HarryS,
You can 100% disagree, but that does not make them wrong. Their experiences are as equally valid as yours.
Bnewb posted this survey thread because there IS a problem worldwide and they are looking for a solution. If you want the harassment to have a chance to be stopped, please fill out the survey. And did you even read the article? If you didnt, I would suggest that you do. To quote a very important part of the article:
"(Dr.) Nicely also argued that varying views about what constitutes harassment continues to pose a challenge.
"What is harassment, to me, might not be harassment to you so there is a lack of clarity as to which behaviours constitute harassment..."
So rather than accuse people here of saying "it doesn't happen!" or "just say no and it stops right away!" they must be either in denial, don't leave their AI resort, or are there so often they are "locals" and aren't bothered any more", quite possibly you have a different viewpoint/tolerance of the problem than others do. I am sure that some people feel your above quoted comments are harassing in their own way.
We run into people everyday of the week who say the harassment they experience is down from previous years. It is all in their perspective from their personal experiences.
I know about the "New York" way to carry yourself, having spent much time there when my sister lived in Astoria. But if I were to try to use that same attitude here, I would get myself in a world of trouble. Negril is not New York.
In both Flip and Booger's experience, locals came to their aid. Bnewb suggested to Moose to seek out a local if things feel out of control. That is great advice because it works.
And I agree that allowing you or wife to be touched when not wanted is unacceptable. I am not blaming the tourist, but that can be remedied. I would suggest that she doesnt allow them to "just take her hand" as you stated, but you take her hand instead. The hand holding is not an intimidation tactic but a transparent sales tactic. Being in sales, I find it curious you didnt recognize that immediately. What better way to get keep someone's attention!
As you do in sales, the point for the vendor is to make the sale to pay their bills and feed their families, not make new friends. If you do become friends in the long run, that is a nice bonus, but the point is the sale. When they realize that they will not be making a sale, most will move on to the next possible sale, just as you do.
Of course there are the occasional "bad apples" and even vendors who have simply had a bad day. Perhaps they didnt make their JPS bill money and their current will be shut off, didnt make enough money to get a new propane tank or they didnt make money to buy food to feed the family that day. That can put them in a fragile state of mind if you are a vendor living literally on the daily income you earn.
Please take the time to read the article and fill out the survey. This is a global problem and the survey can be a start to the solution.
