It was a Florida joke. Through the years, a few people - most notably the early Spanish explorers and (much more recently) E. E. Callaway in Bristol, FL - have tried to claim that Florida was the original setting of the Garden of Eden. Hence, paradise.
Also, we’re not talking about city parks or parks that have sports fields, playgrounds, etc. These are mostly natural areas, some of the only ones left in the state. The biggest structures in these areas now are small welcome centers, canoe rental stands, and camping cabins scattered among the pines and palmettos. In places where there are remnants of past human use - old railroad beds, for instance - they are either left to return to as natural state as possible or re-purposed as part of the trail system.
That would be pretty interesting, if only for the entertainment value. I should probably emphasize that I do not condone hilariously awesome vigilante-style killings, though.
Speaking of which, you should probably add Dexter to that group.
ETA: Not that I’m implying that Governor Tyree kills people by grouping him with Serge and Dexter.
ETA par t II: And it should be TV Dexter. Book Dexter is way less likable. Although the “public service” performed by Book and TV Dexter is pretty much the same, so … hmm…
I guess it is okay to hate golfers because we are often white and not poor. People aren’t allowed to say anything mean about fat people, immigrants, Eye-talians or Pollacks, so people just pile all the hate on golfers. It isn’t fair!
Who’s responsible for this PC-thought police scheme that makes every man with white spiked shoes the object of ridicule? And it’s like the lamestream media (like the link in the OP) is okay with this blatant discrimination! I’m tired of being a victim just because I like to ruin a nice walk by chasing the little white ball!
Well, I think it is all a load of balderdash. I think the OP would be sued to H-E-double hockey sticks if he said it isn’t okay to build a Twinkie factory to make the fatties happy, or how we shouldn’t have ballots in Chinese to help those Ko-rean people vote! Why is it okay to beat up on golfers? I’m going to put on my cap with the pom-pom on top, pull up my knickers and argyle socks, and retreat to my driving range built over sensitive wetlands. I say, Good day, sir!
ETA: Oh yeah, REVERSE RACSIM!!!11!
Seriously, I love golf, and I don’t see a problem with building golf courses on public property, but I do question why more golf courses in Florida makes sense when (a) Florida is chock-full of courses and (b) the popularity of golf isn’t what it was even a couple years ago.
Huh? Who’s hating on golfers? I’m hating on the idea of slapping big, fat golf courses in Florida’s natural-land state parks, when we already have 1000+ golf courses in Florida. Both public and private.
Also, are you saying that I would be sued if I said something racist or anti-fat? What world do you live in? Or am I just not picking up on your sarcasm? Its’ entirely possible you’ve whooshed me.
Oh, and one more thing: it’s FLORIDA. Not PARADISE. It isn’t like they’re cutting down forests in California, Hawaii, or the South of France. It’s FLORIDA.
Next all the offenderati are going to condemn me for criticizing Florida. I suppose that inevitable response is just more anti-golfer hate… Poor me, poor, poor me.
But in all seriousness, I don’t see why anyone should get worked up about it in any case. I mean, it’s all going to be under water soon when global warming hits next year. And besides, it’s Florida. It’s not like it’s important or anything…we are talking about FLORIDA here!
And, at least they aren’t talking about putting up a parking lot…
Heck, I knew that bit was some overthetopness. But I’ve seen unironic replies to news stories in this case that aren’t far from that sort of response. Of course, that’s what I get for reading the comments on news web sites, eh?
Geez, I put sane comments in small print. I would send a handwritten note to you explaining the joke, but you might get upset that a tree died for such a trivial purpose.
Missed edit window: but I stand by my paradise /= Florida statement. There is too much truth there to call it a joke. Look at it this way: if the parkland were not put to use as a golf course, the space would just be taken up by sunbaked bikers with bad mullets cooking meth in rusted vans in 100 degree heat with stupidly high humidity. I’m pretty sure this is all that happens in Florida: golf, underage spring breakers getting alcohol poisoning, meth cooking, and shady real estate. That’s all.
For God’s sakes, man! Okay, first of all, that joke isn’t funny in the first place. It’s not even a joke, it’s a reference. And not even clever, you are describing the situation in the same way a song described the same situation (Hilarious! No, wait, I meant pointless). But what’s worse is that the title was the exact same reference! Don’t tell me you didn’t see the title, you had to click it to come in here. Why oh why would you make a post to make the exact same lame joke the title of the post made, except even lamer? Way to post-pad.
Color me confused. So they are adding an amenity to 10 state parks that will be something the general public can enjoy and probably throw a few bucks in the state coffers. That’s awful. Next thing you know they will be putting even more stuff in state parks and upgrading them even more and making even more money for the state! As far as I can tell, the rest of the park will still be open to do whatever was done in those parks before. (Which, BTW, is generally nothing because Florida is built on a drained swamp and whatever “nature” is in the state consists of mosquitoes, alligators and pythons.)
Of course. Subsidized youth golf is certainly more important than subsidized youth health, nutrition, and education. I, for one, am glad to see that Florida has its hat screwed on right.
