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Message |
    
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1817
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 5:26 pm: | 
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I know I'm gonna get blasted for this but I just can't help myself:
"what are we going to do about it?".
Maybe send in a couple of record company execs, to find the "next" George Michael.
It's a Joke OK, a Joke. |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1258
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 5:54 pm: |
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Or Hugh Grant. (Sorry, must have caught your sense of humor when we were walking the dogs last weekend.) |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 3842
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 5:58 pm: |
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Soda - your linking my "tips" thread to this exposure thread might possibly lead to rumors of wild mohels running around the reservation with a scalpel.... |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 1818
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:04 pm: |
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greentree-Brilliant idea on how to solve the public exposure problem. |
J. Crohn
Citizen
Username: Jcrohn
Post Number: 2075
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:04 pm: |
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"Again: what are we going to do about it?"
Perhaps someone will start a blog called something like www.jerks.com. Folks can then take digital cameras to the Reservation, photograph the wankers, and post their mugs (and only their mugs) online. Only the most unflattering shots should be used.
Some snappy captions might help, such as "This man was caught masturbating in public on February 7, 2005, near the waterfall in the Reservation." Or, "A family of four was startled to run into this jerk-off on January 22."
Plus, there's always the newspaper. |
J. Crohn
Citizen
Username: Jcrohn
Post Number: 2076
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:10 pm: |
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Soda, re your 5:08...I kinda wondered if anybody but me had noticed that. |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1259
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:13 pm: |
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What to do? Well, it is very well known as a pick-up place--I heard about it as soon as I moved to town. And I resent having to dodge used condoms and syringes when I walk my dog up there. So, if everyone seems to know about it, why aren't the cops up there every night breaking up the party? Do this for a while and they will move somewhere else. |
Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 164
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:44 pm: |
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It's not just New Jersey where you run the risk of people exposing themselves in parks....it's also a phenomenon in the UK as well, and they call it 'dogging' (perhaps pretending to take the dog for a walk?):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3119024.stm |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1646
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:48 pm: |
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Hey Uke -
Maybe you can all chip in and send the cross-eyed mohel up there for a couple of hours. |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 319
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 6:49 pm: |
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The cops will not act, they are afraid of being called homophobes. Or worse. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 897
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 8:15 pm: |
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From an older gent I spoke to around town,
the SMR has been a gay cruising spot since the 1940's.
I've seen both hetero & gay action there.
It's fun to go wandering thru the woods when the weather's a bit nicer!
I don't think it'll ever change. . .  |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 680
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 9:14 pm: |
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Not sure why people think this is somehow unique to Maplewood/South Orange. It's not. It's cewrtainly not unique to homosexuals. And it's definitely not unique to 2005. I was a teenager once, and there were parking lots and wooded areas, and..... oh the humanity!
(By the way: I'm in the reservation constantly with my dogs, and have never seen any hanky panky. Not in any way suggesting it doesn't happen, but I really don't think it rises to the level of a "situation," as noted above.)
If you spot someone breaking the law, call the police. You're rarely more than 90 seconds away from someone's cellphone in the reservation. |
johnny
Citizen
Username: Johnny
Post Number: 1187
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 9:54 pm: |
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One issue is that the reservation is county property. Law enforcement probably falls on the County Sheriff's office. I'm sure they can't be bothered with this stuff. Lots of unsolved murders to keep working on.
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Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2533
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - 10:22 pm: |
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akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 269
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 11:22 am: |
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It isn't a new or unique situation, but it is extremely obvious and it spoils the reservation for many of us. I don't care if guys cruise at Home Depot - I woud not notice. At the reservation, you cannot miss it. I am really amazed at those of you who haven't noticed it. We did the very first time we went.
I wish we could do a "Take back the reservation". |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 171
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 11:46 am: |
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The gay cruising is indeed very, very obvious. Ever notice the cars parked with their fronts facing out with single men just sitting there in the driver's seat?
Ummm, if that's not obvious, I don't know what is. |
Nohero
Citizen
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4317
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 11:50 am: |
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Taking a cue from Soda, three more thread titles which shouldn't be seen together (from a few minutes ago):
 |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 689
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 12:30 pm: |
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Nohero,
I saw that too, I just don't have a decent screen capture/editing tool.
Good catch. |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7533
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 12:37 pm: |
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My personal opinion is that the Revervation should not be used for illicit, often public, sex by any group, straight, gay, or those into consorting with elephants, not to mention domesticated animals.
Back in the Dark Ages when we first moved to Maplewood, the County had a Park Police force that policied SMR and other county parks. That went the way of all things do to a budget cut. |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 228
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 12:41 pm: |
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Remember when Central Park wasn't a show place but rather a disgrace? It took money and effort to turn it around - private money that is. Often when I go to the reservation I find it sad that it is in such a dilapidated state. RE: cruising men, the reservation is not the right place for such antics. Perhaps if there was a gate house and a $1.00 per car fee to enter it might discourage such behavior as the perps or creeps, (whatever) would lose their anonymity by needing to stop and be seen when they paid their dollar. You could even install a faux video camera at the gate to further give the impression that everyone's entrance into the park was being noted. If successful, the admission cost to get in could be used by a private organization to improve the park's facilities. |
Marty Tuohy
Citizen
Username: Martyt
Post Number: 26
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 1:04 pm: |
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Dave23, you are kidding right?
I want desperately to believe that gay crusing in the reservation is not always indicated by "cars parked with their fronts facing out with single men just sitting there in the driver's seat"
Well, I'm not single (although possibly my wife would prefer that I was) but there have been plenty of times that I have pulled my car into the reservation and parked, facing out. For my business I spend quite a bit of time on my cell phone and the lot overlooking the city is a scenic/peaceful place to park while talking on the phone.
As for "facing out," I'm not certain if parking "facing out" is the equivalent of a "gay wink," but you kinda need to park "facing out" if you want to be able to see the city.
As for "sitting there in the driver's seat," it would be pretty darned silly to slide over to the passenger seat, or even worse the back seat, just to make a phone call.
Now, if you are talking only about what I call the "scary back part of the reservation," well ... yep ... I think you are right!
LOL!
Marty
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dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 172
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 1:44 pm: |
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Marty, I'm talking about all parking lots in the reservation.
The next few times you are up there, keep an eye out for it. I don't think they are all up there doing business on their cell phones. |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1297
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 2:35 pm: |
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I think you're paranoid or nuts. I've seen single women sitting in their car "facing out" also. Are they lesbians??????? |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 187
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 2:50 pm: |
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I've noticed single men sitting in their cars flashing thier highbeams as i would drive by or hitting their brake lights. I am thinking that is some type of "signal". I guess they were disapointed once they saw i was a female. |
Marty Tuohy
Citizen
Username: Martyt
Post Number: 27
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 3:02 pm: |
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Dave, to the extent you are talking about "all" parking lots in the Reservation, then I don't agree.
Just wanted to stake out a position that not all men sitting in cars by themselves in the Reservation ... in the driver's seat ... with the cars parked facing out ... are "cruising." In my opinion that is just too sweeping of a position and it flat out ignores the majority of people in the front area who are there to read, rest, have coffe/lunch, etc.
As to the back area, I think there is a bad problem and I think it is just plain wrong that a portion of the park is basically off-limits ... once you realize what is going on.
If the area was just a "meeting" place, gay or straight, that would be fine. Unfortunately "meeting" in the traditional sense ain't what's going on. I was pretty unhappy to discover that during an otherwise good off-road jog in the woods a few years ago. One minute I'm running past this gem of a mini-waterfall that I had never seen, and 5 minutes later (but not too far away ... I'm slow) I run past a pretty unattractive scene involving 2 people.
As has been said before in this thread, the issue is not about gay or straight. What bothers me is that it seems that the area has been designated as a de-facto red-light district and that ruins it for people who just want to enjoy a beautiful park.
In fairness, I have absolutely no idea what efforts, if any, local law enforcement has made to clean up the area. Maybe it is a very difficult thing to do. From what I can see, however, whatever law enforcement is doing is not working and that stinks.
Marty
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dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 173
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 3:40 pm: |
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OK, in the parking lots that I've been in, which are closest to M'wood. I don't know what the "back area" of the reservation since it's a rather large bit of land.
To paraphrase Woody Allen and Nirvana, just because I'm paranoid and nuts doesn't meant they aren't cruising in the parking lot.
That said, I suggest you look around the next few times you go up there. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4614
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 4:56 pm: |
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A dear friend of mine went through a cruising phase at the res.
Yes, parked facing out is a sign.
Yes, there is prositution there.
He grossed out after a while and met someone on a gay cruise anyway.
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Marty Tuohy
Citizen
Username: Martyt
Post Number: 28
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 5:38 pm: |
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Jeez, how bad is that ...
... even using the "sign" I was still left to make my telephone calls in peace. What's wrong with me??
Maybe this "cruising sign" works like a sign from the 3rd base coach in baseball. In other words, maybe the sign for stealing 2nd base applies unless it is followed by a tip of the cap, in which case the steal sign should be ignored.
In this case, even though I was apparently showing the "facing out" sign, possibly I was inadvertently nullifying that sign by ... let's say ... also showing the "reading the newspaper sign" ... which is known to mean disregard previous sign.
Wow. This stuff is very complicated.
Marty
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1438
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 6:05 pm: |
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Marty maybe you're just not attractive enough...
 |
Marty Tuohy
Citizen
Username: Martyt
Post Number: 29
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 6:10 pm: |
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Brett
Painfully, I suppose I have to admit that seems like a logical explanation. Although I prefer to hang my hat on the offsetting signs theory. Of course, God only knows what sign might be given by "hanging my hat!" |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 899
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 8:56 pm: |
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How about the OLDER MAN who sits in his station wagon,
and waves 4 or 5 $20 bills at guys going pass him, trying to pay for it?
Ladies of SOMA, do you know where your hubbies are at on weekend afternoons?  |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 527
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 - 9:48 pm: |
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I am amazed by this thread. I've lived in town most of my life and never know the SMR was a cruising area. I know when we were kids we'd go up there to feed the deer on Sundays and camp at the Oval with the Girl Scouts. I know plenty of kids who wen up there to drink and get high, or park and do whatever. But they were kids. Not adults. |
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