Stupid is as stupid does...
 

My friend and I went for a golf cart ride tonight and just before dusk stopped along the path on Buena Vista just south of Riley Grove (Arnold Palmer). We saw this man fishing. He had to step over the approx 4 foot high fence to get to the pond to fish.

As the alligator was approaching him I yelled to alert him about the gator in the water. His retort was "So what?" I read the bylaws and I can fish here". Another lady in a cart next to me then yelled at him, "Do you know how fast gators are?" and he once again ignored our requests to please move to our side of the fence.

As the gator was probably within 15 feet of the young man and swimming closer, my friend yelled, "If you don't move now we are calling The Villages Community Watch!" To our horror he casually told us he can fish wherever he wants to! By the time he finally moved that gator was within 5 feet of him!! (Notice he is talking on his cell phone the entire time.)

I couldn't believe how belligerent he was when we were only trying to help him stay safe!

That is a perfect "before" picture for a Darwin Award.

Like the saying goes ...You can't fix stupid."

We also saw him last night and agree that you can't fix stupid.

As the gator was probably within 15 feet of the young man and swimming closer, my friend yelled, "If you don't move now we are calling The Villages Community Watch!" To our horror he casually told us he can fish wherever he wants to! By the time he finally moved that gator was within 5 feet of him!! (Notice he is talking on his cell phone the entire time.)
Since he is so entitled maybe we should let him meet his natural fate in the food chain.

Oh great! Now you have the alligator mad at you. It was just looking for an easy meal but you went and warned it's prey.

Alligators have a good memory of people who try to thwart their lawful right to eat. It will be looking for you, so I suggest you do not turn your back on any body of water.

Is fishing allowed in that pond?

Village Community Development Districts

Unless it is on private property or has a "No Fishing" Sign. No fishing in Preserves.

No, it is on a golf course and is clearly stated that fishing on golf course ponds is not permitted.

:a20:

If you see this happen again and you are in a position to do so, try to take a picture of his face so when he goes missing or a body is recovered from the pond he can be identified.

We both must have yelled at the same guy; the wife and I were coming back from Glenview and watched a gator approaching the guy from the other side of him. Pretty much brushed us off the same way as you when I told him how close the gator was and how quick they are; didn't seem to like it when I told him only a stupid dumbs**t would let a gator get that close.

can only hope

Maybe the alligator follows the "catch and release" rules of the Villages....

Gators won't attack anything half as big as they are let alone a grown man. If it was a 10 foot gator he should have given him room but he looks small.I lived on a lake in tarpon springs and have seen many gators none of them were manhunters.Someone swimming might get a bite but not on the shore,during mating season maybe.This guy was most likely a floridan. If gators where as dangerous as you all think we wouldn't see one in the villages. They would all be shoes or suitcases.They ain't nothing compared to a water moccasin the most dangerous critter around here.They eat fish and live in the water and are very poisonous and aggressive.Good luck ball hawkers!

The guy is obviously no saint, but I don't think he was in any great danger. Sounds like a bit of an overreaction imo.

Definitely, call out to someone to warn him of impending danger! An alligator swimming toward you qualifies, in most minds, as an impending danger.

A very loud "Hey, you", would suffice to get his attention and would also be more friendly than the one given - even if it did seem to fit the person illegally fishing.

I wonder how many native Floridians have been eaten by a gator?

We lived in Palm Harbor for nine years which is quite close to Lake Tarpon. A lot of it borders that Lake.

I gave gators the respect they deserved but was also always more scared of water moccasins. And we have those here the Villages.

I yelled a very friendly "Sir, there is a gator close to you!"

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Well it is pretty obvious from this post and the fact that the guy was not bothered by the presence of the gator that us Floridians do know something the rest of you do not know.

Why do people get angry when their UNSOLICITED advice is ignored?

Unless its a child in danger I learned to MYOB a long time ago.

:beer3:

:agree:

Some people just don't get it and never will. Sounded like an accident waiting to happen. IMHO

Wow, that’s awful. I’m 54, far from being a child, if you saw that I were about to cross the street with an on coming car you would not say anything? For the record, if saw you approaching a dangerous situation I WOULD say something, whether you wanted to hear it or not. I do hope your attitude is a rarity in TV.

really?
 

I think help can be offered in a constructive way without insulting someone and it is up to them to accept or ignore it. I, myself don't really worry too much anymore with this generation of younger people that won't listen anyway.

Perhaps you and I lived in a different area. I grew up in NYC and lived there many years and then moved to Long Island...

This is what I have experienced offering unsolicited help...

Flashed my lights to let another motorist know his headlights were not on...only to have him turn around with a gun in his hand

Honking my horn to let an elderly couple know that there was an oil fire under their car....to pull up next to them calling the police.

To tell a small child to not run out in the street while oblivious mom was looking into a store...then being told by the mom to mind my own business.

Sorry Mr 54 year old...if u dont know how to cross the street its not my isdue.