Talk of The Villages Florida - Here we go again

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- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - Here we go again (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/here-we-go-again-336047/)

It was cleverly done, and that is NOT a point in that video's favor.

My wife and I watched it last night and had a good talk afterwards about our feelings on it. Mine can be summed up in two words: class envy. To me the underlying theme was that TV and "the bubble" were somehow unnatural; that its very existence harmed society in some vague, ill-defined way. The fact that Villagers had both money and power which (indirectly suggested by the video) is used in the wrong ways thus also harming society. That unctuous, self-important reporter from the Orlando Sentinel was obviously biased and the film makers apparently bought into that; their agendae did not appear to be that different.

Apart from all that though is the fact that this video was A) designed to be seen by a lot of people, and B) making a lot of money for those Austrian filmmakers thereby. Some feelgood slop about baking socials and board-game nights certainly would not have done that.

I watched some of it so far and can point out some things that our fellow residents got wrong.
The plastic surgery lady said there's no bugs here period, and she insinuated they must spray every night. Come out dusk and the skeeters are there along with the multitude of insects crawling outside the houses. Then there was the couple that were discussing water usage. Did he say they run their irrigation 2 hours a night ? Where did they find these people? The only guy who made sense was the Ohio State guy. I'll watch the rest and dive into the whole big bad Villages ruining things around Wildwood.

Here we go again

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wing-nut2 (Post 2148253)

Get you snack & your drink and get ready for another Villages story,

Golf, Booze, & Guns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp0nqJ1yrrg

Another negative slant on TV ... yawn ! It's unfortunate that non-Villagers, who watch this 'film', must have a poor image of TV and the residents. Unless you live here, you cannot speak with facts. That doesn't stop some idiot from Orlando running her mouth.

Nice, professionally produced synthesis of the film by a Villager.

https://youtu.be/jNO3XXD6rfI

I finally watched it until I got to the interview at the middle point of the total video.
It was better than the other one that had the guy living in a van. I was underwhelmed by interviews of the residents living outside of the Villages, when they complained about the Villages taking over their land and water. Heck, no one is being forced to sell their property as far as I know. And look at the revenue and employment that the Villages brought with it. They complain, but do they realize that the indigenous natives of this state were gathered up and moved out West somewhere before their families settled here? I say "get over it." Otherwise, the documentary was not bad. Before having empathy for the locals, one might want to consider that the Villages is not the only gated, senior living community in Florida. Del Webb is another expansive developer and there are many more in Florida as well as other areas in the U.S.A.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 2149771)

I had the same thought. I felt more empathy for the African-American lady whose living area was being hemmed in on all sides by TV, with people playing golf a few yards from her familial cemetery. They've gotten the short end of the stick from Day One. If what she says is true about being told that she can't add on to her single-wide, because of zoning, while she sees all of that building going on around her, I can see why she might think that's a tad unfair.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laker14 (Post 2149827)

I don't know where that lady lives, but it is true that TV surrounds the Cherry Lake Cemetery. The developer was able to buy that land legally. It wasn't clear where her single wide is. It certainly isn't in the cemetery

Thanks for the link. I was wondering what had happened to that film, having heard about it
many months ago -- maybe more than a year ago. We will watch it sometime soon.

Boomer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Sacco (Post 2148682)

I was surprised at the Orlando Sentinel reporter’s take on there existing some dark purpose to the developers motives. If you to want publish a newspaper extolling the benefits of your community it is your right; we are not forced to buy. It was also disappointing that they spent five years developing this film and didn’t see fit to note the charitable good The Villages does for surrounding community. I am sympathetic to those folks who feel displaced by the growth of The Villages but this development did not come by razing city blocks and displacing thousands but, more often than not, purchasing large tracts of unused farm land that was not to be purposed in the future. As to the water usage the villages has been recognized for its use of 8.5 million gallons per day of reclaimed water and the use of 5 million gallons per day of storm water, this was never mentioned. On the topic of ageism and the locating of like minded folks in the same community (Bubble) I’m not sure where they want people to live. As a widower with no children my block in a NY suburb had more to offer young and growing families than empty nesters. It also seems a little short sighted to assume that The Villages has some hold on drawing only conservative thinkers to its population. I moved here for affordability, beautiful surroundings, weather, kind people in and outside the community and the healthy lifestyle. I’m not swayed by political bias on either side, I’m more attracted to intelligent thought. In closing I have to say I’m not concerned with the developers success as it pertains to their financial rewards because, for me, they have created a meaningful and joyful life and I wish them only good.

........very well said