You can’t do right for wrong!
Regular readers of my blog will know that I don’t skirt issues for fear of offending someone. I say what I think, and potentially offending people who choose to associate themselves with any individual or group that I discuss is a hazard that I live with and can handle.
I am quite aware that certain people despise everything I say and stand for. I am also aware, by checking IP addresses, that these same people read everything I write religiously, probably in order to store up hatred and vitriol (because they certainly don’t oppose me in public), and wallow in their own liberal world of niceness, where everyone loves their neighbours and welcomes Britain becoming a European parody of a country.
I have today become persona non-gratis on a website that is frequented by people who share a common interest with me. Why? Because I had the balls to say that gypsies have an unhealthy interest in my dogs and have repeatedly tried to buy/steal them. Apparently I am racist (despite gypsies being a way of life rather than a race) because I objected to their behaviour.
In retrospect I realise I was wrong to air my concerns in public. What I should have done was conduct a qualitative research project on travellers and dogs and concluded that it was only natural to expect them to want my lurchers, and accept it as part of their culture, which, as we all know, brings so many benefits to us all.
The ironic thing is that the website where I am now unwelcome purports to be full of dog lovers. I wonder what will happen if I post a question that is important to my dogs welfare? Will I be answered or judged by the moral guardians who frequent the site?
Having strong political views doesn’t automatically make someone an arsehole… (unless your name is Blair or Brown)
I often wonder if some people want to live in a democracy or some state where there is a moral judge who decides what views anyone can hold.
To be fair I should have expected the reaction I got on a site frequented mostly by housewives?
See you soon…
May 16th, 2008 at 08:51 am
I havn’t seen your article but you are correct when it comes to gypsies/ travellers ( or whatever people wish to call them ) having an unhealthy interest in your lurchers. My sister has a saluki cross and was warned by the rspca that this dog would be a target. She also has had personal experience of these people taking an unhealthy interest when out with her…
I don’t agree with all that you say but I respect your right to say it.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I just googled gypsies and lurchers (you can tell i’m off work ill) and got a whole article about lurchers in Ireland. The woman writing clearly states that lurchers in gypsy camps are used for catching rabbits and hares and are good with small children!
In fact, another article claims lurchers were bred in 1600 by Irish gypsies to hunt rabbits and hares!
Was your terminology offensive or something? Because it seems to be a documented issue…so yes, a lurcher owner may attract unwanted attention from travellers/gypsies. I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to mention that on a dog site…
You don’t need qualititive research to know that:
Chavs love Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
Slebs love dinky little chihouhas (in handbags).
but, Romanies love Lurchers and Saluki’s.
Who knew?
I have a penchant for Springer Spaniels and Afghan Hounds…what does that say about me I wonder?
These are the sort of issues that keep me coming back for more Rust : )
May 16th, 2008 at 02:36 pm
I once made a post on a site that involved a reference to a dog. The post wasn’t about the dog or any ‘doggy’ subject. The response was amazing; post after post (all female) calling me everything from a pig to a, er, dog. I posted many times to point out that my post was nothing to do with dogs themselves. No good, the vitriol just kept coming. Short of reporting them, something I have never done, there was nothing I could do so I just ignored it.
It was a real surprise, the facts were perfectly clear but totally ignored. I hated dogs (I don’t) so I was the enemy. Very strange people dog owning housewives.
As someone who realised that god didn’t exist when I was 15 years old you would think I had grown used to the illogical by now.
May 16th, 2008 at 04:07 pm
“Apparently I am racist (despite gypsies being a way of life rather than a race) because I objected to their behaviour.”
Bad news. There used to be a stated case whereby gypsies were not considered a race, but a way of life as Rust has stated. However, this has changed -
“Roma Gypsies and Irish Travellers are currently recognised as racial groups under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.”
Damn!
May 16th, 2008 at 06:22 pm
But the pykes rust speaks of come from James Street tip and have never probably been to Ireland.
May 16th, 2008 at 07:40 pm
Lol, Super Ted.
Irish web lady writer also said that gypsy camp Lurchers often get skin infections and mange courtesy of the camps so you know…a dog loving web site should be interested in Rust’s apparently justified concerns about his own dogs being nicked.
Report each incident of attempted theft to the Rozzers would be my advice.
May 17th, 2008 at 04:45 pm
“Report each incident of attempted theft to the Rozzers would be my advice.”
And you expect them to to what? You can’t even get them interested in burglaries nowadays, and in any case they dare not tackle gypsies in case they complain their human rights are being trampled on.
May 17th, 2008 at 06:27 pm
If anyone manages to snatch his Dogs - at least he’ll have something to go on - even if it is only a crime reference number.
It’s worth a try as I’m damn sure I wouldn’t want anyone staking out anything belonging to me from a handbag to a dog. Stop pandering to the apathy Bemused. If the rozzers don’t take it seriously, then at least Rust will have tried and done everything he can to protect his dogs.
I know I live in London and not York, but last year on the tube one morning, a pervert was tantamount leering at my Son - he blended in with a paper, a briefcase and a suit, all be it a scruffy one. My Son is a pre-schooler. This man made me so uncomfortable his nursery recommended I report it to the police which I did, and they took it very seriously. They made me give a full description, made me walk through the route to nursery and checked out the CCTV footage from my route. He hadn’t committed an actual crime but they compiled intelligence. I was thoroughly impressed they took it seriously. It would have been easy for them to dismiss me as a neurotic mother.
I’m sure if anyone was thieving pets, gypsy or not - the police would have to do something about it. If the police do ignore Rusts incidents, at least he will have done something proactive about the situation. That has to be better than not even trying!
May 17th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
The Met have never been brilliant, but by all accounts they are shooting stars compared with the scruffy numpties we have in North Yorkshire in general and the city of York in particular.
Actually, I’m all for reporting offences, then if they don’t do their job shove in a complaint, and insist on them doing a proper investigation of the complaint against the police, don’t be fobbed off.