Quote Originally Posted by booger View Post
A lot of what happens is due to how you carry yourself, just like anywhere else in the world.
Completely, 100% disagree. I'm a New Yorker. One who has friends in Harlem and used to take the subway there and home at 3 and 4am, never bothered once because I know how to carry myself. You know, that was an area back when I used to go (151st and Bdwy) where they would tell white people "don't be there after dark". I never, not once, in years, had a single problem.

In Negril, not the case. I'm glad Flip and Booger only had two run-ins in all their visits, but again it feels like you're blaming the tourists for what happens and not seeing the problem for what it is. Because you're at a "locals place" doesn't suddenly make it OK or understandable.

But to come and say it doesn't really happen all that often, and that it must be in some part due to the tourists actions is really not cool when people are saying that's not the case for them.

I guess when I want to walk the beach and not be bothered, that's somehow my fault when I'm harassed. And when I stop and have a conversation, and when I say "no thanks" and the vendor gets aggressive, that's also somehow my fault. Maybe I look like someone "easy to intimidate"? I'm 5'7" and 165lbs, and even though I'm not a big guy I don't get intimidated easily and I'm sure as hell not going to hand over money or buy stuff from you if you think that's a viable sales tactic. And touching me or my wife? in ANY way? Completely unacceptable. I don't care if you're just taking her hand, I KNOW it's not to be friendly - it's an intimidation tactic, and a way to keep people from moving on so they can continue to attempt to make a sale. Enough people hand over money or make purchases they don't want just to make that stop, and it encourages them to do it again.

And don't say I should be stopping to talk to everyone who wants to, otherwise it's disrespectful - It would take me two days to walk the beach and back if I stopped and had a "friendly conversation" with everyone who wanted my attention. They don't want conversation, they want money. I'm in sales, deal with sales all day, and the last thing I want on vacation is to be sold to, especially sold things I don't want and have no interest in. When a friendly "no thanks!" and a wave doesn't work, something isn't right.