Next bad news

Why did you post this on the Thorn Tree?

Am I suppose to avoid the San Pedro Mall because some goof got a gun a shot it off? This stuff happens all over the world, and I'm not hiding out.

Ditto

same here.....ditto

never a shortage of alarmist

here here Scoot,. I've been robbed at gunpoint in the States, I've been robbed more than once in Costa Rica. I refuse to let some low life steal my dream, whether that is in the States or in CR.

One, two , three don't agree. Ok I'll try to explain in my uncouth english. Correct me when I suppose that thorn tree not means heal world. Sure I know on many places of this planet gun fire is part of the life. But not so in Costa Rica, Costa Rica is a bit different and I think it's worth to talk about, also on this board. A long time Costa Rica was a place of non violence, but it seems it change it's face, robbery, murderous, envy and avarice take place and increase in this country, for some normal - very sad for me. This occurrence in the Mall remembered me on my former neighbourhood. The costarican family lived in peace for many years, the land were given from generation to generation , but last year something changed, a foreigner made an offer for a piece of the property, which was 50 times more what parts of the family expected. The result is enmity and by a hairs breadth there were the same situation like in the mall. I think investment and tourismn are not only prosperous for this country, price for food and daily life increase, but for most that's it, the income stay on the same level. Don't forget when you open your wallet the native behind you see your only a few hundert bucks , the costarican teacher work for the amout, you spend in a few days, a month, the grashacker perhaps two months to fill the mouthes of his family. Cellphone, palm, laptop, gps is it that, that tourists really need on their 6 days vacations ? All this things are target values and let become some local people more and more criminal. You say no problem insurance will pay. Sure but this attitude gives roober the feeling this time luck next time luck. Please leave values you don't really need at home. I love Costa Rica and I don't want live and I think you don't want spend your holidays in a criminal country.
Saludos
costaklaus

Sorry Spin my late response I'm in europe and after my post it was time to sleep.

Costa Rica really is no different than most countries when it comes to violence. The incedents are just on a smaller scale. It sounds like you are living in the past. Yes, it's sad that things have changed here and everywhere. I grew up in a small midwest town that as kids we would leave the house in the morning and many times not come home until dinner time. Parents can't let their kids do that anymore. There are many factors that can be debated on why it is this way now, but lecturing all of us on how things used to be doesn't really substantiate anything. You simplify it down to an "us versus them" problem and the real problem is a lack of values being passed on. I agree that it is a little rediculous when people bring the laptop and blackberries on a one week vacation. The bottom line is though, they have the right to do it and yes it might put them at a higher level of risk. That too is thier choice. Please stop blaming the victim.

Klaus - I can understand how the changes you have witnessed in Costa Rica may make you feel uncomfortable, but I do not believe that this forum is a place awfulizing and attitudinal exaggerations.

Writing about the sometimes poor conditions of the roadways in certain parts of Costa Rica is more appropriate than raising concerns about a shot fired in the San Pedro Mall. Road conditions can be addressed, but we can't do anything about a goof-ball with a gun at the Mall no matter how strongly we feel about safety.

The shooting incident is an extreme that we can not do anything about even if is is terrible, horrible, or dreadful. We ought to be able to be safe where ever we are in this world, but realistically we know we must be on guard everywhere.

I only asked the question because it seemed so uncharacteristic from your usual postings.

Enjoy your vacation!

I don't think that Costaklaus was being an alarmist. He was just posting about an interesting incident in Costa Rica. Many people here post about incidents and trends in Central America.

Lee

lighten up everybody. this is supposed to be a place where people air their differences with respect, not just bad-mouth someone for a post. why not politely suggest how the post could have been handled differently and actually improve communication between posters and readers - or even modify the flavor of the post with something like:

well klaus, that's really a sad story, especially when we all know that costa rica is still much safer than most other tourist destinations. we all hope that the slow growth of crime in this place is curbed by sensible government decisions.

it's not just crime that's increasing it's also a lack of consideration for others. both need to be curbed.