A Walk on the Wild Side (West Mifflin, Wilkinsburg: homes, entertainment, airport)

[Elder18]

Well, it seems that I'm not alone here, oddly enough.

Does anyone else have stories about the shadier side of the city they'd like to share?

It's really interesting to me.

[5stones]

in 1990's in NYC we left a party after the Army Navy game. we got turned around and I got the map out... and was trying to figure out where we were. As I am looking up I notice the area has gotten very run down etc... 2 cars are "showding" us. (out of state plates on our car, map...hello we scream lost tourist!!) my hubby pulls out his service revolver and has it in his lap. I look out the window and see HARLEM HOSPITAL! yep the middle of Harlem NY! we sped up and I said...don't stop at any lights etc!!!

It was a very interesting 20min!!

just last week we tried to take a short cut to the Balitmore Aquarium!! my daughter looks out the window and says..."hey this kinda looks like a ghetto!!" I said that's beacuse this is the ghetto! we had prostitutes, drug dealers doing business as we passed by!! A nice little moment of street education for the kids!!


anyone else EVER get lost leaving Kennywood and end up in Homewood?? Thats fun too!

[zip95]

Like this one time. We where driving. And we where like in the city, and like we looked out the window, and it was like totally uber ghetto.

And like these two guys totally looked at us. And then the one guys cell phone rang. any you could like totally tell it wasn't even a verizon phone....it was like a Cricket phone or something.

And there where like all these cars with shiny wheels and stuff.

It was like totally freaky.

[Elder18]

There was a patronizing poster on a message forum who couldn't help but troll other people's discussions so that he or she could make fun of those people. Maybe it helped him or her feel better about themselves.

But then that poster left the other posters alone and everyone was happy.

The end.

[CaptainObvious]

Originally Posted by Elder18

Have any of you ever felt like this?

No.

CaptainO

[zip95]

Originally Posted by Elder18

There was a patronizing poster on a message forum who couldn't help but troll other people's discussions so that he or she could make fun of those people. Maybe it helped him or her feel better about themselves.

That is possible so maybe.....but maybe there's also a poster who likes to point out absurd lines of thought.

You apparently find high-poverty and human-suffering amusing (this week you can go to Kennywood, next week Station Square, and the week after Homewood). If that's what you like to post about, that's ok.

But, God forbid some one points out the ridiclousness of 5stones post. That's just uncalled for.....right?

....Maybe in your moral code.....not mine. I guess I just see the world differently.

BTW, I have no problem with this thread in general, even thought I think it's slightly callous.....I too hate driving on Frankstown Rd in Homewood (that red light at the cornerstore with all those young kids loitering)....I lock my doors.

[Elder18]

I'm not trying to be callous.

What I wanted to discuss was that even though people know there are really bad parts of town, some people, and it seems I'm not alone here, have a crazy urge to go there and see what it's really like after hearing so many stories.

And for me it's not like "Look, there's a bear in a cage," way. I've got a strong academic interest in cities and how and why they develop the way they do, and I think this curiosity is an extension of that.

That, and there's just a certain magnetism about seeing things, good or bad, which you don't encounter in your daily life.

I would never wish on anyone having to live in these areas, but since they do, I'd be interested in observing what it really is like.

[zip95]

Originally Posted by Elder18

I'm not trying to be callous.

What I wanted to discuss was that even though people know there are really bad parts of town, some people, and it seems I'm not alone here, have a crazy urge to go there and see what it's really like after hearing so many stories.

And for me it's not like "Look, there's a bear in a cage," way. I've got a strong academic interest in cities and how and why they develop the way they do, and I think this curiosity is an extension of that.

That, and there's just a certain magnetism about seeing things, good or bad, which you don't encounter in your daily life.

I would never wish on anyone having to live in these areas, but since they do, I'd be interested in observing what it really is like.

For the record, I don't have a huge problem with this thread. Primarily, I just didn't like being called a troll.

Anyway, here's a story for you.

Not in any neighborhood but at a Steelers home game about 10 years ago. We drive up. I see two gentlemen arrrive in a beat up (possibly stolen) car. The passenger gets out, ducks down low like a soldier on patrol and starts running. He runs right up to another car, pulls out one of those theft devices, jumps in the car, pops the ignition, and leaves.

Obviously, I turned around, vowing never to park in that lot again.

[5stones]

Like this one time. We where driving. And we where like in the city, and like we looked out the window, and it was like totally uber ghetto.

And like these two guys totally looked at us. And then the one guys cell phone rang. any you could like totally tell it wasn't even a verizon phone....it was like a Cricket phone or something.

And there where like all these cars with shiny wheels and stuff.

It was like totally freaky.

HEY jerk!

where do you get off? you don't know me at all!

was it stupid to get lost in downtown Harlem in hte middle of the night yes...

but don't assume that I don't know what a ghetto is! you don't even know where I grew-up or what race I am. We were smack dab in a very bad area, and yes I know the difference between URBAN life and the Ghetto. Gritty and rough are a bit different than crime ridden. Maybe after you have personally been a vittim of violet crime and witnessed it's aftermath you can get off your high and mighty perch!!

But, God forbid some one points out the ridiclousness of 5stones post. That's just uncalled for.....right?

you have your opinion, but don't not throw in a personal attack on me ****!

[zip95]

Originally Posted by 5stones

HEY jerk!

where do you get off? you don't know me at all!

Don't blame me, you wrote it. The abridged version of your post was something like
"...O my God, one time I drove through Harlem..."

I just call em' like I see em'
It was probably rude of me to call you out by name.....but I couldn't help myself. Sorry if I upset you.

Originally Posted by 5stones

anyone else EVER get lost leaving Kennywood and end up in Homewood?? Thats fun too!

NO, please tell me how in God's name you end up in Homewood leaving Kennywood. That's like leaving the airport and ending up in Shaler.