BajaNomad - True? Or not???

True? Or not???

SDRonni - 8-3-2008 at 10:51 AM

Are the crimes (kidnapping) actually underreported, as this article states, or is this just rehash of things that have happened in the past, making it seem bigger than it really is???

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/70293

DENNIS - 8-3-2008 at 11:03 AM

Kidnapping in Mexico has been refined to a high skill. In fact, kidnappers today will contact a prospective victim and give him a chance to pay a ransom before the crime is commited and not bother with all the messy stuff. Kidnappers are in contact with the victims family and in many cases I would imagine silence is one of the demands and the crime goes unreported.

I'll read the link later....Gotta go.

guadalupe - 8-3-2008 at 11:07 AM

Dennis is right. Many families never make a police report because of fear of harm to the person who is kidnapped or even later to the family too. It is much like rape as many of these crimes are not reported and it is difficult to know the real number.

rpleger - 8-3-2008 at 11:13 AM

I don't know this reporter...but I belive that most of the article is true.

feign country? Where is this place?

SDRonni - 8-3-2008 at 11:56 AM

As far as you know, are they always kidnapping someone with obvious means to pay a ransom? Have you heard of any American retirees, for instance, getting nabbed? And, yes, I agree, I don't know what a feign country is either!

lizard lips - 8-3-2008 at 12:04 PM

Yes, Yes, and Yes

DENNIS - 8-3-2008 at 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
As far as you know, are they always kidnapping someone with obvious means to pay a ransom? Have you heard of any American retirees, for instance, getting nabbed?

They do their homework and know who they want to snatch. They wouldn't, in most cases, pick a random target who turns out to be worthless.
No American retirees come to mind but, Japanese businessmen with the maquiladora industry have been popular victims. Just another reason not to wear your Rolex watch to a c-ckfight.

Bias article.... but on the positive side.....

Mexicali_Kid - 8-4-2008 at 04:24 PM

Maybe all of the gringos who live in Baja and complain about everything will read it ; Hopefully they will pack up and go back to the states.

Udo - 8-4-2008 at 04:30 PM

If I were a kidnapping victim...

My family would pay money just to have them keep me in Mexico!

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 04:49 PM

Iraq has nothing on Baja when its comes to kidnapping for $$$. Most americans do not have a clue how dangerous Baja has become since last Oct.(07) I am always laughing at the tourists who still drive at night through TJ and how many still think that poverty and filth are Mexican culture.
I have been getting Google Mexican crime alerts emailed to me to stay on top of crime there as I head down once a week. I get at least three a day on Baja alone that would make your hair curl. Being informed is the only way to travel to Baja or L.A.

Woooosh - 8-4-2008 at 04:56 PM

I agree that kidnapping has evolved into an art form. The narco pros use three different teams who don't know each other. One team identifies and negotiates, the second team does the actual abductions and a third team holds/disposes of the victim depending on how things go. That's the pros. If some copy-cat druggie deportees are involved it never goes well.

I find the terminology the police use here intersting. People are not "kidnapped", they are "temporarily denied their freedom for the puropose of robbery." sounds better- huh?

When the kidnappers came for me, they used a plain white van with no plates. They had a team of four. One got out and stood behind the van to take pictures, the second and third knocked on the door (in a uniform) and waited, and the driver stayed behind the wheel. Luckily a neighbor challenged them and we weren't home at the time anyway (had left seconds before). Our front cameras were on though and we were able to take the tape to the police who determined the men were "delinquents who intended to do harm."

I had read that besides the obvious easy-targets, kidnappers prefer targets with kidnap insurance. I have personally looked into such insurance (Lloyds of London) but the paperwork is crazy and the yearly premiums start at $12K.

DENNIS - 8-4-2008 at 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by openeyes
Most americans do not have a clue how dangerous Baja has become since last Oct.(07) I am always laughing at the tourists who still drive at night through TJ and how many still think that poverty and filth are Mexican culture.

And you draw your conclusions on American awareness from what source?
What's to laugh about? Is it funny? If you were any kind of a Christian, you'd enlighten these people with your vast depth of knowledge of the area since they obviously don't know and, of course, you do. But, no. It's more fun to laugh.

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

I used to keep a place for fishing in Baja until last year and have lived in SD. for 25 years. I travel to Baja every week because my inlaws live there and I still like to fish there.
Anyone who does not have their head up their a$$ should be able to figure out what a armpit Baja has become..
Let me guess, You used to live there a couple of hundred years ago amongst the locals but now live in the states but continue to tell everyone what an expert you are on the subject. :lol:

DENNIS - 8-4-2008 at 05:33 PM

You used to fish? How about this....BITE ME.

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
You used to fish? How about this....BITE ME.

Great comeback. I think I hear the shuffleboard calling your name.

DENNIS - 8-4-2008 at 05:37 PM

You have no future here.

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
You have no future here.

No one has a future in Baja my friend.

DENNIS - 8-4-2008 at 05:43 PM

I'm not your friend.

BajaGringo - 8-4-2008 at 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by openeyes

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
You used to fish? How about this....BITE ME.

Great comeback. I think I hear the shuffleboard calling your name.

If you really have all that Baja experience you say you do "openeyes" then I would find it amazing that you "just now discovered" Baja Nomad. This is probably one of the better informed forums online about Baja and for you to come on here with your pompous and flippant attitude right of the gate only bares your true identity and intentions (or lack thereof). Go and climb back into the hole you just crawled out of and try and come up with a more creative name next time and better opening post.

This really is like the game of whacking the popping heads that keep re-appearing over the board.

Dennis nailed you so now go away...

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
I'm not your friend.

Do you have any when you do not have any beer.

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGringo

Quote:

Originally posted by openeyes

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
You used to fish? How about this....BITE ME.

Great comeback. I think I hear the shuffleboard calling your name.

There are many who have watched this board over the years .
Hows that "not selling real estate" going , Ron.
Still stretching out the sad history story and getting the sad responses you need.. That is so lame.

[Edited on 8-5-2008 by openeyes]

DENNIS - 8-4-2008 at 05:55 PM

Well...Well..Well...........Perhaps we should start over with introductions.

BajaGringo - 8-4-2008 at 05:58 PM

Nancy, Nancy, Nancy...

You really don't have a life. Gotta find that troll pic I saw of you here and repost it. Nailed you perfectly.

:lol:

openeyes - 8-4-2008 at 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaGringo
Nancy, Nancy, Nancy...

You really don't have a life. Gotta find that troll pic I saw of you here and repost it. Nailed you perfectly.

Nancy???

The names Bob and I have read the put down posts from fulano that tore you up. He really had your number and called a spade a shovel.

:lol:

SDRonni - 8-4-2008 at 06:05 PM

I sure do get tired of asking a legitimate question here and having it turn into such a fiasco.

BajaGringo - 8-4-2008 at 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by openeyes

Quote:

Right "Bob". We believe you. And fulano. And Palmeto99. And memo. And Tio_Foncho...

You would give a psychiatrist a lifetime of work...

:lol:

CaboRon - 8-4-2008 at 06:11 PM

What a show

DENNIS - 8-4-2008 at 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
I sure do get tired of asking a legitimate question here and having it turn into such a fiasco.

Sorry about that, Ronni. I made a reply to another post just like yours here a long time back..something like this. Threads morph. They stray off point when people have said about all they can on the subject but, arn't done talking. It isn't, in most cases, rude or selfish. Consider it a compliment that they chose your thread to have fun in.

k-rico - 8-4-2008 at 06:39 PM

The author of the article in question used the phrase "feign country" when referring to Mexico. I had to look it up, looks like he could have used "pretend country" if he was at all concerned about people understanding what he wrote.

OK, so he thinks Mexico is not a real country. What does that tell you about his objectivity?

He makes it all sound much worse than anybody has reported here and this message board has a lot of posters that have their ear to the ground when it comes to Mexico, many of whom seem to take delight in reporting bad news.

postholedigger - 8-5-2008 at 10:51 AM

Try substituting "feign" with "fOReign". It seems to fit. There are quite a few spelling and grammatical errors in the article to make me believe that he just misspelled repeatedly and didn't have a proofreader.

CaboRon - 8-5-2008 at 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by postholedigger
Try substituting "feign" with "fOReign". It seems to fit. There are quite a few spelling and grammatical errors in the article to make me believe that he just misspelled repeatedly and didn't have a proofreader.

You might try useing a dictionary yourself ....

feign :
1. to represent fictitiously
2. to invent fictitiously or deceptivly
3. to imitate deceptively
4. to make believe; pretend

it's just a google away :lol:

CaboRon

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by CaboRon]

k-rico - 8-5-2008 at 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

CaboRon

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by CaboRon]

Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: feign
Pronunciation: \ˈfān\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French feign-, stem of feindre, from Latin fingere to shape, feign — more at dough
Date: 13th century

intransitive verb: pretend, dissemble

transitive verb

1 a: to give a false appearance of : induce as a false impression <feign death>
b: to assert as if true : pretend

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feign

It wasn't a repeated misspelling of foreign.

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by k-rico]

SDRonni - 8-5-2008 at 07:28 PM

Oh, for Pete's sake..............................

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-5-2008 at 07:31 PM

Skip_Mac - 8-5-2008 at 07:58 PM

I lijed this "Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
You used to fish? How about this....BITE ME.? Love it Dennis..."

For all the changes on Baja Norte and Sur since my first visit in 1974 as far as Muleje, the basic honesty and good, fair nature and loving families of the residents have captivated me. Certainly there are a few exceptions. I and my friends have sometimes ripped off.. irritating.. but physical things are not of the highest value to me...Same kind of things happen in the Estados Unidos.. Try small town in Utah as a gentile...Try San Diego for auto theft and window smashes.

All in all, Baja California is still a treasure for me and my friends. One or more vitriol spewing trolls will not keep me off these pages, 'cause most of you are wonderful people... Helpful, tolerant, informative and caring. You are the people I value. You are the true community. I don't pretend that there are NO Problems, but caring people share solutions...not just fear.

Pstreet1 - 8-5-2008 at 08:52 PM

Feign is always a verb. It cannot be an adjective. In the article "feign" is an adjective--"feign country." It was meant to be foreign country.

would using a dictionary help your spelling?

thebajarunner - 8-5-2008 at 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

CaboRon

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by CaboRon]

useing (sic)
deceptivly (sic)

SDRonni - 8-6-2008 at 08:24 AM

Could this thread get any MORE off the subject?

DENNIS - 8-6-2008 at 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
Could this thread get any MORE off the subject?

...Are you kidding? Just wait.

tripledigitken - 8-6-2008 at 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

CaboRon

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by CaboRon]

useing (sic)
deceptivly (sic)

Now THAT'S funny! :lol:

k-rico - 8-6-2008 at 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
Could this thread get any MORE off the subject?

...Are you kidding? Just wait.

We could discuss the use of verbs as adjectives.

I'm going to pretend I know something, anything, and everything. Is that pretend knowledge? Maybe feign knowledge?

The answer to the original question, "true or not?" is who the heck knows? Anybody that says they do is just feigning they know.

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by k-rico]

DENNIS - 8-6-2008 at 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
The answer to the original question, "true or not?" is who the heck knows? Anybody that says they do is just feigning they know.

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by k-rico]

The test of ones character is to know when you feign instaed of believing your own lies.

gnukid - 8-6-2008 at 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
The answer to the original question, "true or not?" is who the heck knows? Anybody that says they do is just feigning they know.

[Edited on 8-6-2008 by k-rico]

Hi Ronni,

The answer to the question is yes, absolutely. Kidnapping is a common theme, though many are just scams. Many times you'll notice that news reports state police uniforms are involved. I have reported this as well to the chagrin of the old timers here.

Many cases of extortion from threat of kidnapping are not reported due to threat of the kidnappers.

Many cases of kidnappings are not reported due to threats of kidnappers that they will harm the victim.

Many police do not complete reports or submit reports out of fear or ignorance.

Officials do not maintain central tallies of reports. Cooperation between agencies is not typically common.

Reports are lost or stored and not shared.

Anecdotal story:

A common extortion technique reported to me by younger college students attending university in Baja whose well-to-do parents live elsewhere goes like this. Parents will get a phone call that their kid will be kidnapped if they do not pay. A short time later a follow-up call will announce the kidnapped occurred and demand ransom to be asap. In truth, the kid was not kidnapped, they were camping or at school. Parents desperately try to call the kid. If the kid can report their whereabouts problem solved if not they pay. Apparently coordination exists in extortion rings between local informants and their counterparts in mexico city.