UK Timeline My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

**Maggy** · 18-01-2011, 22:29

After last years Cutting Edge documentary on Channel 4 about gypsy weddings comes the series.
Link

I just had to chuckle at the 7 year old at her First Communion staggering down the church aisle in her fairy princess outfit.

As a first episode I can't imagine how they can top it..

Dai · 18-01-2011, 22:42

yes, twice her own bodyweight they said. It looked like they picked her up and carried the poor little soul back to the car after the service.

Still, some interesting insights. The chaperoning and sexual attitudes contrast so much with the girls initial appearance.

I'll be watching the next one.

Derek · 18-01-2011, 23:08

It's good to see the comments from my facebook friends reflect my own viewpoint the would look better under a freshly Tarmac covered driveway.

**Maggy** · 25-01-2011, 17:01

2nd episode tonight.

Damn! There's footy on.

**Maggy** · 26-01-2011, 20:14

Saw this on 4oD..So sad seeing the way they keep being moved off the sites they have bought to use as a base to live on and some of the children have never known any other home.

Not enough government sanctioned sites available so it's going to keep happening.

budwieser · 26-01-2011, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Saw this on 4oD..So sad seeing the way they keep being moved off the sites they have bought to use as a base to live on and some of the children have never known any other home.

Not enough government sanctioned sites available so it's going to keep happening.

Are we talking Travellers or true Gypsies?
Can we put this into some sort of perspective? Nobody would mind where they lived if they worked and payed taxes, I.E Contributed to the system for help and welfare, which they quite happily use when in need.

Tezcatlipoca · 26-01-2011, 20:36

I suffered this last night, as Mrs D had it on again.

I found the sexualisation of those 6 year old girls, dressed like hookers & caked in make-up, rather disgusting. The programme seemed to like it, though.

Still, I guess it's preparation for when they're strutting their stuff in carparks a few years later, waiting to be "grabbed"...

The wedding dress in the Traveller - Chav (Chaveller?) wedding was horrendous. As was the Chaveller's mother...

Still, it's car crash TV... The point of it seems to be to give us something to laugh at / look down at.

---------- Post added at 20:36 ---------- Previous post was at 20:34 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Saw this on 4oD..So sad seeing the way they keep being moved off the sites they have bought to use as a base to live on and some of the children have never known any other home.

Not enough government sanctioned sites available so it's going to keep happening.

They shouldn't keep building without permission, then.

budwieser · 26-01-2011, 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

I suffered this last night, as Mrs D had it on again.

I found the sexualisation of those 6 year old girls, dressed like hookers & caked in make-up, rather disgusting. The programme seemed to like it, though.

Still, I guess it's preparation for when they're strutting their stuff in carparks a few years later, waiting to be "grabbed"...

The wedding dress in the Traveller - Chav (Chaveller?) wedding was horrendous. As was the Chaveller's mother...

Still, it's car crash TV... The point of it seems to be to give us something to laugh at / look down at.

---------- Post added at 20:36 ---------- Previous post was at 20:34 ----------

They shouldn't keep building without permission, then.

I entirely agree about the point you made about the sexualisation of the younger girls, i said to my wife how totally unacceptable it was.

I`m very open minded but that was too much too soon for them. What kind of standards are they being brought up to?

Let them be children first and foremost.

Dave9946 · 30-01-2011, 19:17

Out of interest do these "travellers" pay any kind of road tax, Any insurance for there cars & vans or any kind of tax?. Thats why people in the community are so against them as they never pay into the system so why should they take anything out of it and demand this that and the other off the tax payer to settle on any land they so wish?.

basa · 30-01-2011, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave9946

Out of interest do these "travellers" pay any kind of road tax, Any insurance for there cars & vans or any kind of tax?. Thats why people in the community are so against them as they never pay into the system so why should they take anything out of it and demand this that and the other off the tax payer to settle on any land they so wish?.

Never mind road tax, what about income tax?

I assume they have incomes, after all I read about costs rising to six figures for some of the weddings!!

Perhaps I'd better not ask!!

**Maggy** · 30-01-2011, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by budwieser

Are we talking Travellers or true Gypsies?
Can we put this into some sort of perspective? Nobody would mind where they lived if they worked and payed taxes, I.E Contributed to the system for help and welfare, which they quite happily use when in need.

Some may do, but then I'd never normally actually ask ANYONE be they traveller,gypsy or you whether they pay taxes or not or pry into anyone's finances uninvited..

As no one asked those questions in the programme I can't say at present.Maybe the questions will be asked in the future episodes.I do know that they bought the sites on which they were being moved from on the grounds that they had no building permission..Who owns the land after they are moved on was never mentioned.

---------- Post added at 21:43 ---------- Previous post was at 21:32 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

I suffered this last night, as Mrs D had it on again.

I found the sexualisation of those 6 year old girls, dressed like hookers & caked in make-up, rather disgusting. The programme seemed to like it, though.

Still, I guess it's preparation for when they're strutting their stuff in carparks a few years later, waiting to be "grabbed"...

You obviously missed the part where the older gypsy woman was making the point that they are disappearing fast as a group and that they are being diluted by the interaction with the rest of society including radio,TV,the internet and mobile phones which are teaching the younger children a whole new culture.

Also I got the idea at one point, that ANY girl who gets a reputation among the community WON'T be getting married within the community and will be heavily shunned by that community.Despite putting all the wares on show there is no sex before marriage and they are encouraged to marry young.In some ways they are highly moral.In others I'm sure they will fall below others high standards.

There isn't much scope for a good education if you are travelling and moving around or being moved on and I guess that a spotty education record means that you aren't going to have the requisite examinations to get a good job anywhere..

Stuart · 30-01-2011, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Saw this on 4oD..So sad seeing the way they keep being moved off the sites they have bought to use as a base to live on and some of the children have never known any other home.

Not enough government sanctioned sites available so it's going to keep happening.

Not enough government sanctioned sites? *If* they followed procedure and tried to work within the system (by applying for planning permission and paying taxes for instance), I don't think they'd have any problem. In fact the system would probably protect them.

We had a problem with travelers a few years back. They parked up in my local station car park, and would frequently abuse not only the commuters who wished to use the car park to park in, but the commuters who had the temerity to walk past it (as they had to to use the station).

Now, I have to admit, I don't think even if the travelers became legit then people would suddenly accept them, but the system would protect them if they became legit.

---------- Post added at 23:28 ---------- Previous post was at 23:25 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Some may do, but then I'd never normally actually ask ANYONE be they traveller,gypsy or you whether they pay taxes or not or pry into anyone's finances uninvited..

As no one asked those questions in the programme I can't say at present.Maybe the questions will be asked in the future episodes.I do know that they bought the sites on which they were being moved from on the grounds that they had no building permission..

Based upon things I have heard both in the programme, and from other sources, I suspect that filming will have to stop fairly quickly if any member of the crew had asked anything about the taxes paid or income.

**Maggy** · 31-01-2011, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Not enough government sanctioned sites? *If* they followed procedure and tried to work within the system (by applying for planning permission and paying taxes for instance), I don't think they'd have any problem. In fact the system would probably protect them.

We had a problem with travelers a few years back. They parked up in my local station car park, and would frequently abuse not only the commuters who wished to use the car park to park in, but the commuters who had the temerity to walk past it (as they had to to use the station).

Now, I have to admit, I don't think even if the travelers became legit then people would suddenly accept them, but the system would protect them if they became legit.

---------- Post added at 23:28 ---------- Previous post was at 23:25 ----------

Based upon things I have heard both in the programme, and from other sources, I suspect that filming will have to stop fairly quickly if any member of the crew had asked anything about the taxes paid or income.

I suspect that on the occasions they have tried to work within the system that the objections from the rest of the community have prevented them from getting planning permission.

As to discussion of income..whom is pleased to discuss such matters with any Tom,Dick or Harry on camera in any community except in the widest and non specific sense.

Stuart · 31-01-2011, 01:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I suspect that on the occasions they have tried to work within the system that the objections from the rest of the community have prevented them from getting planning permission.

Possibly, although they aren't know for trying to get on with other people.

Quote:

As to discussion of income..whom is pleased to discuss such matters with any Tom,Dick or Harry on camera in any community except in the widest and non specific sense.

Most people (in my experience) who are doing something legit will say so on camera (assuming they wish to say anything).

**Maggy** · 31-01-2011, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Possibly, although they aren't know for trying to get on with other people.

Most people (in my experience) who are doing something legit will say so on camera (assuming they wish to say anything).

Well my husband doesn't like discussing anything like that with anyone except when dealing with financial institutions and he's not up to anything dodgy.He thinks it's no one else's business and takes exception to anyone asking..This extends to me and I'm not allowed to discuss finances in any detail with anyone.