Want her! Her color scheme is really nice, and her symbols are cute. Solid desgin. Absolutely the worst name any pony has ever had though, I really don't feel comfortable saying or typing it. :yikes:I'm with you. She's beautiful, but uh. Maybe I'd call her Tangerine Tambourine or something. Even though that's a bit long, and more of a G4 name.
Gypsy was a childhood pony for me, she was a second hand find at my Dad's school's fete.Not to turn this thread into an argument, but this word is (at least contemporarily) thought to be a slur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Romani_people#Gypsy_and_gipsy), regardless of whether or not people sometimes use it to describe a 'free spirit' or if it is sometimes used by actual Romani people, regardless of location. It's popular to use it for other reasons (as you mentioned- this is not exclusive to the UK and is sill quite common in the US), but it still originated as a descriptor for Romani people (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gypsy#English), which eventually developed into a slur and is inextricable from that origin (the use of it to describe a 'free spirit' is also a result of it's use to describe Romani people), at least not when Romani people are still oppressed.
Gypsy is a word in the English language which means 'free-spirited.' It's also a girl's name with the same meaning. This is also in keeping with Gypsy's character in the comics.
Over here in the UK the term is used to self-identify by a lot of the people in question. I went to primary school with some of them. My Dad taught others. It's absolutely true that the word can be used in a derogatory sense - but that's the thing. Using it as a derogatory label and using it in the context of a name to express a meaning of free spirit are two different uses of the same word.
The nuance may be a British thing, but it's a British pony, so probably relevant in terms of Hasbro's decisions.
Gypsy was a childhood pony for me, she was a second hand find at my Dad's school's fete.Not to turn this thread into an argument, but this word is (at least contemporarily) thought to be a slur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Romani_people#Gypsy_and_gipsy), regardless of whether or not people sometimes use it to describe a 'free spirit' or if it is sometimes used by actual Romani people, regardless of location. It's popular to use it for other reasons (as you mentioned- this is not exclusive to the UK and is sill quite common in the US), but it still originated as a descriptor for Romani people (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gypsy#English), which eventually developed into a slur and is inextricable from that origin (the use of it to describe a 'free spirit' is also a result of it's use to describe Romani people), at least not when Romani people are still oppressed.
Gypsy is a word in the English language which means 'free-spirited.' It's also a girl's name with the same meaning. This is also in keeping with Gypsy's character in the comics.
Over here in the UK the term is used to self-identify by a lot of the people in question. I went to primary school with some of them. My Dad taught others. It's absolutely true that the word can be used in a derogatory sense - but that's the thing. Using it as a derogatory label and using it in the context of a name to express a meaning of free spirit are two different uses of the same word.
The nuance may be a British thing, but it's a British pony, so probably relevant in terms of Hasbro's decisions.
Acknowledging it's origins is important for understanding the way it's used today, in any context.
It's not that I'm denying the existence of a slurred usage, more that by imposing the slur as the ONLY interpretation on the word, you're feeding that meaning, rather than the other. Which, as you acknowledge, exists.
Otherwise, what I said before stands. You only increase hate and suspicion by being suspicious of every single possible interpretation of a word. As I said in my previous post, some words are always offensive and some are contextually offensive. This is the latter.
...*sidesteps argument*
Have her, love her! Gorgeous pony and I like her name, too, it's pretty.
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(One of my particular favourite pony pics too! Well, except for those stray hairs. :p)
...*sidesteps argument*
Have her, love her! Gorgeous pony and I like her name, too, it's pretty.
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(One of my particular favourite pony pics too! Well, except for those stray hairs. :p)
We can of course agree to disagree, although I am in no way condoning its use as a slur, nor denying the existence of that usage.
I do think it's important to respect different cultural perspectives. Although that also includes understanding and acknowledging the more nuanced British usage of the term.
My opinion is that probably Gypsy was a clumsy 1980s attempt at inclusion.
The reason why I don't see her as offensive is because she was a very popular character and beloved. Whether you can find stereotypes in her character - maybe, but broad strokes, rather than specifically cringey moments. She likes music and dance. She doesn't have a tent and a crystal ball.
As for the tambourine, well, my sister plays the tambourine too. She's a percussionist. As a kid she loved the fact Gypsy had tambourines, because when she was a kid, people didn't take percussion seriously and she dealt with a lot of issues. So for her Gypsy was validation that it was ok to play percussion.That's great! I love everything about her design, and I love that ponies are so diverse that everyone can find one to relate to, but I think her name was a mistake on Hasbro's part and I think she would have been much better with a different name (like Tambourine- it even rhymes with Tangerine, so it's perfect for her lol- I actually wonder if this was intentional)
As an autistic person I've learned and come to value that awkward attempts to reach out and include are better than being ignored completely. It at least begins a discussion, which can lead to improved awareness and education.
I also say this from the standpoint of someone who has seen the r word used regularly and liberally in discussions on equality and diversity, so I know that this whole thing can be very complicated.
You are as always entitled to your opinion, and you don't have to agree with mine in the slightest. All I really wanted was to say that not all opinions have to be binary.
The one thing I do find weird, though, is that you guys still want to own her although she makes you uncomfortable. If it were me, I wouldn't want her in my collection at all.
The one thing I do find weird, though, is that you guys still want to own her although she makes you uncomfortable. If it were me, I wouldn't want her in my collection at all.
Noo, but there's a difference between personally disliking a name and considering it perjorative.
Simply changing the name doesn't change the concept of the toy, nor her appearance. Owning the pony endorses both those aspects, even if you don't accept her name.
I do understand Serena-hime's points about being able to criticise the things you love; on the other hand, that can also be used as a convenient excuse to own something which contains undertones. At the end of the day, Hasbro made profit on Gypsy. When you buy Gypsy, unless you pick her up from a second hand store, you are somehow reimbursing the money paid at the store till for the pony in its original package. The money goes back down the line until it goes back into Hasbro. So I think it probably does matter in regards to owning her.
"Somehow", "probably". It sounds like you don't even know why you're claiming what you're claiming.
Our pony is called Rodi, it's a traditional English Romani name used since at least the nineteenth century.
(An interesting article about Victorian Romani names, for anyone who is curious: https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2014/05/victorian-romany-names.html)
Differing cultural contexts makes a lot of sense with who takes issue with the name and who doesn't. Always an interesting discussion to be had. :) I can certainly think of a few names that British english speakers would take issue with that wouldn't be so scorned here.
Differing cultural contexts makes a lot of sense with who takes issue with the name and who doesn't. Always an interesting discussion to be had. :) I can certainly think of a few names that British english speakers would take issue with that wouldn't be so scorned here.
My mother is still a bit horrified there's a pony called Crumpet ;)
Aw, Glitterball and Taffeta, you memories of Gypsy are so sweet <3
British people, I have only one thing to say about pony names, and that is Spunky :lol:
Aw, Glitterball and Taffeta, you memories of Gypsy are so sweet <3This, & the Perfume Puff Palace for reasons
British people, I have only one thing to say about pony names, and that is Spunky :lol:
Aw, Glitterball and Taffeta, you memories of Gypsy are so sweet <3This, & the Perfume Puff Palace for reasons
British people, I have only one thing to say about pony names, and that is Spunky :lol:
I have yet to see a single British person on the thread make any issue with Gypsy's name. I think it is just because we're coming from a different cultural context - but Gypsy is British, so it does matter how British collectors react to her.
Artie's assessment is pretty accurate. It's more a case that the group themselves experience discrimination, but the word itself isn't a slur word in our language. People from those groups can be and are marginalised, but the term 'gypsy' doesn't really convey that here on its own.
I have seen some very sweet customised baby ponies that are just TOO ADORABLE as baby Gypsy; a potential future custom project, especially if BF ever release a baby pony line!
I stood there patiently by the stall, watching her until I heard the headmaster declare the fete open. NOBODY else was getting that pony, seriously.
She cost me 30p. I remember it vividly because I was so excited to have one of the early unicorns. Other than Majesty she's the only early unicorn I had - most were not sold here, although my friend had the movie star Gusty.
Aw, Glitterball and Taffeta, you memories of Gypsy are so sweet <3
British people, I have only one thing to say about pony names, and that is Spunky :lol:
Differing cultural contexts makes a lot of sense with who takes issue with the name and who doesn't. Always an interesting discussion to be had. :) I can certainly think of a few names that British english speakers would take issue with that wouldn't be so scorned here.
My mother is still a bit horrified there's a pony called Crumpet ;)
Differing cultural contexts makes a lot of sense with who takes issue with the name and who doesn't. Always an interesting discussion to be had. :) I can certainly think of a few names that British english speakers would take issue with that wouldn't be so scorned here.
My mother is still a bit horrified there's a pony called Crumpet ;)
Aren't those kind of like English muffins? I had those once. Never could find them again.
I have seen some very sweet customised baby ponies that are just TOO ADORABLE as baby Gypsy; a potential future custom project, especially if BF ever release a baby pony line!
Baby Gypsy would be AMAZING!!! :lovey: :lovey: :lovey:
I think the carry ons are probably why we all still know that particular piece of slang, even if it's really seldom used.I can so imagine actor Sid James saying it, than laughing "ack, ack, ack" the way he famously used to!
Yeah, Sid James xD.
It sometimes surprises me that the Carry Ons have survived this long, tbh, considering everything...
I read that too.
Not to take this massively off topic, but aside a couple of questionable representations of different cultures (vis a vis the time period) I feel like Carry Ons kind of make fun of everyone, so probably get by?
I've never felt offended as a woman watching them, tbh, even though there's so much risque humour in them.
Although Sid James himself had a slightly questionable irl record when it came to women.
Hattie, Barbara and Joan - all stars eternal.