Is "gypped" a racist term?

[LisaNJ25]

Worst ever: "That's Gay" or "That's Ghey."

Gay people make sense and are too the point. I propose it be changed to "That's so hetero!"

See, when I have heard that phrase I have never associated it with a gay person.

.. I also though.. Thats Gay=corny-silly.. and I am not saying that gay people are corny-silly. Ugg I hope that just made sense.

 

[mefordis]

See, I'd never dream of saying "jewed". It just seems really offensive to me.

Yeah, I'd be careful where I said that. I can't imagine there by any gypsies around to overhear you say "Gyped" but if someone said in public, "I just got Jewed", and someone jewish was around, I don't think they'd like it.

 

[ConcKahuna]

See, when I have heard that phrase I have never associated it with a gay person.

.. I also though.. Thats Gay=corny-silly.. and I am not saying that gay people are corny-silly. Ugg I hope that just made sense.

I know how some people associate it, but that's not at all how it comes off. It's like gay people calling women "fish" because of feminine odor. It's rude even when not used in that context.

 

[themarquis]

Gypsies aren't a race, so in no way is it racist.

I don't think anyone associates the word with "gyp" with Gypsies. It may be how the word came to be, but nobody intends any malice toward Gypsies when using it. I doubt anyone even thinks of Gypsies when using it.

I use the word. I use the word "screwed", too...but don't mean that in its original and most literal sense.

Hmmm ... I know some Gypsies (and btw they are alive and well and there are many communities of them here in the US) who might say they are a race, or at least an ethnicity.

I agree that most people don't know that "gypped" refers particularly to Gypsies, who at one time were presumed to be devious thieves (not racist??? ). It does seem, to me at least, that once you know that's what it refers to, that it might be a good idea to try to work on substituting some other term. Why would you want to deliberately try to walk around saying nasty things about an entire group of people (some of whom you may run into without knowing )

It's interesting that so many people think using the term is "no big deal", especially considering that these exact sorts of racist ideas about Gypsies were actually what led to them almost being wiped out in the Holocaust, along with Jews and lots of other groups of people who weren't considered completely human or worthwhile human beings.

Do you wonder whether using the term "gypped" around an actual gypsy (I believe they now call themselves the Roma people) might ... in the light of the fact that this term isn't completely neutral but reflects a long history of racism and attempted genocide ... be ... just ... a wee bit offensive, racist, insensitive? Just a wee bit? Hmm...

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is why so many people are so blissfully happy to walk around saying things like "gypped", "that's so gay", "jewed down", etc, etc, (assuming they have been informed that these terms might be problematic) when they know exactly why it might be extremely hurtful toward others? THis is not about being "sensitive" or "PC"... it's about trying to be a decent human being who doesn't go around saying horrific things just to get a rise out of others or just because you have the right to.

So hey ... here's an idea ... why don't we all try to work on being decent human beings for once?? I just think it might be a nice idea ...

 

[LaraK]

There are quite a few sayings and expressions that have negative origons...how about "Welched" or "Indian Giver"

 

[moppety]

I just didnt want to get them mad because the grandmother could out-cook anyone I've ever met and always insisted on bringing me food at least every couple of hours

Plus they've got a mean "evil eye". You never want to get on their bad side.

We have a few Romani/gypsy families here in Houston. Working for a doctor based out of our Medical Center, I've learned a bit about the culture.

 

[ConcKahuna]

So hey ... here's an idea ... why don't we all try to work on being decent human beings for once?? I just think it might be a nice idea ...

 

[DonaldTDuck]

There are quite a few sayings and expressions that have negative origons...how about "Welched" or "Indian Giver"

Indian giver, now there's a misnomer. Seems like the way we treated our 'red brethren' about their lands, maybe it should be 'paleface' giver.

 

[Charade]

Yep, and it's one I've always said along with others like "going Dutch treat." It's amazing how many expressions are racist if you start thinking about it.

When did the Dutch become a race?

The term "racist" is incorrectly applied (and used too often when used correctly) so often, it's not even funny.

"going Dutch" isn't a racist connotation, bigoted remark or an ethnic slur.

 

[Sleepy]

Not anymore, I'm sure. Gypsy tribes however, are still very much in existence in quite a few countries of the world, including the USA. I've read that they very much dislike the use of the term... Understandabley of course.

I am sure the ones who actually earn a living have a problem with it, but where I live, they don't work for the money they get. They annoy the life out of hard working individuals and those who refuse to give to them, have to worry that they will be spit on, pickpocketed or have their property damamged (like having my car scratched or windows beat upon at a redlight). The gypsie tribes here are a problem. I wish the tourists would stop giving to them so they will go away.

 

[powellrj]

Once we were having dinner out and the lady behind me was going on and on about the WOPs. It was those stupid WOPs this and those dirty WOPs that. While I am only part Italian and I am sure she had no idea just looking at me, I was getting more and more offended by it. I guess what really bothered my was there was no reason to use the word WOP except as a slur.

I have used the word gypped before and I knew where it came from, but I guess it is just so accepted I never thought about it bothering people. I know better and should be more careful.

 

[becjlek]

I have always wondered about the phrase, that is the pot calling the kettle black.
I have never used it because I didn't know if it had racial origins. Does anyone know?

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I say "got gypped today" and "jewed em' down" but never really thought about the connotation. I seem to be very UN PC lately (like the last 10 years, lol). I never want to offend anyone yet it seems that so many people are wired to be "offended". I happen to be Native American and DD is Portugeese but we don't get offended as easily as some (not at all really), even when some people ask DD why she's so light skinned so she says, hey: Moms' Indian and Dad's Portugee, my skin is nearly perfect! In reality, I'm only 50% Indian and her Dad is what is considered "white portugeese". Now, calling people "white portugeese" is what I think should be offensive -- why make the differentiation?

I am 100% portugese from an all Portuguese community and i have never heard the term "white Portuguese" what exactly does that mean? I have asked my family and friends and no one has heard that term.

Nothing really offends me at all. I call myself a Portuguee and we call each othew green horns. We don't care.

 

[daisax]

>"going Dutch" isn't a racist connotation, bigoted remark or an ethnic slur.

But it started as one. The implication was that when you offered to "Dutch treat" somebody, they were actually being invited to pay their own way. So it was an ethnic joke -- "inviting" somebody, without actually inviting to pay. Of course it's so practical that eventually it stopped being funny because most people WOULD rather go out and pay their own way than stay home and not go at all. But originally, when you offered to "treat" somebody, you wouldn't then expect them to pay.

There are lots of derogatory terms based on ethnicity. I'm Irish but have never been offended by Paddy wagon, since I don't know whether it originated from the Irish driving it or the Irish in it Doesn't matter to me which one -- I don't feel personally slighted. However, it's much less of a slur than "jewed him down" which I didn't hear until my late 20s -- must be more common in regions with fewer Jews, because I can't IMAGINE that flying in polite company in the Northeast, even 30 years ago.

 

[froglady]

IMO, these are not racist terms, but the person using them is prejudiced.

Merriam Webster: 1. preconceived judgement or opinion

2. an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge

3. an instance of such judgement or opinion

4. an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.

A racist is definitely prejudiced, but being prejudiced doesn't automatically make you a racist. Just an ignorant (in the sense of not knowing better) person.

 

[Dolce27]

Yep, and it's one I've always said along with others like "going Dutch treat." It's amazing how many expressions are racist if you start thinking about it.

I recently went out to eat with several of my Dutch friends and 'going Dutch' was brought up. No, none of them are offended by that phrase but they are confused by it as in Holland it is apparently common for everyone to equally split the bill when it arrives - not pay separately for what you ordered.

I agree with those above who've stated that we are way over the top on 'PC' in America. Seriously, if someone wants to be offenended - they will find a way to be offended.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I recently went out to eat with several of my Dutch friends and 'going Dutch' was brought up. No, none of them are offended by that phrase but they are confused by it as in Holland it is apparently common for everyone to equally split the bill when it arrives - not pay separately for what you ordered.

I agree with those above who've stated that we are way over the top on 'PC' in America. Seriously, if someone wants to be offended - they will find a way to be offended.

I agree that going "PC" is not the way to be, but at the same time I think it is just common decency not to use a lot of phrases that can be derogatory.

 

[Dolce27]

I have always wondered about the phrase, that is the pot calling the kettle black.
I have never used it because I didn't know if it had racial origins. Does anyone know?

I've never been able to find any racial origins associated with this expression. I tried looking back in Season 1 of the Apprentice when Omarosa called Erica racist for using that expression.

This is from Wikipedia:

'The phrase "Pot calling the kettle black" is an idiom, used to accuse another speaker of hypocrisy, in that the speaker disparages the subject in a way that could equally be applied to him or her. In former times cast iron pots and kettles were quickly blackened from the soot of the fire. If personified into animate objects, the pot would then be hypocritical to insult the kettle's colour.'

I recently heard for the first time 'white on rice'. I don't know the meaning or origins from that but I don't take it as a racist remark just because it uses the color 'white'.

 

[Dolce27]

I agree that going "PC" is not the way to be, but at the same time I think it is just common decency not to use a lot of phrases that can be derogatory.

I have never in my life intentionally used a phrase that was derogatory… but I do believe that our society does get worked up too much about too little. It seems that so many people analyze what comes out of your mouth anymore and try to make something out of it when there was no intent for it to really be ‘something’ - I see this all the time on the DIS boards. Our society didn’t used to be like this.

If someone is using an expression filled with malice and everyone knows that it’s a hateful expression and the person is not being nice at all using it – then that’s offensive. If someone is using a well known expression that doesn’t really have any true malice to it (regardless of how it was coined) and everyone knows that it’s not being said hatefully but being said because it’s now a well know expression than I’m not offended. But then, I’m a pretty laid-back person and not offended very easily.

If you were referring to the ‘going Dutch’ I was not the one who brought it up around my Dutch friends but none of them seemed to have a problem at all with that expression. In fact, I still don’t understand why the expression is going Dutch.

Also, I think some people just don't realize that the phrase is 'derogatory'. I never knew - until I read this post today- that being 'gypped' had any association to gypsies. <--- That's actually my point above. 'being gypped' is not a well known slur against the gypsies so when 99.9999999999% of people use that phrase they do not mean any malice towards the gypsies; they are just using a well known phrase.

 

[Becky2005]

I recently went out to eat with several of my Dutch friends and 'going Dutch' was brought up. No, none of them are offended by that phrase but they are confused by it as in Holland it is apparently common for everyone to equally split the bill when it arrives - not pay separately for what you ordered.

Well...wait...if it's common in Holland for everyone to split the bill -- it would make sense to me that would be where the phrase "going Dutch" came from in the first place without it having any negative meaning. Just an explination since maybe it was common knowledge so it was short for if "we will just go out & do it that way instead of the norm that is in our country".

Although this is an interesting conversation because I always thought it was spelled "Jipped" and would have never thought it with Gypsies and I have never heard of "Jewed him down" -- I've heard of "CHEWED" someone out or possibly down but never Jewed. Maybe I need my hearing checked.