gypsy

[kerriekoski]

is it an insult to refer to someone as a gypsy?

[raysparx]

My family are originally Romany, I don't mind the term Gypsy, but I get a bit annoyed when people confuse "travellers" with them, my descendants were Honest hard working people, some of the people travelling today are idle wasters and some of the Irsh ones are just as bad .

[raysparx]

Can you tell me why you ask ? I say Romany although strictly speaking Romany is the language of the Gypsy,
Do you think it wrong,what else would you call them ?

[raysparx]

like as in deputy dawg ???? wardy

[raysparx]

Sorry wardy I was away with the fairies, not literally i might add, yes very good film, didn't click,Im' a bit dopey in this heat, must be down to the romany blood or something,

I gotta go out now speak again,be good in my abscence sir wardy !!!!

[saxy_jag]

I think (not sure) I may have some Gypsy ancestry, so I'm certainly not insulted if people use this term.

However, it's how it's used that matters. Too many use it with the sole intention of it meaning something nasty or dirty, and that insults Gypsies and non-Gypsies alike.

[ugly_bob]

I don't think gypsy is an insult, although, as saxy-jag says it's often as a put down.
Pikey is much more effective I find

[raysparx]

Hi ugly_bob, I would find that word offensive,if used at genuine gypsies, they are decent people,they never claim from the state and work hard, but the rest of them,call them whatever you want,most of them are not worth the time of day !!!

[ugly_bob]

I have no problem with gypsies, it's the pikeys that **** me off, stealing vans and dumping **** everywhere

[raysparx]

How true bob, as I have said my great grand parents were true gypsies,I remember them from when I was very young,they lived in a beautiful caravan,spotlessly clean and hard workers, these cretins that are about now,are as you say,thieving lying scumbags,no time for them at all.