea but unsettled and unhappy.

Am I bring racist? Does jippy actually deprive from gyppy and gypsy?

Genuine question as throwing a paddy I also never thought to be racist and I'd hate to inadvertently upset someone

I don't think the term gypsy is racist on its own it's when a derogatory term is placed in front of it.

Gypsy is a term that was used to refer to Romany gypsies because they originate from Egypt I think but I could be mistaken.

Nanunanu

It's an abbreviation of Egyptian.

So similar to Delhi belly? Which is a phrase I wouldn't use. So am I being racist?

Oh and it is giving me gyp meaning pain. Racist or not?

Language is strange and beautiful

I don't think your being racist, the term is way over used.

I mean the term racist is often way over used.

It's Northern for Starling (with a hard G at the beginning) so could mean fluttering like a bird in your stomach?