Is Rockport all that safe??

[rickyrod]

Here in Ark. an Okl. you are safer in public than at home. case@point. 95% of all violent atacks happen at home in our states anyway.so unless you plan on hooking up with some one from rockport and go home get them drunk and let them beat you up your SAFE. if youve ever talked to a violent person or mugger from lets say downtown Chicago. or Detroit or MEX City. they will all say the same thing. youn cant have a atacker without a victom. I watched a guy get robbed by a girl crack dealer in Chicago about 15 years ago. for some reason i wasnt worried one bit. A lot of it is what we do and react around people that make them do crazy stuff. Ginks daughter would be very safe byherself at the ledge unless she was asking for somthing, It's called inviting caos. And anymore you wont; meet a tru ruff neck biker who would kill you if you looked at them wrong, or gang bangers, just wana bees. the real heavy hitters are in plane site and you would never even know it.thats who you gotta look out for Ryan. just trien to help.Its all fun and games untill the coroner shows up.so safe YES very. the story I heard about the cop getting shot out there is that it mite have been self inflicted but rather everbody would rather say this place is no good. that story from the city mangr. but the story about the Malver hardware store hooker is tru. they got that story rite. but it's the oldest prof. so how you gona stop that.

[Jeremy M]

Here's my question. Why are some people letting Gink get them all fired up. Even if you're agreeing with him. He's just a TROLL. If you ignore them they will go away and eventually wind up on yahoo answers where they belong. Ryan's question was justified and answered. Why are we now letting this malcontent get us fired up?

Just my yuppie a**'s opinion. You know being a boat/river owner...what does that even mean? How do you kayak without a kayak.

[Jaytee]

Well, sorry if I stepped into apparently some history with which I was unfamiliar.

I didn't see any trolling, just an exchange of ideas. YMMV.

[Gink]

I'll have to remember -- no posts after midnight cuz' no tellin' what I might say -- diplomacy is not my forte' and I know even without ever meeting them that in my heart Ryan and his lady are as good as gold. Sorry for being overly defensive.

In align with the conversation -- My youngest daughter -- only 18 -- went to NYC last month with a friend of hers against my wishes -- but she has been saving her money for the past year, graduated with honors, etc. so I let lose the reins. On a tight budget they took a bus -- 30 hours each way -- and you can imagine the kinds of people you'll meet after 60 hours on the bus. When I asked her about her adventure she said something to the effect -- "you know Dad on a bus you meet the craziest people in the world and the nicest people you'd ever meet and you can't tell who is who" -- she went on to tell the story of the guy who look like he just stepped out of prison helping them with their luggage and sharing snacks and drinks with them and another guy practically in a business suit calling them "white trash rednecks" simply because they spoke with an accent and had 30 hours of "road grease" on them. Sadly we allow "first impressions" to dictate far too often our demeanor towards others.

And you be right Waterhog -- I do like "skanky", i.e. the act of looking cheap, dirty and nasty. Guess it be an acquired taste.

[Jeremy M]

Really? No trolling at all? I guess I'm just viewing through my yuppie eyes. My bad. Ill go club some baby seals now and judge people vehemently along the way.

[Gink]

Jeremy -- and after all the beer we have shared and business we have done over the years. Shame, shame.

[Louiscov]

Here's my question. Why are some people letting Gink get them all fired up. Even if you're agreeing with him. He's just a TROLL. If you ignore them they will go away and eventually wind up on yahoo answers where they belong. Ryan's question was justified and answered. Why are we now letting this malcontent get us fired up?

Just my yuppie a**'s opinion. You know being a boat/river owner...what does that even mean? How do you kayak without a kayak.

+ 1

Thanks, Jeremy. Ryan is a cool guy who asked a question about safety, a legitimate concern, and WHAMMO, lecture city!!

[Jeremy M]

Shame on me for disagreeing with your approach to "constructive criticism" on my day off, on a personal ACC account? I don't think I'll lose any sleep.

BTW....who are you? Why don't you demystify Gink for us all?

[waterhog]

i think dink still has his (skanky) panties in a wad from when i called him a for sayin he was gonna leave this board 40oz drinkin 8 year olds is bad no matter how you look at it and if that guy on the motorcycle drove on the sidewalk these are cause for concern but i told you guys rockport has always been rough its just more popular with all that concrete,tables,bath,ect

[panicman]

Who really cares anyway. Rockport is over rated.

[JTarver]

Ok, against my better judgment..I'm chimin in.

First, Ryan, Rockport is usually a really really safe, serene place. Occasionally however, bad elements show their faces, be those yuppy or scummy, or what have you. But overall, pretty safe. I never feel awkward or panicked there for my life.

I'll address a couple things I noticed.

1. If the kid was 8, and drinking..yea..that's bad. Illegal too. Poor parenting prevalence.
2. Biker Angel from hell or not, it isn't a parking lot. Leave the bike up top I say. I'd love to park my truck that close too, but its a walkway for all to enjoy. Bikers welcome however.
3. I'm sure I had a good third point, but it escapes me. Oh yea, Rockport is hardly overrated. Anyone who truly thinks that is themself..overrated. (I assumed it was a joke, but I'm online, no way to tell for sure). Either way, clean water all summer long ( in brutal heat no less ) is a gift, I don't care how big and awesome the features are, or aren't.

4. This is a horrible summer, and for those that can make it to the river..please do. For all you yuppies however, if you surf with a tie on, I reserve the right to attach it to my grab loops at will. Sorry, just how I roll.

Stay cool everyone, Ryan..hope to see you in our part of the world more. Keep lots of money in your wallet, you never know when I'll be sneaking about. lol


Peace.
Joe

[mgood]

Had to add onto this one more time.

I for one am greatly indebted to all paddlers, regardless of race or income, who spent "$1000" dollars (and probably much more) of their hard earned money in entering and pushing whitewater sports in Arkansas. It's because of them that we have better facilities at Rockport, this messageboard, and will one day have another playspot downstream. It's also because of them that the more remote microcreeks were and are continuing to be found, paddled, and enjoyed.

So, to get on a message board for paddlers, and then diss them doesn't add up to me. I agree that if Rockport is a public park, then everyone should be allowed to use it lawfully. But give the credit where it is due, and recognize who your audience is.

Simple truth- crime can happen anywhere, by anyone (I've got a friend who was shot in his own driveway by 4 total strangers for no reason whatsoever). So stop criticizing the man for being concerned about what happens around his wife.

I'm out of this one.

[Jaytee]

I am sorry for using the term "yuppie." It clearly pushed buttons that I did not intend. I sent a personal apology to Jeremy but I'll just add for the benefit of others...

I count myself in the yuppie white multi-boat demographic (although at 46, the "y" doesn't apply so much). I'm a refugee from the big city with only a coupla years in the ACC and unless you've taught me at rec or whitewater school most of you don't even know me. And clearly, I don't know (or misjudged) a dynamic here on the board. I didn't mean to say much more than "vive le difference" or whatever and clearly pissed some folks off.

[rickyrod]

Cowper where you joking?? cus I don't feel that way even at dawn.or later . it must be cus i'm the same or worse than the ruffiens that scare everybody.(just joken coop). the reason i ask is my daughters love it there. (9) and (12). the only time I was glad they wen't there with me was when the boy's on the fourwheeler tumbled down the hill. Should I not take the kiddos to rockport? or leave early. or like any other place we shoud always be carfull,ie;mall,rest stops,martin luther king ave.work. cus I see ruffer peeps at my work. than i have in all ark.

[the wiz]

once i got off the river and saw viser talking to my wife...now that was scary.