Respect

[Accompong]

From my perspective living in rural Jamaica where "Respect" is given, expected and appreciated in return, it is just a Jamaican's way of showing you he is an equal and will treat you like an equal in your dealings with him or her. I have read opinions by Sociologists and alike that trace the expectation of "Respect" to Slavery in early Jamaica. Being owned and treated in a subservient manner; being called "lazy" and "shiftless" and not even be considered human was the breeding ground for the need to assert oneself and to gain self esteem.

Bands like "Third World" in songs like "Manners" explained it best to the masses with lyrics like

Show respect and some courtesy
You gotta give yours to receive
Manners , ain't nothing wrong with having manners
Show respect and some dignity
You gotta give yours to receive

.

People who have traveled to Jamaica for decades often say they are seeing the erosion of "Respect" as a fallout from crime and slack lyrics.

The co-opting of the term "Respect" by higglers and vendors to sell merchandise is much like "Rentas" co-opting Rastafarianism to move like wolves in sheep's clothing.

Respect is still a powerful force outside tourist traps where your word is your bond and your intentions are still judged by your actions. It is an erroneous exercise to judge Jamaicans using the yardstick of a Negril community heavily influenced by some "bad mind" outsiders who use the good will of Jamaican "Respect" to disguise their nefarious intentions.

Just my opinion.

Peace and Guidance

[TimP420]

A little respect and just a general happy attitude go a long way. That seemed to help us with the vendors. If you just keep smiling, you almost always get the same back.

[Kahuna3]

If you are visiting for a week, maybe 10 days, yeah, sure you can stop and smile and shake hands and chat and pay your respects and say 'no' politely and move along. No problem, part of the Negril experience.

But try doing that for three, four - six weeks. Believe me, it wears a little thin. Sure, after a while most vendors will recognize you and leave you alone. But it's surprising how many will continue to hit on you almost every day. I walk the beach (a lot) during the mornings and late afternoons and I don't have the time nor the inclination to stop and 'show my (false) respect' 20 - 40 times a day.

Sometimes you have to get really sharp with them to get them to leave you alone, which is a downer.

Also, it's really annoying to be having a conversation with someone or a group of people and have a someone approach, stick themselves into your space, interrupt you and give you their pitch or beg for a beer/rum. Shows a lack of respect.

That's why I just tune them out - totally ignore them. It has become second nature.

There was one particularly persistent guy who stopped me every time he saw me. After a month of this I said to him, "Take a good look at my face and try to remember what I look like. See this hat?" I said, "I always wear this hat."
"Ok", he said.
"Now listen carefully, I do not need nor want your bracelets. I will never buy one from you. Understand?"
He shifted uncomfortably. 'Yah, mon."
"Good, so save yourself some time and me the bother and don't stop me anymore, okay?"
The next day he saw me and almost stopped me, but remembered our previous conversation and moved along.

You might think it was a little harsh, maybe so, but I had reached the limit of my patience that day.

In finishing, I met a couple this year - it was their first time in Negril. In fact, their first time outside of an all-inclusive. One day they were accosted - and I use the word advisedly - by a guy selling bracelets who attached an anklet and a bracelet to the woman. This was followed by a long harangue to purchase the trinkets. Afterwards, the woman was genuinely afraid to venture on to the beach again.

They will not be going back to Negril.

[onthecorner]

huh?////i thought the thread was about treating each other with respect....."other" being fellow human beings....There are some on this board who use the term "under false pretense" just as some vendors do. Respect is given when respect is received, no matter if it is a vendor on the beach in jamaica, the local cashier at my walmart, or boardies on this site.

[kathyl]

I agree with Kahuna - the word 'respect' has been used to intimidate tourists by many vendors so in Negril at least the word has lost it's true meaning.

[Cliffside]

Hey Kahuna, I recall your post from a year ago about the guy in front of Scotia Bank always saying "change buddy". I recall you tried to get him to recognize you but to no avail, the next day he again asked you if you needed change. Now when I'm in Negril I get a kick out that everytime I go by there and hear those words "change buddy". Makes me laugh and I'm sure he wonders why I'm laughing. Some things never change.

[captaind & Linston]

Here's RESPECT.......

[sher]

The OP had a great message with this thread, and now that it's gotten off-topic, I'll add my two-cents. "Respect" for me used to be a "safe word". When a vendor was pushing his (or her) limits, the word RESPECT tended to stop the conversation and give a "time-out". It said, "look, I understand you are trying to make a living but I'm not interested in whatever you are selling." I've noticed in recent visits that it doesn't always work and can sometimes even aggravate the situation. Last year when we repeatedly tried to get a vendor to stop harassing us (on the resort property), he yelled at us saying "this is my country; you can't f'n come here and tell me "respect"!". (I won't elaborate on the rest of the conversation.) Suffice it to say, I had never had a local say f**k to me, or be so aggressive in front of hotel security. Fortunately the security guard finally stepped in and ended the situation.

[Rob]

And yet another thread goes off topic. This had the makings of an intellectual, thought provoking thread.... how sad.... this thread is closed.