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And your comments make it clear that you have never interacted with gypsies or their communities, and only view them through a romanticised version of the inter

And your comments make it clear that you have never interacted with gypsies or their communities, and only view them through a romanticised version of the internet. > I would support any political movement that wants to help these people get back on their feet It is them who do not want something different. Imposing your view on their world does not work, they do not want change. What exactly are their contributions that make them valuable to Europe?

gumballindie 3y ago
I have actually. But see, it’s difficult to get them to open up. Many hide their identity as well as they can due to fear of abuse. Confusing the criminal minority in their community with their culture is wrong. And i am suspecting you are making this confusion. Roma people are not what you think they are.
- 4gotunameagain 3y ago
  I grew up in the Balkans. There were two large gypsy camps near my city. I went to prison, which coincidentally is packed with gypsies (and not because they are being discriminated against). I've met countless gypsies, their families, etc. An ex girlfriend used to voluntarily go to the gypsy camp with a mobile school to teach them basic, primary school stuff. They did not want to learn and only made sexist comments (the kids.). Gypsies unfortunately have no place in a post industrial western society. Sure, their seemingly anarchistic lifestyle is romantic and attractive, but it is far from the reality.
  - gumballindie 3y ago
    Yeah me too. I was even robbed by "them". I "suffered" due to the "image" they created. And then i realised that's all bullshite and there's more to this story. I spoke with Romany PHd students, bachelor students, authors, entrepreneurs, people that like you and eye slave away for a day off or for good daily rate. They almost all do their best to hide their identity and ethnicity. In countries such as Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland, even the slightest suspicion that you are Gypsy can result in verbal and physical, abuse. Policies of entire countries are made around it. Some people may say that you went to prison because you didn't want better. Both you and I know there is nuance to it. If you, your mother, your father, your family, your friends have all been raised in povery, marginalisation, and lived in constant fear of reprisal you would have done what the Roma do. You would have isolated yourself where you found confort. I know I would have. The Roma didn't have the opportunity I did, they were almost always pushed aside. I know because I spoke to a bunch of Roma students that where afraid to reveal they were Roma to the point they shivered. We had to speak about it in private almost as if they were being hunted. I also know because I knew a Swiss professors who shared racist jokes about them without shame. German, French, Romania, Dutch, and so on. I don't deny there is a criminal element in their society and culture. Equally I don't deny there's good, and we need to dig for that good as we do in our "own".
    - 4gotunameagain 3y ago
      I agree with most of what you say, but also you cannot paint an entire (and very problematic) society in a positive light based on what very few outliers have achieved. What is the percentage of educated gypsies? 0.01%? 0.1% at best?

gumballindie 3y ago

I have actually. But see, it’s difficult to get them to open up. Many hide their identity as well as they can due to fear of abuse. Confusing the criminal minority in their community with their culture is wrong. And i am suspecting you are making this confusion. Roma people are not what you think they are.

4gotunameagain 3y ago
I grew up in the Balkans. There were two large gypsy camps near my city. I went to prison, which coincidentally is packed with gypsies (and not because they are being discriminated against). I've met countless gypsies, their families, etc. An ex girlfriend used to voluntarily go to the gypsy camp with a mobile school to teach them basic, primary school stuff. They did not want to learn and only made sexist comments (the kids.). Gypsies unfortunately have no place in a post industrial western society. Sure, their seemingly anarchistic lifestyle is romantic and attractive, but it is far from the reality.
- gumballindie 3y ago
  Yeah me too. I was even robbed by "them". I "suffered" due to the "image" they created. And then i realised that's all bullshite and there's more to this story. I spoke with Romany PHd students, bachelor students, authors, entrepreneurs, people that like you and eye slave away for a day off or for good daily rate. They almost all do their best to hide their identity and ethnicity. In countries such as Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland, even the slightest suspicion that you are Gypsy can result in verbal and physical, abuse. Policies of entire countries are made around it. Some people may say that you went to prison because you didn't want better. Both you and I know there is nuance to it. If you, your mother, your father, your family, your friends have all been raised in povery, marginalisation, and lived in constant fear of reprisal you would have done what the Roma do. You would have isolated yourself where you found confort. I know I would have. The Roma didn't have the opportunity I did, they were almost always pushed aside. I know because I spoke to a bunch of Roma students that where afraid to reveal they were Roma to the point they shivered. We had to speak about it in private almost as if they were being hunted. I also know because I knew a Swiss professors who shared racist jokes about them without shame. German, French, Romania, Dutch, and so on. I don't deny there is a criminal element in their society and culture. Equally I don't deny there's good, and we need to dig for that good as we do in our "own".
  - 4gotunameagain 3y ago
    I agree with most of what you say, but also you cannot paint an entire (and very problematic) society in a positive light based on what very few outliers have achieved. What is the percentage of educated gypsies? 0.01%? 0.1% at best?