BangBang57 wrote:
As stated, this subject has, over the years, been beaten to death with almost always the same guys on each side. But the one thing that is always there is Orange stating that the reasoning by those for dressing like the Ticos is to "blend in". Orange is the ONLY ONE who repeatedly makes this statement!! That along with "us pasty white guys are not going to fool anybody."
I'm the only one, huh? Selective memory? Every thread on this subject has somebody advising mongers to dress like the ticos to blend in and not make yourself a target. I'm guessing that you probably advised that at some point as well.
Edited to add: Well, well, well... lookie here.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=28605&p=312205&hilit=blend+in#p312205BangBang57 wrote:
I have to agree with POPS. In almost every case of guys being mugged, robbed, hazzeled by cops, etc, here, it has been because of the gringo doing something to draw attention to them selves. This old argument "I am an American and I am on vacation, and therefore I will do what I want and dress how I want" is just what usually ends up attracting the "bad" guy to you. The way I see it, you have a choise--Dress the way you want, drank too much, walk alone in areas you shouldn't, get loud and obnoxious, and one not often mentioned her- BE SEEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH YOUR HANDS ALL OVER THAT CUTE HOT SEXI LITTLE 19 YO YOU JUST PICKED UP AT HDR!!! The Ticos love to see you enjoying their "young ladies" OR second choise-- Dress to blend in; act like you belong here; keep a low profile; if you drank too much, take a taxi and or stay in a large group; and when with your chica of choise, take a taxi. If you must walk with her, do not even hold her hand.
BangBang57 wrote:
At least for the vast majority of us who do not wear shorts, flipflops, and loud shirts here it is a simple matter of showing respect to the people and their customs when in THEIR COUNTRY. Gee, what a novel idea
The one thing is, YES, we Gringos will ALWAYS be recognized as just that, "Gringos"; but we will and do draw less attention if we are dressed more in what is considered "proper attire for men" by the locals than if we are dressed like freaks (in the Ticos minds).
Show respect by how you dress? You should show respect by how you act, like not being a drunken fool in public? Or walking down the street and "talking" at the top of your voice and cursing every other word. That's how you show and gain respect. A "properly" dressed asshole is still an asshole.
BTW- There may be "proper attire for LOCAL men". Tourists are not locals. I have verified this with the 6 Tico men in my family. They told me that they would not expect a tourist to dress like locals.
BangBang57 wrote:
When the locals see a lone Gringo or a group of Gringos (men), no matter what they are wearing, and regardless of whether they are right or wrong, Ticos automatically think "MONGER" (sex tourists)! When they see a Gringa or a group of Gringas or a mixed group, they think "regular tourist" no matter what they are wearing.
Yeah, maybe if you were talking to one of the guys from the "Foro". A typical Tico doesn't equate male gringo tourist with sex tourism. Gimme a break.
BangBang57 wrote:
Yes I know guys are on vacation and "gonna dress like they want" but where the hell is your pride. Would you go shopping (except at Walmart!
) in your home city or town dressed like that?? Ever wonder why we are called "the ugly Americans"
But do Ticos really care how we dress? NO!
Exactly. You ARE on vacation, so dress like it. If I wanted to wear khakis and a polo shirt, I'd go to work. And you are correct. At home, I have never "dressed up" to go shopping. I'm probably not "properly" dressed for my hometown it seems then either.
Ticos don't give a shit about how tourists dress, they have their own problems to waste time worrying about us.
The reason some are called ugly American is because they act like it, not because of how they are dressed. They sit around the hotel breakfast table, whip out their camera, and start the slide show and discussing last night's events (in detail) loudly enough for every other tourist and worker there to be in the loop; how about 60 year old gringos cruising the parks or Central and chatting up 19 year olds; or stumbling drunk in public.
BangBang57 wrote:
But by the way, and a little off topic, but every time I see a group of young Gringa tourists I think the same--"where is their pride"?? Why in hell would they go anywhere in public dressed like they do?
I don't think the average gringa tourist is any more exposed than the majority of the little latina hoochies walking the streets. And they aren't dragging 2 Babi*s (by 2 diff't fathers) around at age 19. How's that's for Tica pride?
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Unless I am very upset about something (Mad as hell) you will never hear me cursing in public and certainly not around females. Unlike guys your age and younger I was raised in a time when men just did not do that.
