Gypsies and paintball

[Bambulus]

And so, far from their position being a social construct, it is in fact a cultural deconstruct in that they choose not to become educated .. they deconstructed the opportunity, and society did NOT provide a construct to help create their behaviour profiles.

I'm not really sure what the latter part of this paragraph means, sorry.

I think what Soul Doubt was getting at is how we position Gypsies as entirely separate through our normative discourses. The way we talk about gypsies and the exact wordings we use (which are usually very subtle - most people would never notice) position gypsies and everything they do as being something that's not a part of our collective society. In essence, we are 'othering' them, relegating them to something that's not related to us. That is a construct. It happens all the time to almost everything we discuss in everyday life.

But, of course, that's only half of the story. The gypsy culture does exactly the same, and they're in no rush to be considered a part of our collective society. They have their own culture and subcultures, and don't want to be a part of anything but themselves, as you rightly pointed out. It's not the way that we position gypsies in society, but more the way they position themselves that results in this construct/othering process.

 

[Missy-Q]

I think what Soul Doubt was getting at is how we position Gypsies as entirely separate through our normative discourses. The way we talk about gypsies and the exact wordings we use (which are usually very subtle - most people would never notice) position gypsies and everything they do as being something that's not a part of our collective society. In essence, we are 'othering' them, relegating them to something that's not related to us. That is a construct. It happens all the time to almost everything we discuss in everyday life.

But, of course, that's only half of the story. The gypsy culture does exactly the same, and they're in no rush to be considered a part of our collective society. They have their own culture and subcultures, and don't want to be a part of anything but themselves, as you rightly pointed out. It's not the way that we position gypsies in society, but more the way they position themselves that results in this construct/othering process.

Good post, but the Gypsy culture does not do 'exactly the same'. They go much further. They also commit multiple crimes against the communities they decend on. Actions, as we all know, speak a lot louder than words, thus the Gypsies accellerate and perpetuate societies dismal opinion of them through their own deeds.

 

[GODDY]

the Gypsies accellerate and perpetuate societies dismal opinion of them through their own deeds.

spot on missy,the truth right there

 

[T-T]

Drop in the ocean, but have never had a pleasant experience involving "travellers" or known anyone who has.
There have been several cases of residents being stolen in a village not far away after a group of travellers moved in near by.
Dogs FFS!

 

[Soul Doubt]

Firstly, it can be defined as a cultural / racial trait if a significant number of that demographic behave in a certain way; as to where you draw the line in terms of significance, I'm pretty sure some social scientist can indicate what that is but from my experience, a significant number exhibit outlaw type thinking.
Soul Doubt, if you are suggesting the behaviors of the gypsies are a social construct then I believe, you are totally, utterly and unbelievably wrong ...... these people elect to leave school and therefore not educate themselves, the state provides them with an opportunity and they ignore it ... all they gotta do is go to school and get educated.

...Now, it's because they do not get educated they are then restricted in what they can do to earn money; not many employers are too keen to take people on who can't even read or write properly.
And so, far from their position being a social construct, it is in fact a cultural deconstruct in that they choose not to become educated .. they deconstructed the opportunity, and society did NOT provide a construct to help create their behaviour profiles.

I'm not really sure what the latter part of this paragraph means, sorry.

They are a social construct, because as you have put it yourself, they are taken out of schooling, hence forth their socio-economic circumstances have dictated their behaviour. so that in turn makes them a product of society, wether its right or wrong is irrelivent. im not blaming society for what they, its a natural occurance, People build societies, no doubt throughout the history of people being Gypsy's or travellers, the influences and circumstances of their wider existance has created what we see today. we cant take it on a here and now basis, its much deeper rooting in our society.

Just because these people have choosen to ignore the normal structures of our or any society they are in, doesnt mean they are void from it. they are still effected and contribute to the parameters of our own society, be it economical, social etc

If you took a small child and placed it the world of the gypsy's there is a greater chance of that child becoming a gypsy, the same if you took a gypsy chil and placed them into a middle class family. So it cant be a racial trait, but a social construct, societies no matter how small or varied will have variable influences on us throughout our lives, the same is for the gypsy's, society is more than the state and state appartus, it is everything we are, create and consume

You can call me Dan by the way

 

[SabreWolf]

Why do people keep reffering to these people as gypsies? they aint gypsies, they are thieving, dirty, pikey scum, gypsies are something different all together and putting these idiots on TV just makes me hate them even more and does nothing what so ever to change my opinion of these selfish dirty animals, that choose to live as such and take the p*ss out of decent tax paying people.

 

[Missy-Q]

If you took a small child and placed it the world of the gypsy's there is a greater chance of that child becoming a gypsy, the same if you took a gypsy chil and placed them into a middle class family. So it cant be a racial trait, but a social construct, societies no matter how small or varied will have variable influences on us throughout our lives, the same is for the gypsy's, society is more than the state and state appartus, it is everything we are, create and consume

You can call me Dan by the way

If you took a small jewish child and put in with a family of muslims, isn't there also a greater chance that the child will grow up to be a muslim, and vice versa? I'm not sure what this proves, other than if you give a small child to Gypsies, it is going to grow up without a formal education, will end up illiterate, and will likely become involved in criminal activity.

 

[Missy-Q]

To be fair, putting them on TV is genius. I mean, we're exhibiting the proof of that right now. I heard about this show from my Mom yesterday. Today we're all talking about it. It's must-see car-crash TV, and I only wish I had access to it.

 

[Bambulus]

Ask and ye shall receive

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-fat-gypsy-weddings/4od

 

[SabreWolf]

Well i suppose what it does achieve is proving what we all suspected all along, and that they are something no body wants living near them.
Im assuming this program is an attempt by these people to try and show that they arnt what they are percieved by the nation to be but unfortunatly, it is going the opposite way.