Job Discussion Forums

[wildnfree]

haha
That sounds like the recent scandal here in Hong Kong...Policemen were sleeping with male prostitutes in order to gather 'evidence' for the following arrest.

The prostitutes were so outraged by male cops being serviced without appropriate renumeration that their UWP (Union of Working Prostitutes) printed up glossy brochures to its' members outlining the rights of prostitutes.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[cwc]

[M@tt]

well, the fact that it was late at night and virtually nobody around is what led me to that decision. i don't think taking your shirt off in a virtually empty public space at night is such a cultural slap in the face to the natives, especially when the only natives around are prostitutes. is there some part of this story that you're missing? do you honestly think that anyone present was offended? mexico is NOT a very reserved culture--that's the point of the entire story. also, i assumed (wrongly apparently) that merida was similar to veracruz, where nobody minds seeing skin, because of the climate/culture.
was not a problem in DF either. and, i was kicked out of the zocalo in xalapa for skating at night (this time with a shirt), again when the only people around were me, the police, and the hookers. i just feel like the cops and hookers are on too-friendly terms.

[Guy Courchesne]

Funny how that is about Mexico, eh Matt? Reserved in some senses, and oddly open in others. You can find porno mags openly displayed at newsstands, but can't go around topless. Construction workers can whistle a blue streak at passing ladies, but forget to open the door for one and you're some kinda cabron.

I think it takes a long time to be able to leave our own cultural sensitivities behind to adapt to those of Mexicans...odd as many may be. Gotta give it that little Mexican shrug of the shoulders whistle yourself a 'que sera que sera' on your way down the path.

[delacosta]

Gay shirtless midnight skateboarders, midget transvestite hookers, macho cops who have sex with vacationing Euro femmy boy toys yet are not gay cuz they're doing the pitchin' and not the catchin', 50 year old nudist German lady pot heads, retired Swedish heroin addicts, vegetarian Mexican Yoga practisin' buddhist lebians- COME one and come all-you're all welcome to ZIPOLITE OAXACA!

You could walk down main street any time of day wearing a pink tutu and snorkeling gear with a hole strategicaly cut so your privates can catch the sunrays and no one, local or expat, would bat an eye.

Now don't any of you say now you understand why I live here...

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[AjarnErnes]

Once in my local 7-11 in downtown Bangkok I saw an Australian tourist, youngish, mid 20s wearing a t-shirt that said, " *beep* you, you fuckin' *beep*!!!" I asked him where he bought the shirt and he said he bought it in Sydney. I asked him if he realized how offesive his shirt was to most people in the world. and he said he hadn't thought about it. I asked him if he realized that when he is traveling he is a representative of his country and that the Thai people who meet him whith that shirt on most likely wouldn't think very highly of him or people from country. He told me to mind my own fuckin' business.

Aah youth.

ajarnernest

[thelmadatter]

ah Ajarn.. dont YOU remember knowing everything when you were 20-something?

[Samantha]

Wow, I see different parts of Mexico are very different after reading Delacosta's comments about Zipolite beach area. If you go down and get too romantic on the beach here, you take the chance of being hauled off to the lock-up and fined. It happened to a friend of ours from Argentina who was quite miffed about the whole thing. The mayor is a bit of a prude too, and has put the screws to the bars who allow young and 'perky' spring breakers to whip off their tops after 1 or 10 too many jello shots. He probably doesn't know what goes on under those foamy bubbles on the disco floors though.

[Guy Courchesne]

Acapulco would be a mix of the two, Sam and Delacosta. If you're a foreigner, you can get away with a lot on the beach or in the bars there, particularly during springbreak. But, if you are Mexican, you're held to a different standard....no open drinks in the streets, no going toplesss (for the women), and no after sunset romance on the beach. These situations, for Mexicans, invite bribery.

[Samantha]

Here's the strange contrast here....you will see the Mexicans having "tail-gate" parties along the malecon on weekend nights, and as well, driving around with open beers in the car. But just don't let things get frisky on the beach or walk around the sidewalks with a can of beer. I got scolded for that once by a cop I knew. A friend and I were sitting in an ocean-side restaurant when the next door bank alarm went off. The cops squealed around the corner in their pick-ups guns (BIG guns) drawn, so we made a run for it. Being a good Canadian, and not wanting to waste beer, I instinctively took it with me. The cops decided it was a false alarm, thank god, and then proceeded to scold me for the beer outside the bar thing. I told him it was his fault for scaring us so badly. We thought we were in the middle of an armed robbery, and my friend commented how impressed she was that we hadn't spilt anything. He grinned and wagged his finger at us.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

In these parts, what's acceptable on the beach and malec�n is very different from what's acceptable in other areas. No problem drinking beer on or near the beach after 11:00 a.m. when restaurants, bars, and agencias legally start selling. Almost any attire -- or lack thereof -- is okay. Women tourists sometimes sunbathe topless, which is still uncommon enough that they get lots of attention, but it's not against the law, apparently.

In Merida during carnaval drinking in the streets is permitted, but even then, it's only allowed during times of the day when carnival events are scheduled. If the hundreds of beer stands are open and selling, it's okay. If they're closed, it's not. On most weekend nights, some of the downtown streets are closed to traffic, and restaurants put tables and chairs in the streets, often have live music to dance to, etc. During those times, customers can drink in the streets, obviously, but still only in the streets where the open-air restaurants are set up. People can't wander around other streets or in the Zocalo with their beer.

[Belmont]

[Samantha]

Wow Tim, beer on the beach has to be before 11:00 a.m. ?? That's pretty early, even for Canadians on vacation!