Manu's family's facilities were robbed?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

We are talking about crime in general. Not only kidnappings.

I know, so was I, I just put kidnappings as an example

[nkdlunch]

That comment makes no sense whatsoever. I never ever ever EVER mentioned Argentina. What I did do was mention "South America", hence "developing countries" based on MY EXPERIENCE. Obviously I'm aware that there are pros and cons and similarities and differences among nations. But really, you need not get offended. I think Argentina is a fabulous country. In this specific thread, I did not like that one post wonder person mocking 9/11 and indirectly referencing school violence acts like Columbine as if they are the norm in America.

Talk abou xenophobia! Good grief!

Settle down, folks. If anybody loves international brotherhood and bonding, its me. But if you look at threats to one's individual security, America is safer in that regard. I'm not saying that "America is better than other countries". I am just stating a fact.

To clarify my original tone:

I WAS PISSED OFF AT THE SMART ASS MOCKING OF TERRORIST THREATS AND SCHOOL VIOLENCE IN AMERICA. TO ME, THOSE ARE NOT DESERVING SUBJECTS OR WORTHY OF SARCASM.

As opposed to your polite comments about fear of starving crackheads coming into your house

[MaNuMaNiAc]

As opposed to your polite comments about fear of starving crackheads coming into your house

[spurschick]

Is this really what happens around this forum during the off-season?

[Kori Ellis]

I have two friends, an acquaintance and the brother of my wife's brother-in-law who have been kidnapped in Brazil.

Sorry to interrupt this battle, but ... you have a wife?

[GrandeDavid]

Grandedavid...next time u speak about Brazil among Brazilians...call me. It would be a nice experience for me at least. I seriously doubt it'd be nice for u.

Athenea, I am in Brazil right now! I simply echo the sentiments of my fellow Brazilians!! All I hear day in and day out is ing and moaning about everything from Lula to CRIME. And if you are Argentinian, I think I'd have to ask the Brazilians to warm up to you and give you a chance...although, political malcontent toward Argentina is temporarily better now that Brazil won 4-1 over Argentina in that soccer tournament in Germany recently.

As much as I pay in taxes in Brazil, as many friends as I have down here, including family, I will say whatever I want about Brazil, and I would NEVER badmouth such a beautiful country. Nor did I badmouth your land, either. I simply spoke the facts. Deal with it.

Finally, if you only knew how I get after ignorant Americans toward other countries!

[GrandeDavid]

Sorry to interrupt this battle, but ... you have a wife?

Yes.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Is this really what happens around this forum during the off-season?

This quote has turned into a "political forum" thing LOL!

[Kori Ellis]

Yes.

Oh, I always thought you were a sex-crazed playboy

Okay, back to the battle.

[GrandeDavid]

As opposed to your polite comments about fear of starving crackheads coming into your house

You do make a valid point. In this case I speak for Brazil. Like America, Brazil is a consumer market. I guess its the Andean nations, the "safe havens" who are the producers.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Athenea, I am in Brazil right now! I simply echo the sentiments of my fellow Brazilians!! All I hear day in and day out is ing and moaning about everything from Lula to CRIME. And if you are Argentinian, I think I'd have to ask the Brazilians to warm up to you and give you a chance...although, political malcontent toward Argentina is temporarily better now that Brazil won 4-1 over Argentina in that soccer tournament in Germany recently.

As much as I pay in taxes in Brazil, as many friends as I have down here, including family, I will say whatever I want about Brazil, and I would NEVER badmouth such a beautiful country. Nor did I badmouth your land, either. I simply spoke the facts. Deal with it.

Finally, if you only knew how I get after ignorant Americans toward other countries!

You didn't speak facts! facts from where?? you know Brazil, and you extrapolate what you know about one country into an argument about the security of Latin America as a whole? thats not facts my friend.

[nkdlunch]

Oh, I always thought you were a sex-crazed playboy

with a name like Grande David, I thought u were a pornstar

j/k

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Oh, I always thought you were a sex-crazed playboy

Okay, back to the battle.

[GrandeDavid]

Oh, I always thought you were a sex-crazed playboy

Thank! Hey, guess you didn't notice my wedding ring during that roundtable discussion!

Okay, back to the battle.

I didn't intend for this to be a battle, I was just responding to a troll. Unfortunately I spoke too soon and have offended some folks, which obviously was not my intention. Some subjects just get me fired up.

[smeagol]

My 2 cents.

1) Manu's familiy isn't going anywhere and people in SA should not be concearned about their well being.

2) The major cities in the US are safer than Buenos Aires, Caracas, Bogotá, Medellin, Rio and Sao Paulo. If anybody disagrees, please let me know why.

3) Lets not always make these threads a US vs Argentina thing. I'm guilty of this too.

[Kori Ellis]

I didn't intend for this to be a battle, I was just responding to a troll.

It's okay. The battle is good in the offseason. It's better than the 9 million "Let's trade Rasho for crap" threads

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I didn't intend for this to be a battle, I was just responding to a troll. Unfortunately I spoke too soon and have offended some folks, which obviously was not my intention. Some subjects just get me fired up.

I think you do have a valid point in there somewhere, its just that your outburst because of some dumb poster who happened to relate terrorism with everyday crime didn't show you in the best of lights but I think you're right, most US cities are safer than most latin american cities. ALthough I still think people have the wrong idea about latin american every day life.

[GrandeDavid]

A MESSAGE TO ALL ARGENTINIANS-

1. I APOLOGIZE FOR OFFENDING ANY OF YOU WITH MY HEATED DIATRIBE ABOUT SAFETY IN SOUTH AMERICA, AS A WHOLE. BUT NOT ONCE DID I MENTION "ARGENTINA". NOT EVER. IN FACT, I HAVE SOME GOOD ARGENTINIAN FRIENDS IN BOTH THE U.S. AND BRAZIL. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING ARGENTINA SOMEDAY SOON AND HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS A WONDERFUL COUNTRY.

2. FROM THE BEGINNING, I DEFINITELY SHOULD'VE AVOIDED TRYING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT. I OBVIOUSLY UNWILLINGLY BECAME MORE POLITICALLY INCORRECT BY MAKING A GROSS GENERALIZATION ABOUT "SOUTH AMERICA". I SHOULD'VE IMMEDIATELY CLARIFIED THAT I SPEAK FROM A "BRAZILIAN" POINT OF VIEW.

3. I AM AN AMERICAN, BUT I ALSO RESIDE TEMPORARILY IN BRAZIL, WHERE I HAVE PERMANENT RESIDENCY. I AM DOWN HERE NOT NECESSARILY BY CHOICE, BUT BECAUSE MY WIFE IS A DOCTOR DOWN HERE WITH A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE. I SPEND HALF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL, HALF IN AMERICA. IT WORKS. BUT I KNOW BRAZIL INSIDE AND OUT AND MOST OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ARE DOWN HERE. I LOVE BRAZIL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS A COUNTRY IN WHICH ONE CAN FRANKLY DISCUSS PROBLEMS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. I AM AN EXPORT CONSULTANT FOR, AMONG OTHER PRIVATE EN IES, THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT. IN MY LINE OF WORK AND ALSO BEING INVOLVED IN TWO MAJOR CHARITIES FOR UNDERPRIVELEGED CHILDREN IN BRAZIL, I KNOW THE PROS AND CONS OF LIVING DOWN HERE. THE PROS FAR OUTWEIGH THE CONS, BUT AMONG THE CONS, PERSONAL "SAFETY" ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS THE BIG ONE. NO, YOU DON'T LIVE YOUR LIFE THINKING SOMEBODY IS GOING TO ASSAULT YOU. BUT IT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHEN YOU WALK AT NIGHT, PULL INTO YOUR GARAGE, WHEN YOU GO MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH SOME FRIENDS AND HAVE TO HAUL ASS BACK TO THE CITY AT DUSK SO THAT YOU WON'T POSSIBLY GET ROBBED ON THE CITY PERIPHERY. THAT'S JUST REALITY, NOT AN INSULT TO ONE'S NATIONAL IDEN Y.

Again, sorry for offending anyone! Now you guys know me and my angle on things.

[Athenea]

Athenea, I am in Brazil right now! I simply echo the sentiments of my fellow Brazilians!! All I hear day in and day out is ing and moaning about everything from Lula to CRIME. And if you are Argentinian, I think I'd have to ask the Brazilians to warm up to you and give you a chance...although, political malcontent toward Argentina is temporarily better now that Brazil won 4-1 over Argentina in that soccer tournament in Germany recently.

As much as I pay in taxes in Brazil, as many friends as I have down here, including family, I will say whatever I want about Brazil, and I would NEVER badmouth such a beautiful country. Nor did I badmouth your land, either. I simply spoke the facts. Deal with it.

Finally, if you only knew how I get after ignorant Americans toward other countries!

Hmmm I don't think u could criticize Brazil the way u r doing here live...Even if u live and have family there. Brazilians are way more nationalist than any other ppl except from Americans. They have a huge country and live their lives intra muros.
U can't even say "Maradona>Pelé" without getting "unhappy" looks directed at u.
And Americans r having a tough time with these new reciprocity policies (I see it all the time at airports).
I sure think u can hear Brazilians and moan about their country but I seriouly doubt they'll accept happily whatever a foreigner like u could say about their land

[MaNuMaNiAc]

A MESSAGE TO ALL ARGENTINIANS-

1. I APOLOGIZE FOR OFFENDING ANY OF YOU WITH MY HEATED DIATRIBE ABOUT SAFETY IN SOUTH AMERICA, AS A WHOLE. BUT NOT ONCE DID I MENTION "ARGENTINA". NOT EVER. IN FACT, I HAVE SOME GOOD ARGENTINIAN FRIENDS IN BOTH THE U.S. AND BRAZIL. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO VISITING ARGENTINA SOMEDAY SOON AND HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS A WONDERFUL COUNTRY.

2. FROM THE BEGINNING, I DEFINITELY SHOULD'VE AVOIDED TRYING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT. I OBVIOUSLY UNWILLINGLY BECAME MORE POLITICALLY INCORRECT BY MAKING A GROSS GENERALIZATION ABOUT "SOUTH AMERICA". I SHOULD'VE IMMEDIATELY CLARIFIED THAT I SPEAK FROM A "BRAZILIAN" POINT OF VIEW.

3. I AM AN AMERICAN, BUT I ALSO RESIDE TEMPORARILY IN BRAZIL, WHERE I HAVE PERMANENT RESIDENCY. I AM DOWN HERE NOT NECESSARILY BY CHOICE, BUT BECAUSE MY WIFE IS A DOCTOR DOWN HERE WITH A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE. I SPEND HALF THE YEAR IN BRAZIL, HALF IN AMERICA. IT WORKS. BUT I KNOW BRAZIL INSIDE AND OUT AND MOST OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ARE DOWN HERE. I LOVE BRAZIL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS A COUNTRY IN WHICH ONE CAN FRANKLY DISCUSS PROBLEMS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. I AM AN EXPORT CONSULTANT FOR, AMONG OTHER PRIVATE EN IES, THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT. IN MY LINE OF WORK AND ALSO BEING INVOLVED IN TWO MAJOR CHARITIES FOR UNDERPRIVELEGED CHILDREN IN BRAZIL, I KNOW THE PROS AND CONS OF LIVING DOWN HERE. THE PROS FAR OUTWEIGH THE CONS, BUT AMONG THE CONS, PERSONAL "SAFETY" ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS THE BIG ONE. NO, YOU DON'T LIVE YOUR LIFE THINKING SOMEBODY IS GOING TO ASSAULT YOU. BUT IT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHEN YOU WALK AT NIGHT, PULL INTO YOUR GARAGE, WHEN YOU GO MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH SOME FRIENDS AND HAVE TO HAUL ASS BACK TO THE CITY AT DUSK SO THAT YOU WON'T POSSIBLY GET ROBBED ON THE CITY PERIPHERY. THAT'S JUST REALITY, NOT AN INSULT TO ONE'S NATIONAL IDEN Y.

Again, sorry for offending anyone! Now you guys know me and my angle on things.

LOL! I love this guy! hahaha no need for an apology my friend, everyone has an off day. Personally I didn't think you offended anyone that bad as to need to make such an apology, but then again I could be wrong. Either way, I share your sentiments, I too have awesome Brazilian friends, they are the most upbeat people I know! Its just a joy to be around them.

[GrandeDavid]

Hmmm I don't think u could criticize Brazil the way u r doing here live...Even if u live and have family there. Brazilians are way more nationalist than any other ppl except from Americans. They have a huge country and live their lives intra muros.
U can't even say "Maradona>Pelé" without getting "unhappy" looks directed at u.
And Americans r having a tough time with these new reciprocity policies (I see it all the time at airports).
I sure think u can hear Brazilians and moan about their country but I seriouly doubt they'll accept happily whatever a foreigner like u could say about their land

Athenea, think what you will, but if I may, I'd like to give my take on your latest comments.

1. Um, yes I would and do discuss openly social issues in Brazil, especially since I'm directly involved in trying to humbly pull my weight in IMPROVING them.

2. You fail to realize that I am not some American tourist down here. I live here. I breathe here. I give blood, sweat and tears here. I am respected down here. I speak Portuguese as fluently and with as Brazilian an accent as I do American English.

3.And if/when, which is very rare, somebody in Brazil does/were to say something rambling and lacking in substance about American society, I would check his ass. JUST AS I'D DO TO AN AMERICAN CRACKING ON BRAZIL OR ARGENTINA JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DOING SO. The original post I attacked did just that. Then people like you chimed in, wanting to barrel your chest out in defense of something which does not exists- animosity toward your country. At least with me it does not.

4. Obviously you know nothing whatsoever about American-Brazilian relations based on the comment you just made. Perhaps you should stick to YOUR own knowledge arena, whatever that may be.

5. Regarding the "Maradona>Pele" comment you made, that has to do with soccer. I am too kind of a person to talk such yang about other countries' icons in the first place. But for the record, and you know this, the greatest soccer player of all time is Pele.

[WalterBenitez]

WAY WAY WAY OFF!! I lived in Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina, and the safest is Chile right now because of their economic situation.

Jesus you defeated me ... I lived only in ARG, BRA

What do you do?

CHile yeah ... it is the safest place ... ARG well you know after crisis the things went down, BRA I lived I was worried, but never happened sth to me ...

[GrandeDavid]

I'm going to Santiago in October after I get back from the U.S. Should have some very nice running weather for me that time of year!

[GrandeDavid]

By the way, I'm finally getting my post count up! Guess I'm no longer a "Pass-First Guard".

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Regarding the "Maradona>Pele" comment you made, that has to do with soccer. I am too kind of a person to talk such yang about other countries' icons in the first place. But for the record, and you know this, the greatest soccer player of all time is Pele.

man... and I had such high hopes for you! LOL you were doing fine up until that whole "pele is the greatest" thing. Correct if I'm wrong but didn't FIFA give Pele AND Maradona the le of greatest players in history? Either way it boils down to preference. Personally I think Maradona was better, but I'm biased! This is a friendly comment, not to be misconstruded as the beginning of yet another long ass discussion!