Attitudes in this city... (Baltimore: live, bus, car)

[emmiesix]

So I have noticed something about Baltimore that I don't quite get, maybe someone here can explain it to me.

I've lived in the South, Midwest, and West Coast before coming here. I'm not rich, so I took a lot of public transit (even in cities where must white chicks don't). I never felt uncomfortable on transit in any of those cities.

Here, I've had several "uncomfortable" experiences, where people (usually but not always black women) have given me what I would call a pretty hateful stare. Like, continuously for the entire time that I'm riding the bus or train. I've also had people come up and hit my car. For example when I'm trying to turn left on a green arrow (like I start going, they start crossing even though they don't have a signal, I stop to let them pass, and as they go they hit my car with their hand and make gestures). It's happened enough times that I don't think I just ran across a couple of loonies.

So what's up with that? What did I do to these people? I drive a normal car, look pretty average, try to be polite, and don't stare or do anything provoking. I'm trying to understand what it is about Baltimore that makes it so different from pretty much everywhere else I've lived in this respect. It makes me think that whatever is in the past of this city is really really ugly... and it surprises me because in the South I find people (of all classes) to be really far more polite than in this city.

[choccity]

I have had the same experiences with people walking in front of my car. I have lived here for 10 years. I don't understand a lot of it and don't want to, but don't put too much into it. Just go about your business and tune these folks out. Not everyone is like that but enough are. I have always said Baltimore is a different place. If you didn't grow up here it's hard to really understand the people. That would be true for any city.

[Noble Savage]

Do you have an exit plan? Forget Baltimore, the people there have bad attitudes and are proud of the thugish behavior.

[Mahatma X]

Baltimore envies different swag on the low, mostly the women. If you talk proper and don't have the accent you will be labeled "uppity" or conceited. Its even worse when you are black because you will be labeled an uncle Tom. As far as Baltimore's past its very messed up and I can't begin to explain it. All you can do is tune them out and go about your life and surround yourself with better off people. Riding public transit in this city though.... its impossible to avoid the ghetto ass people.

[Infinite_heights77]

It's jealousy, hatred, self-hatred, envy, poverty, miseducation, mental health, racism, intra-racism, drugs, guns, poor leadership, financial mismanagement, on and on..

Originally Posted by Mahatma X

Baltimore envies different swag on the low, mostly the women. If you talk proper and don't have the accent you will be labeled "uppity" or conceited. Its even worse when you are black because you will be labeled an uncle Tom. As far as Baltimore's past its very messed up and I can't begin to explain it. All you can do is tune them out and go about your life and surround yourself with better off people. Riding public transit in this city though.... its impossible to avoid the ghetto ass people.

[Infinite_heights77]

"If you talk proper and don't have the accent you will be labeled "uppity" or conceited. Its even worse when you are black because you will be labeled an uncle Tom."

*Who has time for such misplaced and ignorant thinking?! Equating with people who speak proper with foolishness, being white and all that garbage. Most of these folks don't even know who the real Uncle Tom was and what he carried out.

[Infinite_heights77]

There should be a WAR or movement against ignorance in Baltimore.

[are you kidinme?]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

There should be a WAR or movement against ignorance in Baltimore.

I'm afraid there would be a lot of victims.

[BMoreJuice]

Baltimore folks have a very individualistic attitude. Trust no one, everyone may want to get you.. Even my best friend attitude. No one understands it and I'm surrounded by it. Don't take it personal although its discomforting.

[feck]

Yeah, people in Baltimore are very high-minded
.......so to speak.