Hacker News Reader

Gypsy ninjas? Gypsy is a highly offensive ethnic slur practically everywhere in the world except America.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_(term)#Gypsy

The word 'slur' is not mentioned once on that page. At best, its use as an offensive slur is context sensitive (at least according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs).

It does actually mention it's an insult a lot of the time half way down the page. You wouldn't use it as an ethnic slur like 'roast beef', people accuse others of being a gypsy or a pikey. It is 'considered to carry pejorative connotations' as wikipedia delightfully puts it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com