Local Convenience Store

[winterh]

Now if we could just put a sign like that at the NH border.

[winniwannabe]

Originally Posted by winterh

Now if we could just put a sign like that at the NH border.

I'm guessing that you mean Canadians. As a tourist every year to the
Granite State I think you should be a tad more receptive and welcoming to
out-of-staters who spend $$$ up there regardless of political slants. You
should also be a bit more grateful for those out-of-staters who own property
and pay their taxes like you. Close-minded thinking like that is why this country is where we're at right now. I'm looking forward to vacationing up north this summer!

[tis]

Originally Posted by winterh

Now if we could just put a sign like that at the NH border.

Too late. NH has been changed already.

[Seaplane Pilot]

Originally Posted by tis

Too late. NH has been changed already.

Yes it has, and certainly not for the better.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot

Yes it has, and certainly not for the better.

Everyone has their own point of view.
My father inlaw use to say, "the good old days weren't so good".

[winterh]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Everyone has their own point of view.
My father inlaw use to say, "the good old days weren't so good".

The expression that 'everyone has their own point of view' or is entitled to it is a nice thought and one I whole heartedly agree with but it is quickly going the way of a small family cabin on Winni. Todays left allows only one view and uses the power of the state to enforce it and crush anyone who dares to disagree. Thats where the store owners frustration comes from

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by winterh

The expression that 'everyone has their own point of view' or is entitled to it is a nice thought and one I whole heartedly agree with but it is quickly going the way of a small family cabin on Winni. Todays left allows only one view and uses the power of the state to enforce it and crush anyone who dares to disagree. Thats where the store owners frustration comes from

Like I said, " everyone has their own point of view".

[MotorHead]

Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot

Yes it has, and certainly not for the better.

Beg to differ.

[Seaplane Pilot]

Originally Posted by MotorHead

Beg to differ.

Beg away to your heart’s content. You have your opinion, I have mine.

[tummyman]

I have not been in the store, since we do not go in stores during the Covid issues. But I have bought gas there. From what I have been told, the owners are a husband/wife and are young, trying to make a go of things. They are hard working and even make great pizza. Before everyone goes off and makes a lot of assumptions and maybe hurts them and their business, it might be a good idea for someone to stop in and ask them about the sign. Maybe some assumptions are not true. Let's not call them "guilty" and ruin their hard work without fully understanding what the facts might be. This is a relatively new small business that should be encouraged, not discouraged unless there is solid reason. Sometimes the cancel culture of today can be very unfair. Just my opinion.....

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tummyman

I have not been in the store, since we do not go in stores during the Covid issues. But I have bought gas there. From what I have been told, the owners are a husband/wife and are young, trying to make a go of things. They are hard working and even make great pizza. Before everyone goes off and makes a lot of assumptions and maybe hurts them and their business, it might be a good idea for someone to stop in and ask them about the sign. Maybe some assumptions are not true. Let's not call them "guilty" and ruin their hard work without fully understanding what the facts might be. This is a relatively new small business that should be encouraged, not discouraged unless there is solid reason. Sometimes the cancel culture of today can be very unfair. Just my opinion.....

I guess I'm interested in what "assumptions" you think are being made. I mean, the sign's pretty clear.

Also, I'd love to know how they define socialism. If it's like most people, it would be incredibly ironic that they sell fuel for people to drive their cars on socialist roads patrolled by socialist police and responded to by socialist fire departments who have all been educated at socialist schools (by indoctrinating teachers, of course).

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[tummyman]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I guess I'm interested in what "assumptions" you think are being made. I mean, the sign's pretty clear.

Also, I'd love to know how they define socialism. If it's like most people, it would be incredibly ironic that they sell fuel for people to drive their cars on socialist roads patrolled by socialist police and responded to by socialist fire departments who have all been educated at socialist schools (by indoctrinating teachers, of course).

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Gee, looks like some assumptions to me. Maybe you can stop in and see what is really going on.

[Biggd]

Why should we have to go in and ask for an explanation? The confrontation is not worth it. There are too many businesses that are welcoming to everyone.
I was in business for 35 years and I would never hang such a sign on the door. Why would you want to alienate 50% of your customers?

Originally Posted by tummyman

Gee, looks like some assumptions to me. Maybe you can stop in and see what is really going on.

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[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by tummyman

Gee, looks like some assumptions to me. Maybe you can stop in and see what is really going on.

I'm serious, friend: what do you think can possibly be going on that the sign would be anything but obvious? How can "NO: RADICAL LEFT WINGERS COMMUNISTS OR SOCIALISTS ALLOWED WITHIN THIS STORE" be misread?

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[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I guess I'm interested in what "assumptions" you think are being made. I mean, the sign's pretty clear.

Also, I'd love to know how they define socialism. If it's like most people, it would be incredibly ironic that they sell fuel for people to drive their cars on socialist roads patrolled by socialist police and responded to by socialist fire departments who have all been educated at socialist schools (by indoctrinating teachers, of course).

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Yeah, the problem with a sign like that is, I might feel "left-ish" but extreme right folks might feel I'm far left if I'm even 1% left of the middle.

So I'd read that sign as, they might mean me and I'm not gonna "Touch that door handle" to ask.

As pointed out. If you want to run a public business, keep your political views down a notch. You certainly shouldn't feel you have to completely hide them. You might even have a sign that is right or left leaning on a up coming vote. And I don't think that would stop most people from entering. But a sign like that is just foolish.

[winterh]

I do not know the owner of the store but my guess is he has been serving "radical left wingers, commies and socialists" for years. He would probably continue to do so if they were willing to live and let live. The left has changed though and for them its not enough to just disagree, now they must crush anyone who isn't fully on board. This was his small way of saying "go to hell" to the people who want to use the power of govt, big tech and corporations to silence him. A bit over the top I agree but can't say I don't understand.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by winterh

I do not know the owner of the store but my guess is he has been serving "radical left wingers, commies and socialists" for years. He would probably continue to do so if they were willing to live and let live. The left has changed though and for them its not enough to just disagree, now they must crush anyone who isn't fully on board. This was his small way of saying "go to hell" to the people who want to use the power of govt, big tech and corporations to silence him. A bit over the top I agree but can't say I don't understand.

It's hypocritical for you to accuse the left of intolerance while defending an intolerant sign from the right.

Also, accusing the left of wanting to "crush" anyone who isn't fully onboard is kind of weird when it appears the same week that the right has censured Liz Cheney and Cindy McCain.

Those who believe themselves to be reasonable should be distancing themselves both from those who describe themselves as socialists (as in--the government should control the means of production) and those who demonize "socialists" (as in--good affordable healthcare should be available for all).

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by winterh

Now if we could just put a sign like that at the NH border.

This seems just as un-American as the sign at the store.
Saddens me to see this posted here as well as the folks that gave it Thanks.

Really?

I'll try to forget I saw it.

[MotorHead]

I bet some folks here would not object to “Whites Only” sign.

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by MotorHead

I bet some folks here would not object to “Whites Only” sign.

When I was young if a Left leaning candidate won, I was happy. If a right leaning candidate won, I was not happy, nor was I upset. I figured it was a good balance and the right would clean up anything to far to left and the left would clean anything to far to the right.

But I always hoped either candidate would turn into a good leader, period.

We all need to take a step back so we can get back to that place in the middle and have a beer by the side of the lake.

I don't think anyone likes the extremes.

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Please, everyone....let’s all take a deep breath and lighten up. If I had to guess, one of the comments that got people going is the one about the sign at the NH border. This is my interpretation, made as a non native who has owned property here for over 40 years: the natives resent outsiders coming into NH because they love its beauty and simplicity, and then trying to make their town into a replica of the one they left in MA, RI, CT, or wherever. I don’t blame the locals for resenting many of the attempts to change what already works. Not everyone wants sidewalks, street lights, traffic lights and macadam everywhere.

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

Please, everyone....let’s all take a deep breath and lighten up. If I had to guess, one of the comments that got people going is the one about the sign at the NH border. This is my interpretation, made as a non native who has owned property here for over 40 years: the natives resent outsiders coming into NH because they love its beauty and simplicity, and then trying to make their town into a replica of the one they left in MA, RI, CT, or wherever. I don’t blame the locals for resenting many of the attempts to change what already works. Not everyone wants sidewalks, street lights, traffic lights and macadam everywhere.

I don't doubt that happens but I doubt it happens that often. I'm also a non-native and owned for 35 years in NH and now work in NH and might retire in NH. The last thing I want is side walks and street lights.

In fact, the private road I was on, neighbors (some native) wanted it paved because because it would wash out often and my house abutted it and it was a right of way over my property. I bought a tractor and kept that gravel road in shape for nearly 20 years on my own dime. I felt like if it was paved it was a step closer to like my home in MA. We didn't allow a TV at the lake either. We figured why bother to come to lake and just watch TV. I was attracted to NH because it was different from my home in MA and last thing I wanted was to make it more the same. I suspect a lot of non Natives think that way. But sure many want the city creature comforts too.

Look at Squam lake, I think of it as a lot of left leaning liberals (protectionists). Speed limits on the lake etc. It was almost too left leaning for my taste. But they push hard to preserve things with lots of rules.

I personally do like a quant downtown area, like Wolfborough is a nice balance in my opinion. I like Meredith down near the town docks too. But I love isolated untouched areas too, like around lots of Squam and many parts of Winni. It's hard to strike a good balance. Laconia is way to commercial and no different than say a Worcester MA type town. But it's been that way before my time. But that sort of thing is hard to stop.

It's ok for us to take some trees down to build a lake house (or buy a house where all trees once stood) but we don't want the two neighboring lots to be built on. Right?

We want everything to freeze once WE arrive (arrive could be interpreted as born their or moved their).

I suspect most of us all want the same thing. You have to be realistic that there needs to be a balance. Putting up signs to "Keep out" won't solve anything. And like was discussed in some other threads, some "progress" is good. Like many parts of the lakes are cleaner than they were 30 years ago. Even with lots of build up over the past few decades.

[DEJ]

Originally Posted by MotorHead

I bet some folks here would not object to “Whites Only” sign.

Pretty piss poor post MotorHead and for mswlogo to thank that post, come on man.

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by DEJ

Pretty piss poor post MotorHead and for mswlogo to thank that post, come on man.

The really sad truth is, I think he COULD be right. And I think he made a good point and the sign in store is that far from what MotorHead posted IMHO.

Maybe your native right leaning joe (which I respect), and not as offended by the store sign or recommending it be put at the border.
But that sign makes me feel like when I cross the NH line or enter this forum, he thinks I belong on the "Back of the Bus" because I'm not Native or Right leaning.
Well, I take that back, he doesn't want me on the bus at all !!

I really, honestly, hope it would be extremely few (and a few more that would not admit it), but that far fetched, sorry, but that's a no. Not happy to say that either.

But I was a bit shocked when I saw 6 folks give thumbs up to tell all your neighboring folks to not enter the state. I think labeling everyone outside the state is horrible.

And I can guarantee there are tons of Native builders had no problem raping some of the shorelines of the lakes to make a buck and could care less about anything else.

I think most of this site are full of really good folks. And what folks do online they might not do in person (part of the problem).

But I'm sure there are a few extremists on this forum. They might have never even visited NH.

We were over some good friends house for dinner at the lake. It was around the time there was controversy over some speech Obama was giving to kids in schools (a traditional thing presidents have done for decades). We commented something positive about it.

The host, our friend said, you voted for that Nazi? Silence for the rest of dinner.
And this was 10 years ago or so. I'm sure part of that comment was due to the color of his skin.

We are still good friends and careful not to bring up politics. And they would do anything for us and we would for them as well.

[8gv]

One step in the direction of deescalating political divisions is to talk issues rather than casting broad generalizations about each other.

If people find common ground on a handful of issues then the debate can focus on the few points of disagreement rather than disparaging the whole group.

[Winilyme]

MotorHead probably chose the wrong venue for his comment and could have worded it more sensitively. Having said that, I'd like to expand a little bit on what I think 8gv is getting at and how I feel it relates to MotorHead's post.

We can no longer push topics and opinions like these out of the broader conversation - burying them as has been done for centuries. Solving problems doesn't mean avoiding the elephant in the room, it means engaging with others about it. That takes people who, because they trust one another (as I believe most on this forum do), have the courage to listen to the opinions of others while assuming positive intent and responding in kind.

The convenience store sign (assuming it was genuinely put there by the owner) is an example of someone who desires only to 'tell' versus 'listen'. There's no trust there and it certainly isn't courageous. It's "my way or the highway."

Diversity and inclusion are huge issues right now in America. This isn't going away, nor should it. Only through engaging on topics like these can we hope to get to the root of opposing opinions...hopefully finding answers that improve our tolerance of one another.