www.CostaRicaTicas.com

if you walk in their shoes, you would see a gringo throwing money around and taking your women...too much tipping means you are drawing attention to yourself and not in a positive way.. people that say that i will do what i want and don't care what others think are forgetting one important thing, we are guests in their country.. do what you want when you are in your country.. not theirs... so if you act like a guest and not a self important ass, then no problems..... the way some people act make me embarassed to say i am from the united states.. complaining loudly, not knowing when to back down, sometimes i just tell them i'm from canada.

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I know nothing, nothing!

We all have a right to act as we want, but actions have consequences. 'Ugly American' behavior has consequences, whether it involves prostitution or not.

Another thread discusses the proposed changes to residency requirements. There is an effort to make it more difficult for gringos to live here. It's obvious that some Ticos don't LIKE gringos and would like us to go away, or at least pay a lot more for being here. Why don't they like gringos? Exhibit A might be that jackass who is the subject of this thread. Do you think that hotels ban mongers because they don't want the money? Or is it that they are too often an embarrassment and chase other customers away?

The big 'crackdowns' at the DR are just another symptom of blowback from locals who find some of us offensive. Sure, you can just say 'fuuck em if they can't take a joke' and blow it off, and many will. People with that attitude generally don't care what happens to anyone else anyway. So if CR changes it's residency requirements and I have to move, I doubt that these guys would give a shiit. But if I see you behaving like an assshole, don't expect me to come up and buy you a drink and slap you on the back.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Spot on Ciao Ciao, couldn't agree more. For my two cents, and please take this in mostly the humor is it intended.

The upside to take a working chica/ favorita/ novia/ whatever you choose to call her....you get GREAT service from the Tico waiters!!! Had dinner at the El Rodeo Country Inn Steak House and had at least 6 different Tico waiters "servicing" us. My glass was NEVER empty and our food was sizzling hot.

The power of the positive side!

Loco Mike, I definitely take what you said personally and I probably DO over analyze some things but in this case I think YOU don't get it. The 3 guys who posted right after you DO get it and I agree with everything they just wrote. This isn't about some guy just quietly minding his own business and hoping everyone else just quietly minds theirs. This is about guys not recognizing that there are forces, strong powerful forces, that would like nothing better than to see us disappear from CR altogether, even from the Gulch. And it is about those guys carelessly or thoughtlessly bringing unneccessary attention to what we do in places or times where they shouldn't.

If guys at the Prez were just bringing chicas back to their rooms late at night after all their eco-tourist guests are safely tucked away in their beds or even quietly checking in their chica companions during the day, then the Prez dress code may never have happened. But if drunken guys loudly return to their rooms with their chicas late at night awakening all those guests, or ostentatiously parade their latest "conquests" (e.g. by publicly squeezing their chicas culos) as they walk past those same eco-tourists and their families, or sit with their buddies at the rail loudly and thoughtlessly discussing the BBBJ's they just got a local MP, while a mother and her young daughters are sitting within earshot nearby, then they're just asking for trouble not only for themselves but for every other guy in this hobby and are directly responsible for the Prez. changing their policies for ALL their monger guests (including the discreet and respectful ones). And while you may think "screw them if they don't want my money", consider that as a successful business they have probably already considered that and concluded that the 5-10 eco-tourists that you drive away is worth more than any of your business they might lose.

The other point that these other guys made bears repeating. The old obnoxious gringo with young hot chica is just one aspect of it. Not making a lot of noise when returning to your room late at night is just common courtesy whether you're with a chica or not. Not discussing controversial or potentially offensive subjects at a volume that makes it impossible for nearby parties to ignore is also just good manners whether it is with a chica or just with your buddies. And taking a screw everybody else its all about me kind of an attitude only reinforces one of the worst negative stereotypes that many people have about Americans.

Projilo, I will give you an “Amen, brother”. Well put and directed to the issue at hand. Also, we are only looking it at the issue from the “Ugly American” and their attitude. Zebra hinted at it but there is also the issue of how the chica feels about being with you. Yeah, I know she is getting paid for it.

Personally, I always tried to take the chica out of the P4P mentality even if only for that night. One of the ways I do it is to take them out for dinner, conduct myself as a gentleman and try to make her feel like a lady. This includes dressing the part as well as acting the part. I know, some of you will complain that it is too much work and stressful, but think about the rewards. We go through all this trouble to get to CR and blow it because of a little self restraint. Shit, you got plenty of time to go hog wild in your room and I’m sure she will reciprocate. Why blow it from the beginning.

If a ho is what you want, just go to a MP. If you are looking for a date/novia for the night/day/week, then play the part. Not only are the rewards worth it, but the overall experience for you and her will be enhanced.

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Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

There seems to be an irresolvable split of opinions on this topic, with neither side able to convince the other. So if there's nothing left to say (and evidently there isn't), let's move on. What exactly is the price of tea in China anyway?

P.S. A whole lot of folks need to read or re-read Eugene Burdick's '58 novel "The Ugly American"--you've all got it wrong about who he is and what that term means. Thus I have spoken.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

You clearly dont get it. Not only on this thread but on almost every other thread you post a friggin essay. Why ? Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean "they don't get it". It means they disagree.

Now back to the topic. Your talking to the wrong person as I keep a low profile when I am in SJO. I have never had anybody at the Prez admonish me for my behavior or refuse entrance to my guest. The same is true for almost everyone else from CRT who stays at the Prez. Most of the people you would not know come from CRT as they are also very discret. I have come to know alot of them by attending CRT functions or by seeing them at the Prez on a number of occassions.

Your comments, and the other posters comments, are directed towards 1%-2% of the people who act a little wild occasionally. People go to SJO to drink, gamble, party with beautiful latin women and blow off some steam. Sometimes they get out of hand. BFD! It comes with the territory. They are one block away from the HDR the most famous brothel in Central America.

Many years ago I used to deal in casinos in Vegas. How do you think people acted at 2:00 am after drinking 8 glases of whiskey or 10 beers? You think the casinos throw out everyone who gets a little out of hand?

Over the last few years there has been a gradual shift in the hotels in the SJO area away from mongers to the more conventional tourist. Apparently the Prez is following the same trend. So what! I am curious to see which ones welcome us back in the event of a significant drop in tourism.

If the Prez, or any other joint, doesn't want my business I will go elsewhere and spend my $$$ there. Based on what I read on this board it seems as though there is plenty of hell raising going on at the SL and they just expanded.

Finally I, along with about 99% of the board doesnt need to be told how to act, how to dress ect....most of the CRT people I have meet are sucessful people who handle themselves pretty darn good.

Amen Loco Mike. There are obnoxious asses every where in the world, We can't make up for them no matter how discreet we are. What should I do, only pick chicas my own age? I have traveled all over CR with a favorita with no problems.

Loco, sorry for editing your post , but these are points that I have been trying to get across for awhile

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But mama, that's where the fun is

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Loco Mike,
That is my bad. That was a serious big time typo. I really did mean to type that I definitely do NOT take what you said personally. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I'm definitely NOT the type to take such comments personally. I'm really really sorry for that mix up. Peace be with you brother!

Now as to the topic at hand, I agree that we can disagree on things like whether we care how other people see us. What I didn't think you seemed to get was why it really CAN matter what other people think even if we think what they think is wrong, stuck-up, none of their business or whatever.

I agree with both of you that there are obnoxious asses every where in the world and that we can't make up for them no matter how discreet we are. But what you guys are doing is turning what you think we've been saying aroung and grossly exaggerating it. My point was NOT that we should try to make up for any other guy but that we shouldn't ADD to what they do by being obnoxious asses ourselves. I also agree with Mike that the vast majority of our membership probably aren't the obnoxious asses we too often see and that those of us who are preaching about discreet (or at least semi-discreet) behaviour are for the most part singing to the choir, but there are some out there including some here who could probably still benefit from giving what we've been saying at least some consideration.

Of course, no one is saying that we should only go with chicas our own age or what would even be the point in going to CR for chicas. I don't think anyone is even saying you shouldn't venture out of "monger areas" like the Gulch with your young chica "novias". All we're saying is that when you do venture out in such situations be aware that there are some who don't look favorably upon such scenes and who would try to do political harm to our hobby. That doesn't mean giving up what we do but it should mean that we don't call any more attention to ourselves than we really have to (by flamboyant, obnoxious or rude behaviour)

Several months ago I was sitting in the SL having my evening meal when a couple of eco tourists wandered in (man and wife) to see the football game. They seemed like a nice couple and we got into a conversation that was enjoyable. Then the husband got up to take a leak and his wife leaned over and said to me, "Arethey all working girls?" I laughed and said, "Yeah they are." And her response was, "I'm sure glad I'm a football fan too because I'm not sure I would want my husband here on his own" and followed it with a good natured laugh. Nice gal, nice couple and I could tell that the wife was not the least bit judgmental about the whole situation.

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The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

Perhaps we are talking about different things.

From what I have read so far, I agree with Thirdworld and others: it is about discretion. A mature man having dinner with a younger woman is not particularly note worthy; in fact it is common here. But if you are going to do so, just do it quietly and inconspicuously. The more verbose and public you are the more you are asking for scrutiny and trouble. The populace is not so ignorant that they fail to understand what you are doing and who she is.

You can do just about anything you want in the world if you are quiet and discrete. Start conducting classes on how to screw the IRS and you have invited them to crawl up your fanny with a microscope; act like and as*hole in a bar and you have invited the bouncer to keep his eye on you. John Gotty's flamboyant life style invited his fall. The old Dons were quiet and shunned the limelight. They knew who they were and what they could do; they didn't need validation.

The reason teams like the SEALS are so effective is that they are quiet and discrete. No fan fare, no bands, no "hey look at me, I am a SEAL." They do not need validation because they already know who they are and what they can do.

Having liaisons is very common throughout the business and professional class in CR and throughout the Latin world. But it is quietly ignored. A gentleman does not rub society’s nose in his dalliances; a gentleman does not seek personal validation of his manhood by calling attention to himself and his guest. Having a young attractive woman on the side is simply a way of life. Everyone knows it and politely ignores it. The reasons places like Motel Eden exist is due to the fact that businessmen used it and consequently investors will make money. But it is quiet, out of the way and discrete.

The loud, verbose, crass and unrefined are men who need validation. They may not even realize their actions are a plea for validation but everyone else notices it because it is so obvious. Their behavior should be an embarrassment to all of us who are serious about our hobby. In the end, the person who cries out for validation is the only person who can provide it to himself.

This is about respect, for the individual and those around you. It is their county and we are their guests. We need to respect their home and their people.

I agree with Brother DiegoC about the need for validation. Another point he made if obliquely is that this older man/younger woman construct (or its reverse--where were the cougars when I was coming up?) is not socialized or accepted in the Puritan, anal-retentive U. S. so when guys come here they, some of them, just don't know how to act. I'm deliberately NOT including CRT Brothers because this if anything is a socializing organization. Consequently you get the "K*D in a candy store" bozos. An analogue is folks who didn't have alcohol in the house and weren't taught how to drink responsibly. Put'm in college and it's "Katy, bar the door!" How about those poor pathetic K*ds wrested out of that religious complex this year? What social skills do they have? Monger bozos are in the same position writ small.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Ohh , I plan to respect their people.., especially the hot females. Seriously, I must say for a guy like me , who hasn't been to CR yet, this is very good food for thought. I've never been, in any place of travels, the Ugly American. If you're having fun, and not offending/hurting anyone than it's all good. I can see in some situations where it could cause problems.. maybe not right off., but in the long run.

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Enzo

Now in High Definition!

Envy and Jealousy are terrible emotions. If these guys are happy with their eye candy on their shoulders at breakfast who does it hurt. It certainaly does not bother me. I give a shit about their age and who they are with. Everyone knows that we are all here for the same shit. Give it rest. If they are having a good time who gives a shit. Really. That is the kind of judgement that we in the US carry far too far. It is not your business to regulate the activities of fellow mongers enjoying themselves. My dos centavos.
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