Quick thread about "travellers"

[iconic]

I have never made any comments on here about travellers or gypsies but Without offending or sounding rude, can I just ask something.. What exactly makes somebody a gypsy? Because I will hold my hands up and say I thought all gypsies lived in caravans and travelled?!
Apologies in advance..xx

 

[Victoriabar]

I'm laughing but balking at the thought of hedgehog lol.

I think people's perceptions and mainly built on what they see/hear/read.

I live a stones throw from a road of static caravans where gypsies live, the road is beautiful with clean gardens, clean caravans and washing always blowing on the lines.
The land each caravan is large enough to have the kids all riding bikes safely and their crazy dogs bounding about after them, walking down that road in the summer always makes me smile and the folk are so friendly.

BUT.. Last year some guys were doing rubbish collections for local folk and charging for it, little money really and as I had a big hippo typebag awaiting a collection date from a company I had a much cheaper offer from these guys so I took it, arranged a collection and payment date when I was free and looked forward to having my garden back... The guys didn't turn up on the arranged day and so I missed seeing/paying them on my free day.
The next day my son was home and saw a massive van backing up to our garden so took the number plate, he panicked when they knocked the door and just watched these strangers.
As no one answered the door they assumed no one was in so 4 others jumped out of the van and emptied the contents of their van over my garden, pathway, neighbours garden either side and road... The pile was over 5' tall and consisted of everything from tvs and cookers to building rubble and shed rubbish.. I was fly tipped!!
The local police advised me it was a group of localish gypsies that they had been after for a while for doing this to many others. I was reassured it was no one from our own local communities tho.

So despite knowing how lovely the folk are down the road I also know there are some that are nasty lil buggers.
But then isn't that the same in every walk of life?

 

[Emma-Jayne]

my Oh is an Irish gypsie but he grew up in a house. I must admit the first time he took me to meet his friends and family i was terrified...there were so many of them and i couldn't understand a word they said! however they made me feel so welcome and their caravans were absolutely spotless (puts my house to shame).
i could understand how people may be a bit intimidated by them because they can be a bit boisterous (especially the lads) but i have never met one who was disrespectful and i really admire their morals and values. X

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[dandelionpoppy]

I spent decades of working with Travellers all day, every day, and also with the settled community, so I speak from a lot of experience.

For about the first 15 years I just knew Gypsy/Romas. but latterly also with Irish.

What I know is that you can't generalise - but for the sake of this thread I will draw some conclusions:

The first is that I had a great deal of respect shown to me. Once I became known in the community I was trusted, supported and shown great affection. (I recently bumped into an ex-pupil who was with her auntie, at the hospital, and they made a huge fuss of me). In return I felt and showed respect for them.

I never had a single item stolen from me. I would happily leave my handbag in the room when I went off to get something, and had no doubts about doing so.

The boys were more prone to settle a difference with fists. This could be a problem - although it did mean that squabbles were "sorted" quickly :!

The community had a 50's style moral code, to loosely describe it. The men provided, the women cleaned and shopped. Sex was not spoken of, brides were virgins, men and women socialised separately. Careers for women were not the norm. This took me some time to accept.

Trailers were immaculate; in fact too immaculate, as I have slithered and stuck to the plastic covers protecting the upholstery! I have never visited a Gypsy house, but I believe them to be the same.

A fair number of Travellers view settled, or country folk with some suspicion or prejudice. Some believe that lax morals and drug-taking are rife in the settled. Most prefer their children to marry within the community.

To sum it up, I look back with happy memories to my time with this colourful, emotionally honest and interesting bunch of folks.

 

[ChelseaNails]

I wish my neighbours were the nice kind of gypsies.

 

[Victoria-Cotton]

I have only ever had bad experiences with gypsies/travelliers. I work in a town where they have a settlement. I was driving home one evening where there was a lady walking the middle off the road with a horse and 2 ponies (cute!), no hi-vis on either off them so I braked quite sudden but no where near them. She than proceeded to shout at me "you f*cking b*tch, can't you see me walking in the f*cking road, watch what your f*cking doing"
It was a horrible experience and really upset me and angered me.
Also, In a bar I used to work, there was this guy who grabbed a girls hair and starting pulling her out so the doormen told him to leave and wooo all he'll broke loose. Had to close down at 12 and police came round, a few doormen in hospital.
Although I say I have only had bad experiences, I could of met a gypsy who has opened a door for me or been generally nice to me in a shop. I don't judge people, it is just a Shame that some people have to act like this. Gypsy or not, no one should act like this.

 

[Jessica15]

I have never made any comments on here about travellers or gypsies but Without offending or sounding rude, can I just ask something.. What exactly makes somebody a gypsy? Because I will hold my hands up and say I thought all gypsies lived in caravans and travelled?!
Apologies in advance..xx

I would love to know the same, living in Australia all this is completely foreign to me! We have my big fat gypsy wedding aired here on tv and that's all we see, which is a shame...

 

[Only-me]

My job alongside my on going beauty training is working at the front desk of a police station...
I have met a couple of gypsys and my motto is, if they are polite to me then I am back, this goes for ANY person that I meet..
I had a lengthy conversation with a couple of the girls once and do you realise the minority and it is a minority that get involved in criminal activity, don't actually want to BUT if they have been brought up that way they know no different.
Some families have evolved very well.. And until senior members of some families pass away they cannot change...

I honestly take anyone and everyone at face value no matter what. Because I work for the police I am, too 'judged'..
Don't target me now crystal ha ha xx

P.s. gypsys complained to the police for being called travellers it's classed as discrimination ... I asked them myself as not to offend. Xx

 

[diva dana]

people should not generalize and accept people for who they are FACT !!!

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[Victoria-Cotton]

I just read my post back, it wasn't a bad post, sorry if it came across like that, we are just growing up in a time where everyone is judged, kids on the street in gangs wearing tracksuits too those on reality tv programmes like TOWIE. They just set a stereotype which makes is easy for people to judge, only the bad is ever accepted, not many people give a second thought. I'd like to think this would change, but it never will it's a shame as there is a lot of kind people out there.

 

[Penny Vintage]

I personally think there are awful examples of human beings in every single colour/race etc. I live a drive away from a big well known traveller site but Ive seen the bad examples. Ive known friends with houses they can't sell, they get abuse and alot of death threats just from trying to drive into there road. There cut off and none of there family etc visit as its too dangerous and have had there cars chased.
But when it comes to the good ones, I like there morals with young girls dating and going out alone. They could learn alot from that round my area lol. I don't know if its romany? but I just love the old wood caravans, they look so nice and such detail.

 

[thinkpink2008]

Where i ised to live there os a gypsy camp and when i owned a sunbed shop and we had a lot of gypsy women and men in to use the beds. The sunbed shop was the shop next door to my salon and just had a doorway knocked through. With a lot of customers I didnt like to go back into the salon incase anything was stolen etc however the gypsies who used them i knew i could trust 100%. You looked after them and they looked after you. I also worked in a chip shop which had a large gypsy customer base during the lunchtime which was when I worked and we all had a good laugh while they where waiting for their food. I cam say Ive nevet encountered a single gypsy I havent got on with. Yet once whilw doing a spray tan a 30 something white man came into the salon to enquire about accupuncture. I told him we didnt offer it and he went on his way, little did i know that when I returned to the treatment room he actually went behind the reception desk foind my bag and nicked my purse. I was 8 months pregnant at the time too. Just shows you have to be careful with anyone and everyone

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[dolled up]

Ive only ever had bad experiences with gypsies/travellers. I work in a chip shop part time and whenever they come in they have no manners, are so rude and the boys pull at the reciept feed and terrorise us girls by asking if we can do sexual acts on them! (bearing in mind they only look 9/10 years old!!!) My 46 year old mother got beaten up by 2 gypsie men whilst in a pizza shop after having a nice night out with her friends at the pub and now she is too scared to go out. She did nothing wrong and didnt even speak to them and they kicked her legs so hard they were black the next day )': and the pizza shop owners threw my mom out and banned her cos they were too scared to do that to the gypsies so my mom got punished. Gypsies also took over our local council tip a few years ago and whilst waiting in the queue, my mom and brother got spat on and food chucked at them. When i was younger a few gypsie boys started hanging around with our group and used to grab all the girls and try and kiss them. They just wouldnt leave us alone and used to chase us when we tried to go home. The gypsies arent well liked in my area because they act just like you see on 'my big fat gypsie wedding' i try not to tar everyone with the same brush but its hard when thats wha your used to for years. Just wish the ones round my area would have a bit more respect x

 

[McKendrick22]

The clothes shop that i work at has loads of gypsy customers and they really are the nicest of people. They stand and chat for ages, have very good manners and are well presented. Their sons (very young to teens) and husbands show so much respect to their families and us girls in the shop.
So much more pleasant than some of the non gypsy customers that come to the shop.
Vicki xx

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[PaulineM-Mobile]

Sadly, my only experience with gypsies has also been quite terrifying. As a young girl, I can remember my Dad constantly blighted by them stealing his equipment. Police were involved but the reprise from the gypsies would have been worse if my dad actually tried to Perdue a prosecution.

Some years ago, whilst out having coffee, my husband (a policeman) and I were approached by a gypsy man who asked if he could join us. Instantly we felt threatened. After 30 seconds or so he excused himself to go to the bathroom, he asked us to watch his rucksac. God only knows what his next move was but we swiftly lift his bag and got outta there.

Lately, there has been gypsies targeting elderly people throughout the whole of our region. Claiming to do guttering work then ransacking the houses of any valuables. I think it's really difficult to see the good when all I've witnessed is terror and deceit.

 

[xxJackiexx]

We have alot of travellers/gypsies in our salon from a local legal site . We are one of the few salons in our town that welcome them in . We have had no problems with them what so ever , they behave exactly the same in the salon as our non traveller/gypsy clients .

 

[Wonda]

As posted, I've had good & bad dealing with those that like to be called Travellers.

If Geeks on here prefer to be called Gypsie & say there is a difference between the 2, then I don't see what the issue is.

Until those I deal with on a daily basis like to be known as something other, I will use terminology they prefer in my references to them & what they do.

 

[Crystal colleen]

Definitions of a gypsie just for the few that wanted to know.

1.there are two types of gypsy-Roma gypsy and Irish both live a nomadic life style but are two separate ethnic groups.

2.Roma gypsies came from india in the 13th century where as Irish are from Ireland.

3.you get the settled' which means they are settled on there own land and do not travel around.You get the travelling type that have no fixed place of living and travel to different places around England and beyond.

4.years ago gypsies were known for mending things ie pots,pans,fortune telling dancing.Irish travellers were known as tinkers" one who tinkers around with things.

4.gypsie woman/girls get married at a very young age normally and there is no
sex before marriage at all and all gypsie girls are virgins when they marry.If a gypsie girl has sex before marriage they more times than not caster out of the family.

5.Gypsie girls live by a very strict code or catholic religion.

Roma gypsies used to live in wooden horse drawn carriages (my dad did lol) you still get Roma gypsies that live in them now.Gypsies will live in static homes trailers there not called caravans,and now they also live in houses like
most other people.

Gypsies will make there living by tinkering,horses buying and selling. we see more and more gypsy girls going out to work and being there own person as such as a lot of the time the woman looks after the kids and cleans there place of living and the men go to work so very traditional way of living.There places of living are immaculate and very in order.

There communities are very large normally from the same family but you will see a mix of gypsies ie Roma and Irish living on the same site.


True gypsie children will be nothing but polite and will never disrespect there elders and will be well behaved both on site or there place of living and in country life surroundings.

There places of living are immaculate and like nice expensive things.Money is normally handed down the generations so it is a myth that gypsies have so much money because of what they do work wise.Gypsies like there family to have the best so saving money is a big thing in the community.

In Spain there is a huge population of gypsies when you see the ladies with there flamenco dresses on with there castanets big hopped earrings the chances are she is a gypsie or of gypsie decent.They make up a large population of gypsies in the country.



Hope this helps x

 

[Crystal colleen]

As I have said you get all kinds of bad people everywhere.

Some gypsies the minority will set the stereo type for others unfortunately and as I have said it's the gypsies or 'so called gypsies' that set the tone unfortunately.

I live in a house always have done,went to school,work,I am decent, honest as the day is long,my child is respectful,I don't fly tip :lol:.

I tell you what though I do like to holiday in me tent lol.

If you are respectful we respect you it's a simple life skill that counts for all walks of life really.

:hug:

P.S if your going to pro beauty in feb watch you bags coz I'll be dipping in hehehehe only joking I'll be the one with bright green hair if you want to meet a nice gypsie come and say hello hopefully I'll be able to change your perception xx

 

[Chickafish]

At the end of the day, travellers/gypsies are people. To class them as being any different than "normal" would just be general fallacy. What is "normal" anyway? I don't see them as being any different than anyone. Looking at the general description given by others, I don't see a difference between what a traveller does and what everyone does. You can find people who fit into descriptions and categories everywhere. There are people who live nomadic or in secluded communities all over the world. Not everyone has a regular 9-5 sit down job. It's not hard to find cultures that have strict gender-specific conduct codes in different parts of the world. And, like every ethnic group, they have both a good and bad reputation. Look at Amish communities! I find the more I learn about gypies and travellers, the more I'm intrigued by the culture as things like that are just part of my general interest. I honestly don't even want to use the term "minority" because depending on where you are in the world, you are bound to be the minority somewhere. (Plus I hate that word. lol)