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Jerry and Chris,
I realize Hawaii isn't the place for everyone, but Chris's post are consistent: no matter what the subject of the thread, as long as the topic is about a problem or issue in Puna or Hawaii, he interjects with a version of "it really sucks here, why would any of you want to live here?" I have no issue with constructive criticism, but the constant mean spirited whining and denigration of a place I consider my home has gotten old. That is why I asked why Chris was in a place he hates so much? I carefully didn't say "Love it or leave it" I just asked why he was here? Question answered. I hope for Chris' sake his friend's issue is resolved soon and he never has to come back. Living in a place you can't find anything positive about is bad for your physical and mental health and makes people grumpy.
I spent six months living in a country which I found to be clannish and unfriendly, with terrible food and climate, a truly bleak landscape, and a culture I had trouble relating to, but I didn't go around telling a bunch of strangers how much I thought their home sucked! It wouldn't have endeared me to the people who lived there and loved it, and it would have just made me look like a typical ugly American. I kept my mouth shut around the locals, wrote whining letters home to friends, did my six months and got out. Now I realize that my attitude probably kept me from having a better experience, I failed to appreciate the good about the place because all I was focused on was the bad.
This thread was about humans failing to step up and do the right thing by a defenseless animal in distress, so I will not derail it more by listing why I choose to live here.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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And since I also threatened to derail the topic, I'll also offer one parting comment. There are positives and negatives about any place one might live (by choice or otherwise). People who grow up in some of the most desolate, god-forsaken places can't imagine leaving because "it's home." As for Puna, yes, Chris, all of the things you mention do exist here. But we also see flowers, rainbows and other spectacular beauty almost everwhere we look. There are many caring, wonderful people here (witness this thread about folks caring for a stray cat, or my experience when a stranger returned a notebook I had left in a WalMart shopping cart - a notebook that <I admit foolishly> contained the passwords to many sensitive accounts). I don't wake up to daily news reports of murders like I did in DC - here if there is a murder, it's really news! The bottom line is, I guess, that life is what you make it. I think the disconnect that Carol and I feel about your comments is that those of us who choose to live here see and acknowledge the good and bad about Puna, and have decided that for us, the positives far outweigh the negatives. But in your posts, you can't seem to acknowledge any positives, and question why any of can.
I don't think our attitude was "love it or leave it" - but more a genuine questioning of why you would want to stay someplace that you clearly don't like. You answered that question. You're clearly a kind hearted, special person and true friend as shown by your devotion in helping your friend - especially since it involves trips to a place that's not your cup of tea. I hope your friend's situation improves ASAP and that you find happiness and contentment wherever you end up. By the way - have you thought about adopting a cat??? 
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I was just being honest. It is not that I like upsetting people, it is that I does not bother me that people get upset. Part of making something better is to criticize. Keeping our mouth shut is safe and comfortable, but does nothing for the betterment of society. We ended wars by criticizing them.
I tried to enjoy the beautiful landscape, but I keep seeing piles of dumped trash. I keep trying to enjoy the people, but I keep hearing about dumped animals. I keep trying to enjoy the small town of Pahoa but all I see are drugs and now some fast food restaurants. I keep trying to enjoy the people but they call me haole when they drive by me walking on the road.
I do not live here, all I can do is point these out from an outside perspective. You can live in it if you want, in a little imagined bubble, but as a friend I thought I would try popping it, and maybe it would become better for my friends who are stuck here.
You should be apologizing to the visitors that you have made a home that is such a mess instead of telling them that they are free to leave. I see a great potential for this place, and I love you all, really.
chris,
it is not that your opinion isn't welcome if it's on topic. As far as I'm concerned, please feel free to start your own topic stating you don't understand why people want to live here and the problems you see, and invite productive discussion. However, to interject the same statement on different unrelated topics is poor netiquette. This topic is about an abandoned kitten, NOT the merits of living here or not, and you derailed it, and that isn't cool, and you got called on it. Is that hard to understand?
You may mean well, but your approach is the same as what a troll would use. I don't think you mean to act like a troll, but it's coming off that way.
>>> You should be apologizing to the visitors that you have made a home that is such a mess
Who are you talking to as 'you" who have made such a mess? The posters on Punaweb are not the same people making the mess.
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Chris,
I admit I'm perpetuating the derailment of the dumped kitten topic, but it's an intriguing question. Why do we love a place that has such flaws (crime, trash, drugs, underfunded schools, racism, etc).It's truly a heart thing. This place called Hawai'i, Big Island,can grab your heart and you're a goner. At least I am. It obviously doesn't affect everyone the same way. I come from a small town in Oregon which, like most places in the US, has all of the above problems, although perhaps not as blatant. But what it doesn't have is the magic and beauty and aloha that the islands are all about, in spite of their issues. We punatics have our eyes open and see all the problems but... the big but... no lists or justifications can completely explain the logic or illogic of our love for this island. It's a heart thing.
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It's truly sad seeing animals like that. I have four rescued cats which bring some joy to my life. Including one that's handicapped from being hit by a car, but still is a little trooper. It's one of those things where I wish I could take care of more, but can not realistically do so. I could never think of abandoning them.
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Looks like we have a "Can't see the forest because of all the trees" thing here.
One of the reasons *I* want to live on Hawaii is right here staring you in the face. Look at this thread: Someone sees an animal in distress and decides to do something about instead of walking by. The people that "walk by" are the problem. The people that stop and do something are the solution.
chrisb, which one are you?
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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chrisb483,
people move here for 2 reasons
1. they are from hawaii, with family on this island and need a cheap place to live, since the rest of the state is a lot more expensive than puna
2. they are from some other place and want to live in some imagined bubble universe of "living with the earth" etc etc....
quote:
Originally posted by chrisb483
Again, I do not know why people would want to move here.
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808, I think that your list of two reasons is extremely narrow.... more thought and empathy might produce more reasons.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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3. For the weather and affordable real estate
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