On Wed, Oct 28, 2015, Michael Fuerst via Callers wrote: > > I have been contra dancing for 30 years or so and this is the first > time I've encountered a question about "gypsy" being controversial. > The people who contra dance on average are well left of center > politically--people who would never use an ethnically offensive > word.(Finding a bumper sticker at a contra dance gathering supporting > a Republican candidate is quite impossible.)As you noted, language > evolves, and the use of "gypsy" in contra dancing never had any > offensive baggage or intent. Given the thousands of left-wing contra > dancers who have guiltlessly gypsied over the years, having a single > individual (who may not well be a member of the allegedly offended > group) come to a dance, and for some reason makes the connection she > did, does not seem adequate to drop the word.
<belly laugh> Your suggestion that progressive people promoting political correctness always stick to their progressive principles is risible. I suggest that you do some research into the countless number of times that "progressive" people have screwed over minorities who weren't in their own demographic. To save you a bit of time, here's one specific example that consumed large amounts of time and emotional energy in one of my other social groups: http://fanlore.org/wiki/RaceFail_%2709 > Your examples of "nigger" and "faggot" are not comparable, as they are > today often sill used with intended hate. Please re-read the messages pointing out that in Europe, particularly, "gypsy" still definitely gets used as a hateful slur. And I don't know enough about *ALL* of American culture to presume that "gypsy" isn't used that way here in significant subcultures. Certainly "gyp" (as a verb) does get used. -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
