What do folks in the Keys have against Jimmy?

hangoutgang · Post by **hangoutgang** » January 17, 2006 5:17 pm

Yeah, I know not everyone likes JB (their loss-they just don't get it) but I still dont understand from the couple of times I've been to Key West and quotes I read from time to time people in the Keys have a bad attitude towards Jimmy....Why??

msu#1 · Post by **msu#1** » January 17, 2006 5:22 pm

dont most people in the keys hate anyone that wasnt born there, unless your a paying customer

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » January 17, 2006 6:22 pm

We found a local hang-out for breakfast last time we were there and went every morning. The waitress said, "whatever uou do, don't say you are here because of Buffett".

She said, the popular view of the locals was that Jimmy glamourized (sp?) the keys and specifically Key West. It went from being a quiet tourist town with its charactors, to a wild out of control tourist town with the conchs crowded or priced out. There is a large amount of animosity towards Jimmy. They feel that Key West has been ruined by the influx of "northern money" (northern meaning anything from Miami on up) Condos have taken conch houses and T-Shirt shops owned by "swarthy foreigners" have take the place of old established businesses.

Lisa G · Post by **Lisa G** » January 17, 2006 8:05 pm

Its gained so much popularity over the years that the local people who grew up there have seen there home town turn into a party tourist attraction...............

bananaman · Post by **bananaman** » January 17, 2006 9:12 pm

Lisa G wrote:Its gained so much popularity over the years that the local people who grew up there have seen there home town turn into a party tourist attraction...............

Well, yeah but you can't blame all that on Jimmy!!! I'm sure that St. Barts and quite a few other places that Jimmy lived or visited has changed over the years too. What's next? Blaming Kenny for an over-run of tourists in the Virgin Islands? Gimme a break!

bananaman · Post by **bananaman** » January 17, 2006 9:14 pm

Sorry Lisa G, I'm not venting at you, just venting at the "conchs" who are mad at Jimmy. (for no apparent reason)

Lisa G · Post by **Lisa G** » January 17, 2006 9:20 pm

bananaman wrote:Sorry Lisa G, I'm not venting at you, just venting at the "conchs" who are mad at Jimmy. (for no apparent reason)

I'm not Lisa G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But agree................... Its kinda like an urban sprawl in a tourist kind of way................... Key West is not the place it was when Jimmy Buffett was there.................

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » January 17, 2006 9:45 pm

No apparent reason.

The island they knew for a hundred years is now Disney south. I still love it, but geez, from when I went ther the first time to now, you can't hardly even recognize it. I don't blame third and fourth generation islanders from being ticked off.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 17, 2006 9:46 pm

I once requested "Guantanamera" at a Costa Rican restaurant and was quickly hushed by a friend who said, "requesting 'Guantanamera' in Costa Rica is like requesting 'Margaritaville' in Key West". In other words, I'm sure the locals have had it with the Keys' association with Jimmy Buffett, which I find perfectly understandable. As for how things are now, I believe those changes were well underway when Buffett spent more time there back in the 70s. In fact, I think it's safe to say a great deal of his early work most certainly predicts those very changes. I'm sure he's also responsible for increased tourism there but I'd say that's something he had no control over. David Allan Coe didn't pen "Jimmy Buffett Doesn't Live In Key West" for nothin' ya know. After all, it also apparently got to be too much for him at one point since he eventually ended up making his home up North.

Lisa G · Post by **Lisa G** » January 17, 2006 9:59 pm

Cubbie Bear wrote:No apparent reason. The island they knew for a hundred years is now Disney south. I still love it, but geez, from when I went ther the first time to now, you can't hardly even recognize it. I don't blame third and fourth generation islanders from being ticked off.

Exactly.................. It is what it is.............. Key West is not about Buffett anymore.................. The times have changed and I am happy to have the vhs greats of what it "Use to be".................

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » January 17, 2006 10:12 pm

I get what everyone is saying, but wouldn't they have to owe something to him though. I'm sure parrothead's do support a large amount of the economy during MOTM which I would think part of the slow period from the time school starts until the Holiday Season. I mean, I'm sure KW would feel the effects if Jimmy decided one day to move MOTM next year to the quarter to try to get NOLA back on its feet.

HebertNecessity · Post by **HebertNecessity** » January 17, 2006 10:17 pm

What about all the um um NON-Heteros Jimmy didn't have anything to do with that. I think they are just jealous, he used to be a lazy drunk with them and now he has an empire, they want the old JB but he grew up despite the song, he has a family and a legacy to think of. I've been to several recent concert and in my opinion he's having more fun now than ever.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » January 17, 2006 10:51 pm

Like anything that changes, there's good and bad...personally I prefered the more unique pre-cruise ship KW to the town it is today. The book Last Train to Paradise talks about how the railway that joined the Keys to the mainland "ruined" KW because it brought the tourists...but then again, it made the Keys accessible for the sustainable tourism industry that revitalized the town (in 1914).

My point is...KW has evolved many times and completely attributing today's KW to one person or event (in this case Jimmy) is giving him too much credit...or in this case, blame. But, it fits our sound bite culture of wanting the simple answer that people can latch on to and rally around. It's just more complicated than that. Jimmy may have been a spark for some change in KW (e.g. a local musician makes big and now live entertainers are everywhere; he's successfully branded "escapism"), but he didn't provide all the fuel ($$s, development plans, books, he doesn't own escapism, Hemmingway was there first, etc.) for KW to become what it is today. Yes it's unfortunate for those who have been priced out of "home", but that situation is far from unique to KW.

One time while walking past Shrimpboat Sound, the Conch Train went by telling the group it was Jimmy's studio and a guy stuck his finger out the window (guess which one...). I don't know what his issue was, but he was there spending the $$s so he must not have disliked KW too much.... And then again, there are those who are just jealous of the others' success. Ah well...doubt I'll see that guy at Cincy, Great Woods, Alpine...or even Boise, for that matter.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » January 17, 2006 11:25 pm

all the time I was on the Island I never heard any bad about Jimmy

I heard more Bad in Vegas about Jimmy than I did on Key West..

and Pholks for those that have not met me, I do not hide the fact I am
a Parrothead...

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » January 17, 2006 11:30 pm

ragtopW wrote:all the time I was on the Island I never heard any bad about Jimmy

I heard more Bad in Vegas about Jimmy than I did on Key West..

and Pholks for those that have not met me, I do not hide the fact I am
a Parrothead...

Ummmm....you don't hide very well, period.

So, what's the Vegas story re. JB??

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » January 18, 2006 12:01 am

Quiet and Shy wrote:
ragtopW wrote:all the time I was on the Island I never heard any bad about Jimmy

I heard more Bad in Vegas about Jimmy than I did on Key West..

and Pholks for those that have not met me, I do not hide the fact I am
a Parrothead...
Ummmm....you don't hide very well, period.

So, what's the Vegas story re. JB??

Incoming this story is not for a family board..

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » January 18, 2006 12:16 am

ragtopW wrote:
Quiet and Shy wrote:
ragtopW wrote:all the time I was on the Island I never heard any bad about Jimmy

I heard more Bad in Vegas about Jimmy than I did on Key West..

and Pholks for those that have not met me, I do not hide the fact I am
a Parrothead...
Ummmm....you don't hide very well, period.

So, what's the Vegas story re. JB??
Incoming this story is not for a family board..

Silly me....what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas....

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » January 18, 2006 12:28 am

I think that the people in KW are probably just sick of being thought of as Jimmy's place, when he hasn't actually lived there for a long time. They just see all the JB phans, and it's overkill.

longlinergirl · Post by **longlinergirl** » January 18, 2006 12:52 am

Yeah they are basicly sick of Buffett...which I can't blame them...every idiot tourist that comes into the bar has to play Margaritaville 100 times. Not saying y'all are idiots, but you know, the people who only know the one or teo songs...oh and probably 90% of "locals" in KW are not born there...as with any part of FLorida...well most anyway. And I think the real locals in any area will have problemswith others moving in and tearing up their home and making it overflowed with tourists.

whew I'm not bitter... much

12 lb. nestle crunch · January 18, 2006 3:14 am

What's next? Blaming Kenny for an over-run of tourists in the Virgin Islands? Gimme a break!

hah, sorry, but the virgin islands were over-run with tourists wayyyyy before kenny chesney.

no one really can't understand what the key west natives are feeling unless you are from a small town yourself. I'm from (and live in) a small coastal town, and i would be a little annoyed if all of a sudden my town became a tourist mecca. in reality, you lose a part of your culture when that happens