Questions for Bawlmer, the negative (Baltimore: crime, houses, neighborhood)

[helenejen]

If you hate Baltimore so much why did you buy a place here? Also, why don't you try offering information and let people make judgments for themselves or at least keep it to your concrete experiences.

I feel sorry for you that you feel so trapped in what you consider to be a hell-hole, but there had to have been some reason for you to have bought here. Otherwise you could have rented and been footloose and Baltimore free by now. Or maybe that fact is what drives you to such negativity?

Don't get all defensive, by the way. I'm asking because I'm really trying to understand your posts in the least judgmental way possible.

[bawlmer]

I have no reason to become defensive. As a matter of fact if you read my posts and the responses, you will find I HAVE limited my posts to my personal exeriences and incidents that I am personally aware of. Those who respond are usually the ones who are defensive. As to why I ended up here, it was my desire to be near my kids who were going to schools here and affordability. I unfortunately discovered why Baltimore is so affordable, but I endured to be close to my kids. Now they are out of school and I'm stuck until the housing market rebounds (unless I take some of the brilliant advice offered by others, like sell you house at a loss and default). I guess it's great that so many people who live here have no idea what's going on around them. But I find it disconcerting to be awakened by gunshots(as I was on June 29) or to discover that the helicopters are hovering overhead because ANOTHER police officer has been shot. These are REAL things not opinions. The majority of responders say Baltimore is great because THEY like it. My opinion is that Baltimore has NO redeeming qualities.

[jonjj]

Poor thing. To afraid to just put the home on the market and sell it for whatever reason. I just received information on four homes that sold in December for this area:
2022 Pratt sold 350-listed 370
2320 Fairmont sold 340-listed 350
2834 Baltimore sold 385-listed 399
136 Patterson Park sold 400-listed 440
And... according to our neighborhood association, all four properties were sold for more than they were bought. Not sure why this fellow doesn't put his home on the market. Could it be he doesn't even live in the neighborhood?????

[bawlmer]

Jonjj,
Not sure why you have to turn personal in your posts, but as far as not living in the neighborhood; you are the one who said he and his 50 neighbors hadn't ever experienced a crime. I'm the one who gave you a list of actual incidents occuring in our neighborhood. So one of us either doesn't live here or has no clue what's going on. (hint: it's not me). As far as information you glean from your neighbors, well, I think we've already seen how reliable that is.

[jonjj]

My posts are not personal. In fact, the only reason why I write on this site is to try to present the truth. If someone is lieing, so be it. But, don't expect a clear shot at it. I was brought up to tell the truth and confront liers, which is what I do.

[rudy_d]

Originally Posted by bawlmer

I'm stuck until the housing market rebounds (unless I take some of the brilliant advice offered by others, like sell you house at a loss and default).

You're certainly doing a lot to help the market rebound by incessantly bashing your neighborhood and city on a message board that's read by many people deciding whether to move here. You've compared Baltimore to Baghdad in your posts. If it's really that bad, I think it's reasonable to suggest that you sell at a loss or default rather than put your life at such risk. It's just money after all.

[bawlmer]

"Stop being a naggy old hen and get on with your life."- a quote from another post to me from jonjj, who's not being personal.

jonjj, your ability to talk out of both sides of your mouth is only exceeded by your lack of knowledge of the housing market and your inabllity to admit you live in a crime ridden cesspool. The fact you like it here is really meaningless. I am just citing actual examples of what living here entails.

[jonjj]

yadda yadda yadda---we've heard it before--it's getting old now

[westsideboy]

Bawlmer, don't underestimate the power of the internet and specifically this forum. This day in age alot of people look for houses online and do their research on potential relocations using the internet. This forum consistently ranks very high on the search engines for queries concerning city safety, etc. (go do some google searches on "baltimore safety" and "baltimore crime" if you don't believe me.)

I don't think you will single handily tank or rebound the home values in your neighborhood, but each of the 3,500 people that read your posts are going to leave with a very negative view of your city and neighborhood. Many these people are potential home buyers.

[bawlmer]

OK, so let me get this straight. I'm supposed to shut up and not point out actual criminal activity in the hopes of luring unsuspecting suckers to Baltimore. I hope people read my posts and understand what goes on here. If I were making things up, then I should be taken to task over that. But I'm not posting BS, unlike some others.

Oh and by the way nice comeback jonjj.