Not sure how to really write this post, so if it goes a stray please forgive me.

This whole post will be written by my enforced prejudices. Well the thing is that I am now finding myself having to look for another job, I am currently a Taxi driver. The reason is I have lost confidence through a not too pleasant experience, which happened to me last weekend.

I became a victim of a hijacking by Gypsies, who tried to get me to take them to a dark unused car park, were what I heard on one of their mobile phones conversations, they were to meet some more. Well has you could imagine I had to think fast how to get out of this situation. What I did was to overshoot my final turning and pull up on a busy roundabout. This action probably saved my life, if not my life then a nights lost wages and a trip to the hospital. The gypsies panicked themselves at this point because they suddenly flew into rages in my car, demanding I should take them the extra couple of hundred yards to this darkened destination. I firmly said “No I am not going any further!” they then got out of my car, leaving my doors open and one of them then reached into the front passenger side and took a swipe at me, missing me but instead grabbing an air freshener off the dash of my car. So I shouted “Have the F****g fair for free, you Pikee B******s!” and slammed my foot on the accelerator, spinning the wheels has I drove off through red lights. Then I stopped the car shut the doors and through a now automatic instinct turned the car around to set off to run the t**ts over. Fortunately I thought about it for a split second and seeing sense headed off to the police instead. This is only a brief description of the night from hell I suffered.

Now the Police couldn’t really give a ****, or this is what I got from their attitude. I was even told if I wanted to pursue the situation, I would need to drive to Sheffield and report it there as the Barnsley station was closed between 12am to 8am on Saturday nights. Now this infuriated and worried me more, it was at this point that I realised as a Barnsley tax payer, my taxes aren’t enough to pay for one 24 hour open, manned Police station in my borough.

So why do I think I should look for another job then? Well I don’t feel safe anymore, of the 2 dangerous situations I’ve been in, both involved Gypsies. I know these guys where Gypsies because of their accent and I got a mate of mine to drive back up to the place near where they wanted me to go, were we discovered a bomb site full of Caravans. I knew my other situation involved Gypsies because I drove them to a Gypsy camp and it was only through the help from another Taxi driver I got away with nothing happening to me there, another long story. As a white man I gained a lot of respect for Asian Taxi drivers because of this help I received.

Throughout my life I have come in to contact with many different race’s and creed’s and the only one’s I seem to have had trouble with have been White people. Gypsies seem to be the only group of people who I’ve felt my life has been in danger with.

I ask the question am I now being prejudice because of my 2 encounters or do we have a problem with these savages, who refuse to mix with society but instead live in their clans and rob or steel from us civilised people.

What I want to know is am I doing wrong by allowing them to drive me out of my job; even though I didn’t suffer any physical scars, I find it hard to stop thinking about what would have happened, so I’m mentally scarred. Also has any of you got any good stories regarding encounters with Gypsies, I’d like to know as then I could understand more that I’ve been a victim of a minority.

Also if we a problem with them as a whole then I find it hard to believe that only the Conservatives were willing to add policies to sort them out. Of course I know the Tory’s words are just that “Words”.

What are the BNP’s attitude towards this cancer to society known as Gypsies?

I will take the “Cancer to society” back, if anyone’s stories can convince me to.

I think in any group there are good and bad mate.

I also question the term "Gypsies" - it is a broad umbrella term that incorporates cultural minority groups such as Irish Travellers, ethnic minority groups such as the Roma and yes, a few scallies...

I also wonder why some travelling communities which stay put in the same area for years don't just build themselves some houses?

I sympathise with your situation, but I think you are tarring them all with the same brush.

I know a lot of people who fit carpets, and I have heard about how to deal with this community without trouble. You talk to one of the older guys who will tell you to keep out of the way of the ones who might cause bother, and point out those ones in no uncertain terms.

I have met lots of them and they are generally very nice. I think that the trouble you have met with is of criminals which happened to be from that community.
Rather than the community at large. It doesn't take many bad apples to spoil the whole barrel as they used to say.

Carpet fitters? :confused:

What did I miss?

I've got to agree with Wayne72 here. From 20 years ago when I was a fresh faced youth, every fast talking irish caravan dweller has been nothing but trouble for me. I've too many separate yet equally terrifying incidents to recount and nothing positive to say about them at all. Just last year,a well known pikey and his entrourage of scruffy scrotes trashed our fishing club presentation night and scoffed the buffet that the landlord had slaved all day over with nothing more than a "i'm xxxxx xxxxxx try and stop us" IMO (based on experience and nothing else) they do what they want, how they want, with no regard for anyone nor any law. Nasty bstds - t'lot of em. Predjudiced? Too right (and I used to live at Nether Edge and my next door neighbour read the Guardian so don't give me any crap about being BNP!).

Yep they are a scary bunch and nothing yet as given me a better oppinion of them, as I say they have all but drove me out of my current job, its just a matter of finding a new one.

I am a live and let live person too, yet I feel the Gypsies (particularly the none settled ones) dont have an ounce of remorse for anyone other than themselves and fellow Gypsies, Pikees or Travellers.

I still yet hope to be persuaded otherwise but things dont look good.

The only thing i can add is that true gypsies(or travellers ) arnt bad people.I reckon the pillocks you encounted were some of those (and i use the term lightly)economic migrants ,that the Irish government saw fit to kick out Dublin last year.The thievin dirty scruffy gets have made thier way over here to turn our towns and citys into dumping grounds for thier crap and to rob and scrounge off decent hard workin people.Me thinks it was probebly those SCUMBAGS you encounted and as you piont out you were quite lucky to get away with just an air freshener missing.My advice would be dont let the b******s get you down hard though it might be.hope you sort out youre problem an get back to work so:thumbsup:on.

"What are the BNP’s attitude towards this cancer to society known as Gypsies?"

Whatever the problem never turn to the BNP! The BNP are a cancer to society!

No stories about 'gypsies' but too many to mention about 'settled' people. Don't you ever get trouble when you have drunks in the taxi on a fri or sat night? I agree with steelson you get your good and bad in all groups in society.

Originally posted by rooty
"What are the BNP’s attitude towards this cancer to society known as Gypsies?"

Whatever the problem never turn to the BNP! The BNP are a cancer to society!

No stories about 'gypsies' but too many to mention about 'settled' people. Don't you ever get trouble when you have drunks in the taxi on a fri or sat night? I agree with steelson you get your good and bad in all groups in society.

Yeah your right Rooty, to be fair the BNP getting into power would be step backwards to Hitlers regime. I only ask about the BNP's attitudes and if they have any policy for the problem because I know the Tories have a policy on the subject.

I personally find all parties have the same overall outlook, Capitalism and the destruction of anything and everything to make more money.

Now I personally am working on a revolutionary theory o policy that ditches Capitalism for ultimate Equality. In no means will it be like Communist Russia or China, somthing I regard as extremely extreme capitalism.

My thesis needs refining at the moment, working out all the pro's and con's but if I can get it to work them i'm positive it would cut out 99% of crime. I see 99% of crime are a result of capitalism, 1% is crimes of passion somthing that you cant get rid of.

Scum is scum no matter what ethnic group they come from. There are good and bad people in all walks of life it just seems that some groups are more trouble than they are worth.

Originally posted by waldershelf
Scum is scum no matter what ethnic group they come from. There are good and bad people in all walks of life it just seems that some groups are more trouble than they are worth.

Yes there is the good and the bad in all social / ethnic groups, but when the bad seem to vastly out weigh the good (in personal experience by me, a large number of people I know, have met and on here) then something sticks and it’s not just the pile of crap they leave behind.

You cannot deny that when a gypsy camp appears in or near a town or village burglary numbers and street crime in the area go through the roof!

"You cannot deny that when a gypsy camp appears in or near a town or village burglary numbers and street crime in the area go through the roof!"

Yeah i've found this is pretty common knowledge, so you know what, local thieves probably know its common knowledge too, and its one hell of a good cover for them...people blame the 'gypsies'! I'm not saying it doesn't happen, i really don't know. Just that i'd imagine some people can take advantage of this to escape suspicion.
Generally though i just hate segregating people into catagories you start saying some group good or bad where does it lead to? Isn't this just what Hitler did!?

Rooty I know what your saying, but I agree with Serapis here. Look at the time i'm making this post 11:00pm on a Saturday night, as a Taxi driver I really should be working but I aint putting myself in to that situation again.

Who knows they say times a good healer, we shall see.

I know what you're saying too and i realise that you were obviously quite traumatised by your experience and i feel for you. However, i've had really rude horrible taxi drivers who have drove like maniacs and tried to overcharge (when you know how much it costs!) but i wouldnt say that my bad experiences with them have meant that i feel all taxi drivers are idiots, i've also had some great ones who have picked me up from work for example and really made my night cheering me up with their friendliness and jokes. Everyones entitled to their opinion and i can see the reason you and serapis feel the way u do, its just not my way of seeing things. (i'm saying this in a light hearted type of way, im not trying to preach! :) )

Originally posted by rooty
I know what you're saying too and i realise that you were obviously quite traumatised by your experience and i feel for you. However, i've had really rude horrible taxi drivers who have drove like maniacs and tried to overcharge (when you know how much it costs!) but i wouldnt say that my bad experiences with them have meant that i feel all taxi drivers are idiots, i've also had some great ones who have picked me up from work for example and really made my night cheering me up with their friendliness and jokes. Everyones entitled to their opinion and i can see the reason you and serapis feel the way u do, its just not my way of seeing things. (i'm saying this in a light hearted type of way, im not trying to preach! :) )

I'm that friendly Taxi driver you talk of, I even make sure customers get home when they dont have enough cash, so long as they tell me in advance and don't take the p**s, but last Saturday I was in a proper Hijacked situation.

I have'nt wrote the full episode because it would take too long, but I really believe I cheated death, I say this because I have a certain condition which means I could have died following a beating, somthing they would'nt know or care about.

So sorry but I still hate the b**tar*s

Wayne I feel for you, the trouble is that most of your good passengers are forgotten long before that odd bad one.

I take it that you drive a private hire car and not one of the black cabs, which do give the driver a bit more protection. Could you perhaps think of swapping over to a black cab?

Originally posted by owdlad
Wayne I feel for you, the trouble is that most of your good passengers are forgotten long before that odd bad one.

I take it that you drive a private hire car and not one of the black cabs, which do give the driver a bit more protection. Could you perhaps think of swapping over to a black cab?

Yeah your right about the bad v's good passenger, its all too easy to forget the good ones and I always say you get about 1 bad journey in about every 30.

As for swapping to a Hackney, I dont havve the funds, but its a thought i'l consider.

Cheers

As others have said you can't tar a group of people with the same brush. Their actions say something about them, and not the group they happen to be a part of.

I have been close friends with three romany gypsy brothers for a few years.
And to be honest I relied on them to get me out of any tough situation I found myself in, they looked after me. I even dated one of them for a while. This is my only experience of gypsies, but it was a very positive one.

However what I can tell you is that in my village they set aside an area for gypsies with a toilet block and facilities. And the so called decent yuppie folk of the village got sledge hammers and smashed up all the brand new toilets!

If people are the victim of hate crimes, then its bound to produce a few hard nuts, who are enraged. Creating a them and us society.

A few questions?

Do Romany Gypsies mix with the Irish ones? I ask as one of them appeared to have a Eastern European accent, the other 2 was a mix of Irish and North Eastern.

Are you Female?

If you are this explains to me why they were fine with you, most foriegn or opting out of regular society, will generally accept females to go with them.

Did you create the tough situation in any way?

I ask this because I never create any problems and anytime a problem has arised, which has been on very rare occasions I have just walked away. I've never relied on anyone to get me out of situations and I never will, although I expect the Police to but they never seem to do.

So if all they are good for is getting out you out of tough situation, this only adds to the fact that they like trouble?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wayne72
[B]Yeah your right Rooty, to be fair the BNP getting into power would be step backwards to Hitlers regime.

Try looking at the BNP TV section of their website. You'll see that they aren't necessarily the nazis the media portrays them as.

Sorry about your predicament Wayne, but these things are a part and parcel of the job and much nastier things have happened to taxi-drivers, that Asian guy from Rotherham who was murdered and his body set on fire by thugs in Thorp hesley for example. I don't think any Asian taxi drivers gave up their job because of that. The thing is to reflect on the experience and learn from it that you were very fortunate and can hope it never happens again, but you can't let it change your life. Trick is to get out there and work and enjoy the job that you like doing, and I am tempted to use that time old example of being run over by a bus etc.. count thee blessings melad! an gerout t' work

wayne72 you sound like a good decent chap, who through luck and your good wits avoided a very bad situation. But don't let yourself be poisoned by the dregs of society and take each person as you find them.

Obviously though you need to be careful of putting your self in compromising situations. That goes for every section of society, after all theives don't wear stripped shirts and carry swag bags.

Hi D.A.V and J.F.K your both right in waht you say (lol I think i'm a nice guy :P )

Anyways i've taken on board what happend that night and unfortunately if I feel somthings wrong again i'l just drive off. So if any genuine potential customer is left without a Taxi in Barnsley at any time, then I appoligise now, but you shouldn't look intimidating.

I'm sure once i've done a few weeks on the old Day shift of endless traffic :gag: and day time shoppers :o i'l soon regain the confidence to make the night time town centre runs of drunks and decent people :thumbsup:

Cheers for your welcommed encouragement. By the way I never heard of that incident in Rotherham, makes my story look like a disney tale :mad:

Gypsies, tramps and thieves
We’d hear it from the people of the town
They’d call us gypsies, tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down

Sorry that was of no relevance, just having a Cher moment... :hihi:

LOL

To be honest its one of my favourite songs Chers "Gypsies, Tramps, Gypsies and Thieves" great tune.

Originally posted by wayne72
LOL

To be honest its one of my favourite songs Chers "Gypsies, Tramps, Gypsies and Thieves" great tune.

That reminds me of an old joke:

I thought I saw Cher coming out of Netto yesterday.

But it was just a gypsy, a tramp and a thief!

Over the years i've had various encounters with 'gypsies'.

When I lived in Wakefield the office I worked in was fairly close to quite a large 'traveller' site provided by the council, it was a decent site by all accounts - with plenty of facilities. I used to see people from the site on an almost daily basis - and found people there to be very much like the rest of society in that there's good and bad in every group.

Another place where I worked in the same town meant I had regular contact with people from the site. I treat them exactly the same as everyone else I met - politely and with respect, and I got the same in return.

Personally, i've never had any problems at all, every single one of the people (gypsies) i've met/spoken to have been perfectly normal friendly people. I think sometimes, because they know the sort of reaction they get from many people, they play on it a bit and i've noticed the subtle changes in behaviour when watching the interaction with other people.

I'm sorry you had a traumatic experience, as a taxi driver i'm sure you meet a wide variety of people - some very nice and others not so nice.

MMMMMmmmmm Like they say times a good healer and as more of it goes by, the more I am starting to believe in my theory of "Live and Let Live".

There is probably, infact there is good and bad in all walks of life. Although I will contradict myself here by saying I believe some cetain groups of civilisation are more troublesome than others. Circumstances may dictate this, but circumstances are by far no good excuse, everyone's got a bad story, regardless of social stature.