America's Friendliest Hometown? I'm Beginning to Have My Doubts.
 

Before I start my rant, let me first say that overall, I love living here. The large majority of the people we have met have been wonderful and we thoroghly enjoy all that TV has to offer. That being said, there have been a couple of incidents in less than a week that not only worry me from a safety perspective, but from a "friendliness" perspective as well.

I posted this in another thread less than a week ago:

"...My wife and I were driving our street legal cart on El Camino Real during the day. A small car got right up on our tail and followed so closely I was seriously concerned for our safety. After tailgating for about 1/2 mile, the driver zipped in front of us and purposely cut us off (and then slowed down) to the point that I had to swerve slightly off the road to avoid a collision. Once I got back on the road I saw that the same driver was stuck at the light at Camino Real and Bottelo, turning into our Village! I sped up and followed the driver to her home. I really wasn't looking for an incident or confrontation, but my wife wanted to tell the driver that she almost caused a serious accident. My wife was very nice about it (much nicer than I would have been) and the woman's response was "you shouldn't be on the road with your golf cart." My wife said "our cart is street legal and that we were legally allowed to drive on the street." The woman said, "I don't see any seat belts," at which point my wife and I both showed her we were wearing our seatbelts. At this point my wife finally told her that she was a danger on the road. The woman then called my wife an idiot and closed her garage door. Sometimes I question the whole "America's Friendliest Hometown" thing, as this woman was not only a menace on the road, but also a rude and nasty human being. A simple apology would have been more than enough, but instead she felt it necessary to justify her crazy driving. I am not going to sweat it as i am a big believer in karma."

So, some time has passed. My wife got into her GEM this morning to meet me at the gym. When leaving our village (Alhambra) and turning on to El Camino Real, a woman in a car passed her, purposely cut her off, and then honked at her (the sad part was that this was a neighbor from three doors down the street). My wife got to the gym almost in tears and shaking like a leaf (she was that scared). I calmed her down and we did our workout. Mt wife decided to have a chat with the neighbor when she returned from the gym. Luckily the neighbor was home and in her front yard. My wife pulled up in her GEM and asked her if she realized that she had cut my wife off (she really wanted to be diplomatic at this point). The neighbor replied that she knew and she was voicing her displeasure at my wife having her vehicle driving on the street. My wife explained that it was street legal, that we pay for insurance, taxes and a tag just like she did and were entitled to drive on the road (and remember, Camino Real has two lanes-one for passing). The woman said that she was just showing her displeasure by cutting her off and honking her horn. She also said she will continue to do this as long as my wife's GEM is on the road

I drive on TV's roads every day in my car and frequently encounter street legal carts on the road. I observe signs all over TV that say "Share The Road" and I have never felt the need to honk, cut off, or threaten these drivers. I happily share the road. Obviously our neighbor has somewhere to be in a hurry and needs a lesson in manners. Now this neighbor will have to deal with the police, as my wife considers the woman's response as a threat.

Holy crap Cappy Jon. You and your wife need a group hug cause that ain't the way it is here in paradise. Ignorant people all over the world and it sounds like you just happened to hit two of them in a short period of time. We've been here 2 years and haven't found them at all.
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Good call on getting the police involved. The threat is not only aimed at your wife, but every GEM, and most likely all street legals, on the road.

http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/grouphugg.gif

i hope that your wife does contact the police and that an officer is sent to the homes of each of the women for a short discussion on the rules of the road! i would probably spend the $ to have restraining orders placed on each of the women, too! - just for effect!

sorry that had to happen.

You are bound to find idiots anywhere. Are friendliest hometown cannot keep them out..........so you found a couple.

Can't agree enough with bimmertl above. The "lady" is your neighbor but is also a very dangerous law-breaker on at least two counts. First, communicating a threat like that is called Assault and is punishable by a fine, confinement, etc. Second, It is a traffic offense which if not halted immediately will sooner or later lead to even more dangerous behavior which might even cause severe injury or death. The driver of that vehicle might even decide to "teach someone a lesson" and learn that the other driver is packing a concealed weapon who decides the lesson needs to go the other direction. We don't need that in our community. I know is would be very tough to call the police on this and there is little they can do not having observed the behavior but they need to be alerted to the fact that it is going on.

My wife did call the police (only on the second incident) and they just left. The officer was very understanding and did go to the neighbor's house to discuss it. Unfortunately the neighbor wasn't home, but the officer did say he would be back in the morning to speak with her. My feeling is that I just want there to be some type of report so if something happens down the road the police already know about the situation.

I'm more sad about this than anything else. I like living here and it makes me sad that a neighbor could be so rude.

Wow Cappy...so sorry that happened to you and your wife.
I've met a few folks that I wouldn't consider to be poster children for the Friendliest Home Town but not as abusive as the ones you encountered. Forget the 1 % and embrace the 99 %.
Since it happened both times in your cart, why not install a "street legal" plate on the rear of your cart. That way if someone's in a rush, they'll see it and maybe then they'll realize that they are in the wrong and must be speeding.
Hang in there...we'll be down next month. If we ever meet I'll buy you both a beer!

Cappy,

First let me say that I read your posts on TOTV and find you to be a very stable and logical poster therefore I haven't the least bit of doubt that what you said happened just like you said it did and I'm very sorry that your wife took that verbal assault not to mention the road rage she experienced from that crazy woman. My wife would have reacted the same way yours did and I would have to hold myself back as I'm sure you did. Try to remember that the aggressive woman is most likely a little touched in the head for thinking the way she does so I would steer clear (very clear) of her. Report the incident to the police and let them handle it.

Again, so sorry that you had to run into one of the very few bad examples of human beings we have here in TV. As Boggie Shooter said, people like this are everywhere not just TV. You and your lovely wife had the unfortunate luck to end up with one as your neighbor. Keep believing in Karma because the crazy lady will get what she is looking for eventually.

These people, and people like this, are going to ruin it for the rest of us law abiding, safe drivers, who are courteous to the rest of the people around us. It is a privilege to be able to drive our golf cart (on legal roads & pathways) and GEM Cars on the streets in the Villages. Where else, in the rest of the world can you do this. If we have enough incidents like this, with rude & dangerous jerks, they will take away our privileges. It is already hard to get golf cart insurance (especially for the snow birds) and the insurance will continue to go up with behavior like this. I just hope that the people in charge don't get to the point that they have had enough of stuff like this, and take away our privilege to drive the golf carts.

Jon,
Sorry you guys had to have such unpleasant and hazardous experiences.
There are many seniors, here and elsewhere, that appear chronically angry. I wonder if they are having trouble dealing with the aging process.

Is there a GOMS epidemic? Most of our experiences have been very pleasant, there are always exceptions.

it is very unfortunate that you ran into such a situation...even more unfornatuate was the rage came from a close neighbor. Road rage ..and this is what you experienced...occurs every day in cars, and you hear of fights or accidents as a result. Anything can set off "road rage" and its always best to avoid it if you can. But when you are in a car at least you have some protection or can roll up a window to stop a fight. You must realize that in a street legal golf cart..there is little or NO protection afforded the passengers against such crazies....and they are out there. It is your right to drive a properly licensed street legal golf cart on the (designated) roadways of florida, but you must prepare yourself for these idiots. Im sure your wife as you said, was "shaking like a leaf" after the incident and down right scared, and I hope he police had a serious discussion with your neighbor.

What I would be more freightened about is driving around in a street legal golf cart, and meeting up with an unintentional driver in a car or (worst yet) a truck who runs a light or stop sign. Bad result!!

:agree: I agree there are the small percentage of the people again that can not follow the rules, feel they are above the others, or feel they are "deserved" something. They fit in the (3) personailty traits I have seen here more than anywhere else. Self-Centered, Egotistical, or Selfish.. Sad, but hang in their Cappy, sometimes.. just smile, that way they don't know what you are thinking and it breaks the ice. Glad the wife and you are ok though

Driving a street legal.
 

Cappy,

I know from a previous thread awhile ago that you would not drive your street legal cart on a 35 MPH road if it has only one lane. ie. Morse blvd. in places. That makes such good sence. In any event, I've been on the fence as to getting a street legal and this incident has, I believe, finalized my decision.

Good for your wife calling the police.

About "America's Friendliest Home Town", its just a phrase the developer uses to market TV. You don't have to pass a test, show that you are friendly or a good person. You just need the $$$ and not have anyone younger than 19 live with you. (more than 30 days in a year) and you don't even have to have one person over 55.

Vigilantism is not pretty. Sounds like these women have watched too many Charles Bronson type movies or TV shows.

cappyjon and wife:

I am sad this happened to you and your wife. I would be peturbed about this incident. It was good thinking to report this person to the police.

My hope is their talk will do some good and you will not have to be concerned about this very rude and dangerous behavior from your neighbor.

Wishing you peace and happiness.

Cappyjon and Mrs Cappyjon, I do hope the outpouring of affection you read here will somehow help to offset the fear and anger caused by these people. I have experienced this situation with neighbors and know exactly how you feel. My only advice is to document everything. Who said and did what and when. Keep a diary. When the time comes, you will be prepared. You think you will remember these things, but you don't. Even better. If one of you has a little camera. Snap shots or movies are perfect.

But please don't let these mentally ill or just plain evil people get you down. For every one of those, there are thousands of people like me who would do whatever you need to keep you safe. Don't give up.

I have a major concern in reading the initial post. Do not confront an individual and please stress this to your wife. Think of this as any other place in this country. Call the police, report the driver, do whatever. Someone may react in a way that could put you or your wife in danger.

There are two sides to every story but as long you're obeying the law, doing the speed limit impeding traffic then you need to alert authorites..do it on the cell phone as the incident is occuring. I've had a reckless driver nabbed by a sheriff that way. Put the sheriffs dept in your cell, you should have it for other reasons but just protect yourselves.

Cappy I do feel these folks were out of line and having been a receipient of that type of behavior I can certainly empathize with you and your wife.


I believe the issue here is that (some) (many) villagers object to golf carts operating on roadways. Personally I ignore it.

However street legal golfcarts issue could be problematic.
Street legal are allowed to travel up to 30mph and since the cartpaths are 19.6mph does this vreate a dilemma?

Road rage is a world wide problem .

Finally IMHO people take this "Florida's Friendliest Hometown" motto too seriously. Its only a marketing gimmick

What is the rush use the golf cart lanes and problem will be solved.

I don't have time for my full rant but someday I'm going to write a book about the incidents I have seen here. I think it all has to do with overcrowding and some real nut-balls.
This is not the forum to say anything bad about this place or the developer. As I have expressed before, totv is for newbies and everybody licks the windshield when something is new. Plus they put a fortune in beautiful landscaping and everything looks so pretty.
But our friends have been here anyplace from 7 years to 20 years know better. The frienliness of this place has changed. We get together and we are all of one mind that this is no longer a friendly place. Most of us came from small towns and never saw the behavior we have seen here. All of us have seen fights, road rage, fighting over parking places, cutting in lines, etc. Ask anyone who works here how they are treated by many.
A new one is my wife's massage lady said that Villagers steal from the masseurs. She is 59 and said she never saw anything like it anyplace else. One reason is they want no bad press so they let this crap go on. Many masseurs have left and she said she will be next. Can you believe it? I've heard of the crappy tippers and the anger in all different places but to steal from your massage lady.
As I said many times, I live in a great neighborhood, in a beautiful house with great friends. I know there are very nice people in here but... I never got swore at until I moved here. Got the finger a few times too.
Many people are upset and/or have left or never bought. But this is the everything is wonderful forum for people who stay in their houses or don't live here full time or don't live here at all or are new. That's ok, I once thought this place was perfect too. And I still have great fun here.
OK done with the rant. Going down to seabreeze to try to fight my way onto machines at the overpriced exercise room. Laurel manor exercise room is closed.

Bottom line is I agree with cappyjon.

Lovesports, it would appear that we live in different worlds. I've lived here for over 4 years and have not had one of the experiences you expressed. I'm out all day driving in my car or cart and I do see some rediculous people letting young children drive carts but as for getting the finger or being cursed at. No way!!! All my life I've heard rants about the wealthy robbing the poor, it would appear that it's a way of life for some people to feel victimized.
I've lived in several states and many cities and find TV to be a very comfortable, safe and beautiful enviornment. The reason I chose to respond to your post is that it was so negative that I actually felt bad that you are having such bitter feelings about your home town. That's my rant for today.

great Idea and good information..cop told me once, call us first, dont confront anyone ,you never know what they will do.

So, a street-legal cart should not be used on the street? A use for which it has been registered and insured, not to mention legal? Is that what you mean?

Your point well taken but " dealing with the aging process" does not give someone the right to act like a jerk ( I have better discriptions) I sit here and read this stuff and just cant believe these actions go on.

Is there no place to report an inappropriate post??

Another poster was correct: Do not confront the OFFENDER yourself, but call the police/sheriff while this loose cannon is still moving on wheels or pulling into her driveway. Chances are, she is DRUNK.

Talk to any prosecutor and they'll tell you how much alcohol intensifies RAGE and violence in confrontations and arguments and situations like that crazed woman deciding to police you!

And on the subject of "Florida's friendliest home town", my experience says that woman's treatment of others here is an aberration. We've never seen anyone here act like that but I have seen drivers scream with road rage in other places where we've lived.

Here, I have seen drunks yell at a bartender who cuts them off from more alcohol. Fortunately the bartenders have good backup from their bosses and the bartender prevails, at the bar anyway.

Just click on the little red triangle at the top right side of the post and it will open up a message box to the Moderator in which you can report a post.

i have no words for what happened i am hoping the officer that stop by her home in the morning explains how she could have injured your wife and make her think about what she has done

Cappyjohn, I'm sorry you had to experience this & I hope everything turns out well for you and Mrs. Cappyjohn.

I still think this kind of aberrant behavior is caused by early onset dementia. Think about it... We have a large population of OLD people (I'm including myself in the 'old' description). We would naturally have a higher concentration of dementia, depression & Alzheimers. Aren't personality changes, especially anger, symptoms of those diseases?

I'm not suggesting that we should ignore this kind of behavior, but maybe these folks started out friendly?
Just my 2 cents.

Definitely a good idea that you did contact the police so in case it happens again.

Hi Cappyjon,

Count me in on the group hug for you and your wife.

Here's a riddle:
Q: Why would a person who doesn't want golf carts on the roads move to a golf cart community?
A: Beats me.

:gc:

agree with uuJudy
 

Not to offend anyone but I am a Cardiology nurse (up North). Our patients are overwhelmingly Senior Citizens and many many are irrational and angry. Now mind you, most don't feel well, so we cut them some slack, but I would guess that there are more than a few in TV with health issues that affect how they behave and cause personality changes.

I find the tolerance for street legal carts has increased considerably over that last 3 years. At least in the areas south of 466. I've also found it safer to have a 'street legal' plate on the front of the cart as well so people don't pull out in front of you when you go straight through a gate and they assume you will be turning onto a cart path.

I just wanted to say thank you for all the supportive and warm hearted responses. I promise to keep everyone informed if we hear back from the police.

Golf cart incident
 

I observed an incident between two golf carts--one conventional and one street legal--at the Belvedere gate, one of several "multi-modal" gates in TV where there is a golf cart lane next to the car road. There is no merging there as we see at many of the gates, just two lanes. The gate arm stops only cars; the golf carts in the golf cart lane just drive through.

The street legal cart had stopped behind the gate and the driver used his gate card to open the gate. The cart in the golf cart lane just breezed through. At that moment the driver of the street legal cart suddenly shifted into the golf cart lane, physically forcing the other driver into Hialeah Villas. Both men jumped out of their carts and came at each other, the driver of the street legal cart screaming at the other man, "I have a street legal cart, and I have a RIGHT to be in whatever lane I want!"

I'm not familiar with the laws governing street legal carts. I would not only never own one, I would never be a passenger in one! I was shocked by the arrogance on the part of the driver of the street legal cart and wondered how many other drivers of this kind of vehicle feel "the power" (at least among golf carts) and share that attitude?

This is precisely why we continue to drive on the street and try to avoid driving in the golf cart lanes. Because our GEM does 26 mph and most golf carts are limited to 19 mph, we do not want to be threatening to the slower carts.

The only time I EVER drive in a cart lane is when I drive on Morse north of 466 where there is only one lane available. I don't like driving in the street there because there is no passing lane available and I don't want to be going down the road at 26 mph when the posted speed limit is 30 mph (that really might trigger some road rage!).

Hey Cappy, i just read in another post that they make behavioral shirts for dogs. Maybe get one for your neighbor:1rotfl:

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Thundershirt-Behavior-Modification-Shirt-Dogs/dp/B007CMHYVM/[/ame] click here

I agree also. I have been tailgated and cut off several times doing the legal speed limit in our car. Driver she had a handicap sticker hanging off the rear view mirror going like scatt.

I recently hired a well know landscaper and had a few simple questions was concerned over a part of the job. Drove out to his nursery for help.

That ended up with the owner screaming at me and my wife as if he was God of the Villages with his ego and infered reputation being challenged. HOW DARE we ask a question! Heaven forbid!

Yelled at by ladies in their cart for me daring to be on the multi use paths on a " GASP" Mt Bike.

Was talking to a repair tech doing warranty on our home today. Seems there are more than less who have the resources to pack up and get outta the " Friendly Town"

And yes forget the over priced crowded and under equipped gyms. I went to bike riding for aerobics and working out at home.

Cappy your Gem is Street Legal bottom line. The others were rude and wrong for that kind of agression.

I wonder how many more out there are wondering did we do the right thing moving here. Something about Koolaide?:shrug: Maybe the close neighborhoods stress whatever?

I wake up ever morning hoping it gets better.