Rynski's Blogski - Get Gargulinski-ed! with mayhem and musings from TC.com Ryngmaster Ryn Gargulinski

by Rynski on Jul.21, 2009, under immigrants, life, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy

Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy?

RYNNOTE: It has come to my attention this post has given birth to a hate fest. I must admit I am bit surprised, as I initially posted this as a joke — I don’t really think “Arroyo Chico” means “bike path where people get hit by cars that go above 15 mph,” or any type of bike path for that matter. Please accept my apologies for not realizing so many people could lack a sense of humor. Ryn.

This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?

The last snappy or crappy, multicolored architecture, got mixed reviews, although many folks agreed that some Old Pueblo architecture is wholly on the crap list.

Here’s another one that could straddle the crap list: bilingual signs

Sign in Target parking lot/Photo Ryn Gargulinski

Bilingual sign in Target parking lot/Photo Ryn Gargulinski

While it’s very nice to know that “arroyo chico” could translate to “bike path where people get hit by cars that go above 15 mph,” and “centro” means downtown, the signs also cater to folks who don’t want to bother to learn English.

Yes, I know, there is no national language. But there should be. And yes, it should be English.

At least the bilingual signs are less crappy than the signs only in Spanish, like a 7-11 billboard on Stone Avenue near Grant Road.

That sign may make us want to boycott the convenience store altogether, although some days we may honestly crave a Slurpee.

What do you think?
Bilingual and Spanish-only signs are:
a. Snappy. They expand my linguistic horizons and add character to the city.
b. Crappy. I would rather learn a foreign language by choice, not force.
c. I really don’t care because I speak 52 languages and understand all signs.
d. ????? No habla English.

wb-logolil14

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217 Comments for this entry

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  • Ror R. Ror
    August 3rd, 2009 on 5:05 pm

    FAIL

  • azmouse
    August 3rd, 2009 on 5:28 pm

    I’m old school, I guess. If I don’t have something nice to say, I generally say nothing at all.

    • kynn
      August 3rd, 2009 on 5:34 pm

      That’s not true. You’ve said plenty of things that aren’t “nice,” but you just couched them in carefully deniable passive-aggressive language.
      I haven’t seen you saying much “nothing at all.” I’ve seen you scolding people for being upset at Ryn.
       

      • azmouse
        August 3rd, 2009 on 5:47 pm

        I appreciate your feedback. I wasn’t aware I was ’scolding’, but I’ll have to reevaluate how I come across.
        Maybe I’ve been a Mom for to long and it oozes out when I least expect it.

  • dfunk
    August 3rd, 2009 on 5:40 pm

    Fail.. let the back peddling begin!

  • Billy
    August 3rd, 2009 on 5:46 pm

    If this was a joke, don’t give up your day job.  Honestly, stupid people like you shouldn’t be making jokes.

  • Eddie
    August 3rd, 2009 on 5:58 pm

    Also FAIL trying to pass that off as a joke.

  • jim d
    August 3rd, 2009 on 6:00 pm

    @kynn:   I suppose one upside of this silly post is that it has generated a few bright spots of dialog – typically coming from you.   It’s a shame that you are getting labeled as “causing hate”, when it seems you are one of the few commenters trying to promote understanding.

  • Jeff
    August 3rd, 2009 on 6:04 pm

    Dude, delete this post.  It really makes you look ignorant!

  • Ryan
    August 3rd, 2009 on 6:20 pm

    one of the basic rules of comedy is dont be a bully. If you indended this to be funny, it came off as bullying.
     
    also, comedy is supposed to be funny.

  • julien
    August 3rd, 2009 on 6:54 pm

    it’s amazing how people just love to immediately attack someone when they have the chance to seem more intelligent…
    i live in miami and I’m definitely sick of this invasion of humans that are given a wonderful opportunity to work here and they don’t respect it by not making an effort to learn the language…
    I don’t care if reddit.com links to here making fun of this page… the fact there are people that disrespect a country like this can naturally make a person feel like puking even when they see a name in the “invader’s language” and i find that completely normal…
    I’m French and I had to learn English, so why can’t they?
    That’s all I have to say

    • Michael
      August 3rd, 2009 on 7:48 pm

      There were many, many Spanish speaking people in Tucson and that part of the country *before* the English speaking invaders showed up. Like most right-wing bigots, your grasp of history is at best limited.

  • fail monitor
    August 3rd, 2009 on 6:59 pm

    FAIL

  • DanielBG
    August 3rd, 2009 on 7:00 pm

    This would have gone over much better:
    RYNNOTE: It has come to my attention this post has given birth to a hate fest. I must admit I rushed to the conclusion that the sign was bilingual. — I now understand “Arroyo Chico” does not mean “bike path where people get hit by cars that go above 15 mph,” or any type of bike path for that matter. Please accept my apologies for any I have offended. Ryn.
    FTFY

  • BC
    August 3rd, 2009 on 7:06 pm

    I don’t there is a hate fest… just a huge roll of the eyes from just about everyone.

  • Fabio
    August 3rd, 2009 on 8:51 pm

    Complete FAIL
    FALLO
    idiota
    imbécil
    forro
    pelotudo
    boludo

  • Johnny Walker
    August 3rd, 2009 on 9:05 pm

    wow way to FAIL

  • gerent
    August 3rd, 2009 on 10:41 pm

    FAIL! Get off the internet!

  • Krakatoa
    August 4th, 2009 on 1:27 am

    Humor? What humor?

  • Devoid of Common Sense
    August 4th, 2009 on 2:02 am

    Rynski
    July 21st, 2009 on 12:33 pm
    THANK YOU for clearing that up. Wow. I automatically assumed it was bilingual since I see other signs that are. Peligro. Centro. Glad I didn’t go to Mexico and ask where the bike path was…
     
    Yeah.  Keep trying to play it off Ryn..  you’re no good at lying, either.  Stop while you’re behind?
    P.S.  I hope you fall down a manhole that has a “Peligro” sign in front of it.

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