What place have you felt the most "unsafe" in?
- Thread starter uksam21
- Start date
When my parents would leave my big brother in charge. He wouldn't leave a mark but physically/mentally tortured me. I can still remember the day I was finally quicker than him. Sitting in the lot across from the house I felt, for the first time, only what a gazelle feels when he escapes the lion.
Big brothers are the crab grass in the lawn of life.
Big brothers are the crab grass in the lawn of life.
When I was 17 and very unfamiliar with Kentucky, I visited my uncle in Louisville. We went out to dinner downtown with my aunt and older brother. For some reason we were out pretty late, and my uncle decided to drive us around Louisville so we can "get a feel for the city". It's a Saturday night, about 80 degrees... a perfect August night.
Sure enough he drives directly into the heart of the West End, and everybody's out on the street. Everybody's cruising around, so we get trapped in going about 3 mph. Needless to say, my uncle's brand new Volvo sedan kind of stands out, especially with a couple of 50 year-olds in the front and two teenagers in the back. Everybody's just kind of starting at us - and as a private school kid from out-of-state, I think we're about to get car-jacked, raped and murdered.
Just then my uncle, who owns lots of firearms, tells his wife to make sure the gun's available. What the hell? Does my uncle know something's about to go down? I start freaking out and duck below the window. My aunt opens the glove box, reaches in and says, "yep, it's there". Just then my uncle looks back at me and says, "we don't have enough bullets to fend them off, but we have enough to kill ourselves before they get to us". He and my aunt start cracking up, we obviously get out of there okay because it's not that bad in the first place, and to this day he still makes fun of me over it.
Sure enough he drives directly into the heart of the West End, and everybody's out on the street. Everybody's cruising around, so we get trapped in going about 3 mph. Needless to say, my uncle's brand new Volvo sedan kind of stands out, especially with a couple of 50 year-olds in the front and two teenagers in the back. Everybody's just kind of starting at us - and as a private school kid from out-of-state, I think we're about to get car-jacked, raped and murdered.
Just then my uncle, who owns lots of firearms, tells his wife to make sure the gun's available. What the hell? Does my uncle know something's about to go down? I start freaking out and duck below the window. My aunt opens the glove box, reaches in and says, "yep, it's there". Just then my uncle looks back at me and says, "we don't have enough bullets to fend them off, but we have enough to kill ourselves before they get to us". He and my aunt start cracking up, we obviously get out of there okay because it's not that bad in the first place, and to this day he still makes fun of me over it.
All the stories about Juarez... as I said I was very comfortable going back and forth to Mexico from San Diego, but I crossed into Juarez one time on my way back cross country. This was years before I knew or heard anything about mass killings and all that. But just the vibe was completely different there. I only stayed a couple hours then got the hell out of there. Felt like crossing between North and South Korea or something. No desire ever to go back there and that was almost 30 years ago. I couldn't imagine it now.
Hmmm, hard to say which was worse. Back in the early 80's I was in Detroit. Went up there to catch a Michigan football game and the guy I was with wanted to show me the area he grew up in (River Rouge) then headed up to Cass Ave. before checking out a Tigers game at the Old Tiger stadium.
I've been through the heart of East St. Louis a couple but it was during the day. It's pretty run down. North St. Louis is actually worse in my opinion.
When I lived in MD I went to Baltimore several times but there were a couple of times where a wrong turn put myself in pretty rough areas.
I've been through the heart of East St. Louis a couple but it was during the day. It's pretty run down. North St. Louis is actually worse in my opinion.
When I lived in MD I went to Baltimore several times but there were a couple of times where a wrong turn put myself in pretty rough areas.
When I was stationed in South Korea in 12-13' and the news was 24/7 talking about how NK was on the verge of nuking us.
But of course, everyone just acted super casual. No big deal.
What I found fascinating was that after the Boston marathon bombing happened, no one even mentioned it again on the news. That was the most convinced I've ever been of a conspiracy theory.
But of course, everyone just acted super casual. No big deal.
What I found fascinating was that after the Boston marathon bombing happened, no one even mentioned it again on the news. That was the most convinced I've ever been of a conspiracy theory.
Bet they stole his hub caps and wrote "honkey lips" on his station wagon.
And the dude wasn't even from around there, he was visiting his cousin from Chicago.
Ran out to Krogers and to do some other chores/errands and forgot my handgun. Won't let that happen again!
In the passengers seat of a car being driven by various idiots.
'99 went on a road trip to Milwaukee one night while in "A" school with some buddies. We got lost and ended up in a part of town I am sure we didn't belong in.
Was stationed in Europe for 10 years, and when Hostel came out in '05 I was paranoid and had a bit of fear for a while when going out bar hoping or clubbing.
Was stationed in Europe for 10 years, and when Hostel came out in '05 I was paranoid and had a bit of fear for a while when going out bar hoping or clubbing.
Was in Guatemala City and got stuck in traffic and ended up in one of the bad neighborhoods. Missed a firefight between gangs and the police by about 3 minutes, they were just starting to put up police tape to shut off a street as I drove by.
I've been through over the Rhine a few times that were suspect.
Also at age 18 parents let friends and I go to the bahamas, being foolish let a local lead us to a bar off the beating trail....it was full of pirates and Bahamian prostitutes.
Also at age 18 parents let friends and I go to the bahamas, being foolish let a local lead us to a bar off the beating trail....it was full of pirates and Bahamian prostitutes.
Amazing the first place you list is Baltimore. My wife, little guy and I just moved to Baltimore 2 weeks ago.
For me, I was in Paris and wife and I got turned around walking back from some attractions 1 night and it was clear that a guy was following us for a couple blocks. Luckily, we came upon a busy street and he disappeared. We caught a cab back to the hotel. I honestly thought something was going to happen to us.
Some of you have lived rather tame lives. I was walking back to my car in New Orleans at the Mardi Gras and I had parked over near the cemetery and the cops picked me up and took me to my car because they said where I was walking was too dangerous. I never thought anything of it because, well, I had just left the Mardi Gras and my BAC was probably 3.9 and here the cops are basically encouraging me to drive. My hotel was down the expressway a bit because it was the only one I could find available. I thought it was pretty safe because anytime anything happens at the Mardi Gras the cops come out of the woodwork to beat whoever is doing anything into the ground.
Hunt's Point, Bronx.
Would be top10 dangerous city if it had a population of 100,000. Practically off the charts in terms of robbery, rape and assault, and those, not murder, are the statistics a visitor should be worried about.
Would be top10 dangerous city if it had a population of 100,000. Practically off the charts in terms of robbery, rape and assault, and those, not murder, are the statistics a visitor should be worried about.
Well enjoy it I really like the city. But watching "The Wire" and then seeing this neighborhood I thought Omar was about to show up and put a gun in my face.
The times I should have been scared the most, I was probably too drunk and stupid to realize it.
Tie
Almost 50 years ago, I was in a borrowed car and driving to a small women's college in Ohio to pick up my date. The signs on I-90 confused me and I got off in a warehouse district on Cleveland's East Side. Mile after mile of chain link fences and street lights about 2 blocks apart. It was (I thought) Hough which had been the site of a riot 2-3 years previous. (Hough was actually around a half mile south of where I was.) Nothing happened. I saw nobody. It was, after all, a business district at night. But I was young and terrified.
Around 30 years ago, I was walking my dog at night when I noticed that a guy was almost tracing my steps. When I paused, he paused. When I crossed the street he crossed the street. An acquaintance of ours had a big lot in the neighborhood and kept 2 very big guard dogs. I knew that if I stepped onto his property the dogs would come running. I did and they did, baying, and the guy following me walked quickly on. I had around 15 seconds to skedaddle before there was going to be a mess of me and dogs.
Almost 50 years ago, I was in a borrowed car and driving to a small women's college in Ohio to pick up my date. The signs on I-90 confused me and I got off in a warehouse district on Cleveland's East Side. Mile after mile of chain link fences and street lights about 2 blocks apart. It was (I thought) Hough which had been the site of a riot 2-3 years previous. (Hough was actually around a half mile south of where I was.) Nothing happened. I saw nobody. It was, after all, a business district at night. But I was young and terrified.
Around 30 years ago, I was walking my dog at night when I noticed that a guy was almost tracing my steps. When I paused, he paused. When I crossed the street he crossed the street. An acquaintance of ours had a big lot in the neighborhood and kept 2 very big guard dogs. I knew that if I stepped onto his property the dogs would come running. I did and they did, baying, and the guy following me walked quickly on. I had around 15 seconds to skedaddle before there was going to be a mess of me and dogs.
I ran athletic, physical education and recreation facilities at Oregon. I took a position at Loyola University Maryland as the Director of a similar department. In sports analogies, i was an assistant coach or coordinator at Oregon and just got my first head coaching job at Loyola.
Old Fayette County Detention Center, 6th Floor, Pod D. Especially if you ever turned the television off BET or won a game of Hearts and couldn't pay the commissary. I learned quick.
AC/DC concert, Oakland, CA circa 1985
Me, my first wife's nephew, and about 15,000 Hells Angels.
Me, my first wife's nephew, and about 15,000 Hells Angels.
A
anon_l8pbkn96tg3j6
Guest
In Rome, my wife and I were looking for a restaurant that we found online. It started raining, so we turned down a tunnel (might be the dumbest decision I've ever made). The tunnel looked like somewhere Bubbles from The Wire would hang out. Instead of turning around, we went through the entire tunnel (actually the dumbest decision I've ever made). We didn't see anyone, but I completely expected to be pulled into a heroin bed.
Did you have any romantic entanglements? Were you wooed into any mushy humid spring flings where mistakes were made and promises unkept? Was your heart broken? Tell us. Do you still feel the hot breath on your shoulder... late at night.. do you still smell the musty staleness of rushed lust and noisy clanging cell doors?
Cool. Congratulations. I always enjoyed the insight of an insider. Good luck with the new job.
Thanks man, appreciate it. I try not to be "that guy" but I enjoy bringing a different perspective from time to time. GG Smith is our basketball coach here.
First time you see a now-sobered drunk convulse and spit up blood from the DT's, **** gets real.