Don't Believe the Hype : Tucson, Arizona (theater, gangs, getaway)

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Oh, yeah... I forgot! THAT's why they're still here! They're stuck 'cause they can't sell that cute little drop house nestled in the middle of that gangland war zone.

That, too, but mostly when everybody vacates houses the value of your own house takes a dive, ya know...

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by Marcy1210

...Rural, urban, suburban, it's all the same. Baltimore; Sandpoint, ID; Casper, WY; ...

While I agree with your larger point about there being good and bad everywhere, they ain't all the same.

Places like Baltimore and Detroit are not even in the same universe as Sandpoint, ID in terms of violent crime and other assorted pathologies.

Glad you love it here. Me too.

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Oh, yeah... I forgot! THAT's why they're still here! They're stuck 'cause they can't sell that cute little drop house nestled in the middle of that gangland war zone.

The POlice don't regard it as nearly as big joke as you do.

Talk about lollypops and unicorns.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by azhiker

Glad you love it here. Me too.

Good ol' Hikerdude!

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by azhiker

The POlice don't regard it as nearly as big joke as you do.

Talk about lollypops and unicorns.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

That, too, but mostly when everybody vacates houses the value of your own house takes a dive, ya know...

Oh, yeah...

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Oh, yeah...

So you better put up with us, huh...

[Marcy1210]

Originally Posted by azhiker

While I agree with your larger point about there being good and bad everywhere, they ain't all the same.

Places like Baltimore and Detroit are not even in the same universe as Sandpoint, ID in terms of violent crime and other assorted pathologies.

Glad you love it here. Me too.

No, of course big cities like Detroit and Baltimore aren't in the same league as Sandpoint, or Casper, or Divide, but crime happens in small towns as well as large cities, maybe not to the same degree, but there are no truly crime free cities that I know of. So, if someone wants what they perceive to be the tranquility, peace and abundant flora and fauna of Divide, and are willing to commute an hour and a half to Colorado Springs, go for it! Just recognize that your son or daughter will be bored stiff living in the Boonies with the nearest movie theater 1/2 hour away and with lack of things to do, well, that could explain the high pregnancy rate, burglaries or breakins (bored teens do cause mischief), stolen cars, wildlife and street signs shot at, (guns are prevalent in the Boonies), grafitti for the fun of it, mailboxes slammed down with baseball bats, vacant houses with the windows shot out, meth labs, child abuse, redneck attitudes, domestic violence, and a sheriff's department with the attitude of shoot first and ask questions later, etc.

No, small towns don't have the massive gang and drug problems of big cities, nor the horrendous murder rates, but they do have some of it. Gangs and drugs are prevalent (what else is there to do on a Saturday night but do drugs, drink, hang with your "hood" bros, and have sex?).

And yes, all that and more happens in larger cities. I'm just saying no one's immune to crime of any kind in any community, so before you decide to relocate somewhere, do your homework, know the statistics of the city, and then carefully make your decision. Be a smart shopper.

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by Marcy1210

No, of course big cities like Detroit and Baltimore aren't in the same league as Sandpoint, or Casper, or Divide, but crime happens in small towns as well as large cities, maybe not to the same degree, but there are no truly crime free cities that I know of. So, if someone wants what they perceive to be the tranquility, peace and abundant flora and fauna of Divide, and are willing to commute an hour and a half to Colorado Springs, go for it! Just recognize that your son or daughter will be bored stiff living in the Boonies with the nearest movie theater 1/2 hour away and with lack of things to do, well, that could explain the high pregnancy rate, burglaries or breakins (bored teens do cause mischief), stolen cars, wildlife and street signs shot at, (guns are prevalent in the Boonies), grafitti for the fun of it, mailboxes slammed down with baseball bats, vacant houses with the windows shot out, meth labs, child abuse, redneck attitudes, domestic violence, and a sheriff's department with the attitude of shoot first and ask questions later, etc.

I still say, apples and oranges. Sure, there're problems in small town America, but compared to inner city slums like Baltimore and Detroit, those mail boxes smashed with baseball bats, etc, are like a Sunday walk in the park. And if you're bringing kids into consideration, I'd consider it child abuse to put your kid into an inner city Detroit or Baltimore school. Better they're a little bored with rural life than that. But hey, those are just my values. If you see little distinction between the kinds of problems in inner city Detroit compared to those you'd encounter in Divide, CO or Podunk, ID, I've no problem with it.

All I know is, for me, if I had a choice between the two, and especially if I had children to consider... I'd do anything I had to to keep my kids out of what I regard as scummy, dangerous areas.

Sure, all areas have some kinds of problems, but in my view, they're leagues apart.

[Marcy1210]

Originally Posted by azhiker

I still say, apples and oranges. Sure, there're problems in small town America, but compared to inner city slums like Baltimore and Detroit, those mail boxes smashed with baseball bats, etc, are like a Sunday walk in the park. And if you're bringing kids into consideration, I'd consider it child abuse to put your kid into an inner city Detroit or Baltimore school. Better they're a little bored with rural life than that. But hey, those are just my values. If you see little distinction between the kinds of problems in inner city Detroit compared to those you'd encounter in Divide, CO or Podunk, ID, I've no problem with it.

All I know is, for me, if I had a choice between the two, and especially if I had children to consider... I'd do anything I had to to keep my kids out of what I regard as scummy, dangerous areas.

Sure, all areas have some kinds of problems, but in my view, they're leagues apart.

You're absolutely right! Divide is no Baltimore, that's for sure. I grew up my first 12 years in suburbs of Detroit and Chicago. We went back to see my old houses a few years ago, and I was absolutely appalled at how ghetto like the area was. I remember my Beaver Cleaver upbringing there, and now it's gang infested ghetto. I locked my car door driving through my old neighborhood. It was truly scary. So, you're right. It is apples and oranges.

And I agree, I'd rather raise kids in Divide or Casper or Sandpoint (actually, we raised four in Divide and there were no unplanned pregnancies , no vandalism that I know of, just normal kid stuff like hiking the hills, fishing in the local lakes, bike riding, sledding, tree climbing, etc.) where I could, and did, encourage them to be in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, athletics, Marching Band, etc.

So, I do agree with you 100%.