[jenilopaz]

They irritate me, but ultimately they're okay, if that makes any sense. Gypsies are normally okay if you don't cross them, the only thing which bothers me is their toleration and protection of criminal elements within their community (this is what turns the local settled community against them in many cases). Pikies also make good scrap metal merchants, I prefer them to dealing with English scrap merchants; the reason being gypsy scrap merchants are often the most honest members of their community whereas native English scrap merchants are often mixed up with criminals (buying and scrapping stolen cars, stealing copper wiring etc).

As for the show itself, I've watched a few episodes, and I think, in spite of showing the ostentatious and garish extravagances gypsies indulge in and showing the seedy side to gypsy life, it also showed their human side. I felt sad when Paddy Doherty went to visit his son's grave. The show genuinely forced me to reconsider my prejudices about gyspies (previously I hadn't really consider the fact that they are sentient beings like everyone else ).