In Reply to: HNR Part two posted by Moreno on Saturday, 14. July 2012 at 09:05 Bali Time:
many visitors get too close to locals.
This fosters the impression that the visitor is a "soft touch".
There is often a sort of emotional blackmail that goes with this, whereby the visitor feels almost obliged to "come across" with the cash/goods/favours or whatever.
This situation can only escalate, because if the visitor comes across with something, there must be much more where that came from.
It will not stop until the visitor sees the light and pulls the plug.
By all means, have friends and build relationships with locals.
But make it very very clear that you are not there as a travelling philanthropist.
If the local is genuinely interested in maintaining any relationship with little hope of easy handouts, they will.
If they drift away to other softer targets, you have lost very little.