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First, the guy that wrote this: http://www.cebuliving.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1941 is a raging fool who will most likely be sent home in a casket one day. And if he acted that way in most Central American countries...chasing down the thieves and telling them "No! I won't give you my money" as they hold a gun to him, he'd likely be shot and they would abscond with the money anyway. Then, they might even murder his wife as a witness, because a lot of these people can be gang members who really don't give a shit about you or your money. As a matter of fact, they may have recently been deported and hate you because they blame all Anglos for their misery.

REALLY REALLY STUPID to challenge these types! MUCH WISER to only carry what you need or can afford to lose, and only keep $5 in your wallet at any time, with the rest hidden. But this raging John Wayne wannabe will die someday over a piddly chunk of change.

What is mordida? It is the small amount you pay so that you don't have to go through paying a great deal more in court administration fees, or lose time filing a case that will most likely demand numerous visits. In the U.S. we don't pay mordida, we pay thousands of dollars in court costs, mandated classes, and other fees associated with various "infractions." For instance, in a domestic dispute, the husband is mandated to pay court fees, take anger management classes that he neither wants or that will cure his abusive tendencies. If a person is caught drinking and driving, they pay court fees, take various driving classes and classes for alcohol addiction. And for other offenses there are other classes that do not fix the problem but cost thousands of dollars. If you ask me, since these classes do not fix our social ills, but just create revenue, the mordida system is a great deal more intelligent. It is not a Honduras word, it is widely known throughout Latin America because it is a social norm and many Latin Americans feel they would rather pay mordida, and that it is MUCH less costly and MUCH more intelligent than the U.S. court system of assigned fees for nothing.

Peter, I had to laugh about your assumption that Central Americans find people who treat animals with a kind hand to be weak. My husband rescues dogs where ever he goes. He has kicked men who kicked dogs...particularly one that kicked our dog one time (where my husband kicked this man so hard he collapsed to the ground.) I have known hardened gang members who will kill over their animals and treat these animals with much greater affection than humans. I think it depends on the person, if they will be assumed as weak. There are many Central Americans who love animals more than people. My mother in law is one. IF you hurt an animal in front of her, she'll risk her life telling you what a "gusano come mierda" you are, and she doesn't normally use those words! Don't confuse the rancheros for the norm in people in Central America. They are two different types. I'm not much on rancheros for this reason. They may be nice, but they are often vulgar and coarse in their approach to life.