Is "gypped" a racist term?

[twinklebug]

I grew up with kids saying "I was jipped" (yes, that's how I thought it was spelled) For some odd reason, Jiffy Peanut butter always made me think of being jipped. hehe.

No, I don't think it's racist. It's the same as saying I was scammed, conned etc. Never connected it with any person.

 

[disney54us]

the op asked a question, got a answer and then some. From a simple question there goes the soapbox about every PC thing in the world. I am sure there are many debate boards all over the web. Everyone can make this one big happy world after we put masking tape over everyone's mouth so they will never use a word that some how, some way, may somewhere in this world offend someone. There is a thing of taken things to the extreme and some of the post a read on this thread is a perfect example. I'm sure NPR would love it , but pleeeese its the Dis boards people.

 

[MzDiz]

Travelers are generally of Irish descent, right?

Yep

 

[MzDiz]

I grew up with kids saying "I was jipped" (yes, that's how I thought it was spelled) For some odd reason, Jiffy Peanut butter always made me think of being jipped. hehe.

No, I don't think it's racist. It's the same as saying I was scammed, conned etc. Never connected it with any person.

Out of curiosity, now that the connection's been drawn, would you continue using it?

 

[Charade]

Out of curiosity, now that the connection's been drawn, would you continue using it?

I had something all typed out but decided it might offend someone. Somewhere. Somehow.

 

[twinklebug]

Out of curiosity, now that the connection's been drawn, would you continue using it?

Now that I think about it I don't think I have been using it so I can't really continue to do so (it was more of a kid language thing that I grew out of). I fully understand the intended usage when I do hear it used though.

I can't say my kids even use it. Would it help if I educated them about the history of a word they don't use and tell them not to use it? That would be about as good as teaching them how to swear in another language and then tell them never to do so.

 

[Jusumgypsy]

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.

I'm a gypsy romanian heritage and we are a race not just a group of people move that is a common misconception however the term is offensive
no different than ****** rigged or hillbilly heaven
but the worst is when people named the dog gypsy twisting between the psychics in the movies people would realize this

 

[YodaGirl]

I have NEVER made the connection before!

What a fool I feel like.

But with that in mind, no, I don't find it racial at all.

I didn't, either, until another thread here.

Actually, I'd always thought that it was "jipped", so there's no way that I would have ever made the connection.

 

[kathie859]

What's with the resurrection of a 3 yr old thread?

 

[Imzadi]

ZOMBIE THREAD RESURRECTED! Updated by an absolute newbie. Where do they find these zombie threads? Do they Google for the topics and respond on every message board they can find?

 

[YodaGirl]

What's with the resurrection of a 3 yr old thread?

Fail. I didn't notice the date, only the posts.

 

[Aisling]

I always used the word gypped, but I thought it was jipped. It wasn't only recently that I knew what it meant, and it made me uncomfortable to use that word anymore. I'm totally not politically correct, but I don't like using words that may hurt people, like Gypsies, so I don't use it anymore. I'll use it in jokes, though for a laugh, but not in seriousness. That said, the Gypsies brought this term on themselves, as many stereotypes are real. Still, it doesn't feel right any more.

 

[Aisling]

What's with the resurrection of a 3 yr old thread?

No idea. I didn't even notice. But since I didn't comment the first time around, I did so now.

 

[EmmaBrault]

I don't think the word "gypped" is remotely comparable to the word "jewed". The term "Gypsy" has come to refer to anyone leading a specific lifestyle, regardless of race. This wandering lifestyle has been associated with higher crime rates and social unrest. The word "Jewed" refers to a specific ethnic group and religion based on outdated and inaccurate stereotypes that stem from the fact Jews had a dominent presence in finance and banking because the Roman Catholic Church prohibited its members from collecting interest.

 

[CPT Tripss]

 

[Feckless]

...

Post deleted so as not to feed zombie thread. LOL

 

[WowLookAtThat]

....You win.

 

[Metro West]

Don't you know, in this PC world, EVERYTHING is a racist word.

True...very sad but true.

 

[MrsDuck]

I have NEVER made the connection before!

What a fool I feel like.

But with that in mind, no, I don't find it racial at all.

Me either!

I don't think it's racist.

 

[PeterPan09]

I was seeing all these posters that I used to know and thought they were all back!! Then, I looked at the dates.....

Anyway, to the point-I didn't make the reference with the word either, but now that I know I wouldn't use it.

As with most things, it goes to intent. If you're using a phrase that you know can be offensive, and you're doing it anyway because "I have the right" or because you don't care about other people's feelings-then IMHO you're being a jerk. If you're doing it out of ignorance, then it's a whole 'nother story.