Harassment

[HarryS]

It amazes me the different responses to this thread, from "I never get bothered" to "It's fun!" to "It's just a few bad apples"... and then there's the people who just feel completely harassed the second they walk on the beach.

I personally don't mind it much, my wife on the other hand...

It's not the sales tactics, it's the aggressive way some of them act... I've watched a man take my wife's hand, and not let go and grab harder while she's pulling away, and I've had to say something. That should NEVER happen.

I've been threatened with violence on the cliff road by a man trying to sell me weed. No didn't work, so he started following us, scaring the **** out of my wife, saying he was going to fight us. It wasn't until some vendors stepped in that he stopped, and my wife was too scared to walk back so we waited with the vendor in her shack until a taxi came by.

It's been bad enough that our upcoming trip may be our last to Negril if it's bad again. I didn't realize how uncomfortable it made my wife, so I kept pushing to come back, and making all the travel arrangements. I won't do it again if she tells me she's uncomfortable this time.

Anyone who says it's no big deal has no idea the damage these guys do to tourism. Sure, you guys all keep coming back, but I would LOVE to see the percentage of people who come once, don't stay at an AI, and refuse to come back a second time. I bet it's not a small number.

She was advised by her therapist (yes, this was serious enough that it comes up in her therapy - turns out she goes with me to Negril because she doesn't want to let me down, and now she has spoken up!) that if anyone approaches and makes her uncomfortable, she should yell NO! GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE! as soon as she feels uncomfortable. Because I'm afraid that will just make the situation worse, I expect to spend less time wandering the beach and cliffs, spending money at restaurants and bars, and spending the majority of the time just hanging at the hotel.

That's $$$ that will not be spread around Negril. And it happens at the AIs. Tourists spend all their money there, little to none of it stays in JA, and are afraid to leave the safety of the resort.

The hustlers are a tremendous problem in Negril, and to say it's not is not being honest.

[Flipadelphia26]

It amazes me the different responses to this thread, from "I never get bothered" to "It's fun!" to "It's just a few bad apples"... and then there's the people who just feel completely harassed the second they walk on the beach.

I personally don't mind it much, my wife on the other hand...

It's not the sales tactics, it's the aggressive way some of them act... I've watched a man take my wife's hand, and not let go and grab harder while she's pulling away, and I've had to say something. That should NEVER happen.

I've been threatened with violence on the cliff road by a man trying to sell me weed. No didn't work, so he started following us, scaring the **** out of my wife, saying he was going to fight us. It wasn't until some vendors stepped in that he stopped, and my wife was too scared to walk back so we waited with the vendor in her shack until a taxi came by.

It's been bad enough that our upcoming trip may be our last to Negril if it's bad again. I didn't realize how uncomfortable it made my wife, so I kept pushing to come back, and making all the travel arrangements. I won't do it again if she tells me she's uncomfortable this time.

Anyone who says it's no big deal has no idea the damage these guys do to tourism. Sure, you guys all keep coming back, but I would LOVE to see the percentage of people who come once, don't stay at an AI, and refuse to come back a second time. I bet it's not a small number.

She was advised by her therapist (yes, this was serious enough that it comes up in her therapy - turns out she goes with me to Negril because she doesn't want to let me down, and now she has spoken up!) that if anyone approaches and makes her uncomfortable, she should yell NO! GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE! as soon as she feels uncomfortable. Because I'm afraid that will just make the situation worse, I expect to spend less time wandering the beach and cliffs, spending money at restaurants and bars, and spending the majority of the time just hanging at the hotel.

That's $$$ that will not be spread around Negril. And it happens at the AIs. Tourists spend all their money there, little to none of it stays in JA, and are afraid to leave the safety of the resort.

The hustlers are a tremendous problem in Negril, and to say it's not is not being honest.

To clarify.... Your wife needed therapy because of Negril Hustlers, or because you and her are not communicating clearly?


Also, I agree. You should not go on VACATION, somewhere you don't enjoy.

[HarryS]

To clarify.... Your wife needed therapy because of Negril Hustlers, or because you and her are not communicating clearly?


Also, I agree. You should not go on VACATION, somewhere you don't enjoy.

If you knew why she was in therapy, you'd feel like an ass, based on your comment. You usually seem like a nice enough guy, but you're way off base here, and the tone of your comment is uncalled for.

[Flipadelphia26]

If you knew why she was in therapy, you'd feel like an ass, based on your comment. You usually seem like a nice enough guy, but you're way off base here, and the tone of your comment is uncalled for.

Perhaps I misread, but it sounded like she was not communicating her feelings with you, thus going to negril when she really didn't feel comfortable doing so. I didn't put it out on a public forum, you did.

[MikeyNYC]

She was advised by her therapist (yes, this was serious enough that it comes up in her therapy - turns out she goes with me to Negril because she doesn't want to let me down, and now she has spoken up!) that if anyone approaches and makes her uncomfortable, she should yell NO! GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE! as soon as she feels uncomfortable. Because I'm afraid that will just make the situation worse, I expect to spend less time wandering the beach and cliffs, spending money at restaurants and bars, and spending the majority of the time just hanging at the hotel.

That's $$$ that will not be spread around Negril. And it happens at the AIs. Tourists spend all their money there, little to none of it stays in JA, and are afraid to leave the safety of the resort.

The hustlers are a tremendous problem in Negril, and to say it's not is not being honest.

You're not wrong and I do agree with some of what you've said, but I've seen women and slight men yell at first approach...It's not a good look. I get quite embarressed for them. Has her shrink ever been there? If not, it might not be the best advice to follow.

[captaind & Linston]

Marblehead,

My idea of a great vacation is a cruise. I love being aboard a ship again and I am in no way a lazy traveler.

I really don't think of my time in Jamaica as a vacation. Just another visit home to see the family, check the progress on Zion Hill and visit my money <grin>

Seven days on a 100,000 ton floating first class hotel .... that's a vacation

To each his own but judge not

Cap

[Marblehead]

Marblehead,

My idea of a great vacation is a cruise. I love being aboard a ship again and I am in no way a lazy traveler.

I really don't think of my time in Jamaica as a vacation. Just another visit home to see the family, check the progress on Zion Hill and visit my money <grin>

Seven days on a 100,000 ton floating first class hotel .... that's a vacation

To each his own but judge not

Cap

Aye, aye, Cap'n!

I think of my time in Jamaica as a 2nd home, too. Especially now that I'm retired and stay in an apartment for as long as I can afford!

I'll be taking the overnight ferry to Yarmouth Nova Scotia in September and snoozing to the gentle roll of the ship, but only because it will cut out hundreds of miles to get to the campgrounds I want to stay at. I'm afraid 18 moths assigned to a destroyer escort chasing the Midway and Enterprise around the Tonkin Gulf and off the coast of North Korea spoiled my taste for cruising recreationally. That and the spectacular mechanical failures and shipboard outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses! Respect --Marblehead.

[captaind & Linston]

Aye, aye, Cap'n!

I'm afraid 18 moths assigned to a destroyer escort chasing the Midway and Enterprise around the Tonkin Gulf and off the coast of North Korea spoiled my taste for cruising recreationally. That and the spectacular mechanical failures and shipboard outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses! Respect --Marblehead.

Hats off mate. 2,300 tons and a hammock ... no thanks!

Thanks for your service!

I spent most of my time driving 75,000 GT panamax full of car parts from Yokohama to Port Newark

Cap

[goldilocks]

It's not the sales tactics, it's the aggressive way some of them act... I've watched a man take my wife's hand, and not let go and grab harder while she's pulling away, and I've had to say something. That should NEVER happen.

That should never happen, and if it happened to me I would be obliged to defend myself and get the guy off me. A whole lot of beach theater would then ensue.

That said, I always do a little research on vacation destinations to make sure it's a place I could enjoy and somewhat prepare myself for the environment.