Is Grants Pass "odd"? (Riverside: buyers, school, college)

[westvillemama]

Originally Posted by freedom

Since when is it bad to be a white Christian that works and makes a living?
Cuz, your making it sound like its a bad thing!

If your saying that these people are bigots and selfish, then your very, very, wrong, and looking at it through eyes of jealousy and confusion.

freedom

Well, since I gather that you happen BE a straight white conservative with plenty of money (and poor people work very very hard too, "freedom") then I thought the conversation needed a different perspective. Of course it's a good fit for you. I am saying that it isn't necessarily a good fit for people who do not fall into that particular vocal, defensive and restrictive category. GP tends to have an atmosphere of assumption that whiteness, middle class-ness, one particular strata of religion, and one narrow minded set of politics are The Only Right Way. Broad-minded and inclusive, the community is not. See: fearmongering in this thread regarding "gangs" and the (i can't believe people still actually say this stuff out loud) a couple negative mentions regarding basic civil rights for everyone.

Don't get me started on growing up there and having adult human beings shouting epitaphs at me and my friends out of their cars, or active gaybashing, or many, many other extra-curricular activities that the upstanding citizens of your lovely town enjoy. Different seems to equal bad. This, my dear is nothing close to jealousy. It is the lifetime experience of someone who was not part of the aformentioned majority group. Not invalid, not born of bitterness or any negative characteristics on my part, just different than yours.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by westvillemama

Well, since I gather that you happen BE a straight white conservative with plenty of money (and poor people work very very hard too, "freedom") then I thought the conversation needed a different perspective. Of course it's a good fit for you. I am saying that it isn't necessarily a good fit for people who do not fall into that particular vocal, defensive and restrictive category. GP tends to have an atmosphere of assumption that whiteness, middle class-ness, one particular strata of religion, and one narrow minded set of politics are The Only Right Way. Broad-minded and inclusive, the community is not. See: fearmongering in this thread regarding "gangs" and the (i can't believe people still actually say this stuff out loud) a couple negative mentions regarding basic civil rights for everyone.

Don't get me started on growing up there and having adult human beings shouting epitaphs at me and my friends out of their cars, or active gaybashing, or many, many other extra-curricular activities that the upstanding citizens of your lovely town enjoy. Different seems to equal bad. This, my dear is nothing close to jealousy. It is the lifetime experience of someone who was not part of the aformentioned majority group. Not invalid, not born of bitterness or any negative characteristics on my part, just different than yours.

Oh i see, so you have issues with people that think same sex is wrong. Well you can find that everywhere, not just G.P.
I think your personal problems have blurred your sense of freedom. I have gay and straight friends, the "gay ones" know i don't agree with their lifestyle but know i love them, but then i don't agree with many modern day choices, like tatoo's or piercings, so i don't do them. I don't dislike or hate people that do those things, but i don't lie to them and say i think its great. They don't take it personal and call me close minded. My black, asian, or hispanic friends and family don't judge me based on my color or financial status. They say damn that's a hard workin' white boy, that has no hate, or ill will for anyone.
Wake up divider.

freedom

[westvillemama]

... and THAT, TribalCat, is exactly the defensive, denial laden and clueless type of welcome you can expect to recieve from GP's finest citizens!!

Thank you for illustrating my point very nicely!

[Culture_Withdrawal]

I’m starting to think “Freedom” is a troll. Tattoos and piercing are not “modern day choices”…they’re archaic. The point of this thread isn’t how tolerant “Freedom, the online Grants Pass defender" is…the point is that Grants Pass AS A COMMUNITY is not tolerant of those who are not Christian, not white, not straight, not republican, etc. This town has no shortage of intolerant Christian fundamentalists and it has no shortage of halfway houses...I'm not suggesting there is a connection.



Today, I saw a man dressed up like a coffin protesting downtown. I took his picture. http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4...passripxj7.jpg

[TribalCat]

Thanks for all of your opinions, I'm weighing them carefully I think though that maybe with the high heat during the summertime, GP might not be the place for me. I prefer a more temperate climate. I'm also concerned with allergens. I have hay fever and am allergic to most airborne pollens and weeds. They usually thrive in hot dry areas.

As for fitting in, well I usually fit in most places because I'm a nice person But I'm brown, not white (Asian/Pacific Islander/Hispanic), I'm a "common sense liberal", and I'm a Pagan. Really! But I'd like somewhere nice and reasonably peaceful to live where I can make good friends, take long walks with my dog, go to the farmers market for fresh produce, work in the alternative medicine field, have more trees than people around me with lots of wildlife, and where people will accept me as I am.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by westvillemama

... and THAT, TribalCat, is exactly the defensive, denial laden and clueless type of welcome you can expect to recieve from GP's finest citizens!!

Thank you for illustrating my point very nicely!

Your rude to frame my words as denial laden and clueless. You have no idea who i am or what i do or how i treat others.

Picking my words apart and twisting my intent does nothing to help others decide where they'd like to live.
I hope people that desire to live anywhere visit and experience the place themselves before making a decision to relocate.

freedom

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Culture_Withdrawal

I’m starting to think “Freedom” is a troll. Tattoos and piercing are not “modern day choices”…they’re archaic. The point of this thread isn’t how tolerant “Freedom, the online Grants Pass defender" is…the point is that Grants Pass AS A COMMUNITY is not tolerant of those who are not Christian, not white, not straight, not republican, etc. This town has no shortage of intolerant Christian fundamentalists and it has no shortage of halfway houses...I'm not suggesting there is a connection.



Today, I saw a man dressed up like a coffin protesting downtown. I took his picture. http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4...passripxj7.jpg

That is untrue and misleading. You must not know anyone in Grants Pass. You made a choice to move here, and now you are bitter, trying to find an excuse for unhappiness by pointing fingers at others choices. I hope you find your happy place.

best wishes,

freedom

[backdrifter]

I'm not so certain how people can have such vastly different experiences here than my family and I have. I am definitely not wealthy, definitely not Christian, and most definitely not Republican or conservative in any way, yet I have found Grants Pass to be a great place. Yes, it is home to many examples of the downfalls of American society at large, but it also is not as terrible as a few people are making it out to be. Perhaps part of it is what circles you run in. If you don't run in the wealthy, Republican, Christian circles then you don't really have to deal with that. Perhaps that's part of it. But that can happen anywhere.

[Culture_Withdrawal]

I can only point out what I see. I don't run in any “circles”. I do have friends here. I am not what I consider wealthy, definitely not Christian, and most definitely not Republican or conservative in any way either. I did make a choice to move here and part of that decision was based on, what I consider to be, misleading information I read on this very forum. That is why I make a point to call attention to the ugly side of this town. Anyone can look at pictures and think this place is beautiful but it is rare to see anyone take the time and effort to point out how this town is a slice out of the Twilight Zone. Everything I have said is true – about the people here, the real estate, the conservative “good ole boy” mentality, the huge gap between classes, the visibly obvious meth problem, the high unemployment rate, the lack of libraries, the racial undercurrent – all of it. And these are things you don’t have to seek to find – they will find you if and when you opt to move here.

Freedom, I think it’s great that you love it here so much – to each his (or her) own.

Originally Posted by freedom

I have gay and straight friends, the "gay ones" know i don't agree with their lifestyle but know i love them, but then i don't agree with many modern day choices, like tatoo's or piercings, so i don't do them. I don't dislike or hate people that do those things, but i don't lie to them and say i think its great.

What you don't understand is that (thankfully) you seem to be one who chooses not to mention your feelings under your breath while in line at the grocery store or bark your feelings out of your car window. And, because of the "circles you run in," you most likely don't see these things happen. You love this town so much, you say you don’t want to “educate [your children] and send them somewhere else for opportunities.” I hate this town so much; I refuse to raise my child here. We are on opposite sides of the spectrum…obviously. The important thing is that these posts are here (and hopefully always will be) for people to read and make up their own mind. Some may read your posts and feel this will be their kind of town –great! However, I feel it’s important to speak to those who have a different mentality and background. Hopefully my posts here will save people like myself and “westvillemama” some anguish and distress.

[nanannie]

I have just returned from a weeks vacation in North. Cal and Southern Oregon. We were very impressed with Grants Pass and thought it much nicer then we remembered on our last trip (just passed through then).The weather was gorgeous. The town was really nice,very clean, and met some very friendly folks. AND, we had some excellent pizza Stayed at the Riverside Inn and did alot of sight seeing and walking through town. I did want to ask Freedom, we looked at a 'hood up in the hills, lovely newer homes but a very very steep hill. On a couple listing sheets we grabbed, I noticed the homes were not very expensive and there was a notice that an agent would discuss 'disclosures'. Is this area in trouble, like slidding down the hill or something? Just curious,thanks.