Relocating from Indiana to Florida (Tampa, Sarasota: transplants, homebuyer, gated)

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by 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.

That is very true. But I do find FL has a "subculture" of people the likes I haven't run across in other states.

There are plenty of very decent native Floridians. The nicest couple we have met here are Cuban and natives of Tampa.

I am talking about the "Jerry Springer crowd". I'm sorry but I have seen more than I care to of those type of people.

Some of the experiences we have had over the last two years just being out in public from young kids being left in cars alone with the engine running to racist attitudes is something I have never come across before.

FL has one of the highest HS dropout rates in the country, I believe the lack of education has a lot to do with it.

They're what I refer to as a "different breed".

[tommy-105]

Within my first year here, a Harley riding biker type co-worker asked me if I smoked pot. When I told him I hadn't since I was in high school, he said "Well you've come to the wrong state!"

[Big House]

[quote=MrsTommy;10989212]

Originally Posted by Big House

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.

You Mame don't know me or what point of reference I have! I have nephews that are mixed race. Two of them look appear wasp like, one does not. All three have completely different personalities, and the two that appear waspish actually have more trouble fitting in due to their personalities than the third, who does not yet does not use that as a crutch, but has a much better relaxed out-going people liking personality. He has the ability to make friends with everyone fast, and has started his own successful business as well.

So don't BS me and start talking crap that YOU do not know about!
I too am in construction. I see some of the things that your husband has talked about, and I did not say that there is no such thing as bigotry. Only a fool would say that. But, if people want to use their race as a crutch, and always let things act as barriers because of it, then they won't get ahead. Everyone has hurdles they have to get over. Evidently you do too. Don't hold your kids back, help them over the hurdles. President Obama has always been black, and he didn't let anything racial impede him. And, I have a number of bi-racial friends all of whom have done extremely well, and whom I've worked side by side with, and not once has race stopped them from working hard to achieve their goals or becoming my friend. So don't tell me I have no frame of reference - cuz you don't know of what you speak.

Tommy, I was speaking in generalities. I was not speaking about a specific situation. I believe that you ran into the experience you faced. I don't think it is right, it happens. Should you set an example that this is OK? No, its not OK. Should you try to set a positive example for your kids and others. I believe so. If someone slights you, then you have a choice to make. How you deal with it is the example you set for your kids - and others. It is not a perfect world. Not for me, not for my nephew, not for fat people, or people that have other imperfections. Everyone needs to feel comfortable in their own skin, and not let things slow them down or prevent them form moving forward.

Every group of immigrants that have moved to this country have faced the same kinds of bigotries and prejudices, and succeeded. It is not me, and it is not you. I see younger people fitting in, and moving beyond race. I see kids that sometimes don't fit in, and they will use excuses rather than overcome. I worked with my nephews to not accept excuses, and they have done well, and are widely accepted. So it does happen.

[grandmallie]

gee I guess im glad when im down there im in a 55 park, dont see much of that at all

[tommy-105]

Big House, tylerrob had a spefic question. You are not even close to being in a position to answer it. We are.

[tommy-105]

Originally Posted by cjohnson5077

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!

LOL, I'm gonna bump you back to the top of your thread.

[SoFLGal]

Wow! This whole thread has turned into an issue about race. I think you're gonna find racist people in all walks of life and in every town and profession. Maybe it's more prevalent in the construction field. My husband is in the construction field and has been for the last 15 years in Florida. I know he has mentioned a few incidents like what you mention Tommy.

For what it's worth, I'm also a SW Florida native, born in Bradenton and have lived here my whole life. My husband is from NY and said he saw the same attitudes up north and even more so there.

I actually can agree with many points that BH has made as well as Tommy and MrsTommy. As I said before, I don't see this area as a whole as having racial prejudices or maybe I just don't associate with people that are like that.

Anyway, good luck with the showings Crissy!

[mrcoolmrcool28]

I too am shocked when I hear racist comments up here. Although many of you may think Wisconsin is "up north" or "in the boonies", we actually live 10 minutes from Madison, WI, which is a VERY progressive, liberal, university/state capitol town, the UW-Madison has been called Berkely-East by more than one liberal commentator. Having said that, as I grew up near Madison, it always has shocked me when people have made racist or sexist remarks, and am also shocked when they assume I share their views. So if this kind of talk happens outside Berkley-East (Madison, WI) I'm am not at all surprised it happens in Florida. You ARE pretty close to "the south", ya know?? And if your children, or nephews, are raised with hearing no racism in their family, they're not going to be racist, nor are they going to treat people any differently from themselves. We were at the Badger/Auburn football bowl game down in Nashville a few years back, and were absolutely shocked by the conversation we had, and good naturedly at that!!, with an Auburn fan. For some people it just comes naturally, it's how they were raised. All we can do is try to raise our children and nephews, and any other young people we can influence, the right way. When our daughter was in preschool, she had a friend that was bi-racial, but didn't realize she WAS "different"!!! When an adult mentioned her "black" friend, she was puzzled. She thought it meant she had black hair!!!! Ya gotta raise 'em right people....and prepare them for what they're gonna hear in the outside world, whether they're in madison wisconsin or Sarasota Florida.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

Wow! This whole thread has turned into an issue about race. I think you're gonna find racist people in all walks of life and in every town and profession. Maybe it's more prevalent in the construction field. My husband is in the construction field and has been for the last 15 years in Florida. I know he has mentioned a few incidents like what you mention Tommy.

For what it's worth, I'm also a SW Florida native, born in Bradenton and have lived here my whole life. My husband is from NY and said he saw the same attitudes up north and even more so there.

I actually can agree with many points that BH has made as well as Tommy and MrsTommy. As I said before, I don't see this area as a whole as having racial prejudices or maybe I just don't associate with people that are like that.

Anyway, good luck with the showings Crissy!

Sorry I have to disagree. The difference in NY is people will make racist remarks, and while it is wrong, they don't do it like they do here.

In other places they talk that way when they know they're around like minded people. Here they assume if your white you must think like they do.

I have had complete strangers use the N word and the F word to describe gays, and I am like "what gave you the impression I think like you do?"

I have shared nothing with you that would even give you the idea that I share your views.

There is an ingnorance down here that you don't find in other parts of the country.

[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!

Hey Chrissy, your husband might find some of the posts from ChicagotoTampagirl interesting. Apparently she and her husband are in the flooring business. They live (or lived) in North Port.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/newre...ply&p=10991470