Last year I noticed NOTHING :lol: I have changed my post because I'm fed up by some people's silly criticisms.
There are touts in Wenceslas Square at night. Some of them are black. Some are not. I wouldn't call them dangerous. I wouldn't say they have 'invaded' the square nor would I call getting rid of them 'cleaning the city'. Why not call your thread 'touts in WS' instead of 'blacks on WS'? There are plenty of black people in Wenceslas Square every day who are not touts.
Those who approached me last year were B....s! Anyway, to me, the lesson is very clear: Wenceslas square is now gangsters' territory at night.
Qcumber, I was in Wenceslas Square almost everyday last Dec. for 12 days. I'm black and I'm not a "tout". Your remarks are very racist and if Wenceslas Square is "gangsters' territory" I doubt if you would be able to even make the post you did. What I really want to know is, why do you feel so threatened? I was approched many times and it did not bother me. I just said " no thank you" and kept on doing what I was doing. Read my signature.
Blacks on WS - it is concise and apposite (maybe not PC). The black touts are so blatant and obtrusive in their orange wind-jackets that you cannot overskip them (and it is the intention of the owners of joyhouses). We really need not such gastarbeiters. A good message: It is prohibited to tout erotic services on the Prague streets (with one exception) from June 1st, 2005. The only exception is a road in Ďáblice leading to the municipal dumping place (the municipal authorities can impose a limitation, but not a ban on something). The municipal ordinance (in Czech): http://www.praha-mesto.cz/(ohw5ymem55u5faaulbtrtj45)/aplikace/vyhlasky/detail.asp?id=620
I have the strong impression that if you replaced Czech by B... in many of the posts of this forum, they would become offensive.
Usal: Just a minute! Is it a sort of threat? Do you mean that this mafia has a control on MyCzechRepublic? I'm flabbergasted!
No threat at all. If you met a real gangster you would know the dfference. With your attitude and as was stated in an earlier post, not all touts are black. Funny you would only notice the black ones. Michael
I noticed the increase in touts on Wenceslas Square, and, now you come to mention it, many of them were black. It did not register with me at the time. Many black guys were also touting the concerts at the Municipal House, and I had some interesting conversations with them. Of course, the Mafia is involved in Czech republic (not this board) - the taxi services are reportedly notoriously controlled in large measure by them. I live in an area of London where white people seem to be in the minority, and spoken English is becoming rarer every day, but I consider living here very enjoyable and enriching. Yes, it is dangerous as far as crime is concerned, but not more so than other parts of the city. Perhaps it is limited employment opportunities for young, black men in Prague that makes so many of them work in the trade they do? I have many black friends (and they insist that I describe them as black, rather than coloured) and consider my life so much more enriched by them. BTW - I am definitely against being PC, here in London it has got so stupid!
I was on wenceslas square only last week and rather uneasy about teh number of these african men lined up watching every move i made as i was walking past them. the number of them had increased on teh previous year. But then this was also the case with the number of foreign beggars, who seem more likely to apprach you, especially in Old town suqare, where the polie seem happy to let them get on with harrassing tourists. Still a great city mind and will be going back!!!
I do have to agree. The last time I went through W.S. was few years ago..... - not blacks, but pimps of all shades and one prostitute beside each other and other unsavoury characters (drank germans and british men included). WS used to be place, where one went to see a movie, to restaurant or bar....at most to variety show (Alhambra). It changed drastically after revolution. Gone are upscale shops and department stores, inexpensive eateries, HOuse of Food on the top (Dum Potravin) with fancy food items.....Fish Delli, Milk Bar.....many places where one could have little sandviches......that all was replaced with tacky t-shirts and stuff....... Hotels are still there, but my oh my I sure wouldn't want to go back from my sight seeing at night. It is certainly not a place to go for walk at evening/night anymore. It would be really good to have WS cleaned up so it could again become enjoyable at night. HOPEFULLY, under new law that will change.
I noticed many touts in Wenceslas Square myself in May 2004. Many Blacks, many whites, even one lady (who asked me if I was gay because I did not want to visit her brothel). :lol: I did not feel at all threatened by them, although they were an annoyance sometimes. Quite honestly, I walked up the square with a Nigerian fellow pretending to be interested in his "place of purveyance " just because I had not carried on a lengthy conversation in English with anyone for a while. The tables were turned, as it was he who was annoyed with me when he found out I was actually not interested. :wink: A simple "no thank you" seemed to do the trick every time.
I'm inclined to agree with Ir and Usal. I'm white and have met some pretty nasty and dangerous white guys. Unpleasantness comes in many shades.
During my last visit to Prague I also noticed a number of people hawking the delights of a few adult venues. I didn't, because I live in a racially mixed neighborhood I suppose, feel threatened by the diversity of people. A simple "no, thanks", usally in Czech, was all it took to move on. We were there for 10 days and, by the third or fourth day, most of the guys (and girls) recognized my friend and me and all we got from them was a smile and a wave. I think they are just trying to make a buck. Walked WS several times at 2 in the morning, felt very safe, and really enjoyed quick snacks from the vendors (great after a couple of beers). Watch yourself (always prudent), be polite, and have fun. Prague is a wonderful city.
I need to (yet again ) reveal my ignorance here.... I'm unfamiliar with the word "tout." How is this pronounced, and does it mean something like a barker at carnival ("Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!")? Or does it carry a more negative connotation? Susan
I should think "no thank you" is a very useful phrase to know. I'm probably showing my ignorance as well but can anyone tell me how to say and pronounce it in Czech. Thanks
