White Fragility is a hell of a drug - Page 2

glatt · 07-01-2020, 04:17 PM

I feel gypped by this thread. I thought there would be arguments.

Flint · 07-01-2020, 04:22 PM

listen here, you SOB

monster · 07-01-2020, 04:31 PM

During my formative years, the term "Gypsy" was very contentious and I was confused when I learned that the flower gypsophila was also called "baby's breath" because I wondered if it was related to the myth that gypsies stole babies, but couldn't ask in case i got in trouble, and as a result felt very awkward about the name of the flower, which was tricky as my mum was working at a florist's at the time

/sidetrack

Flint · 07-01-2020, 04:43 PM

I'm hearing a little "awkward memories" jingle as an outro to that post.

Flint · 07-01-2020, 05:56 PM

One question I had in the original discussion(s) on FB was whether this was a generational thing, insomuch as, being 45yo, I assume everyone my age and younger believes/is aware that "gypsy" is considered an ethnic slur by some people in that group.

Is that part of this? Did it "used to be" okay?

I mean it's always an adjustment the first time you hear something, I just thought we'd all already processed this one.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-01-2020, 06:18 PM

I never considered it an ethnic slur because I didn't know until a couple years ago about the gypsies in Europe being Romani.
Always figured it was just people who chose that lifestyle like hobos and carnies.

I have this hanging in my bathroom. A friend gave it to me after he bought it at a flea market because my EX was named Mary.
It says occupation gypsy but no mention of Romani.

Flint · 07-01-2020, 06:41 PM

"like hobos and carnies" L O L that cracked me up

Thank you for sharing your perspective.

Happy Monkey · 07-02-2020, 12:19 PM

It's not a case of coincidentally having similar syllables, it's the actual word.

sexobon · 07-02-2020, 05:16 PM

A twofer...

Griff · 07-02-2020, 06:03 PM

To me the odd part of flint's story is that the business owner used the name, taking possession of the word turning it into something good but then didn't want the discussion which I would have thought would be the whole point of using it in the name.

Cultural side note, I think the stereotyping is more meaningful in Europe. It's been watered down in the States because of reduced contact. The old-timers at my (Irish) family reunions would use the term in all its negative glory threatening to sell kids to the gypsies which was a step up from letting the Indians take you. Yeah, my family is still pretty fucking racist.

sexobon · 07-02-2020, 07:02 PM

There's also the human race, just sayin'.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-02-2020, 07:38 PM

Now you're sayin Bambi and Thumper are racist.

sexobon · 07-02-2020, 07:49 PM

That's a stretch; but, grandma got run over by a reindeer. We never got the full story on that.

Griff · 07-03-2020, 08:08 AM

The Saami did it.

Luce · 07-03-2020, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

So first of all I’m confused. Everyone’s grandmother “was Cherokee” –that’s the fairy tale that American children are told.

"Cherokee Princess" was 18th/19th century slang for a prostitute.

Which may explain some of the confusion.

07-01-2020, 04:22 PM	#2
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	listen here, you SOB __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

07-01-2020, 04:31 PM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	During my formative years, the term "Gypsy" was very contentious and I was confused when I learned that the flower gypsophila was also called "baby's breath" because I wondered if it was related to the myth that gypsies stole babies, but couldn't ask in case i got in trouble, and as a result felt very awkward about the name of the flower, which was tricky as my mum was working at a florist's at the time /sidetrack __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

07-01-2020, 04:43 PM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I'm hearing a little "awkward memories" jingle as an outro to that post. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

07-01-2020, 05:56 PM	#5
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	One question I had in the original discussion(s) on FB was whether this was a generational thing, insomuch as, being 45yo, I assume everyone my age and younger believes/is aware that "gypsy" is considered an ethnic slur by some people in that group. Is that part of this? Did it "used to be" okay? I mean it's always an adjustment the first time you hear something, I just thought we'd all already processed this one. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

07-01-2020, 06:18 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I never considered it an ethnic slur because I didn't know until a couple years ago about the gypsies in Europe being Romani. Always figured it was just people who chose that lifestyle like hobos and carnies. I have this hanging in my bathroom. A friend gave it to me after he bought it at a flea market because my EX was named Mary. It says occupation gypsy but no mention of Romani. Attached Images __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-01-2020, 04:17 PM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I feel gypped by this thread. I thought there would be arguments.

07-01-2020, 06:41 PM	#7
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	"like hobos and carnies" L O L that cracked me up Thank you for sharing your perspective. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

07-02-2020, 12:19 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	It's not a case of coincidentally having similar syllables, it's the actual word. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

07-02-2020, 05:16 PM	#9
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	A twofer...

07-02-2020, 06:03 PM	#10
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	To me the odd part of flint's story is that the business owner used the name, taking possession of the word turning it into something good but then didn't want the discussion which I would have thought would be the whole point of using it in the name. Cultural side note, I think the stereotyping is more meaningful in Europe. It's been watered down in the States because of reduced contact. The old-timers at my (Irish) family reunions would use the term in all its negative glory threatening to sell kids to the gypsies which was a step up from letting the Indians take you. Yeah, my family is still pretty fucking racist. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

07-02-2020, 07:02 PM	#11
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	There's also the human race, just sayin'.

07-02-2020, 07:38 PM	#12
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Now you're sayin Bambi and Thumper are racist. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-02-2020, 07:49 PM	#13
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	That's a stretch; but, grandma got run over by a reindeer. We never got the full story on that.

07-03-2020, 08:08 AM	#14
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	The Saami did it. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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