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What you experienced is the same thing that dog walkers have to deal with every single day. "Oh noes black dog, he is going to kill us". "Oh noes it is an dog, the walker is tiny" "that person is being walked by that dog". So the answer is no you are not doing anything wrong.
It is the same affect when I was dressed differently. They said "he is an weirdo, there is something wrong with him" and when I had different clothing on "oh look he is normal".
My kids will make fun of men who walk by without a shirt if they're exceptionally hairy or have a very large gut, or some plumber's butt showing...but I taught them manners and they'll wait until he's out of hearing range to start laughing or asking each other if that's their new boyfriend.
You wouldn't last a day in more progressive less bible belt style Europe. Goodness, I feel for you.
Thanks for the sympathy. Yessir, it's a tough life I live...preferring to interact with people who are properly clothed...To be completely honest with ya, I don't even really like bare feet all that much. I mean, I can stomach 'em at the beach or pool or the swimmin' hole, but show me some bare feet up close and personal in close quarters...or in the Wal-Mart or any fast food restaurant and I may just fall-out! Lordy! It's quite an affliction. Like I said, 'preciate your sympathies, darlin'!
Joking aside, good luck on your situation. Given you said you talked to the father about the issue of your neighbors kids/property being vandalized, I wonder if this is why the kids said something to you in the pool area because they know you've been aware of them/keeping an eye on their behavior for I'm guessing for a period of time now and they were attempting to bust on you? Unfortunately as several people have mentioned already, kids are often just a reflection of their parents so talking to them is often like talking to a brick wall.
Other way around. I talked to the father after the kids' made their screams. I didn't want to interact with the kids directly since that's "disciplining other people's kids" which I know not to do.
Really? I think he have EVERY right to have a visit. They were rude to HIM and he certainly has a right to tell how he feels about it! How the heck are these little brats going to learn? Certainly not from their own parents, so he did the right thing period. I personally would have left my shirt off from then on to boot regardless if I was in the pool area or not.
Sure he had a right to go knock on the neighbor's door, but think it was unnecessary.
Right, but we're not in Europe. We're in the U.S., and in most of the U.S., it is considered inappropriate for people to be walking around outside topless. Men in the immediate vicinity of a pool or beach are considered appropriate, but that's it. Let's stop comparing the cultures of the U.S. and Europe every time this type of concept comes up. We have different cultures, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Why not compare? America is supposed to be a melting pot and contrasting opinions are welcome. This would be a very dull and disappointing planet if everyone thought the same way.
Other way around. I talked to the father after the kids' made their screams. I didn't want to interact with the kids directly since that's "disciplining other people's kids" which I know not to do.
So you don't believe my left-wing credentials?
Understand. I was thinking the kids might have been aware of you being aware of their behavior beforehand with your neighbors property/picking on the other kids. Kids can be very perceptive.
As for your left-wing credentials, sure, I believe everything.
Right, but we're not in Europe. We're in the U.S., and in most of the U.S., it is considered inappropriate for people to be walking around outside topless. Men in the immediate vicinity of a pool or beach are considered appropriate, but that's it. Let's stop comparing the cultures of the U.S. and Europe every time this type of concept comes up. We have different cultures, and there's nothing wrong with that.
People use Europe as a comparison to The United States largely because we were founded by Europeans back in 1776. Do you think Afghanistan would be a better comparison? if not, what country would work for you. Canada? Portuguese Timor? Albania?
People use Europe as a comparison to The United States largely because we were founded by Europeans back in 1776. Do you think Afghanistan would be a better comparison? if not, what country would work for you. Canada? Portuguese Timor? Albania?
Are you asking what countries are culturally the most similar to the US??
Generally (since we are an awfully large and diverse country) I would say: Canada, England and Australia.
But those are just my personal perceptions. In the interest of full disclosure, I have never visited Australia.
p.s. We were absolutely NOT founded by Europeans in 1776!!!
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or asking each other if that's their new boyfriend.
So what is a good yardstick?
