Posts by inkling

This insult makes so sense. Just because I am curious about the complexity of a troubled and often dishonest segment of the population doesn't mean I am going to TRUST them sheesh. [ink]

53

Ever encounter gypsies?

by Gregor in

there is quite large community of them in this area.

the more you get to know them or deal with them the less you like them.

what a strange and ugly culture.

inkling

No ethnic disrespect here, just my personal recollection.

none taken my me. I am starting to regret my inital reaction to this.

[inkling]

60

The Problem with Atheism by Sam Harris

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

the problem with atheism(this is an edited transcript of a talk given at the atheist alliance conference in washington d.c. on september 28th, 2007).

to begin, id like to take a moment to acknowledge just how strange it is that a meeting like this is even necessary.

the year is 2007, and we have all taken time out of our busy lives, and many of us have traveled considerable distance, so that we can strategize about how best to live in a world in which most people believe in an imaginary god.

inkling

Wow. That was really good.

[ink]

53

Ever encounter gypsies?

by Gregor in

there is quite large community of them in this area.

the more you get to know them or deal with them the less you like them.

what a strange and ugly culture.

inkling

FS,

Thank you for your comments. I am glad I am not alone in my thoughts. Honestly I second-guessed myself when Gregor responded and called out
my obvious ignorance, and even now I think I might have misread his
original intent. I'm not sure why his wording bothered me so, but it
did, on a deep basic level. [ink]

53

Ever encounter gypsies?

by Gregor in

there is quite large community of them in this area.

the more you get to know them or deal with them the less you like them.

what a strange and ugly culture.

inkling

I hope I'm not stereo typing, when I gave my comments, I did not mean them in a deragatory way, I suggest these triats come from hardships, endured, and a will to survive, and I challange the arbitrary concepts, of good and bad,, because good and bad are relative to point of view.

Exactly. By all means, go ahead and honestly share unpleasant truth you encounter. We should not shield evil or hurtful behavior from honest criticism or judgement with a wall of religion or culture based "political correctness".

We need to call a spade a spade, and agree that (for example) slavery is wrong in ANY context. I think it is also
fair to be judgmental of giving away a 13 yr old to be married. All I am saying is that by dismissing the entire culture as sick and twisted, we missing a vital subtlety that
can illuminate our own cultures faults, and maybe even help them salvage good from theirs. [ink]

53

Ever encounter gypsies?

by Gregor in

there is quite large community of them in this area.

the more you get to know them or deal with them the less you like them.

what a strange and ugly culture.

inkling

Ok, I need to clarify here....

It would seem that Gypsies, often of or linked to the culture of nomadic Romainian
immigrants, have a long and troubled history. I have never encountered anyone fitting
this description myself, and no Gregor, I am not one myself.

I know very little about the culture as it stands in eastern Europe or here, and what I do
know of it confirms that there is a high rate of scam-based crime, cons, and thieving
that thrives in the culture. They do not feel they are answerable to the law of the
land, or to the morals of their "host" cultures.

They are described as iconic outsiders. For whatever complex historical reasons, a vicious
feedback loop of automatic distrust and deeds DISSERVING of distrust have caused a
severe rift between them and the rest of the world.

Undoubtedly there are many legitimate criticisms of their lifestyle and morals, especially
when held next to our preferred set. When a culture encourages or cultivates pragmatic
"using" of out-group targets for personal gain, that is clearly going to be a problem.

I would add that crime/mob cultures of MANY ethnicities share much in common with this, but when
the criminals share our skin color, and have a cable TV show, we are far more likely to see them
as complicated and even likable characters that have much to add to our understanding of life, even though we are strongly offended by their actual moral decisions.

All I am saying is that beneath the actually disserved distrust or distaste is a deeply
human tragedy. The seeds of negative "gypsy" sins are inside each of us, and we all
could learn much from sincerely trying to UNDERSTAND broken and hurtful patterns we
find in outcast cultures rather then curse them and hope they go away.

[inkling]

53

Ever encounter gypsies?

by Gregor in

there is quite large community of them in this area.

the more you get to know them or deal with them the less you like them.

what a strange and ugly culture.

inkling

My comments have nothing to do with bigotry. Your comment has everything to do with ignorance.

True, I am indeed, and obviously, ignorant of this particular group of people in your community.
What I am saying is that the term "Gypsy" and a string of negative experiences does nothing
to inform me in any meaningful way. All you are doing is taking a vague and often derogatory
term and applying it to a group of people that you or others deem worthy of the badge.

I am fully willing to concede that maybe the community of which you speak is nasty and thieving
to the core, but how is that in ANY way linked to other various culture spurs often lumped together
under one blanket and loaded name?

[inkling]

53

Ever encounter gypsies?

by Gregor in

there is quite large community of them in this area.

the more you get to know them or deal with them the less you like them.

what a strange and ugly culture.

inkling

There is quite large community of them in this area.

Do people of this particular group identify themselves as "Gypsies", or is it a term imposed on them?

[inkling]