Hi, i just returned from 4 Days in rome and would like to thank the gentleman who warned me about the groups of indaviduals who tried their best to rob me. they even had the audacity to put their grandmother out in the rain with a t shirt on and beg for money. now this would have bothered me (and i did put some coins in her cup) but as i was leaving the vatican she was getting into a taxi counting her takings for the day. DONT put people down if the critisize these thieves. its a reality.

No one is claiming that there are not thieves and pickpockets in Rome - as there are in any other city or town.

The problem is the offensive use of ethnic stereotypeing. This is simply no longer acceptable in polite society. Would you find it acceptable to use the N word - or all the other ethnic equivalents? Including whatever one would be applicable to your ethnic group?

What gives you the right to abuse this group of people by characterizing them all as thieves?

The fact is that thru out Italy there are some people of a certain ethnic group that make their living off of unwary tourists. Not all Roma do this but if you see a group of dark haired children or a woman with a baby headed your way - be careful or walk the other way. It is not meant to be unkind but to warn tourists of a frequent source of trouble.

i did NOT characterise any ethnic group as thieves, just the ones that ROBBED me and my mother. Regards

Culture differences seem to be a cause of conflict between tourists and natives. Petty crime is tolerated in large cities. Information about expected threats to personal security abound in guide books and the internet as well as here on this site. Years ago the 'tourist' business in the USA regularly described their businesses as safe. Today they describe their businesses honestly. Accidents happen! Deaths occur! Waivers are required. Personal freedom has a price. It is personal risk. Demographics are now becoming important. A one percent crime rate is unimportant if the population is 100. If the population is a million then the number becomes 10,000. Fortunately few tourist crimes are dangerous to life and limb.

"i did NOT characterise any ethnic group as thieves, just the ones that ROBBED me and my mother. Regards"

Clarice - by putting the word Gypsies in your title , you automatically imply that that is who you are talking about.

I am sorry that you were robbed. Criminals prey on tourists throughout the world. Some criminals are Gypsies.
I really hope this thread doesn't degenerate into the racist rubbish that the last version did.

Look, i was in rome, i was robbed by a gypsy willit, that was my experience, i also met a very nice gypsy (which is what she wanted to be called) who sold me a beautiful handcarved marble cross.
in future when i am robbed i will call them f*^$ers that seems to be more acceptable. let it end here c

Clarice, perhaps you would be better off confining your travels to the safe ol' U.S of A. where you won't be accosted by any 'scary' ethnic groups. However, keep in mind that if you can't hold on to your money, you're likely to be pickpocketed in any large city here, only they probably won't look like Gypsies, so you might not recognize them.

I am chuckling over the OP's use of the word "audacity" to describe the actions of these, well, I'll call them "con artists" in putting "their grandmother out in the rain." I'd call the actions a "smart marketing move." It certainly worked o clarice, since she gave her money.

Yes, a clear distinction has been made here between the clever participants and the not-so-clever ones. Perhaps not the distinction that was intended.
I will notice one detail that could have been improved on. Instead of a tee shirt, grandma should have been wearing a shawl.

A shawl would have been a nice touch, and und unfortunately, Grandma didn't have a picturesque cardboard box to crawl into instead of hopping a cab. Frankly, if she has the stamina to stand around all day in the rain in a wet T-shirt, she deserves the small change she gets, and I'll donate every time. It's not my job to decide if she's worthy of it, only whether or not I feel like giving it.

The OP voluntarily gave a woman some small change.

How does that become robbery?

woosterek, firstly i am not an american, i am irish and have been refered to as a"Paddy" or a "teige" as they call us in norther ireland. and i have been able to live with that. i love america but i dont think it is GOOD

Come on, you guys, lighten up! I think your umbrage against Clarice calling a spade a spade in unfair and smacks of the liberal "political correctness" virus that has stunted our language.

In the States we all know the meaning of "White Trash", and try to avoid that group. We all tighten up when we are surrounded by a group of chaps wearing leather, beards, and driving Harleys. We call them "Biker Gangs" and lock our car doors.

Clarice warns us of a widely recognized danger from an easily distingusihable European population group, some members of which robbed her.

Thank you Clarice!

Well if you don;t like being called a "Paddy" then I would think you would be able to understand that Gypsies don;t like be characterized as thieves - just as all Irish don;t like being characterized as stupid.

Ethnic or racial slurs of any sort should be avoided. If you can't figure that out - or remember it - then perhaps you need some reducation.

And you don;t get to decide whaat's offensive about other people. THEY get to decide what's offensive - and it's up to you to know that - and have the sensitivity not to use slurs - if you intend to go out in public - or post on a public forum.

Nukesafe thank you for being the only person who understood my point. and what really hurt me the most is that all these people like woostrek, howard and elaine were making this fuss about me calling a spade a spade yet we able to make fun and jokes and jibes at me and think that they are honourable, honestly people look into your own hearts befor you try to judge me. goodbye

Was the nice gypsy being politically incorrect in referring to herself as a Gypsy? Should she be sent to sensivity training so as to not offend herself?
Inquiring minds want to know!!

Nytraveller, please, help me, how do you want me to refer to the person of ethnic origin who releived me of my wallet??? have you an answer for me?

actually Nytraveller the irish are referred to as drunks. i laugh at that as i know that not all irish are drunks, just as i am sure that ethnic groups are not all thieves. i think in europe the Americans are refered to as stupid and they dont get offended by that do they?

Well, this is a new wrinkle.

Suddenly, a stolen wallet.

>how do you want me to refer to the person of ethnic origin who releived me of my wallet?<

Why is there a need to refer to the ethnic origin of the thief?