BajaNomad - Word Of The Day...

Word Of The Day...

Cameron - 5-31-2007 at 02:18 PM

Xenophobe: A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.
I didn't quite know where to post this, but after reading quite a few of the postings in the "Amnesty" and "What Harm?" threads, it is obvious to me that there are more than a few Xenophobes lurking here on the Nomads board.
It seems quite ironic to me that I'm reading the type of comments I've seen lately on a board established by and for folks who profess a love of Mexico (and Mexicans!).
The thinly-veiled hostility towards Mexicans I have noticed recently is very troubling to me personally, and I think it may be time for me to take a break from the Nomads board for a while.
I will miss most of you, and while I enjoy reading your stories and sharing in your love of Baja, I need a respite from all of the negativity and name-calling that's been going on lately. If I wanted to hear that kind of stuff, I'd turn on FOX News.
Please take a minute or two to reflect on all of the GOOD things in your lives, and try to refrain from concentrating on all of the BAD things. I believe most of the Nomads have lived what could be considered a blessed existence so far, and I urge you all to remember that when doing the "Chicken Little" thing and laying the blame for all the world's ills at the feet of our Mexican neighbors.

With all of my love and respect... Cameron

Thank you for your words, Cameron. I too am considering what you have said...

Lee - 5-31-2007 at 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cameron
Xenophobe: A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.
I didn't quite know where to post this, but after reading quite a few of the postings in the "Amnesty" and "What Harm?" threads, it is obvious to me that there are more than a few Xenophobes lurking here on the Nomads board.

Maybe we need more people like Cameron, Skeet (in his more lucid moments), and Bernie (often a voice of reason) addressing issues, from time to time, on this board.

:cool:

Word

tehag - 5-31-2007 at 04:45 PM

Uh huh!

DENNIS - 5-31-2007 at 04:50 PM

Cameron ---

You brought your political/humanistic opinion here so, why don't you take it over to the political forum and throw it on the table and see who takes a bite at it.
What's with your grandiose exit? It's like throwing a beer at somebody in the bar and running out the door.

Join the party, Bro........

Yeah Cameron, get with it!

Lee - 5-31-2007 at 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Cameron ---

You brought your political/humanistic opinion here so, why don't you take it over to the political forum and throw it on the table and see who takes a bite at it.
What's with your grandiose exit? It's like throwing a beer at somebody in the bar and running out the door.

Join the party, Bro........

Don't get the analogy Dennis but point taken. Stick around Cam and voice your worthy opinion. We need a balance here.

:cool:

longlegsinlapaz - 5-31-2007 at 06:44 PM

Cameron, I understand totally & don't find fault with your reasoning...please come back after your R&R!!

Lencho, I personally think it's good to know when someone is so offended by the name-calling, disrespect & total disregard for others experiences, opinions & feelings, that they pull the plug; be it permanently or just for a while. I appreciate the fact that Cameron announced he's leaving & WHY. I consider it to be like reading a thermometer...it tells us how sick we are! I hope Cameron's post will make some people re-read what they write before they hit the "post" button. Just because we don't agree with what someone says or how they express themselves, it doesn't make their experiences, thoughts & feelings wrong or invalid....is "agreeing to disagree" a lost art??? It IS possible to have a discussion without resorting to name-calling & belittling comments!! The majority of posters here exhibit that! In the overall scheme of things, there are a small amount of posts I find callous or truly offensive, and I'm not the only one...Cameron obviously does too! I look at my thermometer & make a case-by-case decision to speak out or simply avoid that thread or poster. Unfortunately, those who habitually disrespect others through their choice of words rarely have enough sense to HEAR the feedback they receive, or they flat don't give a rip that their words offend people. Sadly I think more people quietly fall off the radar scope than speak up & announce they're offended or had their fill of negativity, rudness & name-calling.

soulpatch, we all have different tolerance levels....I'm guessing that Cameron did let a lot roll off his back before he threw in the towel!

Lee, we need more people like Cameron, Skeet (in all of his moments) & Bernie on this board ALL OF THE TIME!!!!!! :yes:

I can be irreverent with the best of them, but I really do try to not be blatantly or habitually offensive...yeah, I can be offensive with the best of them as well, when I chose to be; I just make a conscious effort to be civil more often than not! Sadly, I think that a small percentage of people confuse common human decency with political correctness, and heaven forbid they ever be viewed as PC!!!

capt. mike - 5-31-2007 at 06:52 PM

i'd say you should watch MORE FOX news..... :yes:

fair and balanced

woody with a view - 5-31-2007 at 07:00 PM

and ready for more grief.

he needs a break! no biggie, the weather is getting hotter by the day in T Santos and a guy can only take so much before he has to turn on the A/C.

but really......no amnesty! :lol:

unless it's a 2 way street!!!! :light:

amir - 6-1-2007 at 02:56 AM

I also considered quitting but then I thought, no, it is only in the political forums like "amnesty", and its offshoot "what harm", where uncivility has reared its ugly head. The threads on the mega developments around Loreto and San Jose also fired up some passions. In other threads I've checked and contributed to, there is a tremendous amount of camaraderie, help given, praise, constructive support, humor, cleverness, wisdom, philosophy, amazing writing skills and overwhelming positivity. Xenophobia I think is the nature of the beast of politics, and negative expression is not really widespread throughout the board.

A good rest is good though for a tired soul. Hope to see you back soon, Cameron!

--Amir

Crusoe - 6-1-2007 at 06:59 AM

All People...... By nature we humans need to express ourselves, weather we are 7 years old or 70. The beauty of this board is people can feel passionate about something they love or passive. No one person is harming any one else in any way. There is nothing wrong about having diverse or different opinions. Negativity and questioning the statsus-quo and not going along with the mainstream brainwashed/braindead attitudes is a healthy thing......Have a great break Cameron. I for one will miss your posting and contributions. ++C++

bajamigo - 6-1-2007 at 08:27 AM

This is what happens when we take ourselves too seriously. Lighten up, folks, this is just a bulletin board, not the New York Times.

elizabeth - 6-1-2007 at 08:33 AM

Good word of the day. I've felt the same about some posts. I can live with, but not particularly enjoy the occasional incivility that comes up from time to time. The posts that make me uncomfortable are the ones that do appear to me to have racist overtones. Perhaps, because this is a Baja board it is more startling. It is important to speak out when you feel that way. I tend to be a little too chicken to do it, and just stop reading, so I applaud your coming forward. A humanistic opinion does belong here, not on the off topic section.

I've left this board for periods of time, but I have come back because of all of the good information, and for the people I have met, both on line and in person, that I enjoy.

If you don't rethink the going away part...at least come back. Your point of view is valuable.

vgabndo - 6-1-2007 at 09:48 AM

Cameron:

I hope you'll continue to contribute. There is no better BAJA board on the www. I'm glad there is an off-topic section to help keep the Baja side more civil, but I can tell you from experience that NOTHING very productive ever happens over there. If you ask probing questions or challange people's ideas, you won't get a spirited debate, you'll just get flamed.
Getting flamed set me on fire, and I find myself feeding people to whom under normal circumstances I wouldn't give the time of day. I understand your conflict.
[ FAGabundo :lol:

]

[Edited on 6-1-2007 by vgabndo]

toneart - 6-1-2007 at 10:38 AM

Quote:

Hey Cameron! I know what you mean, but hang around. Don't run out the door. Oh, and you can throw a beer at me if you want.

fishbuck - 6-1-2007 at 12:49 PM

Xenophobia. Yes a well established concept. Based on fears some real and some irrational. But what's a real danger and what's imagined?
Is someone posting things that offend you a real danger or an imagined danger? Is a post on a message board something you really need to flee from?
I guess some of my posts might hurt some feelings around here but sometimes I get annoyed by all the Rose colored glasses mentality on this board and want to shake things up a little.
I get a little upset sometimes too like when Skeets says it's okay for the locals to kill off all the fish. Well,now I know not everybody in the world thinks the same way as me and I'm smarter for it. But I try to adjust my thinking not theirs.
I'll take reality over Rosy denial any day even if it means getting my feelings hurt a little. I can take it.
So don't run away. Hang in there. If you don't like what someone posts( me probably) let them now you have a different prospective.
I learned a new thing from this post. It's called self-rightious indignation. Seems to be alot of that here.
Okay Cameron,let me have it! Rock my world.

DENNIS - 6-1-2007 at 12:56 PM

I think Cameron did what he said he would do. He left while everybody pretended to talk to him while they talked to themselves.

What took you so long

Sharksbaja - 6-1-2007 at 01:35 PM

I've felt that way many times. It's perfectly normal here. Time and time again we lose familiar Nomads because the verbal spigot runs wide open.
It's a rare person who can partake without compromise. Feelings get hurt. Especially when a Nomad you've grown to respect says something that hurts you to the core. I know I've done it and it's been done to me and there is little you can do besides apologize. Could end up as a "grudge". Tis a pity. People must find simple forgivness. Cut each other more slack. I'll try!

Cameron, you may be right about Xenophobia but sometimes these threads are to wide in scope. It draws us in too personally I regret.

tiempo yo reflejar tambien....

Dennis, cuidadoso! :saint:

fishbuck - 6-1-2007 at 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
I think Cameron did what he said he would do. He left while everybody pretended to talk to him while they talked to themselves.

Ya, Cameron and everyone else. They all took there toys and went home because that bully Fishbuck was playing too rough.
Well maybe I better post some fluff and see if anyone will come back.
Anyone been to a good taco stand lately? How about beer, anyone like beer? How about weather, anyone like nice weather?

is this the reason?

amir - 6-1-2007 at 04:34 PM

untitled.jpg - 34kB

Boo Hoo Hoo

MrBillM - 6-2-2007 at 12:20 PM

"Some People Get Their Feelings Hurt". ??

One has to wonder how insecure someone must be to get their feelings hurt by anything written here by someone who disagrees with them.

Nothing said here should be a reason for Hurt Feelings. None of it really makes a difference in the Real World. It's simply a Mental Exercise and a Recreational break from the routine.

Concerning the original thought on this thread (Zenophobe), that's just another one of those CRAP words, like Homophobe, that people throw out to discredit the opinions they disagree with. Since any "Phobia" has to be an evidence of "unreasonable" fear or loathing, that must mean that those who disagree are unreasonable. More BS. There are a myriad number of Good reasons to oppose the action and effects of Illegal Immigration that don't involve any Racism at all.

[Edited on 6-2-2007 by MrBillM]

DENNIS - 6-2-2007 at 12:26 PM

True story, Bill.........

If anybody ever got upset over anything I said here, I'd say they have no faith in their own convictions.

Words should never hurt -- but do they?

Lee - 6-2-2007 at 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
True story, Bill.........

If anybody ever got upset over anything I said here, I'd say they have no faith in their own convictions.

In theory, you and Bill are right. We're strangers here, mostly, and anonymous.

Faith in convictions? What the heck does that mean?

Dennis, as you know, it is possible to write things that are considered offensive by most, and especially by Nomad management, that will get you censored or kicked off this forum. So, you might want to think about what you write -- even if you are never personally offended by what someone else writes. I'll do the same.

And as much as there are new words out there that represent something -- like homophobe, hate crime, etc., those words serve a purpose by pointing to other words or definitions that have meaning. You don't have to agree with the meaning, but there might be a consensus to the meaning that serve most people. If you hate gays, YOU are a homophobe whether you agree with the meaning or not.

:cool:

fishbuck - 6-2-2007 at 04:25 PM

Again with the threats Lee? What is it that you're afraid of. Afraid of being offended?
That is the second post you have made that includes threats.
The other even had thinly
veiled threats of violence.
If you want to report someone then do it! If the management agrees with your grievence then it's their right to take action.
But this whole threat thing is totally inappropriate.
If your afraid of being offended by words that you don't agree with then that is your problem. But to come on the board and threaten people who don't think and talk like you do is cowardly. I'm sure that will offend you Lee. I really don't care because you asked for it.
Report that!

DENNIS - 6-2-2007 at 04:37 PM

Why don't you two go on a U2U rampage. This bullcrap has outlived itself.

fishbuck - 6-2-2007 at 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Why don't you two go on a U2U rampage. This bullcrap has outlived itself.

You know it's bad when Dennis asks you to leave!
I'm done with it. From now on I shall post only the most benign items.
I've seen some very beautiful cactus flowers. Anyone like cactus flowers? How about hummingbirds. Anyone like hummingbirds?

fishbuck - 6-2-2007 at 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Why don't you two go on a U2U rampage. This bullcrap has outlived itself.

You two clowns have problems....

Lee - 6-2-2007 at 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck
Again with the threats Lee? What is it that you're afraid of. Afraid of being offended?
That is the second post you have made that includes threats.
The other even had thinly
veiled threats of violence.
If you want to report someone then do it! If the management agrees with your grievence then it's their right to take action.
But this whole threat thing is totally inappropriate.
If your afraid of being offended by words that you don't agree with then that is your problem. But to come on the board and threaten people who don't think and talk like you do is cowardly. I'm sure that will offend you Lee. I really don't care because you asked for it.

Report that!

Threats? Me? Am I threatening fishback or Dennis?

You two clowns think you can say anything you want here with no regard to consequnces. I haven't been offended yet by anything said -- but I have an idea that disrespecting Mexican women, and women generally, here, is bad form and offensive. To me personally? No. To Nomad women, possibly, yes. Guess that's OK with you clowns. Write bullsh*t, claim your civil liberties are on the line, claim you have the write to say what you want, and I'm called cowardly?

GrassFire is filled with cowards -- check it out and get back to us.

Call Mexican women ''throwaways" because they aren't your ideal of twisted sexual fantasy, or whatever your problem is, and I'll call a spade a spade.

Posting here is a priviledge that is revocable. I have no power here and censor no one. Management does that and my last ''report'' last week resulted in removal of several posts. Hope that didn't come across as a veiled threat to you.

Like I said, cross the line and I'll personally step forward and make my comments known. Far from cowardly here, amigo.

Now, why don't you both bump your meds up and go to bed.

Nighty-night.

:cool:

P.S. Hey Dennis, you just might be on probation. Check around.

jerry - 6-2-2007 at 08:05 PM

fun is fun who cares where it came from??
this is cool wonder how any of this type of things helped the mexican lingo cause it sure isnt spanish but neather is a lot of baja
>A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON
>
>In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was
>either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed
>him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others
>showed both legs and both arms.
>
>Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be
>painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are
>"limbs," therefore painting them would cost the buyer more.
>
>Hence the expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."
>
>As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year !
>(May and Oct.)
>
>Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of
>lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made
>from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would
>carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30
>minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term "big
>wig."
>
>Today we often use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone
>appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
>
>In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one
>chair Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was
>used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair
>while everyone else ate sitting on the floor.
>
>Occasionally, a guest, usually a man, would be invited to sit in this
>chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in
>charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man."
>
>Today in business, we use the expression or title "Chairman" or
>"Chairman of the Board."
>
>Personal hygiene left much room for improvement As a result, many women
>and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spre ad
>bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When
>they were speaking to each other, if a woman stared at another woman's
>face she was told, "Mind your own bee's wax."
>
>Should the woman smile, the wax would crack; hence the term "crack a
>smile" In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would
>melt. Therefore, the expression "losing face."
>
>Ladies wore corsets, which were laced up in the front. A proper and
>dignified woman, as in "straight laced" . . . wore a tightly laced
>corset.
>
>Common entertainment included playing cards However, there was a tax
>levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the "Ace of
>Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards
>instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were
>thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full
>deck."
>
>Early politicians needed feedback from the public to determine what
>issues the people thought we re important. Since there were no
>telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to
>local taverns, pubs, and bars.
>
>They were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's conversations
>and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different
>times: "You go sip here" and "You go sip there." The words "go" and
>"sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and,
>thus we have the term "gossip."
>
>At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized
>containers. The bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and
>keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who
>was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in "quarts"; hence the term
>"minding your "P's and Q's."
>
>One more: bet you didn't know this!
>In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters
>carried iron cannons.
>
>Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a
>good supply near the cannon. However, a problem was, how to prevent
>them from rolling about the deck?
>
>The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball
>on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus,
>a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next
>to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom
>layer from sliding or rolling from under the others.
>
>The solution was a metal plate called a "monkey" with 16 round
>indentations. However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls
>would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to
>make "brass monkeys".
>
>Few land lubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster
>than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too
>far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron
>cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite
>literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a "brass monkey."
>
>(All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't
>you.)
have a good one jerry

DENNIS - 6-2-2007 at 08:09 PM

What? No Lee............If you're talking about here, I'm on parole.

Jesus Christo...........Are you alright?

jerry - 6-2-2007 at 08:32 PM

sorry this was sopost to be a new post

jerry - 6-2-2007 at 08:34 PM

camron there are some loud mouth idiots here but most are real people hang in noone gets as much crap as i do :lol:

:lol
dont take it to serously just remember who its comming from

fishbuck - 6-3-2007 at 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee

Quote:

P.S. Hey Dennis, you just might be on probation. Check around.

Hey Lee. Here's some more twisted sexual fastasy for you.

Miss Universe® 2007: MEXICO - Photos
Address:http://www.missuniverse.com/delegates/2007/files/MX-photo-swim.html

We'll take as many of these in Costa Mesa as we can get.

SORRY BUCKO. THIS IS ALL YOU GIT.

bancoduo - 6-3-2007 at 02:05 PM

Skeet/Loreto - 6-3-2007 at 02:20 PM

Wow!!
I take a couple of Days off and my name gets posted more than I Post.
I appreciate the references and Opinions about me.
All the time this was going on I was at the Coors World Champion Ranch Rodeo drinking Beer, eating BBQ Brisket, Biscuits and Gravy and watching some Rough Working Cowboys doing Their Thang!!

WORDs

"Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones, But words do not Harm me.""

ACTS-- Acts are the most Important of any Human Being!

"Controll uour Desires and Keep your Passions with in due Bounds.!

Miss Universe or Miss TJ -- I LOVE 'EM ALL!

Lee - 6-3-2007 at 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bancoduo

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE -- no teasing.

:cool:

Sharksbaja - 6-3-2007 at 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto

WORDs

"Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones, But words do not Harm me.""

ACTS-- Acts are the most Important of any Human Being!

"Controll uour Desires and Keep your Passions with in due Bounds.!

Thanks Skeet!

So it seems some have feelings and some don't. Ok, I get it.

Comming and Going

CaboRon - 6-4-2007 at 07:31 PM

I read postings on this board for about six months before I stepped in. But, now I am beginning to enjoy it. (Except for the Xenophobes)..... Compared to the Vagabundos forum this has a lot of life. And I did pay my thirty five bucks to Vags. so I have paid for my comment. So I will post , then take breaks, then back up on the horse. I think more people than you think have left this forum . Hopefully they too, will come back and participate in this interesting social experiment. CaboRon :yawn:

jerry - 6-5-2007 at 12:29 AM

pinchy cabron i been called that by some of my best friends mexican style
lifes a beach

Gnome-ad - 6-5-2007 at 01:37 AM

People can be xenophobic about anything - "foreign" people in their country, their neighborhood, or even their internet forum. I would like to learn to share a little more, trust a little more and try something new every now and then that stretches my understanding of the world and how I fit in it. Joining this forum is a stretch for me. I don't know Cameron, but I hope he does return after his break.