HC-B's Decisive Moment

[stamper]

I must say that in this interesting thread now, I reached the limits of my english and I don't catch anything more you guys are saying.
It looks like a spy secret code, something like that.

Just wait till we start writing in broad Scottish slang.

[fredjeang]

Slobodan, I'm so pleased to be able to communicate most of the time with you guys, and yes, there are moments where you can't explain meanings in a language. Or you got it or not, very truth. That is where the gap starts when you use a forein language without actually being part of the culture. 12 years in Spain and I still miss a lot.

Maybe that is where the photography or any visual expression has an advantage over the writting, because it is universal. But, also limitating. (although I'm sure that cultural training has a lot to do on how an image is perceived. Example: the nazi cross and the buddhist cross. First time I saw the buddhist cross when I was a child, it looked evil to me even if they reversed it because we where trained to associate this symbol with the WW2 politics).

Stamper, I know about the scotish slang. I had a scotish girlfriend in Paris, gorgeous brune, breasty, warm, funny and horny. She took me there and there was this tv show (can't remember the name) while we where having the tea after dinner, and she was laughing and laughing...and I was just looking the screen, then looking at her (or her breast) thinking when this bloody show will finally end? Actually, she was telling me exactly what Slobodan said: "unexplainable". Could not understand a single word. But then, I was happy to hear that the English where in the same situation than me. So scotish people have their own secret codes to fight the naughty english invasor.

[Rob C]

Fred, my friend, sorry, can't help you with this one. If I have to explain a joke (or sarcasm, as in this case), it would not be a joke. Either you get it, or you do not. If you do not, it is not necessarily your fault, it could be me telling a bad joke just as well. But I think (hope) Rob got it.

He got it all right!

Here in Mallorca and also on the Costa del Sol, the local criminals are no longer the numero uno problem facing the fuzz. Now it is the Russian mafia as well as the truckloads of drifters from the Balkans who are here and can't be flung out. What a friggin' wonderful idea that the Common Market spawned: no passport-control that counts, no criminal record exclusion policy, open friggin' season on the law-abiding citizen is what it brought us. Thanks.

I remember flying in to Florida. In the 'plane from London we had to declare how much money we had, our return tickets, the lot. And damned right too! Protect your own first every time.

Rob C

[Pete_G]

OK, so it's Gypsies, Russians and anyone from the Balkans (I'm assuming Jews and Arabs are included by default), anyone else you'd like include in your hate list.

I'm sorry, I'm outta here, this place has become too unpleasant.

[Rob C]

OK, so it's Gypsies, Russians and anyone from the Balkans (I'm assuming Jews and Arabs are included by default), anyone else you'd like include in your hate list.

I'm sorry, I'm outta here, this place has become too unpleasant.

Yes, probably somebody who speaks without knowing anything about that of which he speaks.

Take care

Rob C

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

OK, so it's Gypsies, Russians and anyone from the Balkans (I'm assuming Jews and Arabs are included by default), anyone else you'd like include in your hate list...

I am (originally) from the Balkans, my wife is Russian, I lived in Spain, and I do not feel offended by what Rob was saying at all. I simply understand the context he has in mind and fully concur. Besides, Rob never generalized the way you did (i.e, "all ...", "anyone from..."). His references are much more directed to a certain subculture and circumstances than ethnicity.

Had you ever been attacked by a dozen of Gypsy kids, early teens, in broad daylight, on the main street of a world metropolis, aggressively attempting to steal your watch and wallet, young and cute and sweet enough for you to hesitate to fight back (even the nearby policeman turns his back, assuming kids are just "being kids"), when your own "political correctness" kicks in (of the I-can-not-possibly-hit-an-underprivileged-kid type), when your suit's sleeves and pockets end up torn apart, you would have understood what we are talking about. In a situation like this, I am sure you would, like any real armchair, bleeding heart, politically correct humanitarian, gladly turn over your watch and wallet, with a smile, and perhaps even offer to send them a check, knowing that all that will end up in only one possible place: their school fund?

[Rob C]

Yes, indeed. And there was even a series of photographs of one such attack by kids in front of a Moscow hotel, where an American tourist, probably in his early thirties and quite large and fit-looking, was being surrounded, gripped from all sides, and nobody on the street, within camera range, did any damn thing at all whilst he was losing everything.

But the problems are far removed from the street, too. Marbella had a series of 'forced' sales of villas to various hardmen; Rod Stuart quit and so did 007... all people that can or could afford security. It isn't worth the risk. Even here, at a building next to me, I remember watching as two policemen escorted away a pair of gents from eastern Europe who had gained access to an apartment where they'd stored stolen goods. But on the basic level, the gypsies are the more visible problem with their flower sellers who distract you with a babe at the breast whilst offering you a flower you are supposed to buy as another of them works behind you... Fortunately, they are very easy to recognize. If you are aware of the scam. With many thousands of virgin tourist a year...

Had a slight run-in with one just a couple of weeks ago, when I had the mad urge to try street pics. Not only did I get to see the older lady with the cantilevered front, but also this woman, working with her male partner. He was making elaborate sandcastles on the beach which were rather cleverly done, and I stopped to take a pic as he was doing it; the woman, who was obviously in charge of the hat, called something out to him which he ignored. I took my shot and continued along the pavement past her, and got a mouthfull of abuse when all I did was tell her they were rather nice... obviously, she wanted money. Nice PR. She got zilch except for a sore throat.

The irony is, they are all doing this sandcastle thing illegally, in broad daylight, and nothing ever gets done about it.

Rob C