"Dude, what about that retirement in Baja idea you had?"
By Kerry Kay Sims
Dude,
Given how I refuse to fall a slave to demon alcohol (in other words I don't drink), the assorted ads for beer and whatnot passing through my television on a regular basis have no effect in terms of selling product. Some of them are extremely entertaining, though. Lately I've enjoyed the "dude" commercials being presented by Anheuser-Busch on behalf of Bud Light. In case you haven't seen them, they feature a somewhat shopworn twentysomething in assorted momentary scenes where his only line in response to whatever is happening consists of "dude." I suppose one of the reasons I find the ads funny is that I often find myself doing the same thing, as I have done for many years. Comes with being raised in California, where the goal of achieving a state of true dudeness is one of our main pursuits in the not so Golden State. It's rather like catching the perfect wave when you're out surfing without hassling with the board and ocean and waves and sharks (deep pained sigh... wait'll next year!) and stuff. But I digress. "Dude" is a prime example of the multi-purpose statement, useful in many situations: an expression of joy, warning, disgust, camaraderie, and so on. It’s most common usage is as a deliberate pause when you're trying to get someone else in tune with the obvious without having to actually spell out the scenario. That it has no gender attached to it is one of its finest qualities. Combining "dude" with an "uh..." before it is reserved for especially urgent situations when the other person is in dire need of observing, comprehending, and taking appropriate action on whatever may be currently transpiring. Or about to transpire with unfortunate results should the present course be maintained ("uh... dude... you know that girl you're getting ready to ask out has an insanely jealous ex with a full-body tattoo, pierced everything, and a permanent place in America's Most Wanted hall of fame, right?").
One of the best qualities about "dude" is that it has no gender.
Taking this to Baja Real Estate, there are so many individuals therein to whom a simple "dude" needs to be spoken in hope it will give cause for their catching the vision and seeing the world around them. To wit:
Dude:
"Didn't you know that hairdo went out of style in 1950 and people are laughing at you?"
Dude:
"Didn't you know that guy never built anything, let alone condos in Cancun?"
Dude:
"Didn't you know that the water in front of that development comes directly from the Tijuana sewer system?"
Dude:
"How long do you think it will be before the cartels pay off the army as well as the police?"
Dude:
"Did you really think there was finance in Mexico?"
Dude:
"Did you really think they meant that "Donald Trump?"
Dude:
"Did you really believe that real estate agent when he or she said they bought several of these units themselves and you should buy several so you can get rich too?"
Dude:
"Did you think that developer was ever really going to build road to your house?"
Dude:
"Didn't you turn over your real estate agents card and notice the name on the other side was different and that person was a taxi driver?"
Dude:
"Do you really think people really spend $300.00 night on a vacation rental in Rosarito so there’s no problem paying $500,000 for this one bedroom condo?"
Dude:
"Don't you wish you had bought at the Residences at Playa Blanca instead of one of those condos that is still just a whole in the ground in Puerto Nuevo?"
Dude:
"Why do you think all those Mexicans are trying to get you buy their house so they can move to the U.S.?"