Top 10 list: It's hard living in the Vi Because:

Yearasta's correct but it is disrespectful.

As a transplant myself I can see both sides of the sucking teeth issue....lol...love how that sounds. Quite often the sucking teeth occurs when someone is doing something racist. But in general its just like someone flipping you off.

I often hear it when local ladies are just shopping and comparing products in the store, like if something is more expensive, out of date, or they're just thinking about it. I think for a lot of people, it's just a habit. I worked with a young lady once who adamantly denied she sucked her teeth. Even after we told her she did, she didn't believe it. She would do it when she was on the computer, going through paperwork, whatever. It actually seemed to hurt her feelings when we told her she did it.

I mostly do it when I am doing something...like for instance screwing a screw in...the screw driver slips...I would scheups (suck my teeth)....

A friend tells me they can fly...scheups

Someone calls to say they aren't coming...scheups

Going to the beach and it rains...scheups

Then there are the other examples that u guys brought up that brings it out.

You get smacked for doing it to your parents

It's been around as long as I know...part of the culture

But yes it can also be a sign of disrespect....

Someone scheups at you...don't take it as racist....do it right back

It's kinda like the work f**k or s**h...multi-purpose

Melissa is a scheuper too...she goes to the SA meetings with me

I agree with Yearasta. People are taught by their parents that it is rude, yet everyone uses it. It all depends on context and intention.

It was mentioned as part of the orientation speech to federal grand jurors in the VI...with a US atty speaking to the jury panel..."and we don't want to hear any tooth sucking while these witnesses are testifying......"

I agree with Yearasta. People are taught by their parents that it is rude, yet everyone uses it. It all depends on context and intention.

When I went to Antilles and All Saints, it was a reason to give you detention.

I see it as an aggression. When it is directed at a person, it is the same as saying, "Fvck you."

In my school when the kids do it it means " yeah whatever"

Would it be correct to say that sucking teeth is the caribbean equivilent of rolling your eyes stateside? Seems so to me

In my school when the kids do it it means " yeah whatever"

Yeah it can be seen like the Italian "forget about it"

See "Donnie Brasco"

Its much nastier the whatever. It is more of a fvck you. Or sh!t if your just frustrated.

I learned over time that a lot of slights that I thought were being aimed at me because of my race were not. The person was just rude. I learned this because over time I dealt with that person again and watched them treat others who are not the same race as me in the same fashion. I think it's easy to automatically feel like someone is being racist against you when you are the only person of your race in a particular venue but it's not necessarily true. This goes both ways, if you are white and have ever wondered why African American's in the US complain about racism so much when you don't see it, think of how you feel in the VI. Unfortunately we have all been brought up to be overly sensitive to racism even when it's not the case.

Sean

Stiphy (tu)