Is Rockport all that safe??

[Ryan Viser]

Maybe it's been discussed before, haven't been all that active on the board lately. But I have been to Rockport twice in the last few weeks and some of the things I've seen have been a little disturbing. It's not just the folks showing up that look like genetic experiments gone wrong anymore, yesterday there was a kid that looked to be about 8 with his family drinking a 40 oz. of Natty Lite, I'm not kidding!! Shortly before that a guy who looked like he was straight out of Hell's Angels pulls all the way down next to the wave on a chopper. A few hours later 3 ladies in skanky dresses and high heels come walking through from the boat ramp, stroll through casually up the stairs and leave, I'm thinking to myself "Are HOOKERS showing up now?!?!". That's just the worst that I saw, there was plenty of other things that were a cause for concern, including folks that my wife heard mention "He should be here w. that stuff any minute". I'm sure it's all good when there's paddlers around, but when it's just me and my wife there and that kind of stuff is going on, it kinda makes me wonder. I've probably forgotten more things that I saw than I remember....

[Cowper]

On the one hand, I hate that we're even having this conversation about a place so many of us have loved for so long.

On the other hand, you saw what you saw, you heard what you heard. If folks in Malvern happen to read this, and don't like what they're reading, they need talk to their city officers about the issue before it gets even worse.

Right now, I would compare how I feel about Rockport to how I feel about certain parts of downtown Little Rock. At lunch, or during special events when there are lots of folks around, it's a cool place to be. But most days, late in the day or in the evening, I wouldn't feel comfortable walking alone down those same streets. At Rockport, sad but true, I try to not be the last boater to leave.

[Lazer]

It was fun this evening: a few boaters, a few swimmers, a few watchers and all good!

[Gink]

You gotta remember that Rockport -- the centerpiece of a public city park -- isn't just for folks that can throw down $1000.00 or more for boat and gear and drive to all corners of the state on recreational pursuits. Malvern is a chiefly a blue collar city with a per capita income of $14,848 lying in a area that is mostly rural and -- without trying to reveal my own biases -- perhaps, a bit "uncultured" and "under educated". The town festival is "Brickfest" -- we're talking car and tractor shows and brick tossing not art shows and culinary programs. The three "ladies in skanky dresses and high heels" could very well have been wearing what they consider their Sunday best and their image of themselves may be far different than what you or I see -- in fact, it sounds somewhat like my teenage daughter and her friends -- hell, I've even been known to dress a bit skanky from time to time. And as for the "stuff" -- well I've paddled with folks from the ACC before and I have seen wacky weed and alcohol consumed quite frequently on the river, even other "stuff" -- thus, your point?

From your post I see nothing that involved you personally -- you weren't threatened, placed at risk, harmed in any way or even touched -- sounds like just another instance where someone has found themself in the midst a few people who have a very different value system and it's as much a critique of your biases and belief sytem as it is their behavior and appearance. If you have proof of criminal activity for which you have no tolerance then the appropriate steps are to call 911 -- rather than degrade and belittle folks who you don't know and who may have been totally innocent of all the crimes you have seemingly attributed to them.

Gotta go with Cowper on this one -- folks of a "different color" can be found anywhere and everywhere -- you can embrace the many facets and richness of humanity or you can thumb your nose at it but it ain't going to go away -- nor should it. It too be good.

Matthew 7:1, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged."

P.S. If what you saw at Rockport was a source of concern then stick around and I'll tell you of some Bossier City adventures that'll scare your skirt off. Statistically speaking you have about twice the odds of being assaulted in Bossier City than Malvern.

[mgood]

Yikes. Gink, I don't think Viser meant to offend anyone- he just saw some shifty behavior and wanted to know if anyone had experienced something like that before. I appreciate your desire to see the humanity in people, but I think you're reading a little too far into what he was saying.

Also, Bossier City isn't exactly an ideal example of a sketchy city. The crime is on my side of the river. Bossier freaks out about kids wearing their hats backward at the Boardwalk.

Gooosfraba.

[Ryan Viser]

Wow Gink, that's quite a masterpiece you just typed up! How long did that take you??? Too bad it's pretty much a complete inaccurate portrayal of me and how I look at things. I give people the benefit of the doubt and I'm definitely not one to judge. But I can't help it when I look up and all of a sudden I feel like I might not be 100% safe due to the appearances of strangers around me, you're absolutely right, I DON'T know them, and I'm usually pretty spot on in my assessment of whether a place feels safe or not. If it's just me out there that's one thing, but when my wife is with me, that's a completely different story. She's just beginning and Rockport is a great place for her to learn, therefore I envision we'll be spending a lot of time there, hence the inquiry. Maybe if it's such a safe place and the types of people we see there are so innocent and mere victims of my assumptions, then I'm sure you wouldn't mind dropping your daughter off for an evening swim there sometime. Yeah, let me know how that goes.....actually, you won't have to because I'll probably be reading about it in the paper.

[Gink]

Ryan - You are right I know nothing about you and thus cannot filter your words through any type of screen but simply take them at face value -- which to me suggest that girls dressed like skanks are whores, guys on motorcycles are violent gang menbers, people that talk about "stuff" are drug mules or users, so on and so on.

If all you wanted to know was "if Rockport was safe" that could be asked without dissin' a half dozen people who you admit you don't even know.

And hell yes you're going to be "spot on" in your assessments of whether a place feels safe or not -- they are your feelings! Obviously they weren't shared by the skanks, the gang member, the drug user or the family who had a kid drinking from a 40oz can. And I am pretty sure they wouldn't phase me or my children either -- for we've been in far more scarier surroundings than Rockport on a moonless night.

This is a pretty tough crowd and I've seen just about every race and class of people denigrated within this forum -- all I am trying to provide some balance -- for you never know: they may indeed be "innocent and mere victims of your assumptions".

P.S. I thought your post was pretty masterful as well. :)

P.S.S. Shreveport! Bless yer heart. Love you all!

[Gink]

And thanks -- the day has just started and I learned a new word: goosfraba. Kewl!! I will most certainly do so. Peace bros.

[hellbender]

What do you expect!Ya lay Bricks&Asphalt,It's 105*,and it's been running at 6.66http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=07359002 You all asked for this hell on our little peacefull play spot.The sportos,the motorheads,geeks,sluts,bloods,waistoids,dweebies,hickheads—They all adore it,They think it’s a righteous place.I've even started seeing Zombies and Trolls TOO! You People Suck!

[adavis]

Personal confession-I too, am still one to judge the book by its cover all too often. During rec school I was helping a severly injured person and waiting for the ambulance when a man approached-very thin,long hair and beard, lots of tats and he said" I'm and EMT can I help" My first thought was druggie and that quickly changed to angel in disguise!!.
While we should listen to our "fight or flight" feelings --we should be careful of judging too quickly.(2 cents worth). ann d.

[Lifejacket]

the family who had a kid drinking from a 40oz can

When did 40s start coming in cans and not bottles?

[rickyrod]

Gink your so rite, Ive spent mabee twenty or so nights at the ledge. and the only prob. I'v had is one old guy who thot he was better than everybody else and of the same opinions as Ryan, tell me youre; not supost to camp here!! That Ahole called the cops on me twice. the police did not care.matter of fact the officer told me that I and most people there keep bad $#it from going on. yeah a cop was shot there (or shot him self) but for the most part. it's the yakers who see it and have an opinion about what they don't like about a place that they think is just for them.it's not it's a public park.The skank in the dress was one of my exess.Ryan did it say dadyF#$ker on the front of the skanky dress.an you just mad cus the kid did'nt share his 40. some people dont play well with aholes. i know how the kid feels.the same could be said about other places.

[Jaytee]

I appreciate Gink's perspective on this one, reminding us that us white yuppies with $1000 gear don't own the rivers, that diverse folks who don't look, sound, or act like us might be there and it doesn't make them dangerous criminals.

Just a good reminder on a complex issue, seems to me.

[okieboater]

Ladies and Gents,

From Tulsa Okieland with 105 degree heat, no rain, lake water so hot it burns your face at roll practice and home of the once famous Down Town Tulsa Wave where we used to have fun while homeless street types watched us boat and cheered us on ------ I would be turning back flips if we had nice clean cool water and a fine series of play waves like Rockport has.

Give thanks that the city of Malvern has done what it has to make this fun spot a public park there for the public to enjoy.

Peace and Love to all.

[waterhog]

gink said hes been known to dress skanky himself from time to time- everyday we learn more and more about his character