"America Says" What do you think of when I say "The Villages"?

[Taltarzac725]

Really enjoy this Game Show Network program and the host is quite fun.

If they asked "What would you think of first if I said 'The Villages?"; what would be your responses?

[Taltarzac725]

These are what I think of first when asked about The Villages--

Golf.
Huge.
Florida.
Seniors.
Morse.
Alligator.
Polo.

[stan the man]

Happy hour

[Tunesmith]

I was wondering where "The Village People" came from...
But they seemed so young. Huh

[Garywt]

Many ask what they are and where they are so everyone does not know.

The others ask what color luffa we have.

[Taltarzac725]

America Says (https://www.gameshownetwork.com/america-says)

New season starts May 31, 2021.

[Velvet]

“Makes me happy!” Comes to mind first.

[rustyp]

Didn't we do this a couple days ago when the answers were:

Love bugs: cockroaches, fire ants, termites, palm rats, mating season for alligators, occasional black bears, sink holes, hurricanes, tornadoes, sand, flooding , dog poop, traffic, impact fees, golf course conditions, roundabouts, parking. Did I forget hot and humid ?

Drum roll - STD's

[Taltarzac725]

Didn't we do this a couple days ago when the answers were:

Love bugs: cockroaches, fire ants, termites, palm rats, mating season for alligators, occasional black bears, sink holes, hurricanes, tornadoes, sand, flooding , dog poop, traffic, impact fees, golf course conditions, roundabouts, parking. Did I forget hot and humid ?

Drum roll - STD's

That seems to describe almost every county in Florida with the addition of pythons in some.

Access Denied (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article247188724.html)

[Fenster]

Didn't we do this a couple days ago when the answers were:

Love bugs: cockroaches, fire ants, termites, palm rats, mating season for alligators, occasional black bears, sink holes, hurricanes, tornadoes, sand, flooding , dog poop, traffic, impact fees, golf course conditions, roundabouts, parking. Did I forget hot and humid ?

Drum roll - STD's


If that’s what you think of first, you should definitely move!

This place is great.

[MandoMan]

Really enjoy this Game Show Network program and the host is quite fun.

If they asked "What would you think of first if I said 'The Villages?"; what would be your responses?

Miles of manicured beauty and flowers. Making music and dancing to it. Safety. Friendly people (seasoned with plenty of cheerful curmudgeons like me). Food and drink. Everyone’s old! (Even me).

[joelfmi]

Didn't we do this a couple days ago when the answers were:

Love bugs: cockroaches, fire ants, termites, palm rats, mating season for alligators, occasional black bears, sink holes, hurricanes, tornadoes, sand, flooding , dog poop, traffic, impact fees, golf course conditions, roundabouts, parking. Did I forget hot and humid ?

Drum roll - STD's
That is what a lot of people people think but won't have the courage to say.

[giorgio1948]

Fortunate

[art32163]

Old is relative to one’s thinking

[rustyp]

If that’s what you think of first, you should definitely move!

This place is great.

I keep trying to but every time I attempt to escape this personnel alert device goes off and an aide comes and wheels me back inside.

[coconutmama]

Really enjoy this Game Show Network program and the host is quite fun.

If they asked "What would you think of first if I said 'The Villages?"; what would be your responses?

Golf

Golf cart fun

Nice landscaping

“Owe my soul to the company store” Developer control

Lightening storms

Huge, much more so than non-residents realize

Questionable reputation (politically, sexually & “entitled” mentality, especially to surrounding communities)

[Janhug123]

Fun!

[OhioBuckeye]

We’ve had several people come from another state & EVERYONE OF THEM said WOW when you said Villages I didn’t think it was going to be this big!

[Buckeye Bleau]

Here in Ohio, friends and acquaintances will ask where my home is in Florida and I reply The Villages.
Unofficially, 75% or so, will have some response similar to, “Oh, that place that is the STD capital of the world!”
Really, with the low cost of living, an abundance of activities and entertainment galore, that is the one thing you know, shameful snd a very negative thought process.

[MrFlorida]

Friendly people.

[Marvivo]

Fun

[Karen Fredritz]

Do you really live in the Villages?

[Velvet]

Are we talking about the environment? Which is neat and tidy (for the most part) and subtropical. Or the people who live here? The ones I met are FRIENDLY, helpful, and funny (for the most part). Don’t know about STD, neither did my parents who lived here 15 years or my uncle and aunt who lived here 30 plus years. Must be some kind of joke among the “it” crowd.
Main problems to me are hurricanes and traffic. Not a perfect place but it’s my happy place.

[La lamy]

Retirement paradise.

[larrycrilley@gmail.com]

Traffic??? Traffic??? I came from the most congested place in the US. The traffic here is a dream. Since I been here I have not once had to be at a complete stand still for more than enough time for the light to change. It used to take more than an hour to travel my 15 mile commute. This is a drivers paradise! I am sorry you see this place through such dark lenses,

[Taltarzac725]

I moved here to the Villages in 2005 when I was 46. That was in June.

Have met a lot of younger Villagers who took early retirement.

My 224 613 Project has had a lot of costs but also rewards. Pushing it on many librarians starting in 1989 or so did limit my opportunities. The law librarian convention was in Reno, Nevada in July or so of 1989 so it brought back a lot of memories related to my birthday of 2-24 and my teen and early 20s years in Reno, Nevada.

Just writing why I came to the Villages in 2005 from Palm Harbor, FL where I had also been working on getting the librarians in the Tampa Bay area evaluating their collections for people drawn unwillingly into the legal system like survivors/victims of crimes. Kind of shut a lot of doors there, too, but opened windows.

Back to this show. Loved many of the movies the host of America Says is in. John Michael Higgins - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Michael_Higgins)

I saw one of the Pitch Perfect movies he was in at a movie theater outside of Washington D.C. in 2015.
Pitch Perfect 2 - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_Perfect_2)

And the other ones here in the Villages.

I did not start using 613 in my work until after I started a 17 week study on stress on the unemployed conducted by the University of California, San Francisco Health Sciences Campus in late 1992-1993. I would put these two numbers 224 and 613 in much of the correspondence about the accessibility of practical information for survivors/victims of crimes.

[Taltarzac725]

John Michael Higgins - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Michael_Higgins)

I love it when the contestants start talking about some of his movies. Quite fun! And brings back A LOT of positive memories for me.

His movie about the dog show was hilarious. This is Best in Show from 2000.

[Taltarzac725]

Sorry, but I like to hear the reasoning behind an opinion. It’s easy to skip a post if you have no patience or any other reason.

The local Villages' area librarians have always been friendly and professional to me and the Villages Daily Sun did an article on my work in 2007 on Memorial Day. The journalist who wrote it wanted to see my files on the 224 613 Project but I just met him a few hours earlier and said "No". He moved a number of years ago but I would often see his wife at Doggie Doo Run Run. She was a very nice Asian American lady. They had a very friendly pooch named Boo Radley.

He did a lot of articles on local basketball history when he was at The Villages Daily Sun. He also was interested in The Groveland 4 and wrote a book on it.

He made the Villages look good. I even liked his multi-part article on Big Foot.

[Charsaunt]

We've all heard the STD references though the White Power one is new to me. Have never personally had any run in with either here. For those of you complaining about lack of diversity here, come up with solutions to something you perceive as a problem. Currently on our street a neighbor has a new wife from Thailand and she has been welcomed with open arms by everyone. We all admire her spunk in navigating all the pitfalls of the English language. If other Asian neighbors moved in they would also be welcomed. This goes for Black and any other race, creed, religion, whatever. They would be welcomed and invited to the driveway parties.

The fact that we are mostly White in The Villages does NOT mean we are racist!!! If other races choose to come here, we'd welcome them. The question now is how to attract them. When you encounter these racist remarks from outsiders to our community, defend The Villages. This is now your home! Tell them the truth - all are welcome. No crosses are ever burned on anyone's lawn.

If you don't believe in the good will of this place and if you won't defend it to those with no knowledge of how things work here then, honestly, why do you call The Villages home???

[gbs317]

Really enjoy this Game Show Network program and the host is quite fun.

If they asked "What would you think of first if I said 'The Villages?"; what would be your responses?

My home.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

When asked, I do feel a bit sheepish. A little embarrassed. Such negative press about STDs, the political displays that made national news, old people committing crimes I did not think the elderly were involved in, people using other peoples property for their dog excrement ,and not their own. I could go on, but I won't. Oh wait. The lack of diversity! We should be ashamed. Why do we only have people of color serve us , but so few live here. We are so lily white here its amazing. Certainly not a reflection of the real world. but ashamed , I don’t think so , people like to live where there comfortable , and that can encompass many different reasons and yes including a large majority of white people here from the start , but ashamed at what,there are no restrictions here and for all the so called faults of the family they would sell a home to anyone, There is plenty of past and present housing discrimination but here in villages not the case and I could make the case that a liberal lefty like me can feel more unwelcome . BUT I DON’T CARE LOL

[Robin Hardwick]

Blessed!

[th2142a]

Has anywhere replaced Katie Bells as "The Place to Meet

[D.Bolen]

We've all heard the STD references though the White Power one is new to me. Have never personally had any run in with either here. For those of you complaining about lack of diversity here, come up with solutions to something you perceive as a problem. Currently on our street a neighbor has a new wife from Thailand and she has been welcomed with open arms by everyone. We all admire her spunk in navigating all the pitfalls of the English language. If other Asian neighbors moved in they would also be welcomed. This goes for Black and any other race, creed, religion, whatever. They would be welcomed and invited to the driveway parties.

The fact that we are mostly White in The Villages does NOT mean we are racist!!! If other races choose to come here, we'd welcome them. The question now is how to attract them. When you encounter these racist remarks from outsiders to our community, defend The Villages. This is now your home! Tell them the truth - all are welcome. No crosses are ever burned on anyone's lawn.

If you don't believe in the good will of this place and if you won't defend it to those with no knowledge of how things work here then, honestly, why do you call The Villages home???

This negative and false label/stereotype has been promulgated due to a video clip that went viral last summer of one ignorant man putting up his fist during a pro-Trump golf cart parade and shouting "W__ P___." A number of Villagers (including others in the parade) posted on this site that they were furious that this person did something so stupid (a couple of comments posted on this thread show that its airing nationwide by some TV news outlets and on social media hasn't been forgotten and has resulted in reproach on the community itself in the minds of some) and that this mantra is truly not representative of the mindset of most "caucasian" people in The Villages or elsewhere.

[Tblue]

I just read most all of the comments about what people think when they hear The Villages. The comments that stand out to me is "white power" and "STDs". I don't know about the STD thing but if true then is says this group of older folks are not just sitting around waiting to die. Again for white power, I don't know about that, but will say I like not being a diverse community, we seem to be a community of mostly old white people and most seem to like it just fine.

[redheadbiker]

Thank you.

[golfing eagles]

I just read most all of the comments about what people think when they hear The Villages. The comments that stand out to me is "white power" and "STDs". I don't know about the STD thing but if true then is says this group of older folks are not just sitting around waiting to die. Again for white power, I don't know about that, but will say I like not being a diverse community, we seem to be a community of mostly old white people and most seem to like it just fine.

Well, it's easy to put the STD MYTH to bed (no pun intended:1rotfl:)

Location Gonorrhea cases (per 100K) Chlamydia (per 100K)

Florida 156 499

Sumter Co. 39 157

Baltimore, MD 4,231 7,636

So looks like the media has had more fun with us than we have had with each other
I believe this myth started with the book "Leisureville" and has persisted ever since

A far as "white power" goes, I haven't seen it, and I have no use for it. For the most part, I've found Villagers welcome all into our community.

[juddfl]

Disneyland for seniors!!!!

[Taltarzac725]

Disneyland for seniors!!!!

I have heard that one extremely often.

[Taltarzac725]

When that book Leisureville came out many people at the dog park I went to back then were reading it and disagreeing with just about everything in it.

I thumbed through the more factual parts and skipped the sections on the alleged bedroom antics in the Villages. They seemed to be in there to sell more books.

Well, it's easy to put the STD MYTH to bed (no pun intended:1rotfl:)

Location Gonorrhea cases (per 100K) Chlamydia (per 100K)

Florida 156 499

Sumter Co. 39 157

Baltimore, MD 4,231 7,636

So looks like the media has had more fun with us than we have had with each other
I believe this myth started with the book "Leisureville" and has persisted ever since

A far as "white power" goes, I haven't seen it, and I have no use for it. For the most part, I've found Villagers welcome all into our community.

[Taltarzac725]

Grove Atlantic (https://groveatlantic.com/book/pigeons/)

I did enjoy Andred Blechman's book about pigeons.

Cannot say I have seen many pigeons in the Villages though and very few Mr. Midnight types. A few here and there. One moved to Clearwater because he was not getting enough action. I could mean the pigeon here.

[Taltarzac725]

America Says | FULL EPISODE | Game Show Network - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJeEC43sHc)

In case you have not seen Ameica Says I found an episode on YouTube.

[Topspinmo]

Really enjoy this Game Show Network program and the host is quite fun.

If they asked "What would you think of first if I said 'The Villages?"; what would be your responses?

Depends on which side of the isle person on now days.

[PugMom]

omg! look how this thread has been corrupted! it began as a talk show subject & everybody & their cousin is doing their best to shut it down. YES! i like the show & the host. i've liked him since he was in 'Best in Show.'

[Topspinmo]

Didn't we do this a couple days ago when the answers were:

Love bugs: cockroaches, fire ants, termites, palm rats, mating season for alligators, occasional black bears, sink holes, hurricanes, tornadoes, sand, flooding , dog poop, traffic, impact fees, golf course conditions, roundabouts, parking. Did I forget hot and humid ?

Drum roll - STD's

You can add tomatoes 🍅 now. :duck:

[golfing eagles]

sadly, yes

Didn't this start as a word association game: The Villages------?

[Barborv]

I think of the Villages as living your best life ever in retirement. As far as the STD comments which I have also heard, I reply by telling these people that of course the cases will be higher when the amount of people are greater. A 1000 person community will have much less percentage of cases than a 150,000 person community. And what, no STD's in any city! And as far as the White Power comment, as stated before, some loud mouth, vulgar women screaming obscenities' wearing a BLM shirt was blocking the golf cart and this guy who said that comment , which he never should have, fed right into it. And yes, that was the only part the news reported. And as far as diversity, all are welcome. If other people of ethnicities don't buy here that makes us racists? There aren't many Jewish folks either, are the majority of the villages anti-Semitic? I'm so sick of the crap. People need to stop thinking of other people as different. The media is causing a lot of this. Enough said.
Go out there and HAVE FUN!!!!

[JMintzer]

IThere aren't many Jewish folks either, are the majority of the villages anti-Semitic?

There aren't? Ruh, Roh! Well, I know of two more recent transplants, and more than a few on our street... Here we come! ;)

[Boffin]

People on a reservation.

[Dennys37Packard]

My glass is half full.... it’s great here

[RDhot]

Overcrowded, traffic, riff raff crappy, cheap food

[tophcfa]

Who cares what America Says about the Villages. My wife and I love the place and that’s all we care about.

[Lakeside5012]

Opportunities every day in every way. Lucky me.

[Taltarzac725]

You Can't Have A School Cafeteria Without... | America Says | Game Show Network - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFeZO_b1HkE)

Here's a snippet of one episode of America Says.

And they have an online game too.

Games | America Says Game (https://steampunkd.gsntv.com/games/america-says-game)

[stanley]

Again, ONLY news because the leader of the US tweeted a video all over the world.

Again..proof and link