Crime in Maine (Portland: new home, neighborhoods, place to live)

[Elcarim]

I've wanted to move to New England all my life - since I can remember. I only realized after researching over the last 5-6 years that Maine is the only one of the NE states that offers the way of life I truly desire. I started researching Maine, specifically, several years ago. I realize, as anyone with any degree of common sense would, that it's certainly not perfect. But when compared with all the other places I've lived in my lifetime, it has them beat hands down.

I read 3 Maine newspapers online daily to keep up with the important happenings. I've studied the economy, the unemployment rates and the whole tax situation. I've studied in GREAT detail the crime stats for the areas of Maine we've considered moving to. I can say with a great deal of conviction that the grass is greener in Maine than it is in the Houston, TX area - by far!

I do hope, for you, that you can someday find a place that will fulfill you and make you happy. I've decided that life if just too short to live someone else's dream!

[Let's tell the truth]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

I've wanted to move to New England all my life - since I can remember. I only realized after researching over the last 5-6 years that Maine is the only one of the NE states that offers the way of life I truly desire. I started researching Maine, specifically, several years ago. I realize, as anyone with any degree of common sense would, that it's certainly not perfect. But when compared with all the other places I've lived in my lifetime, it has them beat hands down.

I read 3 Maine newspapers online daily to keep up with the important happenings. I've studied the economy, the unemployment rates and the whole tax situation. I've studied in GREAT detail the crime stats for the areas of Maine we've considered moving to. I can say with a great deal of conviction that the grass is greener in Maine than it is in the Houston, TX area - by far!

I do hope, for you, that you can someday find a place that will fulfill you and make you happy. I've decided that life if just too short to live someone else's dream!

Well it seems you have at least done some research I'm glad to hear it's not a snap decision. Have you ever visited Maine ? Visiting Maine will not give you the whole picture don't get me wrong but it will give you some insight.I do wish you well but be very careful roses are beautiful but they do have thorn"s! And as far as being a happy person I am. I am just not happy with what is happening in the state I have lived in for the 43 year"s of my 52 year life.What made me decide to write on this forum was all I kept reading was people saying how great Maine was and I did not think it was right not to tell people the whole story of Maine. You will be uprooting your whole family and that is a big thing. I just want people to no the whole truth not just how beautiful it is.And the land is beautiful I have never disagreed with that but what goes on and is not talked about isn't. I have given many examples and if you read the post's from Maine you can see they don't want to talk about it or try to joke it off. This will be part of what you will have to deal with. But take all the fact's(and statistics are not the greatest thing's to go by) and make up your own mind. One last thing if at least part of what I have been saying is not true why is everyone so upset?Everything I have said is true and most people on this forum no it and I for one think it is wrong to give people false dream's.

[Zymer]

Crime and corruption exist in every state. It is a fact of life. Any time you put groups of people together and establish a set of rules there are going to be conflicts within and between groups. Not everyone will agree on what the rules should be, some think that some (or all) of the rules shouldn't apply to them for one reason or another. Some lack the cognitive ability to understand why the rules should exist. Some are what we label as having "anti-social personality disorder" or "psychotic" or a number of other terms that are considered by psychologists to describe persons as having some form of "mental illness".

Everyone here is aware that there is crime in Maine. The simple fact is that it occurs at a much lower per capita ratio than in many other places.

Yammering on about crime, in this forum, is a waste of time. The people who are considering moving to Maine are moving from places where the crime rate is much higher on a per capita basis, and anything less than that is an improvement. No one will be disuaded by it, the statistics are freely available. In fact, pointing out the crime rate and motivating people to examine the statistics likely only strengthens the decision to move.

One who wishes to *do* something about the already extant crime and corruption should take action instead of spewing on a message board. Do something productive. Get involved. Preaching doom and gloom on a message board gets little more result and attention than the dirty, bearded looney walking around with a sign that says "The end is near." The message is discounted even more when it is delivered full of spelling and punctuation errors. Rightly or wrongly, people perceive it as coming from someone who lacks education and/or intelligence and is subject to immediate dismissal.

Productive discussion on a message board take place when a group of people identify and agree on something that may be a problem, determine possible causes and discuss potential solutions...and then take action to correct the problem.

For instance, one thing that stands out to me is what appears to be an abnormally high ratio of sex offenders in some areas.

The first step in identifying a problem is to determine whether the problem actually exists- in other words, asking and finding answers to the question of "Is there really an abnormally high ratio of truly criminal sex offenders, or is the data somehow being skewed by extraneous data that does not present a true picture of criminality, or are the laws written in such a manner that relatively minor acts result in a criminal classification, such as "mooning" or (as someone mentioned) walking around "nekkid" in one's own home?"

In a productive discussion, people with some insight into the matter would present verifiable data to support or disprove a particular conclusion. The problem might *actually* be overly puritanical laws combined with excessively zealous enforcement rather than a true criminal problem. (Hey, if you don't want to see me in my birthday-suit, then don't be peeking in my windows.)

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Isn't that GREAT!

Yes it is!!! (psst..only 3 more days 'til we leave for our visit!!!)

[forest beekeeper]

Granted there always is the possibility that one day crime may begin to come to Maine: folks will begin to install locks on their doors, and remove the keys from their vehicles.

But that day is not now.

[Let's tell the truth]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Crime and corruption exist in every state. It is a fact of life. Any time you put groups of people together and establish a set of rules there are going to be conflicts within and between groups. Not everyone will agree on what the rules should be, some think that some (or all) of the rules shouldn't apply to them for one reason or another. Some lack the cognitive ability to understand why the rules should exist. Some are what we label as having "anti-social personality disorder" or "psychotic" or a number of other terms that are considered by psychologists to describe persons as having some form of "mental illness".

Everyone here is aware that there is crime in Maine. The simple fact is that it occurs at a much lower per capita ratio than in many other places.

Yammering on about crime, in this forum, is a waste of time. The people who are considering moving to Maine are moving from places where the crime rate is much higher on a per capita basis, and anything less than that is an improvement. No one will be disuaded by it, the statistics are freely available. In fact, pointing out the crime rate and motivating people to examine the statistics likely only strengthens the decision to move.

One who wishes to *do* something about the already extant crime and corruption should take action instead of spewing on a message board. Do something productive. Get involved. Preaching doom and gloom on a message board gets little more result and attention than the dirty, bearded looney walking around with a sign that says "The end is near." The message is discounted even more when it is delivered full of spelling and punctuation errors. Rightly or wrongly, people perceive it as coming from someone who lacks education and/or intelligence and is subject to immediate dismissal.

Productive discussion on a message board take place when a group of people identify and agree on something that may be a problem, determine possible causes and discuss potential solutions...and then take action to correct the problem.

For instance, one thing that stands out to me is what appears to be an abnormally high ratio of sex offenders in some areas.

The first step in identifying a problem is to determine whether the problem actually exists- in other words, asking and finding answers to the question of "Is there really an abnormally high ratio of truly criminal sex offenders, or is the data somehow being skewed by extraneous data that does not present a true picture of criminality, or are the laws written in such a manner that relatively minor acts result in a criminal classification, such as "mooning" or (as someone mentioned) walking around "nekkid" in one's own home?"

In a productive discussion, people with some insight into the matter would present verifiable data to support or disprove a particular conclusion. The problem might *actually* be overly puritanical laws combined with excessively zealous enforcement rather than a true criminal problem. (Hey, if you don't want to see me in my birthday-suit, then don't be peeking in my windows.)

Well I guess you told me!!Why are you so angry? Do you get this angry when you read the mourning paper? Do you get this angry when you watch your local news? There are alot of thing's that we as American's can discuss that we may not be able to change like the Iraq war do we stop talking about our men being killed? Sometimes we as people of our country can not make the change alone, but together as a group we may be heard by someone who can!!Now for Sex Offender's . So I'm suppose to tell my grandchildren some sex offender's are nice people!! I don't think so and if you read the descriptions of what they where caught for you may understand!!And would everybody give it up on my spelling I don't use spell check and no I am not perfect but I think my point's are coming threw loud and clear!! I'll be updating later. Have a great day!!

[mollysmiles]

This is the difference between you and most of the rest of us LTTT. (I say MOST because I don't think I should speak for everyone, but do know for certain how most people are feeling about this) YOU read Zymer's post, and saw anger. I didn't see that at all. There was nothing in his post to denote anger at all, and yet, that's what you see. Why do you believe that WE'RE the angry people? You're not upsetting anyone, because no one can take you seriously. Forest noted it perfectly....you just keep yelling that the sky is falling.

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by Let's tell the truth

Well I guess you told me!!

I didn't even address you, I made a general statement. Do you often feel that you are being attacked because statements made by other people may contain characterizations that may be applicable to you?

Why are you so angry?

I'm not angry. Please don't project. There are professionals who can help you in this regard.

There are alot of thing's that we as American's can discuss that we may not be able to change like the Iraq war do we stop talking about our men being killed?

What makes you think it can't be changed? If enough people get together, have productive discussions, formulate an effective plan of action and implement that plan then many things can be changed. But you have to take action, simply talking about it is insufficient.

Now for Sex Offender's . So I'm suppose to tell my grandchildren some sex offender's are nice people!! I don't think so..

Who said any such thing? *I* certainly didn't. I merely provided an example of the mechanism by which a potential problem might be identified, productive discussion started, and facts and data gathered in order to confirm or refute the existence of a problem and possible solutions to the problem if one is identified.

I fail to see how any reasonable person could extrapolate that into "...some sex offender's are nice people...".

And would everybody give it up on my spelling I don't use spell check and no I am not perfect but I think my point's are coming threw loud and clear!!

I don't use spell check either. So what? I don't think a spell-checker would be of much help in your case. Most spell-checkers aren't designed to make corrections for those who are homonym-challenged.

The fact remains that people often judge others by how those people choose to present themselves, whether it is the physical appearance of a person dressed all in black, wearing black mascara and a face full of piercings or by their written messages (if that is all that can be seen).

A message which is rife with errors gives the appearance of coming from someone who is ignorant or uneducated and is more readily dismissed. Do you not want your message to be considered by the widest audience possible?

Rather than complaining that you think other people are picking on you because of your spelling, if you were to understand what I am saying and present your message in a manner that is more polished you might reach a wider audience.

You *do* want people to read and consider your messages, don't you? Taking care in how you present your message (and yourself) will help you get your message across to more people. That's just a simple fact of life, do with it what you will.

[Futcha]

Originally Posted by Let's tell the truth

12 to 15 ROBBERIES ON WEST SIDE OF BANGOR 80 YEAR OLD MAN SPRAYED WITH PEPPER SPRAY!! go to Bangor Daily News

Wow! That's hard core, all NYC gets is a young Police Officer that was shot in the nose and mouth from a car window and he's dead now. That actually happened, though, very recently ths Summer. The Police Officer was 23 years old, not even a year on patrol, and was killed by some thugs who decided to carjack a BMW. Condolences out to the family.

[forest beekeeper]

It is very telling when: LTTTT wants to cry that the sky is falling and everyone else seems to be quoting the facts that it is clearly not falling; and LTTTT turns to anger.

LTTT please do consider counseling.

It would appear that you have been subjected to unfair treatment or perhaps abuse.

It affected you very personally. You hold on to this hurt very dearly, and you take it as a personal insult when anyone appears to be dismissing your hurt. Which is why you are projecting this anger in every direction that you look.

Please do not take this as yet another assault on you, I do not intend it to be an assault. I have read your posts, and this is what I see.

May God bless you and keep you.