Seriously speaking, why are people in NJ's low crime areas so paranoid about crime? (Newark: houses, safe area)

[angerinthenation]

Am I making any sense here? I find it extremely odd that there are people living in the bad areas of Irvington, Newark, East Orange, Camden even feel more comfortable in their homes and neighborhoods yet you have people living in Somerset County or Sussex County armed with AK-47 and Desert Eagles in fear of being robbed in their own home or murdered. Am I missing something here? I'm not saying that the people that live in those bad areas aren't paranoid about crime now but not to the extend where they're arming themselves with guns and all sorts of weaponry. Relying on a bunch of newspaper articles doesn't help your cause either. I read my town's newspaper daily and I read about my fellow neighbors cars getting stolen, houses being broken into but that doesn't scare me to the point where I need a gun now. No offense but some of you are making me say to myself what's wrong with you.

[xmonger]

Originally Posted by angerinthenation

Am I making any sense here?

No.

[angerinthenation]

Originally Posted by xmonger

No.

I believe I'm making sense here. I don't understand why someone living out in Warren County in the boondocks on a farm where they have a fully operational police force (I know this for a fact because they harassed me just for driving off Route 78 twice) would feel that they're more at risk for a crime than somebody in Newark or Irvington. Are any of you aware of your environment or surroundings? I felt more safer in Warren County and Somerset County than Newark or Irvington with the exception of the police who seem to be trigger happy over in Warren County especially.

[VeradoDan]

I don't think suburban people feel "more at risk" for a crime. Perhaps, however, in the case a crime does occur, we're not used to it and refuse to accept it like the folks in the high-crime areas.

I personally don't know anyone who goes to bed clutching an AK-47 or a Desert Eagle, nor do I know anyone who cowers in fear over being robbed or murdered in the middle of the night. In fact, wasn't there a thread earlier on here asking why people in the suburbs don't even bother to lock their doors? They don't sound too nervous to me.

[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by angerinthenation

I believe I'm making sense here. I don't understand why someone living out in Warren County in the boondocks on a farm where they have a fully operational police force (I know this for a fact because they harassed me just for driving off Route 78 twice) would feel that they're more at risk for a crime than somebody in Newark or Irvington. Are any of you aware of your environment or surroundings? I felt more safer in Warren County and Somerset County than Newark or Irvington with the exception of the police who seem to be trigger happy over in Warren County especially.

when you are out in Warren county, if something does go down, it can take 15-20 minutes for police to arrive....

You would be stupid not to have a gun.


But i agree that some of the people here are scared of their own shadow. seriously people on here have been scared of running in a park in the suburbs.... get over yourself. cant live life in fear

[FlyersFan]

New Jersey actually has some low crime areas ????

[kalim2008]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

But i agree that some of the people here are scared of their own shadow. seriously people on here have been scared of running in a park in the suburbs.... get over yourself. cant live life in fear

I agree; some people here make it seem as if some cities are post nuclear war disaster areas.

When I lived in the heart of LA (near the USC campus), I frequently walked all over the place during daylight, although kept nearer USC at night (Not out of fear though, it's just you couldn't do what I was doing at night). A few years later, we had the rodney king thing going on over there, and rioting close to USC.

When I lived in N Plainfield, I used to drive slowly all over the place, into plainfield, etc. I liked the place, it was very colorful and lots of beautiful older model land cruisers and supras. It certainly never occured to me at the time that this was a "dangerous" area (plainfield).

Of course, you knew there was crime, but you also figured if you were careful and not stupid (e.g. lingering in dark alleys) you should be ok. People are people after all. You treat them right, they most likely will treat you ok right back, no matter what the color, ethnicity, or religion.

[doc1]

Originally Posted by angerinthenation

I believe I'm making sense here. I don't understand why someone living out in Warren County in the boondocks on a farm where they have a fully operational police force (I know this for a fact because they harassed me just for driving off Route 78 twice) would feel that they're more at risk for a crime than somebody in Newark or Irvington. Are any of you aware of your environment or surroundings? I felt more safer in Warren County and Somerset County than Newark or Irvington with the exception of the police who seem to be trigger happy over in Warren County especially.

I don't know anyone in Warren or Sussex Counties that fits your description.

The numerous gun owners I know just enjoy shooting guns and/or hunting, they don't have them because they're living life scared.

To answer your question, you're not making sense to me.

[cyntmac]

Originally Posted by angerinthenation

Am I making any sense here?

No.
In most of the suburban world there is very low paranoia-within that world itself.
There are people who have a low tolerance for urban areas in general terms but that is exception to rule-many people are just more choosy than others.

[NJmmadude]

Yes, you are making perfect sense. Even if I never knew anyone like that, your post makes sense. That being said, I have met people like that. I can think of two people that I know who otherwise seem like reasonably normal people, who have a small arsenal of weapons (one has a stash buried in his backyard) and seem to be preparing for WWIII and the first half of WWIV.

I've been involved in martial arts and self-defense programs for about 20 years, and I sometimes come across people who have an unusual level of paranoia. These people are uber-vigilant about their protection and the protection of their families. They seem to have investigated every possible avenue of self-defense, and have roleplayed every possible violent crime in their minds over and over until it's hard to lift the fog. It's unhealthy and seems to self-perpetuate, feeding on fear. When I ask them if they have ever been the victim of a violent crime, their answer is almost always 'no'. They almost all live in relatively safe areas.

It makes me wonder what the seeds of this condition are.

Someone should tell these people that one of the best self-protection tools out there is a good pair of running shoes.

If you are at all interested in this topic or the topic of self-protection, there are two books on self-protection that are very good- 'The Gift of Fear' by Gavin DeBecker, and even 'Strong on Defense' by Sanford Strong. These books differ in their scope and philosophy of self-protection, but they are both excellent. I usually recommend those books to people if they are interested in self-protection but don't want to go off the deep end.