Relocating from Indiana to Florida (Tampa, Sarasota: public school, university, live)

[cjohnson5077]

Ok! Quick update! I have already had 2 people look at the house. And, I have a young family (1st time home buyer) looking at the house tomorrow with their mom since she is the one paying cash for a house for them, and I have 3 people looking at the house on Saturday! Hopefully one of these people will put an offer for the house! I can't wait. I'm so excited to show the house. The first gal who looked at the house is getting prequalified so I'm not sure if she is gonna put in an offer or if she found another house! We will see! I have most everything boxed up and ready to go! I can't wait to get down to Sarasota! It will great to meet all of you!

[MrsTommy]

[quote=Big House;10987485]My experience is that race is less and less of an issue! If people fit in, and have a cool demeanor, and fit in it is no issue. If they don't then they rationalize excuses why they are not as well liked. I think that race is a crutch that they often fall back to if they don't find immediate acceptance. Sometimes they just have a mis-fit personality.
quote]

BigHouse: as a WASP mother of the aforementioned "part Cuban" child, I resent your comment. I am sooooo tired of right-winger claims that minorities are "Playing the Race Card". That's what you're implying, RIGHT?

I have watched my hispanic appearing daughter being discriminated against her entire time in the Florida public schools. Even though she is gifted (in the top 3% intellectually of all her peers in the state) I have watched a sweet, funny, kind and brilliant child be snubbed, persecuted, called names, passed up, minimized and ignored. Because she resembles her dark eyed, dark haired father and not her fair mother, I have watched doors slam in her face, children persecute her at bus stops, teachers ignore her.

You sir have NO frame of reference from which to speak. It is obvious from your profile that you are among the white majority. I would also be in your uninformed shoes if I did not have a minority child. Now that I do have that child, I am extremely conscious of bigotry in all it's disguises.

[seain dublin]

I wasn't going to throw my two cents in, but I will...LOL Originally being from the NE and than CA for many years, we have encountered racist comments in FL.

This is the only state we have lived in were people use the N word out in public.

We were at a social gathering and were introduced to man who is a native Floridian and a contractor.

Within 5 minutes of meeting us he starts telling us he had gone down to New Orleans for contracting work and uses the N word.

Didn't know what to say, he assumed because we are white we think like he does.
Have run into this a few times here, same thing with the F word for gay people.

I have never seen such ingorance. How do you know how we feel about gays? Or if we have a gay child?

I guess my greatest shock is why would you talk like that to people you just met or don't really know?

I have never been in a casual converstion (other than here) with someone where they will use language and terms that could be easily taken as offensive.

I am not saying people in NY or CA aren't racist. But they're smart enough to know better to keep their views to themself unless they know the people they're talking to and share their views.

Here they just assume you agree with their views. And you know what happens when you assume.

[tommy-105]

Originally Posted by cjohnson5077

Ok! Quick update! I have already had 2 people look at the house. And, I have a young family (1st time home buyer) looking at the house tomorrow with their mom since she is the one paying cash for a house for them, and I have 3 people looking at the house on Saturday! Hopefully one of these people will put an offer for the house! I can't wait. I'm so excited to show the house. The first gal who looked at the house is getting prequalified so I'm not sure if she is gonna put in an offer or if she found another house! We will see! I have most everything boxed up and ready to go! I can't wait to get down to Sarasota! It will great to meet all of you!

Hi Chrissy, didn't mean to hijack your thread. Your excitement is contagious, it's good to see something working out so well for someone. FYI the blue font is a lot easier to read than the pink.

[tommy-105]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

I wasn't going to throw my two cents in, but I will...LOL Originally being from the NE and than CA for many years, we have encountered racist comments in FL.

This is the only state we have lived in were people use the N word out in public.

We were at a social gathering and were introduced to man who is a native Floridian and a contractor.

Within 5 minutes of meeting us he starts telling us he had gone down to New Orleans for contracting work and uses the N word.

Didn't know what to say, he assumed because we are white we think like he does.
Have run into this a few times here, same thing with the F word for gay people.

I have never seen such ingorance. How do you know how we feel about gays? Or if we have a gay child?

I guess my greatest shock is why would you talk like that to people you just met or don't really know?

I have never been in a casual converstion (other than here) with someone where they will use language and terms that could be easily taken as offensive.

I am not saying people in NY or CA aren't racist. But they're smart enough to know better to keep their views to themself unless they know the people they're talking to and share their views.

Here they just assume you agree with their views. And you know what happens when you assume.

Thanks seain. Shocked was my initial reaction too. You're talking about exactly what I was trying to describe.

[MrsTommy]

tylerrob-I have either lived or worked all over the state of Florida. Ft. Myers is very diverse but I wouldn't really recommend it as a good place to raise children. Above all, the school system is HORRIBLE. There is a lot of ethnic diversity but there is also a lot of crime and gang activity. Sarasota is more affluent and consequently the cost of living is higher. The school system is better, there are more activities for when the kids get older, etc. Under no circumstances would I recommend Collier (Naples) to a mixed-race couple. The area is RULED by old people, so far right-wing they are falling off the grid. The snobbery and elitism is disgusting. The old folks (just as they do in Charlotte) keep the Collier County Public Schools in near poverty.

I think you might find a good fit in the Tampa area. Tampa has a stronger, more diverse economy. Tampa also has a much more diverse racial makeup. Many of Tampa's original founding fathers were Italian or Cuban (the Cubans being made up of all races), coming to work in the cigar factories. Today their grandchildren are some of the most powerful and influential individuals in the city. The school system is excellent. My child took three steps back when we moved from Hillsborough County to Collier County in '91! My child never experienced the kind of racism in the Tampa area that she did almost immediately in Collier and Lee counties. Thank God, she had a brilliant First Grade teacher in Hillsborough County who spotted her gifts and had her tested for Gifted Education IN SPITE OF HER RACE. I seriously doubt that would happen in SW Florida.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by tommy-105

Thanks seain. Shocked was my initial reaction too. You're talking about exactly what I was trying to describe.

Your welcome. Because it shocked the hell out of me. I've lived in different parts of the country(first time in the southeastern US) and never come across this before.

In addition to using the N word this man went on to tell us he found jewerly in the 9th ward section of New Orleans and kept it. It belonged to
N word so who cares....that is what he said.

And he is a native Floridian.

This was someone we were just introduced to 5 minutes before,there are people down here who are of different mindset.

Remember South FL Gal is a realtor, they don't want to hear anyhing regarding what people have experienced in regards to racist attitudes.

She wants to sell houses.

Why do they fly the largest confederate flag on the I4 near Tampa.

They recently replaced it with an even bigger flag.

[cjohnson5077]

Originally Posted by tommy-105

Hi Chrissy, didn't mean to hijack your thread. Your excitement is contagious, it's good to see something working out so well for someone. FYI the blue font is a lot easier to read than the pink.

Tommy! I am very excited to move! I can't wait! My job is awaiting me and the warm weather is calling me. The high in Indiana was 60 today and tonight it will get down in the low 40's! Yuk! Sorry about the pink font, but pink is my favorite color, but just for you I will use the blue when I respond to you!

[tommy-105]

Seain,
South FL Gal's experience with people is certainly going to be different than what I have had with construction workers. I'm sure she isn't exposed to locker room talk at the office either. If she says she doesn't see it in North Port I believe her.

You have to be careful not to lump all Floridians into a group or else your guilty of stereotyping people too.

My wife (Mrs Tommy) is a Native Floridan also, keep that in mine when reading her post above.

[MrsTommy]

Watch it Seain! On more than one occasion I've had to tune Tommy up about his "Yankee Attitude"!!!

I don't really think that New Yorkers are inherently "smarter"...you can find ignorant, rednecks anywhere you go. I think it may be your occupation or the type of people you choose to associate yourself with. In Tommy's field (construction) the ignorant, racist attitudes are more prevalent and outspoken. Whether in New York or in Florida, Tommy chose not to associate with these people any more than necessary and never outside of work or socially. My occupation is more professional and in my employment history, I have encountered very little overt racism. (Surprisingly enough-the most recent racist comment I heard made on the job was by a HATIAN-directed at a white!)