Arriving late at night. Safe for a single female? (Pigeon Forge: move to, baptists)

[J&Em]

Hik I lived many years in a place with green cards galore for the well educated and have always been in communities with a very high Jewish population, so you know darn well I "get it"... but it is another post by someone attributing a kind of nastiness or bigotry that only continues the stereotypes about the local area, the south in general, and one religion that don't need to be stressed.

Since sometimes words can have a different connotation to a native speaker than to one using the it as a second language I did a search for the thread mentioned. I wanted to understand where such a ludicrous idea was coming from and if something was misconstrued since NorbuLinka didn't post exactly what it was that she read. Nothing showed up in search of threads with "Pigeon Forge" and "Baptist" in it that had any discussion of any kind of person being chased out of town. Hence the simple 'Baptist is a religion' comment, because very few places are left where a town and a religion are the same thing. I don't think my response was out of line or un PC.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by J&Em

Hik I lived many years in a place with green cards galore for the well educated and have always been in communities with a very high Jewish population, so you know darn well I "get it"... but it is another post by someone attributing a kind of nastiness or bigotry that only continues the stereotypes about the local area, the south in general, and one religion that don't need to be stressed.

Since sometimes words can have a different connotation to a native speaker than to one using the it as a second language I did a search for the thread mentioned. I wanted to understand where such a ludicrous idea was coming from and if something was misconstrued since NorbuLinka didn't post exactly what it was that she read. Nothing showed up in search of threads with "Pigeon Forge" and "Baptist" in it that had any discussion of any kind of person being chased out of town. Hence the simple 'Baptist is a religion' comment, because very few places are left where a town and a religion are the same thing. I don't think my response was out of line or un PC.

huh?

[J&Em]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I think when you come from a a part of the world where being of a certain religion or heritage may mean you are not able to visit or live in some places you tend ask first...that's all.

If I had previously posted with insensitive replies or seemed a tad xenophobic or maybe just stupid the above might make sense. I understood perfectly well exactly what she was worried about but did not see any post anywhere that stated Baptist will go after Jewish or Israeli folk in some way. I had assumed you had done your homework and looked at previous posts to see what she was worried about being run out of town for, which is what I addressed. The very first thread posted by the OP states she is Jewish Israeli and looking to open a kosher family style eatery.
https://www.city-data.com/forum/13146879-post1.html


If we changed her question to a town in Massachusetts outside of Boston and replaced the religion with Catholic the reply would be the same. It's a religion, people from all over the world are in the area and no one will care much. Your statement above just seemed to paint the reply as too insensitive to what she was asking so I said "I get it" as in I am not dense. I think we have the same view point and are just talking past each other. We usually agree... don't we???

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by J&Em

If I had previously posted with insensitive replies or seemed a tad xenophobic or maybe just stupid the above might make sense. I understood perfectly well exactly what she was worried about but did not see any post anywhere that stated Baptist will go after Jewish or Israeli folk in some way. I had assumed you had done your homework and looked at previous posts to see what she was worried about being run out of town for, which is what I addressed. The very first thread posted by the OP states she is Jewish Israeli and looking to open a kosher family style eatery.
https://www.city-data.com/forum/13146879-post1.html


If we changed her question to a town in Massachusetts outside of Boston and replaced the religion with Catholic the reply would be the same. It's a religion, people from all over the world are in the area and no one will care much. Your statement above just seemed to paint the reply as too insensitive to what she was asking so I said "I get it" as in I am not dense. I think we have the same view point and are just talking past each other. We usually agree... don't we???

We sure do! I didn't mean to get you upset in anyway. I didn't know where you use to live or what kind of background that you have but I certainly didn't think you are dense.

I think in her case, though, unlike a lot of people that have preconceived notions regarding Baptists, or Southerners or this area, she just doesn't know that people of different religions can live in the same town. I absolutely can't stand it when people judge people of this area based on their high-falutin' stereotypes. It's something I am up against every darn day. But to our friend NorbuLinka, things are oh, so much different; settle in the wrong area and things could go horribly wrong. I bet she doesn't know the first thing about Baptists but if she tripped across a post where someone was ranting about how they are not accepted because they are not a Baptist she might take that as a possible death threat.

And by the way, I thought she might have possibly read the thread on another forum...I could be very wrong, though.

But I certainly didn't mean to sound condescending. I wasn't sure if you knew about NorbuLinka and where she is from. I read her posts and quickly realized that she knows very little, if anything, about America or Americans. That's all. Nothing more or less. I think she is trying very hard to ask questions and not offend.

And Em, you have always come across as kind and highly intelligent.

[J&Em]

LOL on the last comment , but not upset, just puzzled. So I figured right; we both assumed too much and meant the same thing.


I, too, am tired of the stereotypes (and the closely related painting with a broad brush) I see all to often whether regional (even state to state) or from those from foreign lands. It has seeped into news reporting, the last bastion of fact. Preconception is toxic. There will always be small minded people who will prove a stereotype right, but on the whole I find deep down most people are decent. It seems that many don't realize how large the country truly is and how varied and different everything is within our borders, from climate, to religion, to social customs and yet all of it is American. Having been fortunate to have traveled across a good deal of the country I've always tried to keep an open mind about people and places, preferring my research to be dry facts first and 'coloring in' by people second. It makes it so much easier to find the good in everything and to see past the generalizations. Keep on plugging!

[oldmanbob]

safety is always a concern and one is best off not to post traveling information just in case some nuts are finding easy reading and you can always park in the service and drop off area, and ask for escort to unload. Just saying, be safe and the Mariotts are both well lighted and easy walking to the famous Connors steak house and also walking distance to many other local bars and resturants. Irish Times is probably open the latest.

[creeksitter]

So you are coming to our area to scout out a restaurant location, I hope? Yumm, sounds good.

I think an Isralei restaurant would do well in Knoxville because you have a built in following of customers loyal to Harold's kosher deli which closed a few years ago due to the owners' health. There's a decent sized Jewish population in Knoxville, plus the local goys like to try different foods.

I'm not so sure about Gatlinburg /Pigeon forge. The business would be seasonal. I'm not sure how many residents are Jewish or if it attracts a lot of Jewish tourists. Would a tourist from the midwest be attracted to a Jewish restaurant or would they look for local TN home cooking?

[TedTLPN]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

I think an Isralei restaurant would do well in Knoxville because you have a built in following of customers loyal to Harold's kosher deli which closed a few years ago due to the owners' health.

And subsequent death Former Harold's regulars recall owner, deli's delights » Knoxville News Sentinel

My BIASED, and VERY jaded opinion is that if you want to go to PF, and deal with the tourists, and make money hand over fist, that will be a good bet.

However....

If you want to form relationships with your customers, I would look at Maryville and or Turkey Creek. It won't be as profitable, but you'll have a VERY loyal following.

[NorbuLinka]

J&Em,

there is a thread which i can't find anymore.

an asphalt truck driver wrote questions in purple bold italic. bad choice of fonts, no doubt.

the answers mentioned the "Bible Belt" and Baptists. the answers were, in numerous words, as far as i could understand, telling him to be aware of the fact that a guy like himself could feel unwelcomed in this area.
i have been reading City Data about various places, and never read such strong words and very explicit, telling someone he will not be welcomed in a certain place.

that was what triggered my sponteneous question.

needless to say i had no intentions to offend you, the Baptists, the Bible Belt, America, City Data, Planet Earth, or the Universe.

i have been in NY about 20 times, maybe more. but NY is not America.
i crossed America from Maine to Oregon DRIVING, spending time in a few states, so i believe i have seen a little bit of America.

the beauty of Nature is so overwhelming....
but it takes time to assimilate into a new culture. you can understand this, J&Em, can't you?


Hiknapster,
thank you for your undestanding, and for reading my post as-is!!
　
　
　

[hiknapster]

You are welcome, sweetie. I am from the northeast and it looks like you wouldn't start a deli (but oh, how I wish!), but whatever you do I would suggest downtown Knoxille, where people are more open to different foods. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg feed the huddled masses looking for a gauche tourist spot where pre-packaged food is the height of their culinary world. I bet the majority of them wouldn't touch foreign food with a ten-foot-pole.

I own a business in Bearden, down the street from two synagogues. Let me know if I can do anything for you.