Some thoughts

[rastagal]

"I know there are circumstances where people from very different socio-economic backgrounds and ages might just actually fall in love, but we all know that most of the time, the disadvantaged person is only in the relationship because they feel they have no other choice financially..."

Good insight. True in some cases.

But, I have seen just as many Jamaican men/women doing very well "playing the game"... meeting a guy/gal every other week ... promising love ... then asking for money ... he/she leaves the rock ... Guy/Gal #2 lands ... rinse, repeat ... 9 different men/women on speed dial ... a nice, comfy life based on making phone calls and walking the beach all day. The alternative would be getting a real job...right?

It isn't easy social situation to figure out. Thanks to my real Jamaican friends, and some cool boardies...I managed to get caught in that trap only once...and I'm not ashamed to admit it ... a lot of these "players" are GOOD ... they know every in/out/emotional ploy there is .... just about when you are asking yourself "This can't happen to me, I'm too savvy, right?" ... it probably is ... or why would you be asking/doubting it? LOL Do your friends at home ask you for money? Or call you 237 times in a day?

Someone said this here not long ago: "As long as the relationships are between consenting adults, it's no one's business."

Everything else, guessing at things, who did what and how people hooked up ... is plain and pure speculation ... and I agree. Everyone involved in any relationship between foreign and Ja needs to watch their heart ... and their wallet ... and as long as it's respectful, and no one is mistreated ... that's life ... it doesn't come with an instruction manual.

Just my $.02

I've found that the easiest way to tell if someone is genuine is if they don't expect you to buy them anything and definitely don't ask for money or other stuff....simple. For guys traveling to JA that might work differently since you are kind of expected to buy the ladies a drink...but from a woman's standpoint how the hell does it look if a man expects you to buy the drinks, food, pay entrance fee's or whatever else...I can't speak for anyone else but I think something is definitely wrong with that picture and anyone that obliges and thinks it's Ok, well you already know what you are getting into.

[bigbamboo]

I once peed in a pool over a bush