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I don't think it's a racial thing. I just think you have a number of people for whom city living is a new experience and don't know any better. You have no idea how many people I see walking around DC with iPods with this "La la, la la la la, la la la la la" Smurfs look on their face. And then someone robs them and they feel like they've been violated. What did they think would happen?
My neighbor had a tenant who grew up in some suburb in NOVA. He always skipped to and fro throughout the neighborhood with iPod in tow, and naturally, got robbed. He made such a big deal of it. He went around the neighborhood passing out CrimeWatch flyers. When he got to my house, I made a statement like "Being robbed at gunpoint must be a terrible feeling."
He replied, "He didn't have a gun."
So I say, "Oh, really? What did he have then?"
He says, "A cane."
I'm sorry, but I started laughing right there in his face. He then went on to tell me that he walked around a corner and was accosted by an old man (who was a large old man apparently). The old man told him to give him his wallet, or else he'd "F" him up with his cane. So he made the guy get on the ground, pull his coat over his head, and hand him his wallet. That's just the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard in my life. If an old man tried to rob me with a cane, I'd open a can of whoop ass for sure.
I hate to say it, but sometimes people like this have to learn on their own. No matter what you tell them, street sense is something that is an acquired skill. If somebody is reacting to a man with a cane, he probably doesn't have the mindset to live in an urban environment.
If an old man tried to rob me with a cane, I'd open a can of whoop ass for sure.
There would be a candle light vigil outside of whatever hospital you put the guy in, courtland milloy would write an article about how you're a gentrifying parasite and the guy was a neighborhood institution, brief clips of his neighbors stumbling through a semi-coherent statement of his saintlyhood while wearing a t-shirt with his face on it would run on the evening news. DC's social ecosystem is funny like that.
6. Make sure you don't move to a neighborhood that requires you to do most of these things. Because if you live in such a place, then you're asking for trouble no matter what you do.
If you are moving to Washington, DC from [fill in the suburb of Midwestern city], then I have a few tips that might help you avoid [being murdered, mugged, or burglarized].
1. Keep your freakin' blinds shut. I know you may like natural light and all, but when you don't close your curtains/blinds, especially at night, people are looking all up in your house. This is especially true if you live in a "transitional" neighborhood. If you have a new holographic television, it's best to keep that fact to yourself. When you come home, close your door quickly so people can't see inside of your house. And when you're moving in, try to do it at an odd time of the day when the Dope Boys are unlikely to be sitting on the stoop. Okay?
2. Talk to your neighbors. Yes, you have the right to not fraternize with anyone if you don't want to. But you're not helping your cause any if you don't want to be robbed. Many of the people in any given neighborhood have been there for many years before you. They know the familiar faces from the unfamiliar. They have likely seen many of the kids in the neighborhood grow up right before their eyes. So if some kids start acting up in the neighborhood, they probably know who their mothers, fathers, aunts, and uncles are. If a group of kids see you walking down the block, and one of those kids has seen you chatting up with their uncle before, they are 99.999% less likely to rob you.
3. Always make eye contact. If you see a group of guys on the corner, DO NOT cross the street and walk away from them. You're just asking for it. This applies to women as well as men. But for men, walking away from another man is just an invitation for a mugging. When a group of guys is blocking your path, you pipe up and say "Excuse me, fellas!" while making eye contact with everyone in the group. They won't say anything after that. Trust me.
4. Take those iPod heaphones out of your ears. For the love of God, do not trot around the neighborhood like a 13-year old girl in H&M. Take those headphones off and keep your head on a swivel.
5. If you feel like you are being followed, turn around and give your "ice grill." If you don't have an ice grill, then you need to start practicing one. Muggers like easy prey. If you give them the stare of death, they're going to know that some eyes are going to get poked out or some testicles are going to get kicked in for that iPod.
6. Don't be a jerk. If you move to a neighborhood with a smug, condescending attitude, then you stand a 50% greater chance of getting robbed. People generally look out for people they like. And they don't look out for people they don't like. If you're the person who's always complaining about your neighbor not getting the 12 permits to build a new bathroom inside of his house, or raising hell at ANC meetings about the bike lane you want that NOBODY else wants, you'll probably get robbed. And when the cops ask your neighbors what happened, they're gonna say "I ain't seen a thing, officer."
This advice won't insulate you from every crazy fool with a gun who wants to rob people, but it's a start.
I don't know if I have to go through all that to live in the city why don't I just stay in Virginia?
I wouldn't go as far as to say that the particular person in need of these tips shouldn't be living in an urban environment though. Living in a city and being in constant fear of crime shouldn't be the same things.
Also how is being vocal about what you want being a jerk? What's the song say "Closed mouths don't get fed on this boulevard'? Are rather the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I'm sorry I totally disagree that isn't being a jerk. Worrying about someone else's bathroom is just being too gosh darn nosy.
I never understood people who don't have curtains either.
These suggestions are helpful in a specific type of neighborhood - mostly low-income rowhouse or project that doesn't get a lot of through traffic. You don't have this sort of street dynamic in apartment living or in more middle-class areas.
A lot of people still equate "city" with crime-ridden and gang-infested. Some even take pride in it, as we've seen on other threads. Obviously things aren't perfect, but I see thousands of people walking all over this city every day and night without keeping a tough exterior up. I, personally, don't use earbuds but that's mostly just common sense to stay in tune with my surroundings. I could see keeping one ear open. Reality is, most (not all) violent crime is retribution for something someone did.
In Re: the curtain/blinds thing. I seriously thought it was just me! When I moved here not one of my bedroom windows had anything on them - no blinds, curtains, shades -- nothing! I could not figure it out. Of course I went out and got some immediately but this was the master bedroom. It had not been painted I could tell (to cover up old hardware and such) and I checked the attic, under the stairs -- everywhere I could think that would have stored any form of window covering.
Where I'm from (CA) I faced 2 neighbors with about 15 ft in between if that. In all that time I have never even SEEN into an apartment (all blinds and such shut all the time, doors closed, etc) except for one family that came from Texas who left their blinds open all the time. In *every* room. While I certainly appreciated the entertainment occasionally (*grin*) I think they must have been exceptionally lucky not to have a break in or something. Course they only stayed about 6 months.
6. Make sure you don't move to a neighborhood that requires you to do most of these things. Because if you live in such a place, then you're asking for trouble no matter what you do.
The people who are inclined to believe this type of nonsense, shouldn't be in the city to begin with. Ever. If you're scared of your shadow or the dark skinned neighbor, you should definitely stay in the suburbs. They city is not for you.
I leave my blinds open, but much of the other advice I follow to some extent. The overall lesson, that if you act like a victim you will more likely become one, I agree with completely.
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