any FEMALES have problems working Downtown Detroit? Walking alone at night in Detroit? (Pontiac: condo, crime rates)

[skye212]

I just received a new job position located Downtown around Woodward/Congress area, fairly close to campus martius. I went to fill out paperwork there today and while walking back to the parking garage alone, this old guy started walking up to me, I ignored him and kept walking, but he kept saying disgusting things to me. By the time I got to the parking garage he stopped following me.

Is this fairly common? Am I going to have to deal with being sexually harassed everyday and do any of those people get aggressive or is it mostly just talk?

Also, I might have to walk alone to the parking garage at night, how safe is it for a female to walk alone?

Any tips, advice or similar stories?

Thanks

[Retroit]

Well, I'm a male and I would have a problem with it. The few times I have been down there have been unpleasant. Last summer I went downtown to take some pictures (as I am interested in architecture) and I had some crazy, young black woman yelling at me at the top of her lungs calling me every ugly racist thing you can imagine. I just ignored her and actually felt sorry for her because she is obviously suffering from some mental disorder, but still it made the experience unpleasant. To top it off, I encountered her later in a different area. I wondered for a moment if she was following me. Most times, I've just been pestered by panhandlers, who give up after you give them the curt brush-off.

I just hate feeling like I have to put a bubble around myself and ignore or turn off people. The city would do itself a favor by rounding these people up and putting them in a home somewhere.

[belleislerunner]

The problem was you ignored him. So he felt like he had to keep badgering you until you acknowledged his existence. He is a human afterall. PS - I'm not condoning what he did is right - I'm just telling you how to handle it.

Next time you encounter someone like that - just say - "hey how you doing" w/o slowing your pace or "no money but have a good one" and you'll be perfectly fine - and often surprised by their pleasant reaction.

PPS - You'll actually love working downtown - don't let that scare you. The hustle/bustle/critical mass of professionals will make you feel like you have a real job and aren't in some souless suburban office park surrounding by parking lots. Ducking out for a coffee/smoothie at 3pm, running to CVS, walking to dinner or a sporting event. You have it made in the shade.

[Coldjensens]

A female walking alone at night in any city is not a good idea period. I hope you at least had your pepper spray in your hand. Is there some reason you cannot walk out with other people from work? Usually downtown is empty at night (after 7 p.m.) except a few homeless people. During events it will be packed. Most homeless people will just ask you for money, sometimes repeatedly. They are just doing their job it is how they make a living. However many will see a woman alone as prey. Even if they are harmless, they hope to intimidate a few dollars from you.

It is rare that anyone bothers any of the hordes of workers form the suburbs, but it happens once in a while. Recently a couple of people were mugged near the Ren Cen. which is usually very safe and quiet.

If you look up statistics you will find downtown Detroit crime rates are somwhat lower than average for US downtowns and Midtown has a very resonable crime rate. However that does not mean there is no crime, it is still a City. OPutside of downtown, midtown and afew otehr areas it gets pretty nasty in places. That is why Detroit has one of the highest overall crime rates of major US cities. But the downtown area and especially midtown are comparatively safe.

And yes. Once you get used to it and learn how to act in a city you will nto get hassles and will probably love working downtown. Some people refuse to learn and spend their career downtown in terror. THat is a shame. It is actualyl a fun place to be.

[danwilsonbsee]

Originally Posted by belleislerunner

The problem was you ignored him. So he felt like he had to keep badgering you until you acknowledged his existence. He is a human afterall. PS - I'm not condoning what he did is right - I'm just telling you how to handle it.

Next time you encounter someone like that - just say - "hey how you doing" w/o slowing your pace or "no money but have a good one" and you'll be perfectly fine - and often surprised by their pleasant reaction.

PPS - You'll actually love working downtown - don't let that scare you. The hustle/bustle/critical mass of professionals will make you feel like you have a real job and aren't in some souless suburban office park surrounding by parking lots. Ducking out for a coffee/smoothie at 3pm, running to CVS, walking to dinner or a sporting event. You have it made in the shade.

Absolutely not - there is no requirement that you acknowledge someone unless you want to. I treat street folk like a streetlight or a mailbox. It's there, it's in the sidewalk and I don't walk into it but I have no need to interact with it unless I want to. If the "pleasant reaction" you're looking for is either a proposition (as you've seen) or request for money than by all means follow this guy's (or girl's) advice.

I will recommend that you never walk with headphones on while you're on your walk to the garage. A good trick is to have the earbuds in but turned off so you can ignore undesirable interaction and still hear if someone approaches you.

[Retroit]

Another idea is to talk on your cell phone...even if there is no one on the other end of the line.

[TheIntrepidNobody]

Originally Posted by skye212

I just received a new job position located Downtown around Woodward/Congress area, fairly close to campus martius. I went to fill out paperwork there today and while walking back to the parking garage alone, this old guy started walking up to me, I ignored him and kept walking, but he kept saying disgusting things to me. By the time I got to the parking garage he stopped following me.

Is this fairly common? Am I going to have to deal with being sexually harassed everyday and do any of those people get aggressive or is it mostly just talk?

Also, I might have to walk alone to the parking garage at night, how safe is it for a female to walk alone?

Any tips, advice or similar stories?

Thanks

Congratulations on your new job and I'm sorry you had an unsettling experience right off the bat. Unfortunately there are quite a few mentally ill (intoxicated or otherwise) and turned out people wandering around in Detroit these days. I know nothing about you, but if you are relatively young, female, and attractive, you should stay alert and have some knowledgeable means to protect yourself ANYWHERE you go in public at any time. Very few obvious verbal clowns turn out to anything other than a self styled stroke job. The more someone verbally heckles and attempts to intimidate you, the less likely it is that they pose any real threat. As far as the nasty comments go, it's when you don't hear any that you want to be most aware and concerned for your safety. Do not be afraid, remain emotionally aloof and take stock of your surroundings. Focus on getting where you are going.

I know this may sound unusual, but it absolutely works.

Focus on even breathing and have both hands free as you walk with your arms naturally swinging at your sides in alternating rhythmic contrast with your strides. When you are walking naturally this will always happen. Keep your thumb pads lightly touching the edge of your slightly curled index fingers. All your fingers on each hand will curl naturally following suite with your index while hanging relaxed at your sides, swinging in a natural rhythm against your strides. Do this. As you walk you will notice an immediately discernible increase in the clarity of your visual perceptive awareness. Your eyes will begin to sharply take note of the details of your surroundings and your peripheral vision will also broaden somewhat.

When you feel uneasy, focus on the touch sensation itself between the surfaces of your thumb pads and the edge of your fingers. The lighter your touch, the more relaxed and focused you will remain as you travel to your destination.

You can also train your ears to block out abject vocabulary/noises by focusing on rhythms within your audible environment.

Good Luck!

[Intern30]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Another idea is to talk on your cell phone...even if there is no one on the other end of the line.

I wouldn't talk on a cell phone. Thieves are snatching cell phones right out of people's hands in the middle of the day near Wayne State.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by TheIntrepidNobody

. I know nothing about you, but if you are relatively young, female, and attractive, you should stay alert and have some knowledgeable means to protect yourself ANYWHERE you go in public at any time. !

If you are young and female, ask guys at work ot wlak you to your car. Even if you do not need it, it will make them feel useful and that will make them happy. Every guy wants to be a white knight (well almost every guy, some a DBs, but you will know which ones are which at work). It is not a romantic thing, it is just nice of you to allow them to feel useful and then you will feel safer and everyone wins.

[ladyblue09]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

If you are young and female, ask guys at work ot wlak you to your car. Even if you do not need it, it will make them feel useful and that will make them happy. Every guy wants to be a white knight (well almost every guy, some a DBs, but you will know which ones are which at work). It is not a romantic thing, it is just nice of you to allow them to feel useful and then you will feel safer and everyone wins.

Yep, I agree with this view. When I worked in Pontiac and they had a problem with muggings in the parking garage, I never went to my car alone at night. I either asked security to escort me or asked one of the trustworthy men I worked with to walk with me. Do NOT walk to your car alone at night. It's not worth the risk.