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If you just mind your own business and treat others with respect like you would anybody else you will be fine (99 times out of 100)
..Of course, there is always a chance of running accross someone crazy though but that can happen anywhere
Basically.... As a fellow Upstater, it seems like you can avoid much of that lifestyle and still live in the major cities here.
Another things about the hoods, at least in my area, they have quite a few White people. That goes against the stereotype of said neighborhoods too. For instance, here is a description of one of our rougher neighborhoods: //www.city-data.com/neighborhoo...racuse-NY.html
It depends on where you grew up and what you are use to. If you grew up in the suburbs and never heard of this kind of stuff, then tried to live there, it might not be your comfort zone. So for people like that, living there might not be a good idea. But I wouldn't say avoid these areas all together.
There is some exaggeration involved because oftentimes, people telling others to stay away from ghetto crime areas don't know anyone who has lived/live there or they haven't came up in that. I grew up in the notorious Northside Of Jacksonville where I've seen everything from drug transactions, hustlers on the block to cats getting their brains blown out, literally. A few years ago, guns were blazing and one dude took out a shotgun and ran up on the other dude and blew his head clean off, you could see his head barely hanging onto his body. Not long after that, there was a colossal shootout between two groups that escalated from an altercation at a Northside club. Both groups were driving when they just stopped their vehicles, hopped out their cars and started shooting. Over 100 rounds were fired. It was straight warfare.
I think most of the "stay away" crowd comes from safe suburbia. They are just basing things off of what they have heard, the media, etc. They might mention a sojourn they had in the hood to gain some cred, but other than that they likely don't know what they're talking about.
Like the common theme on the thread says, if you mind your own business, it likely won't affect you. If you do get crossed by a gang member, or a "scary person", do your best to stay out of their way and not tick them off. If you see something you probably shouldn't have, mind your own business and keep your mouth shut.
However, it's hard to have a problem with a place you know. I grew up in a barrio, and I would totally live there again without any reservations. I'd be a little more hesitant to move into a different barrio (just because I don't "know" it), especially if I can afford to not live in one.
Sometimes people exaggerate. There are some really bad ghettos here in Memphis, but other places tend to also get labled as ghetto just because they are majority black. There are pleanty of nice suburban black neighborhoods in the Memphis area, they look just as nice as the white suburban neighborhoods, but they still get labled as "ghetto"
Sometimes people exaggerate. There are some really bad ghettos here in Memphis, but other places tend to also get labled as ghetto just because they are majority black. There are pleanty of nice suburban black neighborhoods in the Memphis area, they look just as nice as the white suburban neighborhoods, but they still get labled as "ghetto"
I totally know what you are saying, as you can see this about similar communities and neighborhoods on other forums. For instance, I showed information a school district on Long Island that had a majority Black student population and had good test scores. People were still discouraging people to consider that area, eventhough the area was generally safe and had good schools.
There is some exaggeration involved because oftentimes, people telling others to stay away from ghetto crime areas don't know anyone who has lived/live there or they haven't came up in that. I grew up in the notorious Northside Of Jacksonville where I've seen everything from drug transactions, hustlers on the block to cats getting their brains blown out, literally. A few years ago, guns were blazing and one dude took out a shotgun and ran up on the other dude and blew his head clean off, you could see his head barely hanging onto his body. Not long after that, there was a colossal shootout between two groups that escalated from an altercation at a Northside club. Both groups were driving when they just stopped their vehicles, hopped out their cars and started shooting. Over 100 rounds were fired. It was straight warfare.
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
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I may possbily get accused of this, but one thing to consider with me is that I've lived some places that ain't safe surburbia like Hampton/Norfolk, VA and Sumter, SC. Most of the areas I've advised folk to stay away from are areas I have a lot experience with. For example, Rt. 1 in Fairfax County, VA is a place where I worked for two years and can truly attest that it's a POS without any guilt.
I may possbily get accused of this, but one thing to consider with me is that I've lived some places that ain't safe surburbia like Hampton/Norfolk, VA and Sumter, SC. Most of the areas I've advised folk to stay away from are areas I have a lot experience with. For example, Rt. 1 in Fairfax County, VA is a place where I worked for two years and can truly attest that it's a POS without any guilt.
Really? Why?
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