[ebBPxIai]

Just watching this show for the first time and wondering what are others thoughts. What exactly is an "Irish Traveler" anyway?

[MannoFr]

People with a largely nomadic culture who are of primarily Irish (along with other native British elements) stock-sometimes known as 'gypsies' (not to be confused with the Roma or Romani).

[nabsgood]

i loved that show, it was hilarious.

[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 ).

[xqdrocherz]

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 ).

How far down your 'shitlist' would you say they used to be?

[Lictimind]

How far down your 'shitlist' would you say they used to be?

Fairly low down. Funnily enough they had never really done anything to me, I pride myself on shaping my own views and not being unduly influenced by others but my dislike/fear/wariness of gypsies was the result of people around me (mostly friends, my parents never really spoke badly of gypsies).

I still believe there is a communual pathology among gypsies, they are, for want of a better/politer word, sociopathic. They have a lot of empathy for and loyalty to their own clan but, possibly due to a history of conflict with settled people, they are often loath to show any mercy to non-gypsies (handbag robbing, burglary etc).

I do think it was incredibly 'savage', as the term is/was used by people a few years ago to describe something very unfair, that the venues would cancel on them at such short notice.

Personally, I'd gladly have gypsies at a venue of mine, they look like they are willing to spend a tonne.