[Yokuutsu]

I liked that computer...this one is linux so I can't do any of my facebook stuff T-T

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Coda

"Gypsy" is sometimes considered faintly racist. It's not a horrible slur, but it calls back to a mistake in less-enlightened times (the Romani aren't actually from Egypt). Some people are more sensitive about it than others. Most modern Romani people are actually totally okay with it and even use it in their own organization names.

Yes, historically the word Gypsy was negative - I currently portray a Romani female tribal leader, or Rom Bari, at a Washington Ren. Faire. I have to talk about this a lot to patrons.

Gypsy was used a slur against the Romani people (originally from India, who then spread to Eastern Europe and eventually western Europe). In English it means "wanderer", though they used it negatively against the Romani people, who unfortunately used a scapegoat in many countries as they were nomadic people and always outsiders.
Some also say the word (or term) "Gyppt" is derived from that word as well.

I love their culture...I kinda have to spend 3 weekends in the sun dancing and playing with the Kumpania in 95 degree heat. X3 I have to wear a lot of clothing as Romani woman, despite Disney's attempt, dressed very conservatively.

Nowadays, the majority of people don't even know that at one point the word was negative. Now it's attached to fashion trends that are influenced by loose clothing and tribal-fusion influences, dream catchers, incense, and new-age thinking. All of which I also partake in. ^^;

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Yokuutsu

I liked that computer...this one is linux so I can't do any of my facebook stuff T-T

I've heard good things about Linux, but never have used that operating system.

[trystan830]

Originally Posted by Yokuutsu

I liked that computer...this one is linux so I can't do any of my facebook stuff T-T

what flavor of Linux? i'm using Ubuntu 14.04, and i can pretty much do anything on it. =)

[littl3chocobo]

it's super racist x____x it is equivocal to saying 'nigger' it basically is a hate word to put down an entire people and is generally used by the ignorant (a much less awkward word is 'travelers' that is not a negative word for putting anyone down). you can get seriously hurt if you call the wrong person 'gypsy'

[littl3chocobo]

oh, well i see you know what it means and why it has negative connotations, knowing that though i am concerned why you would willingly use it in your title ^^;;;;;

[Yokuutsu]

I think Ubuntu 12.04?

Well, it isn't bad, but adobe (flash player) decided awhile back to stop supporting it so....I can't do a lot of things on most websites since I have out-dated flash that I can't update.

[Ireland]

I've never met someone - Romani descendant or not - that feels like it's the equivalent of the "n" word, not currently at least. =\

We have to explain to 99% of people the history behind it but everyone calls us Gypsies because no one knows what the Romani are.

Nowadays, the culture is loved and admired (like people like me, I guess).

But if it is that offensive to others then I must change it. I do not wish to cause issues.

[Yokuutsu]

I didn't really know that gypsy was offensive, not with all these tv shows saying romani gypsy and other things.

[Ireland]

That has been my experience as well. I've never had someone express offense at the word around me - the negative connotation has only ever been discussed in a historical sense.
Though I'm won't discount the possibility of it being offensive to current day people, that would be ignorant and insensitive.

[Yokuutsu]

Idk if people find it offensive, but in my area, it's predominantly white with quite a few black people....and maybe a few hispanics and asians? We're not diverse here...there are Indians (from India, just for clarification), they all seem nice to me, though they own businesses.

[Coda]

Originally Posted by Ireland

But if it is that offensive to others then I must change it. I do not wish to cause issues.

You shouldn't think that way. If you worry about every little thing you ever say that might offend someone somewhere, you might as well just take a vow of silence.

You haven't done anything racist here and you haven't demonstrated anything that might suggest you have racist beliefs. Quite the opposite: You've demonstrated compassion and interest, having researched the subject extensively, and it's clear that you care about the Romani people and have no intent to cause offense.

As I said, the Romani people themselves often happily label their own enterprises as "gypsy" because the word is part of their culture now. The current-day people you're going to hear be offended by it typically have no ties to Romani culture at all, but think that the word MUST be offensive because of its history, even if the people to whom it applies don't think it's offensive at all.

As a parallel example, the term that eventually became the English word "Christian" was originally used as an epithet to denigrate the early followers of Jesus, but those people too took the term for themselves and made it a part of their culture, and there is no longer any offense inherent in the word.

Meanwhile, if someone is TRYING to be offensive, they can do so without using any "offensive" words whatsoever. If I call you a "Canadian" (you are Canadian, right? If I remembered wrong, you can substitute "American") in the right tone of voice, that innocent word takes on a different meaning.

[Yokuutsu]

I agree with Coda especially on that how you say it thing, though many would probably disagree with me .-.

[littl3chocobo]

it really depends on where you are at, in the usa i have found people actually revel in that word(usually people who are not romani) but it is still a problem in other places

coda however is NOT an authority on the subject and personally i am quite concerned he'd say that using an offensive word is not offensive if you know /why/ it is offensive >x>;

[Yokuutsu]

No I meant the part about the word being used as a word, like Canadian or any other nationality, versus it being used with a tone of voice that makes it clear that you mean it as an insult. Of course, I think it matters more whether the people the word describes thinks it is insulting or not. If they just see it as a description instead of insulting, I see no problem. Like I'm not a gypsy/Romani/etc...so I have no real say on whether it is offensive or not. Now a Romani comes up and say this word is offensive to me, then it is.

[Fulkth]

Hmmm, I never thought that gypsy would be considered a politically incorrect word. I mean there are movies, musicals, and books that are titled Gypsy.