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Background:
In the UK at the moment there has been a lot of media interest in Irish gypsies, or 'Travellers' as they are often called, due in large part to a television series called 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' and masses of newspaper articles that it has spawned. Now, I don't wish to start a fratching stream. All I will say of my personal views is that after a spate of burglaries and dognappings in my village, the police eventually traced the crimes to a nearby Traveller community. Apart from a lot of expensive electronics, they found over 30 prebred dogs that had been stolen (mostly from old ladies, including my next door neighbour) which were being used as breeding stock. Not nice. Now, while many Travellers don't engage in such things, a lot of public opinion tars them all with the same brush, as the only time they are ever really in the news is when they do something wrong, which I guess is true of a lot of minority groups.
Today the receptionist at my publishing company forwarded me a call from a potential author. I don't know why she chose me, since I deal with military history, probably the least applicable area in the circumstances. She probably just picked an extension at random to get the man off the phone.
Me: BookBint, your friendly editor extraordinaire
BCM: Bigoted Crazy Man, does what it says on the tin
Me: Hello, *publishing company* BB speaking, how may I help?
BCM: Yes, I want you to publish my book.
Me: Okaaay... this is a bit 'I want a sweetie' but I'll play along
BCM: It's about Gypos (rather un-PC slang for gypsies)
Me: Right, well this is the military history department, you many want-
BCM: It's about how they are ruining the country with their stealing and stuff.
Me: Uuuuum...
BCM: And they all look like slags! Have you seen the programme? And how do they pay for those weddings when they don't work?
Me: Sir, I'm really not the person you want to talk to-
BCM: I'm writing the book now, it'll show what they're like.
Me: Sir, listen to me, I am not the department you want. Try X in Y department. (I don't like X. Let him deal with this loon.)
BCM: Do you like gypsies?
Me: I like them more than I like some other people.
*Click*
In the UK at the moment there has been a lot of media interest in Irish gypsies, or 'Travellers' as they are often called, due in large part to a television series called 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' and masses of newspaper articles that it has spawned. Now, I don't wish to start a fratching stream. All I will say of my personal views is that after a spate of burglaries and dognappings in my village, the police eventually traced the crimes to a nearby Traveller community. Apart from a lot of expensive electronics, they found over 30 prebred dogs that had been stolen (mostly from old ladies, including my next door neighbour) which were being used as breeding stock. Not nice. Now, while many Travellers don't engage in such things, a lot of public opinion tars them all with the same brush, as the only time they are ever really in the news is when they do something wrong, which I guess is true of a lot of minority groups.
Today the receptionist at my publishing company forwarded me a call from a potential author. I don't know why she chose me, since I deal with military history, probably the least applicable area in the circumstances. She probably just picked an extension at random to get the man off the phone.
Me: BookBint, your friendly editor extraordinaire
BCM: Bigoted Crazy Man, does what it says on the tin
Me: Hello, *publishing company* BB speaking, how may I help?
BCM: Yes, I want you to publish my book.
Me: Okaaay... this is a bit 'I want a sweetie' but I'll play along
BCM: It's about Gypos (rather un-PC slang for gypsies)
Me: Right, well this is the military history department, you many want-
BCM: It's about how they are ruining the country with their stealing and stuff.
Me: Uuuuum...
BCM: And they all look like slags! Have you seen the programme? And how do they pay for those weddings when they don't work?
Me: Sir, I'm really not the person you want to talk to-
BCM: I'm writing the book now, it'll show what they're like.
Me: Sir, listen to me, I am not the department you want. Try X in Y department. (I don't like X. Let him deal with this loon.)
BCM: Do you like gypsies?
Me: I like them more than I like some other people.
*Click*
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