Quote Originally Posted by wha gwan View Post
Rob I respectfully take exception with some of your comments.

On one hand you state, "The hand holding is not an intimidation tactic but a transparent sales tactic." and then you quote Dr. Nicely, "What is harassment, to me, might not be harassment to you so there is a lack of clarity as to which behaviours constitute harassment...". Seems like you want it both ways. Although I somewhat agree with the relativism argument made by the doc, it does not hold up when, in my experience, I am cussed at & physically threatened by higglers. You can argue that it is not harassment but I am not buying it.

You may know the "New York" way to carry yourself, but I did not read anything in HarryS actions that define a NY way. To me his "NY" way is that he is not naive or gullible (i.e., street smart) and will not be smooth or rough talked into doing something he does not want to do.

I agree that there are many folks struggling to make an honest living and carry themselves in a responsible manner (relatively speaking, wink, wink), but unfortunately there are many that do not and these are most the ones who are peddling illicit goods.
Wha,

I sympathize with your situation and frustration, that is why Bnewb started this thread and it was posted here. The article and survey are applicable to Negril and elsewhere in the world. Please fill out the survey and help become part of the solution.

But I take exception to those who havent shared your's and HarryS' experience essentially being labeled liars. Their lack of being harassed is equal to your experiences. Just because they arent hassled doesnt mean there is no harassment any more than your being harassed means everyone is harassed. Each persons experience is equally valid.

What happened to you, by anyone's definition is harassment. No one can logically argue against that. I also stated that HarryS and/or his wife being touched when not wanting to be touched is also unacceptable. That would be harassment as well. While the transparent sales technique of hand holding is harassment if you dont want to be touched, it is not an intimidation tactic, but a sales tactic. Label it for what it is, dont fabricate some motive behind a blatantly obvious sales tactic.

And HarryS said " 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."

To me, having spent time in NYC, this does define a "NY way". There would be no reason for him to write it otherwise. He wanted us all to know he knows the NY way.

I am not sure how first time visitors (read the latest trip report) can have such a great time and little hassles as do countless others, and yet two separate repeat New York visitors are having such an incredibly hard and harassed time. I am not sure, but perhaps the condescending "(relatively speaking, wink, wink)" may or may not have revealing qualities.

And I cannot even imagine what would cause a "bracelet guy" to remember someone and yell at them on their first day back from 10 feet away. Hundreds of visitors dont buy from him and other bracelet vendors everyday and I have never heard of this happening before....