Still Traveling

By Jennifer

May 31, 2006 11:17 AM | Link to this

I went to Helen when it wasn’t in season. wasn’t much going on but I still enjoyed it..I am planning to go back up there soon

By Clint

May 31, 2006 11:24 AM | Link to this

These “like it or not” comments are divisive and cruel. Why pit people and places against each other? To each their own I say. If you are not the sort who enjoys Helen, Georgia or Panama City Florida, then do not go. But do not deride those who do enjoy Helen with derogatory comments. It’s simple-minded and below the standards of this paper.

By Rod

May 31, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

Clint, what’s your problem? This blog is so people can point out some good traits - and bad - so those who’ve never been can make an informed decision on if they’d like to go. I think it’s a good idea.

I’ve been to Helen a few times. One full day should pretty much cover all the areas - definately worth a day trip.

However, don’t go anytime near Oktoberfest - then it turns into a town of people seeing how drunk they can get and the roads are backed up literally for miles.

By Harold

May 31, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this

Helen is in White County where they chose to ban all groups from all high schools rather than have a group that supported gay children.

These backwater hicks think if there is no school group that there will be no gay children? Whatever. What’s wrong with gay people anyway?

Don’t go to Helen / White County. What a bunch of hillbillies. The lederhosen can’t hide their hate.

By Prootwadl

May 31, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this

Clint, the article asks if people liked it, and is explicitly asking only about positive opinions. Please take your ascerbic comments and confrontational attitude somewhere else.

By Carole

May 31, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this

Way too crowed in October but otherwise a nice place to visit for a day trip. When we left there we took the boys hiking up at the state line and they enjoyed that as well.

By Don

May 31, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this

As a city, Helen is a great concept, but it is lacking in its delivery. As a family amusement/shopping park, Helen is a winning concept and highly successful in its delivery.

Helen is a mountain version of any boardwalk in a tacky seaside resort town. That doesn’t make it good or bad. It just makes it what it is.

However, to the misguided who believe that they might actually be able to find Bavarian meals and goodies in Helen, you’ll be sorely disappointed. While there are restaurants that boast to serve these - it simply isn’t so. It’s like the difference between Tex Mex and real Mexican food.

Enjoy Helen for what it is and head to Europe to experience real Bavarian goodies (or Pennsylvania or other ethnic areas of northern cities in the U.S.).

By Sarah

May 31, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

I’ve been to Helen, of course it is a little cheesy, but I did some holiday shopping, I have German ancestary & it was nice to buy some presents that reflect that. The highlight to going to Helen is that on the way we stopped at the Habersham Winery, they have a nice wine shops & plenty of wines to taste & purchase…. They have a antique store next door & also a Granary (that has plenty of bread & muffin mixes & a candle shop across the road…. It is worth a visit just to check ou the area & explore….

By Tommy Beall

May 31, 2006 12:13 PM | Link to this

Bunch of ignorant hicks- I would never support that community

By DUANE

May 31, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

Simply put: I LOVE HELEN!! Any time of the year!!

By Elaine

May 31, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

Living about 35 minutes from Helen I have read all the mess about the school groups and I can’t for the life of me see what that has to do with a visit to Helen! This is a very nice and unique city that has a lot to offer. You can go tubing down the river or have a nice picnic under the trees, take a buggy ride or just shop. There are also some good places to eat if a picnic is not what you like. It does get hectic during Oktoberfest but some people like that. I would recomend a trip to anyone.

It sounds to me as if Harold needs to move to another county but if he doesn’t like hillbillies maybe he needs to move out of state - like up North.

By John

May 31, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

Helen is a minor diversion. Nearby Sautee-Nacoochee Valley, however, is a real gem.

By Helen

May 31, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

Helen is wonderful…Hanzel and Gretel Fudge Shop is wonderful…

By Dan the man

May 31, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

I’ve been to Helen on many an occasion in both the summer and fall and it is a very fun place to be. There is the Hiawassee River that runs through the town and for $3 a person you cant beat floating on the river for three hours. Not to mention you can buy an extra tube and put a cooler in it if you know what I mean. There’s also great camping along the river and good trout fishing usually year round. I’m not sure if they still do but the DNR used to stock the streams. Octoberfest is pretty cool if your 21 but if your bringing your family up you should go another time. Overall Helen is a pretty sweet getaway from Atlanta and I am definetly planning on heading there this summer!

By Valerie

May 31, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this

We had planned the outing to Helen to take photos of the trees/leaves changing colors, we soon found ourselves stuck in traffic for quite a while during Octoberfest, it was impossible to try & turn around, was a bit discouraged. So needless to say, we kept going once we fell out of the traffic tie-up & went home.

By jeff

May 31, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

it’s scary up there..what a bunch of in-bred red-necks

By Matt

May 31, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

TOMMY, That was a well thought out and intelligent post. It’s obvious that you are the one who is ignorant.

By Scott

May 31, 2006 12:48 PM | Link to this

Dan the Man, isn’t that the Hooch that flows through Helen?

By S. Williams

May 31, 2006 1:03 PM | Link to this

My sister and I took a trip to Helen during the off- peak season. It wasn’t really much to do in February but we enjoyed the trip. We went to Hansel & Gretel Fudge shop everyday that we were there. We went up to Anna Ruby falls for a nice hike. It was a bit chilly but it was well worth the stay for a peace and quiet get-a-way from the city. Oh yeah, we loved the pastries from Betty’s County Store.

By Amy

May 31, 2006 1:21 PM | Link to this

We enjoy tubing down the river - boys ages 11 and 8 - there’s a small water slide halfway down - a fun, lazy day for mom - and it is beautiful (not the town, but nature) We’ve hiked outside Helen in the spring - don’t know the name of the trail but it had beautiful waterfalls and a pool at the top. LOVED it. Wish I knew what it was called so we could go back.

By Harold

May 31, 2006 1:24 PM | Link to this

Elaine,

Helen is in White County. They got together as a community and pretty much said “we don’t want them gays here so bad we will cut off our own noses to spite them” and cancelled ALL school groups.

What avoiding Helen has to do with that is that I am assisting them in cutting off their noses.

The South is full of hateful isolationists, but Helen WHite County went way over the line to make a point out of their hate, so I say let them stew in it without any tourist dollars from the civilized people of the world.

The sad thing is that Helen is not even a bad imitation of a Bavarian village. It’s a bad imitation of Leavenworth, Washington which is a bad imitation of a Bavarian village.

The people up there are backward losers through and through.

Germans are insulted when they see Helen, you know.

By Tommy Beall

May 31, 2006 1:24 PM | Link to this

Matt, it’s obvious that you’re one of those hicks…keep your a** up there with your wife (daughter)…

By L.A.

May 31, 2006 1:48 PM | Link to this

I went to Helen on vacation last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a short and relaxing getaway from the city. There are a lot of little shops in the area to buy little gifts for yourself or others.

By Don KeBallz

May 31, 2006 1:52 PM | Link to this

I like it….river float is the way to go if the water is high enough….

By Susan

May 31, 2006 2:03 PM | Link to this

I went to Helen often when it was first turned into a “Bavarian Village.” Was there just last week. It has certainly lost some of its appeal; however, I would recommend the trip for the surrounding scenerary. Also, bloggers - name calling, etc. brings nothing to the discussion.

By Mony

May 31, 2006 2:07 PM | Link to this

That’s the Chattahooche River that flows through Helen.

By chad

May 31, 2006 2:12 PM | Link to this

Its funny how anything that doesnt line up with our own beliefs gets labeled as “hate”. That community has a right to come together and determine how the majority of thier citizens feel and how they desire to live.

Helen is a wonderful place full of friendly wonderful MOSTLY WHITE STRAIGHT citizens. If you dont enjoy spending time in a place like this, then DONT GO.

As for me, we go about five times a year and its a great escape from all the HATE in the Atlanta metro area.

By WestCoastistheBestCoast

May 31, 2006 2:23 PM | Link to this

Too many Rebel Flags on porches and establishments and George Bush Pictures hanging in Restaurant Lobby’s in that part of Georgia for me to visit. You can see the hate soothing out of the citizens eyes there. Too Red Neck to garner a visit from me!

By Laura

May 31, 2006 2:23 PM | Link to this

I’ve been to Helen many times and I think its a great place to get away from hetic city life. Any time of year, including Oktoberfest is great. I’d suggest spending some time around Helen hiking and fishing while you are there. If camping is your thing there are some great campsites just north of the city as well.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 2:26 PM | Link to this

what is Harold’s sad obsession with homosexual children all about? Get over it already!! Harold talks of hate, yet hypocritically displays his liberal hate for those who democratically disagree with him. If homosexual groups in schools are banned in White County and the local folks neatly side step a perverse leftist law imposing something they dont like on their community so what?? Its a shame every kid is suffering the bigotry of liberals who always seek to impose their bigotry on everyone else, but the lesser of the two evils has prevailed. Overt sexuality in schools is NOT a good thing for anyone. But the perverts up in socialist Kennedy Mass are literally insiting on ramming preaching about homsoexuality down the throats of young kids - just so liberal homosexuals are pandered to.

And this is just a blog about pretty innofensive Helen for christ’s sake!!

By reality check

May 31, 2006 2:29 PM | Link to this

Tommy Beall, Harold, and Jeff, speaking as a resident of Helen please do not come here. You are confrontational, rude, hateful jerks and we don’t want people like that here. Polite visitors who enjoy the beauty of the mountains and recreational opportunities we offer are always welcome. Troublemakers are not. That is one of the reasons people like it here.

Stay away.

By bob

May 31, 2006 2:30 PM | Link to this

Wow, so let me get this straight, because people are from Helen or White County, they are automatically racist, bigoted, inbred hicks that are unworthy of any consideration as people? That really shows the caliber of people writing in to this blog. Helen is a very place, and Unicoi State Park and Anna Ruby Falls are excellent daytrip sights. Dismissing these places because you feel that the people living in the area are beneath you shows you to be nothing more than an arrogant, and ignorant, jerk.

By Julie

May 31, 2006 2:31 PM | Link to this

Helen is a great place and I go every chance I get. I love the roadside produce stands, horseback riding, Chattahoochee, etc. there is so much to do for the outdoors lover. It IS a nice relaxing day trip to get away from all the rat race in Atlanta.

By Tommy Beall

May 31, 2006 2:32 PM | Link to this

Chad, that community does NOT have the right to determine how people feel and how they should live. And yes, it is hate when you discriminate against a group of people. I wouldn’t discriminate against you, even though I realize you’re a back-woods hillbilly full of bigotry and hate, and most likely won’t amount to much in your life….I still don’t hate you- I pity you…

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 2:35 PM | Link to this

As for the ACTUAL town of Helen, its kind of cheesy but not in a sleazy way at all, ersatz Bavaria may not be everyone’s cup of tea - or lager, but its OK every year or two, when you’ve kind of forgotten how limited it is. At least its different from most other places in the state and no one pushed any politics on folks there. A typical tourist trap with an easy going atmosphere and you can float down the river on hired ‘tubes’ on a hot summers day which is quite relaxing and pleasant. Always finding a few loud yankees or shrill homosexual activist types to wind up with cries of “snake” whilst on the river!!

Now Harold has whined twice about this visionary policy in White County we’ll go back there this summer to spend an afternoon and some heterosexual dollars… cheers harold for the motivation!!

By Dixie

May 31, 2006 2:43 PM | Link to this

What, you don’t have enough hate to deal with in Atlanta? As we say up here in these North GA mtns., ‘clean up your own back yard,before you start in on ours!’

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 2:45 PM | Link to this

tommy’s hateful idiocy is as bad as harold’s… it is NOT hate to stop homosexual clubs in a school. It is a democratic decison taken by the local folks. But your “hate” is very obvious - in your BLANKET discrimination and rant about hillbillies etc … so I’ll mirror a teeny bit of that back at you!!!

anyone who opposes you you hate …a typical liberal … get lost and go waste your vote vote for shrillary or the alBOre!!

By Ann

May 31, 2006 2:49 PM | Link to this

I’ve loved Helen since I returned from a tour of duty in Germany in 1971. It is super

By Tommy Beall

May 31, 2006 2:50 PM | Link to this

time for the truth: the truth is, someone’s been hitting the moonshine a little early today..Huh??

By Harold

May 31, 2006 2:56 PM | Link to this

No Bob, they are not automatically racist, bigoted, inbred hicks that are unworthy of any consideration as people.

They OPENLY DECLARED themselves to be bigoted and say they are proud to be that way.

And mind you, Harold never said they were racist or inbred. Maybe they is, maybe they ain’t. We’ll know when the black kids try to form a club.

They are, however, self described as bigoted against gays.

As such, Harold is free to avoid the slime pit and recommend that others do the same.

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:00 PM | Link to this

Tommy Beall, that is just “Time For the Troll.” S/he is normally ignored by everybody.

By accidental tourist

May 31, 2006 3:01 PM | Link to this

Helen is great for people watching. It is sort of a funnel cake and waffle cone heaven. After you have seen enough of Mr. and Mrs. FatA$$ America you can hike the trail that starts in the park near the north end of town. The traffic can be horrific getting in and out so go early. It’s worth it for a day trip.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:01 PM | Link to this

tommy … is that the BEST you can do?? such a stunningly trenchant riposte - brimming with hugely original sardonic wit and wisdom.

as ever the resident liberal tosspots dont actually deal with the substantive points made - they just petulantly post simpering abuse.

By luna

May 31, 2006 3:10 PM | Link to this

another boring day in n. calif…I knew I could find a redneck blog to check out. What does the majority of a town have to hate about a group of people? Are you that concerned with what they do in their personal life? Are you afraid being gay is contagious? Are you on a mission from your religion to save the world so nobody else gets any bright ideas? (I mean, like trying same sex stuff and “turning” gay). How’s it working…keeping your little community safe from the outside world? Yeesh! I’ve been to Helen. It’s okay. It’s just funny to hear the desparation. So, what, gays have to be out by sundown, like Forsyth county? How simply amusing!

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:11 PM | Link to this

harold the homosexual activist (factual description based on your posts here - not abuse)

It is NOT in the least bigoted to decide what kind of atmosphere and community you want your kids to grow up in. “official” homosexual clubs are totally inappropriate for school kids, as the folks decided locally and democratically - your kind of liberal moral fascism that sneers at and is openly bigoted against those who democratically make sensible decisions that you abhor is highly amusing.

funny how your inflammatory hateful posts are not “trolling” but mine are … see how hypocritical and intolerant you liberals are .

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:18 PM | Link to this

Some intentionally obtuse folk are having difficulty with the concept of hate being the result of a democratic process.

Well, Hitler was elected democratically.

Harold says enough said on that topic.

Harold also says Helen White County is quite free to hate gays if they like, and Harold will avoid the hell hole if Harold likes and suggests that others do the same.

By Tommy Beall

May 31, 2006 3:18 PM | Link to this

Luna- I’m in NYC and yes, it’s amusing to see what kind of smagma these ignorant mountain folk can spew. God forbid any of these low-lifes have kids… If they do, then abortion should certainly be retroactive.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:19 PM | Link to this

@ luna_tic

another san fransicko (as Dr Savage wittily and appositely calls it) type peddles its anti-southern bigotry on a blog about an inoffensibe tourist town…

I have NO religion, I am decidedly secular!! No one on here has said homosexuals aren’t free to visit the town any time they want, so your ranting is dumb and dishonest. The majority of the town doesn’t hate homosexuals - there’s NO suggestion of that at all anywhere - you’re just another inflammatory bigoted liberal troll to laugh at!!

By D.

May 31, 2006 3:20 PM | Link to this

Helen is fun in the Velveta way. If you’re going up there for a three-day weekend then be sure to venture off the main drag and explore the local artisians in the area.

A wake-up call to those insulting the local flavor: my FIL is a real estate agent and there is a tremendous number of Atlantians moving to the area and surrounding counties.

Besides, it’s not like Atlanta is w/o hate; it’s just that we call them skin-heads in the big city.

By luna tic

May 31, 2006 3:23 PM | Link to this

Raise your hand here who has a rebel flag on their front porch/car/other:

(not me!)

Go green!

I totally told you I was bored. You guys are so easy to fire up!

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:24 PM | Link to this

Harold asks if anybody ever heard the phrase “Dont hate the sin; hate the sinner”

That is because even the freaky churches acknowledge that the bile they spew is hatred, so they excuse their hatred of people by claiming it is instead the actions they hate.

Well, it aint the actions. Its the people they hate. They are haters and they freely admit it from their pulpits!

When they are out beating people down for being gay, it aint the actions they are beating. Its the people.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:25 PM | Link to this

it is NOT “hate” - it is simply deciding on what your kids’ school is like and imposing homosexuality, against the will of most locals who pay taxes for the schools etc is NOT appropriate for any school age kids. Your intellectual dishonesty is hilarious - Hitler’s rise to power is NOT in any way analagous with a local decision in this local county.

I note you now run away from your own bigotry - (after asininely repeating it) as a typical liberal always does!!

By Graduate

May 31, 2006 3:25 PM | Link to this

Please read the following with an open mind without bias due to what you have read before concerning this:

I am a life-time resident of Helen. I temporarily lived in the “big city” during my college years, and was more-than elated to move back to my hometown where everyone waves at one-another, and where someone will stop and change my tire if I’m ever in need.

Let me enlighten everyone on a concept: If you live in Iraq, you would be expected to practice the “state religion”, or if you live in Japan, you’ll be expected to burp after meals, and in Central American countries a soccer match will elicit violence in it’s wake. These are just examples of cultural diversity. One of the aspects of White County’s culture is our very large Christian Community. As Christians, we are taught to love our neighbor as ourselves, and yes, that INCLUDES everyone.

Bear with me: As everyone is aware….EVERYONE…we did have an “event” that has caused our community to be stereotyped. Please note that their are over 20,000 residents in White County, and no opinion can blanket that many people in one accord.

What actually happened concerns years of ill-feelings for very good reasons involving the teacher-sponsor. I will not be as crass as to name the said teacher, but I will say that she, since the beginning of her employment antagonized the Christian Clubs in our school. Examples of such are evident when she barred the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from praying, even in a remote location, inside the building, forcing us to hold our meetings outside. Picture whole clubs having to shiver while they pray outside in January because of this one, ONE, teacher that all-the-sudden wants to accuse White County of being INTOLERANT and “non-inclusive”.

huh??

Talk about being “unclear on a concept.” The main point behind the controversy manifested because it was ok for one person to decide to banish a group of 60+ students from doing what their heart desires where nobody would see because the mere idea of it offender ONLY HER, but in her sheep’s-clothing of “tolerance” she, banded together with only approx. two students who were allowed to practice what the MOST OF THE SCHOOL found offensive RIGHT IN OUR FACES. The issue is fairness, not ignorance.

Christians, as a whole, are the only group of people that are legally discriminated against, and that is the reason why they decided to do away with ALL non-academic clubs all-together. A balance of fairness could not be reached due to aggressively-anti-Christian sentiments of ONE teacher. Should we reward her with YET AGAIN another slap in our faces?

If I hated the doctrines of Buddhist monks, WHAT REASON WOULD I HAVE TO MOVE TO THE HIMALAYAS??

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:28 PM | Link to this

the Velveeta way. hah! that is funny and so true too! still not going though until the renounce their devil ways of hatred.

when they made their proclamation they counted on the slumbering public not to know helen was the county seat of White County. They expected no ramifications for their hate. Well Harold is here to make sure everybody knows Helen is in WHite County and they are haters.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:29 PM | Link to this

lunatic … its just so easy to hammer such witless drivel as you posted that its hard to resist on a dull afternoon!!

what is “green” about - surely not drooling eco wackos???

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:32 PM | Link to this

harold - are you a homosexual? it seems very likely that you are, given your veritable obsession with this matter.

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Graduate,

Living among savage does not one a savage make.

One might live in the Himalayas because they are beautiful.

The thing is, the Buddhists will not attempt to run you out of town for not being Buddhist and would not cut off all their own noses because they cannot stand that a non Buddhist lives there.

-Harold

By luna-tic

May 31, 2006 3:38 PM | Link to this

the prevailing right-wing conservative intolerance. I know-I’m from there. It’s simply hilarious to revisit. In a sad way.

I think it’s amusing b/c I don’t even try to exchange ideas, or have a normal conversation with religious right wing conservative types sometimes…so out of boredom I make a point, know you’ll disagree/get p** off and respond the same old way, and I just get a laugh. I’m bristling just thinking about places like Helen-the misery of (for the most part) not knowing of another way. Education is liberation.

By Dixie

May 31, 2006 3:39 PM | Link to this

Harold, Helen is not the county seat of White County, that would be Cleveland.

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:39 PM | Link to this

Time for the Troll, why do you ask if Harold is a homosexual? Cruising for a piece of a*?

By Cletus Snow

May 31, 2006 3:40 PM | Link to this

I have visited Helen several times and somehow missed the hate & discontent,thankfully.Sure it seems a little cheesey, but so do a lot of places that we all go.I think the cheesiness must be part of the plan.Panama city Gatlinberg,Pigeon Forge,Myrtle Beach, They Are cheesy.It sure would be nice without the spew from the haters and malcontents,Maybe they will stay home,they don’t seem to play well with others.

By Harold

May 31, 2006 3:41 PM | Link to this

Dixie you are correct. I apologize for my incorrectness!

Helen is just the county moneymaker.

By luna

May 31, 2006 3:43 PM | Link to this

No takers on the poll?

Raise your hand who has a rebel flag on their home/car/other?

Cmon-be honest

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:43 PM | Link to this

lunatic

“Education is liberation” … so what happened in your case?

I am NOT religious at all, as pointed out above- get a heterosexual literate adult to read and explain “secular” to you. Funny how you vacuous liberal morons behave like trolls and will sometimes admit it but hypocrites like harold are limp wristed trolls and wont admit it!!

By reality check

May 31, 2006 3:46 PM | Link to this

Helen isn’t the county seat of White County, Harold.

Time for the truth, I like your position, but this is a waste of your time. You don’t hesitate to use a very well developed vocabulary and Harold and Tommy don’t have a clue what you are saying.

Besides, Harold, Tommy and diLunatic have done us a big service here in Helen. They have provided a very powerful validation for our decisions. Some of us here have heard stories of the shrill, hateful, self absorbed attacks from the gay left, but this is our first opportunity to observe it first hand. Obviously it is typical of what those people foment and they have represented their perspective in a very persuasive way.

I’m printing this as an example of the type of mean spirited talk we could expect if we had a weak moment and decided to support a group of their people.

Think how much more difficult it would be if they came across as kind, rational, nice people. We ignorant rednecks always heard you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I guess something happened to them so they don’t know that.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:47 PM | Link to this

harold - simply wondering if your brainless obsessive dishonest liberal hypocrisy is truly heartfelt - didn’t expect you would answer honestly (too late now).

By Lena

May 31, 2006 3:53 PM | Link to this

Helen misses the mark. If they want to do a Bavarian village, then that’s what they should do. Skip the country cutsie kitsch. It could be something wonderful, but it’s not. Great location, but they blow it with all the Indian, country crap. It should be what it’s supposed to be. If it’s supposed to be an Alpine village, then let it be that. Kind of a tragedy. Also some genius should figure out how to relocate the Rennisance Festival up in the mountains….. make that great, instead of another Country Fair.

By Huh?

May 31, 2006 3:53 PM | Link to this

Truth? What’s your problem…every blog I see you on, you are negative and pick arguments with anyone who differs from your opinion and then you use Encylopedia dialogue to try and make everyone think you’re smarter than you are. This act gets old. Why not just record a blog response and play it over and over, that’s pretty much what you do anyway. Argue, witty comeback, recharge and go again. Over and over. How many blogs do you go into everyday anyway with this same banter?

I have never been to Helen but think it would a really cool place to visit.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 3:56 PM | Link to this

cheers reality - the shrill lefty homo activists on here are enormously amusing as well as superbly representative apologists for their profound collective intolerance. to hijack a travel and tourism blog on inoffensive Helen is imbecilic, but hardly surprising. live and let live is fair enough in your own community - but these homo activists demand everyone publicly and explicitly accept whatever their unhinged demands are and the world happily doesn’t work like that- hence their entrenched bitterness and innate social inadequacy huge smirk

just look at what some of these perverts do at Disney, in front of familys on the now infamous homosexual days - that is hardly decent public behaviour!!

By luna

May 31, 2006 3:57 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately I WAS educated in Ga schools. Not a whole lot I can do about that now. But I sure as hell got out when I was aware! And I don’t stop trying to learn, and overall do the right things. I get nasty and b*** too-and this is a great place to air it. Gays are just another group of people the intolerant like to put down. My progression towards being secular was not made lightly. It took years. Now it’s kinda difficult to not have so much shame toward the one religion I find most intolerant and mean. And ignorant. I could be wrong, but it sure seems rampant in the south, no? \

I just jumped on board, I didn’t start it. I just knew that I could find any blog here that would lead to it. You guys get so funny about it. Just because I’m green doesn’t mean I don’t still like mischief!

By Weim Mom

May 31, 2006 3:57 PM | Link to this

Believe it or not, White County is a very tolerant place. My partner and I have owned a weekend home up there for going on 10 years and have met many wonderful and open-minded people. Nobody seems to care a bit that we are lesbians, and we’ve never been harassed or discriminated against in any respect. I agree that the school group thing is lousy, but it is hardly reflective of the entire community.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:00 PM | Link to this

HUH … you are a damn lying fool!!

This is a topic hardly of my making and your moral fascism - i.e seeming denial of my free speech is typical of a liberal nitwit (to be polite).

MANY THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENTS ABOUT MY WIT AND ERUDITION THOUGH, ALBEIT SOMEWHAT BACK HANDED. grin

By Huh?

May 31, 2006 4:02 PM | Link to this

the prerequisites of morons x 2 of the universe is equal to the dark side of the moon for the purposes of deep sea exploration, sans the volcanic eruptions of Mt Vesuvius, for which the political front is responsible.

Makes about as much sense as you. huger smirk

By Graduate

May 31, 2006 4:03 PM | Link to this

Harold,

If I stood in what is equivelent to the “town-sqare” in front of Buddist Monks and chopped up animals on a daily basis, wore inappropriate clothing, and played Metalica, I don’t forsee that going over very well. Do you honestly think it would?

Don’t be so obtuse.

I see that this sentence is the only section you commented back on. Is it, per-chance, the only part you read?

By Harold

May 31, 2006 4:09 PM | Link to this

Hey Time for the Troll, just TRY to find a blog where you haven’t tossed out “simpering” within three posts. “HUH” has you pegged for being peg boy.

Graduate, I read all your stuff. Most of it was paranoid Bible blinded hooey where the x-ians think anybody different from them cant possibly just want to live their own life unmoltestered by xians but instead are out to get the xians and persecute them. You hate the sin not the sinner. (R-ii-i—ii-ight.)

Anyway there is no deprogramming Graduate, so Harold responded to the part about Buddhists.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:10 PM | Link to this

lunatic,

no one is really putting homsoexuals down here, but mirroring back their abuse/bigotry is fair enough. I repeated my points because of harolds (and others’) intellectual dishonesty and substantive aversion to sound sensible conservtaive points. this way you nail their slippery liberal hypocrisy - oops did it again smirk

‘mohammedanism’, even the “mainstream kind” is much more intolerant and mean than ‘christianity’ - thats irrefutable. why invoke “shame” - its simply the way folks believe or are told to believe - in whatever it is - all religion is man made anyway. none of it is your doing!! (too long a debate for here) I absolutely respect the right of anyone to believe whatever they want - just not necessarily the actual beliefs.

JUST WANTED TO SAY I STILL LOATHE LIBERALS - nearly forgot this time small grin

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:12 PM | Link to this

harold simpers

By L.A

May 31, 2006 4:13 PM | Link to this

Every time my german in-laws come to visit from Germany (where their Bavarian villages are strangely authentic), I am asked repeatedly if I plan to take them up to Helen… … . Uhhhhh,no.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:13 PM | Link to this

harold is simpering

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:15 PM | Link to this

harold simpers a lot - that’s 3/3 - a clear personal best (so far)

By Harold

May 31, 2006 4:16 PM | Link to this

Time for the Troll seems to have a bbbad case of bbbbbanal bbbbbleaking.

-Porky Pig

By Huh?

May 31, 2006 4:17 PM | Link to this

Harold, this Truth guy posts on every blog I see and always has the same ammo. Someone someone has to have pretty low self esteem to come on blogs daily and pick fights with parapraph long sentences that are structured to amuse himself only. Dude needs a life. I mean it’s EVERYDAY. I saw him in another article several weeks ago and he always follows up with “huge smirk” after he feels he gets in a dig. Come on Truth. You’re plagiarizing your own material. Time for a new act.

By clint

May 31, 2006 4:17 PM | Link to this

Hey Prootwadl… So I made an ascerbic comment… but just check out where these comments went… straight to hate. And they always do!

By bob

May 31, 2006 4:20 PM | Link to this

Ah, the joys of blindly labelling an entire group of people. So what if the voters of White County chose not to allow groups in schools? I wish that I had the freedom you liberals enjoy: if someone doesn’t agree with you blindly then you just call them a bigot, racist, or sexist and screw the fine points of debate. Unfortunately, I’m a white, southern, protestant male, making me all of those things without so much as a start of an argument. Trying to sway people away from Helen because you disagree with local politics is one thing, but saying that everyone who lives in White County is a backward redneck hick is childish, idiotic, and self-deprecating. The fact that you cannot come up with an argument so you must resort to name calling is merely the evidence of said fact. Note that I am not calling you that, I am merely stating that your actions are as such.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:21 PM | Link to this

huh,

clearly you had the wrong kind of mushrooms on your pizza at lunchtime!!

my post was crystal clear - just prudently anti-liberal - which is the only sensible way to be these days. intergalactic smirk

By Huh?

May 31, 2006 4:24 PM | Link to this

Sorry. Allergic to dairy. No pizza for me. Don’t judge others by your own standards because you needed the endo at lunch. cosmic smirk

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:24 PM | Link to this

HUH

Its simply the cynic in me pandering (albeit shamelessly) to the pavlov’s dog nature of ALL liberals. its fun playing with words bubbakins - get someone to teeeeeeeeech you!! humungous I really hate liberals smirk

By Harold

May 31, 2006 4:25 PM | Link to this

See Time for the Troll? You should toss out the thesaurus toilet paper and take a lesson from Bob.

Bob is absolutely right that “saying that everyone who lives in White County is a backward redneck hick is childish, idiotic, and self-deprecating. “

Harold apologizes to anyone in White County who can read this and is not a backward redneck hick.

Still, perhaps a county label will get the ones who don’t quite fit that label to speak up at the next commission meeting and say “you know what? we are losing money because of this carp.”

By NK

May 31, 2006 4:27 PM | Link to this

It was a family “tradition” for our family to spend the Labor Day weekend in Helen when my children were growing up. They loved tubing down the Hooch, learning the “Chicken Dance” during Octoberfest, and exploring the same shops over and over and over again. (sigh) There are also wonderful picnic and hiking locations close by. My grown son and his wife recently visited from New Mexico and a visit to Helen was at the top of their list of things to do. We both commented that the town somehow seemed seemed smaller than when he and his sister were small!

By WW

May 31, 2006 4:29 PM | Link to this

Politics aside, the only really exceptional thing about Helen is Betty’s general store- worth the trip over the mountains from our vacation hangout in Tiger.

By Cosmo

May 31, 2006 4:29 PM | Link to this

Harold, I was in Helen last year for Octoberfest and I doubt they are losing any money - the place was packed. You must remember, GA (like most of the South) is a Red State and based on the overwhelming passage of the Gay Marriage ban I would assume that a majority of the residents of the state agree with White County ‘s action regarding the Gay Club.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:30 PM | Link to this

actual harold the cretin - I was simply flettingly enjoying mocking you YET AGAIN - sigh - liberals obviously are so self absorbed they cannot concieve that anyone would do such an incredibly easy and extremely necessary social service!!

By Mike

May 31, 2006 4:31 PM | Link to this

I got up to Helen and spend my hard earned money there because I like to support people that are as against gay marriage as I am. It’s about time someone steps up and does something about these nut job gay activists.

By Huh?

May 31, 2006 4:31 PM | Link to this

Bubbakins. Dude. Sorry. That’s not printed on your thesaurus toilet paper. Try again. Harold. Huge Smirk needs a little help here. He’s losing his touch. See? Proved my point. He can’t resist an argument. Checkmate. Now here come more paragraph long sentences.

Can’t wait to hike the trails in Helen. Have heard the German Beers are slamming and will take in the bavarian pubs afterwards.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:35 PM | Link to this

what’s a thesaurus - is it a homosexual activist’s online adult literacy assistant?

BTW I will be cooking a couple of f* in the microwave for my supper tonight!!

N.B my use of “f*” here is actually a English food/dish - not a mildly amusingly allegedly perjorative term for a homosexual.

By Huh?

May 31, 2006 4:37 PM | Link to this

Time to take off and hit the pool for some laps. Huge Smirk, sorry to leave you hanging dude, but I’ve got some babes waiting for me with a few cold ones on tap. Just prop a mirror for the reflection and you can continue to impress yourself. No one else is.

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:39 PM | Link to this

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!

I see the homosexual pinkos are “manfully” ganging up on the English conservative!!

I dont need to get all my mates from the Virginia Highlands playground to help me verbally slaughter (purely figurative use of course) you!!

By time for the truth

May 31, 2006 4:41 PM | Link to this

bye bye huh!!! and jolly good riddance!!

I hope you dont have to pay “the babes” - (is that what you call them) a personal hygeine premium AGAIN this time!!

By Monica

May 31, 2006 4:44 PM | Link to this

My family and I went to Helen in March. It was very cute. I felt like I was in a Disney town. We found an excellent Italian restaurant there as well.

I realize that during the year there are a number of events that take place, however, they need something other than shopping to attract families during non-event times.

By dg

May 31, 2006 4:45 PM | Link to this

I was in Helen and I noticed that some signs were printed in German, not English. What about that?

By RiderWriter

May 31, 2006 4:46 PM | Link to this

Helen Georgia is to the Appalachian Mountains what Panama City Beach is to the Gulf of Mexico. Cold Budweisers and warm funnel cakes, to be sure.

By person

May 31, 2006 4:49 PM | Link to this

Go to Helen if you want to go tubing down the river or hiking. Go if you want a day trip and like to eat fudge. If you like small towns then you will do fine. And don’t read this and form your opinion from mine, go to the town and form your own.