BajaNomad - The Neophobic Nomad

The Neophobic Nomad

memo - 7-22-2008 at 01:30 PM

I have studied this board, posted to this board, and been attacked on this board and, though I am a newbie, I have reached a very clear conclusion about what motivates many of the otherwise inexplicable responses and utterances posted here: Fear of anything new.

Yup. Neophobia. The suggestion of improvements to the infrastructure of Baja is greeted here with contempt and even hostility. Why? Because it represents change. Well let me tell you folks, Baja is not your personal sand box. There are actually Mexicans living here, many of whom may not have visited modern towns with running, clear, drinkable water, clean hospitals, good schools, libraries, etc. You can fly down from Stinson Beach or Running Springs, get your feet wet, drink some cheap beer, catch some fish and fly back home. Or you can drive your SUV's to get here. Your protected life in Baja is good and you want it to stay that way. You can tell yourselves you are trying to protect the locals from the evils of change but you are being dishonest. Your fear of change is palpable. As my gift to you, I have provided a link to a special dictionary which many of you will find helpful:

http://www.ojohaven.com/fun/phobias.html

Enjoy.

gibson - 7-22-2008 at 01:37 PM

all hail the messiah, for he walketh amongst us! :lol:

Cypress - 7-22-2008 at 01:41 PM

memo, Thanks for the fear site. Gosh, never knew there were so many things to be afraid of.

I'm scared. :biggrin:

bajaboolie - 7-22-2008 at 01:52 PM

Everyone has his/her own opinion, and--for better or worse--people like to give their opinion whether solicited or not. Often, regrettably, in a hostile or critical manner.

Just chalk it up to differences in people's philosophy, life experience, whatever. A big group of people will never agree on any given controversial topic. To keep on beating a dead horse (as the other threads have done, and I'm sure this one will do...) is tiresome.

I'm hopeful this board will become more interesting again soon.

shari - 7-22-2008 at 02:12 PM

Our family welcome and embrace changes in infastructure in Mexico. My intelligent husband who has visited big gringo cities..detests the corruption, the "ratas", the unjust justice system, cartels, garbage and apathy of many mexicanos....but we do see small changes happening, slowly, very slowly, changes in the right direction...we try to do our best to do what we CAN in the existing system...but it's not always possible or cost effective. Many of you can be critical and stand on your soap boxes and preach what we SHOULD do...from YOUR prospective...not from OUR prospective which is VERY different from your reality. I did not attack you but merely suggested that if you are that fed up, perhaps you might just "cut and run"...go back to what you consider to be an acceptable lifestyle in the states and make room for others who may be able to tolerate and indeed be happy living in this country.
WE do not have our heads stuck in the sand..we are WELL aware of what happens in our country and deal with it according to our personal ability.
We embrace change and do not fear it. By the way, we have a very nice hospital here and excellent schools...and lots of people drink the tap water...something I would never do in the states.

memo - 7-22-2008 at 02:27 PM

Shari, When you say "big gringo cities" isn't that a somewhat derogatory term? I will stop short of calling you a Gringophobe, but just. The tenor of your little diatribe strikes me as a bit hostile, and again with the "Mexico, Love it or Leave It" I already called you on. I am happy that in bahia asuncion you have found nirvana, but what you describe there is not typical of Baja. Even you will admit that. So, no I am not leaving Mexico despite your pleas, and yes, I accept your apology for using the G word on this board.

Martyman - 7-22-2008 at 02:32 PM

The only soap box I'm getting up on is the one with the picture of Marilyn Chambers!!

fulano - 7-22-2008 at 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by memo
I accept your apology for using the G word on this board.

Memo, the word "gringo" is in such common use along both sides of the border now that it is no longer considered to be a perjorative. I know many "gingos" who take no offense at the use of that word, me included. Along the border area, at least, most Mexicans do not use the word in a degoratory manner. The word "Chinola" is what many Mexicans use to refer to Sinaloans, and is far more derogatory than"gringo".

shari - 7-22-2008 at 02:42 PM

I did not in any way mean that a big gringo city is derogatory and if you think it is, well you misunderstood me...for us the term gringo is NOT derogatory AT ALL. Nor was I the least bit hostile in my post and am surprised you thought it was. The point I was trying to make was that mexican people are also distressed by the same issues visitors are but they handle it a bit differently. They are well aware they cant' change things overnight and that change comes with a price and comes very slowly. They DO want to change the system, live more justly, with dignity and safety and do small things they can do to move things forward in their own realms. I am not suggesting that if you don't love mexico you don't live here...but if you are so fed up, well I just don't see why you would continue to live here?

memo - 7-22-2008 at 02:53 PM

Shari, Thank you for clarifying that for me, I am not offended by the G word now that I understand it is benign. Many years ago in a Suburb of Mexico City I was visiting the home of a friend and over dinner I called myself a Gringo. It was a show stopper. Everyone stopped talking, forks were placed on the table, and what had been a very lively conversation became awkward. My friend explained that I didn't mean anything by it and I apologized for using the word, and all was fine.

I am a gringo and as such perhaps am a bit more impatient than members of other cultures. It is a trait that probably served gringos well in some ways, such as the development of the telephone, the automobile, the electric light, the tv, the radio and as my grandmother would point out, most importantly, the electric washing machine. But when you explain that change is slow in Mexico and very costly I cringe. Call it the gringo in me. Sorry

Barry A. - 7-22-2008 at 03:01 PM

shari--------you don't drink "tap water" in the states (USA)????? Why not???? I admit that the water in southern CA is pretty bad tasting, but iced down it is not that bad. That is a curious statement, I think. Could you explain??

(Personally I am leary of water in little plastic bottles, and almost never drink "bottled water" as it picks up toxins from the plastic, I have read. (??))

Barry

palmeto99 - 7-22-2008 at 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
Our family welcome and embrace changes in infastructure in Mexico. My intelligent husband who has visited big gringo cities..detests the corruption, the "ratas", the unjust justice system, cartels, garbage and apathy of many mexicanos....but we do see small changes happening, slowly, very slowly, changes in the right direction...we try to do our best to do what we CAN in the existing system...but it's not always possible or cost effective. Many of you can be critical and stand on your soap boxes and preach what we SHOULD do...from YOUR prospective...not from OUR prospective which is VERY different from your reality. I did not attack you but merely suggested that if you are that fed up, perhaps you might just "cut and run"...go back to what you consider to be an acceptable lifestyle in the states and make room for others who may be able to tolerate and indeed be happy living in this country.
WE do not have our heads stuck in the sand..we are WELL aware of what happens in our country and deal with it according to our personal ability.
We embrace change and do not fear it. By the way, we have a very nice hospital here and excellent schools...and lots of people drink the tap water...something I would never do in the states.

I have a really good female friend who like Sherri ,married a Mexican man from Baja. When she took him to her home just outside Edmonton Alberta for the off season a few years back, he also disliked the big city and all that it represented.
He could not get back to Baja fast enough what with having to get up to work in the morning, taxes on what he did earn and the high costs of beer and smokes in Canada.
Better to keep that progress from happening in Mexico.... :cool:

gibson - 7-22-2008 at 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by palmeto99
I have a really good female friend who like Sherri ,married a Mexican man from Baja. When she took him to her home just outside Edmonton Alberta for the off season a few years back, he also disliked the big city and all that it represented.
He could not get back to Baja fast enough what with having to get up to work in the morning, taxes on what he did earn and the high costs of beer and smokes in Canada.
Better to keep that progress from happening in Mexico.... :cool:

ooooohooooooo you're funny I have to admit

shari - 7-22-2008 at 03:57 PM

I don't like the tap water in the states, it tastes very bad...Juan did not like all the traffic in the big cities of canada and the states...but he loved the nice highways...didn't like all the trees in Canada..said they blocked the view...loved the berries and corn and people in Canada and the freshwater lakes to swim in...Juan gets up at 6:00 here to go fishing and pays 35% tax on his income...doesn't smoke and didn't like Canadian beer. He DID appreciate not having to go through hell to get a tourist visa...they just handed it to him with a smile at the airport.

palmeto99 - 7-22-2008 at 03:59 PM

I am trying to be more polite , funny , and pointed...
How am I doing with it. ... :cool:

Al G - 7-22-2008 at 04:22 PM

"I am not offended by the G word "
If your are not why do you keep referring to Gringo as the "G" word

I am a proud American and a proud Gringo and maybe one day a proud Mexican.
I am sure you are minnow...or meno, Memo is too close.
It does not matter, because at the rate you are going...you have the same destinies . Good-bye

ELINVESTIG8R - 7-22-2008 at 04:27 PM

I have Phasmophobia: JR where are you? Don't you dare come and pull my feet at night while I am sleeping.

gibson - 7-22-2008 at 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Al G
"I am not offended by the G word "
If your are not why do you keep referring to Gringo as the "G" word

yes i had minnow as a candidate too (now that was a jerker!)

BajaNomad - 7-22-2008 at 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by memo
I have... been attacked on this board and, though I am a newbie, I have reached a very clear conclusion about what motivates many of the otherwise inexplicable responses and utterances posted here

How exactly does one assume they can enter a new circle of people (virtual or otherwise), and then instead of being polite and/or showing some personal (positive) consideration for those others...

...begin using/assigning personal insults and/or labels upon some of them..... "enabler".... "snob".... and "America hater"...

...and then be surprised by the reaction (that should be expected) to such?

By stating the responses are "inexplicable" you are clearly exhibiting victim mentality here - an inability to take personal responsibility for the result of your choices/decisions/actions.

People with victim mentality think: "I didn't do it!", or "it wasn't me!"... and therefore feel it's an external factor/person/etc that's responsible for what's happened to them - and do not hesitate, in a flash, in pointing the blame finger away from themselves.

Enough already. Get over yourself.

Stop cluttering up the Nomad board with such self-serving, non-Baja-related diatribes.

This goes for everyone - play nice here - or don't play at all.

:cool:

Regards,
--
Doug Means