Traditional Travelers

[Matt71]

Anyone ever encounter any traditional Irish travelers (aka Minkiers or Pavees)?

I'm curious about what happens when when folks like us who travel by choice, and families who travel by tradition get together. From what little I know, traditional travelers are very insular.

 

[SoulRaven]

Many of the Travelers attend some of the rallies, especially in the Appalachians.

They are generally friendly and helpful, at least the ones I've run across. Beware of some of the gypsies though. While I have known some I would trust, others would steal you blind.

 

[cyndi]

 Beware of some of the gypsies many humans though.  While I have known some I would trust, others would steal you blind.

Fixed that for ya!

 

[LeeRevell]

Overlaying one's preferences and opinions over another is not 'fixing'. The other poster may well have good reason for his caution.

 

[cyndi]

Maybe it's time for some people to refamiliarize themselves with the spirit of thisforum

"...2) Don’t ever attack, belittle or denigrate anyone. If you have something bad to say about someone, keep it to yourself. This includes politicians, police officers and the homeless. You can hate them if you want, but you don’t get to spread your hate here...."

They can be found here
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-The-Rules-of-the-Forum-February-2014

 

[Matt71]

Didn't intend to foster any negative posts.
My primary interest was how the traveller culture and van dweller culture interacted, if at all . Travelers, traditionally don't like outsiders and I am curious if they consider van dwellers to be a more acceptable form of outsider.

One of the things I was thinking about focusing on in our travels is meeting and interviewing people that live outside societal norms and I'd like to get a wide mix of people. I've found a lot of eco villages and community housing projects, but not much else. I think travelers might be interesting people to meet.

By the way, many people don't realize this, but the term gypsy is actually considered derogatory.

 

[sushidog]

I have always associated the word "Gypsy" with the Romani or Roma of a different ethnicity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people

Chip

 

[LeeRevell]

Maybe it's time for some people  to refamiliarize themselves with the spirit of thisforum

"...2) Don’t ever attack, belittle or denigrate anyone. If you have something bad to say about someone, keep it to yourself. This includes politicians, police officers and the homeless. You can hate them if you want, but you don’t get to spread your hate here...."

They can be found here
https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-The-Rules-of-the-Forum-February-2014

I have always been an opponent of censorship without good reason.  That is what I took from this.  Perhaps in error.  That remains to be seen.  I saw NO example of the concept of the "Offense Principle" which is usually the    defining factor as to what constitutes "Freedom of Speech" or not.  I realize this can be a fine line at times.

 

[cyndi]

Further discussion of my interpretation of the spirit and intention of this forum will only take the topic at hand even more off subject. Please, feel free to continue any further discussion,with regard to my interpretation, in PMs or in forum issues.
https://vanlivingforum.com/Forum-Forum-Issues

The subjet of this thread is Traditional Travelers

 

[Matt71]

I have always associated the word "Gypsy" with the Romani or Roma of a different ethnicity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people

Chip

It usually is, and it is a slur. 
I'm not sure how much of a nomadic Romanian culture there is in the United States, but I know that there are established groups of Irish Travelers in the States that still follow their traditions, primarily in the south like Murphy Village in South Carolina.

 

[SoulRaven]

For the record, I am one of the Irish Gypsies, both by heritage and by choice, because I love to travel, something that most of my family had abandoned long ago, and I chose to revive.

I do not consider the term "Gypsy" as derogatory, but rather along the lines of "A Traveler", or one who loves to travel. In my terminology, gypsy, nomad, traveler, or fulltimer, etc. simply refer to those who love to travel, and prefer the great outdoors to motels or houses.

My family referred to themselves as gypsies, meaning that they left Ireland to travel to find a better place to live, traveling until they found it. My family then settled in the United States, and started a new life, putting down new roots. Parts of my family scattered the country, and my Grandfather took great pride in traveling the country to stay in touch with family, which I became a part of. We never stayed in motels, we camped in the woods, or by a river or lake, occasionally the desert. It wasn't a money thing, it was about enjoying and exploring the great land we live in. I was the only one in my family that chose to carry on this great tradition. I am proud to be a Gypsy, and there is nothing derogatory about it.

As in any facet of life, there are both the honest & dishonest people. In America we have groups of travelers who are of the dishonest variety. Many of them travel from town to town, selling home repairs then never complete the work. These same types tend to show up at flea markets, swap meets, and rallies. They are thieves by trade, and will steal you blind given half a chance.

I have had the displeasure of running into these types of people several times over the years, from the East coast, to the West, and North to South, they can be found most anywhere. They will impress you as average campers, the same type of people who normally you can trust. But they're different, they pack up and leave in the middle of the night, and take others belongings with them. What term is used to describe them is irrelevant, they are thieves plain and simple, and as travelers ourselves, and those who attend rallies, or stay in campgrounds, I think we have a greater probability of running into these undesirables and a simple heads up can't hurt.

 

[offroad]

Good to know. Always seems to be a new facet of cheap RV living that is unknown until you read stories. This does not seem to be wasted advice at all. Not realizing that these type of folks still exist.