c0ffeekitten:

britpop-punk:

c0ffeekitten:

levilain:

c0ffeekitten:

levilain:

c0ffeekitten:

c0ffeekitten:

Y'all: Don’t use slurs!!
Also y'all: 🍂g*psy blog🍂

To clarify: G*psy is a slur used against the Romani people! Please consider using other words to describe your blog unless you are actually someone of Romani descent. I know lots of people are genuinely ignorant of this fact, but it really is harmful

This has GOT to be satire right?

Nope! But I understand how you might think that, so here’s some reading material:

  • Origin of the word G*psy: The word is thought to be taken from the word “Egyptian,” as the Romani were frequently mistaken for Egyptians by Europeans (kinda like how Native Americans are still called Indians)
  • What’s the problem with word? To paraphrase, the European definition is a person who is Romani or exhibits the stereotypical traits of a Romani person (i.e. someone with dark skin, a trickster, a thief, etc). They’re thought of by many as dirty, dishonest, and lesser, which lead them to be one of many groups targeted during the Holocaust. The word g*psy still carries all of those negative connotations.
    • The American definition is slightly less insidious, as we tend to (incorrectly) use it to describe the lifestyle associated with the Romani rather than the people themselves, but this doesn’t really make it any better as Romani culture is still frequently “exoticized, romanticized, and completely misrepresented.
  • “Gypped” as a derivative of G*psy (and more on the origin of the slur): To “gyp” someone is to rob or cheat them. The article proceeds to explain that the term g*psy is an exonym, meaning it was assigned to them by outsiders. The Romani in fact originated from Northern India

In short, g*psy has a lot of negative connotations beyond the stereotypes Americans often associate with it, and while not all Romani people are offended by it, you should still avoid using it when not appropriate.

I highly recommend doing more of your own research– it’s a very interesting topic, and I wish I’d known about it sooner.

Lots of words have lots of negative connotations they all have histories and despite everything here I don’t see what the problem is with using the word Gypsy, sounds like you’re looking for things to be offended about.

Yes, lots of words have negative connotations– that’s why it’s important to be aware of the meanings behind the ones you choose to use. When I call my friend a slut, she knows I do so playfully and that I’d never attack her that way. But if she didn’t like it I would stop, and if I didn’t know her I wouldn’t call her that. Similarly, many African-Americans use the n-word to refer to each other, but not all of them are comfortable with that, and I’d never use it because I’m not black (hell, my people were the ones who came up with it)

I have no shortage of things to be offended by, but I try to be polite when I’m helping people understand the impact their words can have. It sounds to me like you either ignored everything I just said or you’re choosing to ignore it, and I’m not sure which is worse– willful ignorance, or knowledgeable disregard for history

What about Gypsy as a name? Is that still okay? The daughter in Come on Eileen is called Gypsy. (ngl I quite like that film)
I do get what you’re sayiing though.
There’s a slightly worse one that’s derived from the word gypsy that’s used frequently where I live, and it’s ‘gyppo’. It’s always used with intent to insult or offend, as far as I’ve heard.

I think you should avoid giving it to someone (including pets) as a name, but because names are a semi-permanent thing, it’s hard not to use the word when it’s already someone’s name. So it’s fine if you like that movie, as long as you’re aware that the word is offensive and avoid using it in non-name contexts

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