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This is a relocation forum though. Safety is one of the primary areas of concern for anyone who is moving or planning to move. So I expect these questions to continue, and I will probably try to continue helping those posting them, like I have been helped before by others here. That's the whole point of this forum, helping.
Also, safety is highly localized. Its difficult to categorize a broad area as being safe or unsafe. A couple of unsafe intersections are usually enough to give an entire area a bad reputation. Advice from locals is extremely valuable because it gives you a local perspective. Of course crime stats are a good way to complement this, but ultimately what really gives you the feeling of a neighborhood (other than being there) is talking with the locals. This is the thing I love the most about CD, it makes it easy to chat with locals from almost anywhere in the United States.
I think the "safety" threads are a lot more suitable for this forum than the innumerable "I cannot find (friends/dates/women/men/nightlife/fun/waldo) and it's 600,000-5,600,000 other people's fault, not mine" threads.
Location: the wrong side of the tracks Richmond, VA
585 posts, read 2,014,607 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hesky
This is a relocation forum though. Safety is one of the primary areas of concern for anyone who is moving or planning to move. So I expect these questions to continue, and I will probably try to continue helping those posting them, like I have been helped before by others here. That's the whole point of this forum, helping.
Also, safety is highly localized. Its difficult to categorize a broad area as being safe or unsafe. A couple of unsafe intersections are usually enough to give an entire area a bad reputation. Advice from locals is extremely valuable because it gives you a local perspective. Of course crime stats are a good way to complement this, but ultimately what really gives you the feeling of a neighborhood (other than being there) is talking with the locals. This is the thing I love the most about CD, it makes it easy to chat with locals from almost anywhere in the United States.
I don't think OP's issue is with asking, it's with asking when it's been asked before.
Before I moved east of the river, I must have read every single thread about Southeast going back to a time that no longer exists. Sure, I could have added my own "I am a ______ and I am looking at a condo in _____" thread but I didn't feel like I needed to, my concerns were addressed using the SEARCH box.
Then again, I also had some time to make my decision. Looks like a lot of the "is this area safe?" drive-bys are, for some reason, moving in a week and don't have much time to do their research. Not surprised that people want the answers to be handed to them without actually looking for them - that's not a CD problem, that's a humanity problem.
For all the value of searching, I would say the following
1. sometimes the search results simply aren't as close a match as people would like, in micro location, demographics etc. Sometimes they don't know how close a match is or is not needed. yes, one can often get that by synthesizing a lot of other threads, but some folks who are capable of doing a search, are not so good at synthesizing info like that
2. Places change, ESPECIALLY DC in the last few years. One area I know particular well, near SE, is different now than it was even 18 months ago. In many areas the construction of one or two large new buildings can increase the density of foot traffic sufficiently to impact feelings of discomfort related to crime.
Killabunnies had is right-- this info is already out there. Yes, it does change sometimes (and even quickly). But I would argue that crime doesn't dissapear overnight and that recent data will give you a great idea of what to expect. Yes, people have a right to ask.
My objection was to the:
1. lack of research before asking
2. alarmist slant of several of the threads
3. sheer NUMBER of the same sorts of questions
I tune into this forum to learn new things, share info, and see what others have to say. I guess I get a little cranky seeing the same things over and over. Many of the inquiries seem to lack common sense or any experience living, working, or spending time in any kind of urban environment. Sometimes I feel as though "unsafe" is a code word for "low income" which offends me.
I think the "safety" threads are a lot more suitable for this forum than the innumerable "I cannot find (friends/dates/women/men/nightlife/fun/waldo) and it's 600,000-5,600,000 other people's fault, not mine" threads.
Haha. Yes, I see those too. I have a feeling that some of those blameless individuals without social lives may be afraid to leave their houses because its so "UNSAFE" everywhere.
Well the internet generally can make it feel that answers have to be immediate. Couple that with any news reports which frankly can be misleading.
DC today is much different than it was 20 years ago. Just like Times Square in NYC is much different (granted still targeted to tourists). Heck Boston had the combat zone for quite some time and now it is all cleaned up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Zone_(Boston)
Personally I don't believe that a place gives me a hard time. At no point has a triple decker, a condo, inside of a car or a dock done so. It is people that do that and people can be anywhere.
Killabunnies had is right-- this info is already out there. Yes, it does change sometimes (and even quickly). But I would argue that crime doesn't dissapear overnight and that recent data will give you a great idea of what to expect. Yes, people have a right to ask.
My objection was to the:
1. lack of research before asking
2. alarmist slant of several of the threads
3. sheer NUMBER of the same sorts of questions
I tune into this forum to learn new things, share info, and see what others have to say. I guess I get a little cranky seeing the same things over and over. Many of the inquiries seem to lack common sense or any experience living, working, or spending time in any kind of urban environment. Sometimes I feel as though "unsafe" is a code word for "low income" which offends me.
Yes but as someone mentioned isn't helping people the point of this forum versus judging them? Yes there are code words but to me there's no code for unsafe. Unsafe is just not safe. If a person has never been or spent a lot of time in a place then why not help that person with another point of view?
Low income? If you feel that someone is being classist then encourage that person to re-examine their viewpoint. At the same time let's not act like all neighborhoods are created equal. Crime is higher in neighborhoods with lower incomes. Pretending that Congress Heights and Friendship Heights are on in the same because they have "Heights" in their names is folly at best.
Some people DON'T have experience living in an urban environment. That's not a bad thing. Cities aren't just for people who have experience its not a high profile job designed only for experienced applicants. Entry level candidates should be encouraged to apply.
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