Talk:Bonackers

Please note that before creating this page I tried unsuccessfully to contact the "deleting administrator" MZMcBride. (Per notice saying he had deleted the original talk page). His user page is arcane and all but empty, and there is also no record on his contribs tab of a deletion at 05:05, 30 April 2008 (though there are many shown at other times that day). I also noticed hints of past problems with this person such as having been blocked at some point by higher level admins.

I wanted to contact the author regarding other information I've encountered on the topic, hoping to determine if it's genuine or purely anecdotal. However, as I write this there is no History tab showing, making authorship doubly unclear, so I'll leave my info here for the record.

In September 1979 I had a conversation with a tall, big-boned, larger-than-life character in a Sag Harbor bar who identified herself as a life-long area resident and a Bonacker. Estimated age mid-50s, so born 1930 or earlier. She explained that they were a distinct ethnicity of Portuguese origin, harking back to a time (conceivably 300 years ago, give or take) when vessels from Portuguese ports fished the Grand Banks and continental shelf of North America. According to her, they established seasonal fish stores and salting racks on eastern Long Island, which eventually became a permanent community (she thought the men had sent for their wives or interbred with local Montauk tribeswomen). She also claimed that the Bonacker moniker was the origin of the word "bonkers," the implication being that they were quite wild by reputation. I haven't seen her claim supported elsewhere but it seemed marvelously apt given her "in your face" presence and style. Sure, maybe just another garden-variety professional alcoholic -- but I'll leave that for the next person to sort out. Good luck, whoever you are! Cliffewiki (talk) 23:49, 7 April 2015 (UTC)