cricketman

[QUOTE=Rotor;8546675] I make my own mind up partly from travel, partly from reading books, newspapers, documentaries, films and speaking to people who have their own experience of things.

How the hell else are you meant to form an opinion? Do you hear yours straight from God!?

Really, on this website people have doubted by career, my education, my income, what my wife does, where I have lived etc etc. It just sounds like jealousy to me. I will NOT be sending you my CV and a copy of bank statements for proof of whatever you are trying to prove. And just WHAT are you trying to prove?

missile

I am not trying to prove anything. If you voice an opinion as fact, then you ought to be able to justify it.

Rotor

[QUOTE=cricketman;8546784] I`m not quiet sure what it is but I find anything you write hard to believe

Maybe you should be a politician !

cricketman

I said "apparently" (spelt right this time) as I remember watching a Michael Moore film and being shocked at that stat.

There are very few facts that are absolutely true in life, but all information helps you form an opinion! If you're interested I am sure google could fill you in on the history of gated communities.

I am not writing an essay or business report so I do not put references and sources to everything I say on here! Nor should I have to, but it doesnt mean people should cut me down to size by speculating about my personal life or qualifications.

cricketman

[QUOTE=Rotor;8546902] No thank you, they are hateful people

I also have a problem believing anything you say, so we must just be incompatible!

HBG

I don't live in a gated community, but there are quite a few around here. The strange is that when we visit friends that do, I never bother to lock the car, but I still wouldn't want to live in one. It must be a bit like living in a Zoo.

CCTV cameras are also appearing all over town, but it's cut back on the graffiti and moved on the drug dealers. Then we've got neighbourhood watch and more police stations have been built.

As someone said, it's a chicken and egg situation, I wonder what will come next? If they started chopping off hands, parts of the town would be full of one-armed bandits, but Mercadona might start making a profit again.

Rotor

[QUOTE=cricketman;8546907] I said it first so you are it....quote from my 6 year old

agoreira

Believe me, it ain't that! Nothing could be further from the truth.

jackytoo

[QUOTE=cricketman;8546789]
How can anyone be jealous of someone on a forum We don't know if someone lives in a caravan or a mansion, that young hunk is an 80 year old...or even a woman.

Rotor

[QUOTE=jackytoo;8546947] Good point , cman may be a woman who lives in a caravan with an 80 year old body builder Roller parked out front , gated field,

cricketman

[QUOTE=jackytoo;8546947] That's true, I have quite a "hate club" on this forum!

But that's probably because I do not have a good opinion of British people in Spain (from my own experience!) and that shows in what I post.

The good thing that this forum has shown me is that there are some very knowledgable British people in Spain who love Spain rather than just loving the sun or the easy life or the not-paying-taxes. I'm afraid they are not in the majority though.

jackytoo

Fact, the majority of people who live in gated communities in the USA are people of eg. Tiger woods celeb status who don't want loads of gawkers at the end of their drive or second home owners. Even middle class Americans don't want them because of the high additional costs for facilities.

Gated communities in the USA are nothing like the ones in Spain, they are spacious and have their own private roads etc.

missile

As I have said (twice) I respect anyone's right to an opinion. I did not commenton your spelling.

It is not a personal attack, I disagree with your opinions. That is what I call debate.

Have you ever been to Bogata, Mexico City, Marseille or Bankok?
Your opinion appears to be based on one friend who travels frequently to Bogata and Mexico City?

FYI>
A colleague of mine was kidnapped there. I am happy to give his name and telephone number if you wish to verify this fact.

cricketman

Wow, there are a lot of mega-celebrities in the US then, literally millions!

Since you've deliberately challenged me, I'll use our friend wikipedia:

"Approximately 40% of new homes in California are behind walls. In 1997, estimates of the number of people in gated communities ranged from 4 million in 30,000 communities[15] up to around 8 million, with .5 million in California alone" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gated_c...#United_States

So there were between 4-8 million people living in gated communities in the US - and that was over 10 years ago.

It only goes to show you continuously speak drivel jackytoo, but it can only be expected from someone who aspires to live in Florida!

cricketman

I know they are relatively dangerous cities, but I was surprised that the person I was speaking to (a young Spanish woman, my age) was not concerned at all for her safety in these places and then explained why. Then I discussed this with a few Latin American friends I have to try and understand further.

Do you now understand how I came to an opinion? Yes I am sure my opinion would change if I spent time in those cities, but I cannot travel everywhere and experience everything! That's why communication and empathy is helpful between people