The last time you felt unsafe in Chicago (Lincoln, Nashville: sale, home)

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

Do you think that guy on the bus was doing that to you because he is a racist?

I don’t know if he was racist. I do think he was a living piece of sht that could have been looking for trouble.

[Stillers]

The only time I've felt unsafe was when I was waiting on the bus at like 9 or 10pm and a group of dudes walked up to me and asked if they could use my phone. For those that don't know, this is usually the prelude to getting robbed. I just patted my pockets and said I didn't have it on me. I thought for sure I was about to get beat up, but they kept it moving.

But that experience isn't unique to Chicago. Nothing about the city itself has made me feel unsafe. Though when I talk to people from here about my apartment search (which is hell!), they all say to avoid the west and south sides, which I'm aware of, but it's funny how the locals are more off-putting than the transplants.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by Stillers

but it's funny how the locals are more off-putting than the transplants.

I can see that too. I think that is the case everywhere. Transplants seems more open to the overall experience of the city.

[myrc60]

9/12/01 as I entered my office building 1/2 block from the then, Sears Tower. In less than 6 months we moved further away and I left that job when I moved to SC.

[Lookout Kid]

The only time I truly felt like I was in danger of bodily harm was when I went to Soldier Field as a Packer fan, and the Packers completely humiliated the Bears in a New Years Eve game when everyone was drunk.

Everything else has been pretty minor. There were a couple of times that a group of teenagers heckled my wife in Uptown, and I worried that it might turn in to an altercation. Homeless people can sometimes act in unpredictable ways or get aggressive. I have been in or near areas where there have been shootings, but never seen a gun drawn by a criminal. I guess I saw a guy try to stab a cop in Chinatown many years ago--but I was more afraid for the cop's safety than my own.

Oh yeah, my apartment was broken in to in 2004. But they were long gone before I got home.

[It'sAutomatic]

When I was new to the city, I waited for a bus transfer at 55th and Halsted at like 11PM. I realized when I got there that it was a bad idea, but I was fine.

The worst: I was riding my bike around Garfield Park. I'm more cautious in the hood and stick more to main roads. I also keep an eye out for groups of dudes on street corners and turn back around from them once in a long while. This time I took a right off Washington onto Kostner and there were four dudes at the next corner over and one just staaaaared at me. The four of them could have easily beat my ass and stole my *****, but I suppose they hang out at that corner regularly and the police would know exactly who did it.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

I can see that too. I think that is the case everywhere. Transplants seems more open to the overall experience of the city.

Yeah, I noticed after my first year in Chicago that I suddenly knew a hell of a lot more about the neighborhoods and actual dynamics of the city than most of my friends who all grew up in the suburbs and then generally moved into the north side when they were in their early 20's.

They seemed so much more ignorant to a lot of the city, public transit, the politics, schools, directions around the city, etc. than I did and I was a 23 year old kid from Iowa. I just happened to have a very blank slate of the city and seemed to get a more well rounded learning of it than they did who grew up from day one with their parents/grandparents biases being their learning.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

I don’t know if he was racist. I do think he was a living piece of sht that could have been looking for trouble.

Just wondering because usually you everyone is racist towards you here in Chicago, or so you claim.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

Just wondering because usually you everyone is racist towards you here in Chicago, or so you claim.

There was no racial slurs or anything that would make me say that he was racist. But he could have been I don't know.

Only time I say an incident is racist is if someone shows disdain for my race. I think he was just dumb.

I think I'm more than capable of determining what's racist and what isn't. I don't know if this is the case. Many other times it has been.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

There was no racial slurs or anything that would make me say that he was racist. But he could have been I don't know.

Only time I say an incident is racist is if someone shows disdain for my race. I think he was just dumb.

I think I'm more than capable of determining what's racist and what isn't. I don't know if this is the case. Many other times it has been.

Was just asking because that is what you say all the time.