Sounds weird, but I’ve always wanted to see what some of the slums in major American cities really looked like with my own eyes.
It’s a strange I know, but I’ve wanted to see what it was really like, and not as it’s shown in the movies. However, I would never actually go unless I was in an armored Humvee.
Anybody here been to some of those places? I’m really interested in knowing what it’s really like.
Is this a serious post?
[quote]malonetd wrote:
Is this a serious post?[/quote]
Kinda. I’m just curious to see what it’s really like. If it’s as bad as movies make them out to be. I’m from Canada, even the worst places of Toronto are nothing like some of the places in the states. The most dangerous places in Canada are usually native reserves and they are usually out in the middle of nowhere. I’m just interested in knowing what it’s really like.
No, I’m not a white suburban gangster kid who wants to live the thug life or anything like that. I’m just curious.
I lived in a West Philly ghetto for 10 months while in college. Up to that time it was the worst and best period of my life. I grew so much as a human being and a man there. You never allow yourself to relax. You learn to adapt to a hostile environment.
I have a book’s worth of life in the hood stories I’d love to write down one day. Some are terrifying and some are fucking hysterical.
I’ll end by saying I’m lucky to have survived a particular incident. 
Hilarious. I live in a very segregated area. There are a pair of train tracks that run through town that seperate the rich white neighborhoods from the ghetto up in North Bellport. I live on the white side, but have friends who live in the ghetto and I have gone there for parties, or dropping off friends and shit.
Nothing much different besides houses that aren’t the biggest and more kids playing outdoors and in the streets. There are violent acts every once in awhile but it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.
Its depressing.
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
I lived in a West Philly ghetto for 10 months while in college. Up to that time it was the worst and best period of my life. I grew so much as a human being and a man there. You never allow yourself to relax. You learn to adapt to a hostile environment.
I have a book’s worth of life in the hood stories I’d love to write down one day. Some are terrifying and some are fucking hysterical.
I’ll end by saying I’m lucky to have survived a particular incident. ;-)[/quote]
Give us a sneak preview 
[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Hilarious. I live in a very segregated area. There are a pair of train tracks that run through town that seperate the rich white neighborhoods from the ghetto up in North Bellport. I live on the white side, but have friends who live in the ghetto and I have gone there for parties, or dropping off friends and shit.
Nothing much different besides houses that aren’t the biggest and more kids playing outdoors and in the streets. There are violent acts every once in awhile but it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.[/quote]
The wrong side of the tracks was coined for a reason eh?
My only relative experience would be the 2 years that I delivered Meals On Wheels in South Columbus. Not a particularly dangerous part of town per se, but I will say that as bad as these neighborhoods appear on the outside, you can’t even imagine what some of them look like on the inside. It’s unfathomable.
[quote]StevenF wrote:
Its depressing. [/quote]
qft. If I never have to see the shit I saw growing up again, it’ll be too soon. It’s great and all to want to expose yourself to things, but you can get fear and depression from a bad acid trip and be a lot safer.
I’d describe how the slums are in my area, but “The Wire” does a better job than I ever could. Rent/Buy/Download episodes because they are very accurate.
[quote]Rattler wrote:
Iron Dwarf wrote:
I lived in a West Philly ghetto for 10 months while in college. Up to that time it was the worst and best period of my life. I grew so much as a human being and a man there. You never allow yourself to relax. You learn to adapt to a hostile environment.
I have a book’s worth of life in the hood stories I’d love to write down one day. Some are terrifying and some are fucking hysterical.
I’ll end by saying I’m lucky to have survived a particular incident.
Give us a sneak preview :P[/quote]
I’m planning on writing a blog about those experiences… when I can find a good chunk of time.
I will say this, though… I wouldn’t do now the things I did then (in the early 80’s). Not everyone was carrying a gun back then.
Driving north on E105th in Cleveland goes like this: liquor store, check cashing place, mcdonald’s, liquor store, check cashing place, popeye’s, liquore store…etc. You won’t see a single white person walking around until you pass the police station, go under the I90 overpass and end up in Bratehnal, with $1 million houses on every corner.
Driving down Penn Ave. through East Liberty on your way to downtown Pittsburgh is the same way.
Anyhow, I wouldn’t suggest visiting the 'hood for any sightseeing trips. Go see the Grand Canyon or something.
[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
I’d describe how the slums are in my area, but “The Wire” does a better job than I ever could. Rent/Buy/Download episodes because they are very accurate.[/quote]
Wow, I’ve seen every season of The Wire, and if that shit is real, that’s fucking scary.
[quote]Rattler wrote:
Sounds weird, but I’ve always wanted to see what some of the slums in major American cities really looked like with my own eyes.
It’s a strange I know, but I’ve wanted to see what it was really like, and not as it’s shown in the movies. However, I would never actually go unless I was in an armored Humvee.
Anybody here been to some of those places? I’m really interested in knowing what it’s really like.[/quote]
Seriously, don’t go. Cops often abandon whole areas to gangs nowadays. You could very easily be swarmed and robbed/killed. Even if there are cops, you’d most likely be killed or robbed.
You could probably drive through during the day if you’re adventurous. Stay on a VERY main street, make sure your cell phone is charged and works in the area. If it doesn’t, get out fast.
I have walked through bad neighborhoods to just look around before and it was pretty stupid to do. Lots of burned down houses, open lots, blankets up where windows used to be. Watched at a distance a swarm of guys chasing another guy…they caught him and were stopming him when I made my exit.
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
Doug Adams wrote:
I’d describe how the slums are in my area, but “The Wire” does a better job than I ever could. Rent/Buy/Download episodes because they are very accurate.
Wow, I’ve seen every season of The Wire, and if that shit is real, that’s fucking scary.[/quote]
Yep, it’s real. It’s also really strange to see the areas where that show was shot, and then 6 blocks up the street there’s $1million homes.
[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
Steel Nation wrote:
Doug Adams wrote:
I’d describe how the slums are in my area, but “The Wire” does a better job than I ever could. Rent/Buy/Download episodes because they are very accurate.
Wow, I’ve seen every season of The Wire, and if that shit is real, that’s fucking scary.
Yep, it’s real. It’s also really strange to see the areas where that show was shot, and then 6 blocks up the street there’s $1million homes. [/quote]
Funny, they never really show the nice part of town on that show.
The ghetto is not cool. It’s not a lifestyle to be mimmicked or glamourized. It is fucking scary. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood that quickly turned into lower class. There were frequent drive-bys and gang violence.
I got kicked out of the house when I was 11 or 12, and my mom moved out as soon as she could. I then found and ran with some roughneck motherfuckers and have seen alot of wacky shit. I will say, the most loyal people I’ve ever come across are those that came from ghetto areas and have seen shit that would haunt most people.
Depends on where you go and who you know.
I grew up in the “ghetto” area of a small town in SoCal. Doesn’t have a lick on LA, but drug deals, shootings and robberies were common. Couldn’t really walk around outside after 10 unless you were with a bunch of people, and even that was no guarantee someone wouldn’t do something stupid. I spent two years in Brazil and the same thing applies, more or less.
Friend of my sister’s was parked in a car with her boyfriend at a playground about 200 yards away from my house. Some cholos mistook them for gang members, threw up some signs, and when they didn’t respond, fired about 20 shots into the car and killed both of them.
When I walked home from school, it was common for random packs of youths to walk up and demand, “Where you from, fool?” The ONLY appropriate response was “Nowhere” and keep walking, as they were asking which gang you belonged to. If you said the wrong neighborhood, they’d beat the crap out of you. If you said their neighborhood, they’d ask you to join, THEN beat the crap out of you to jump you in if you did.
Never had a serious break-in or home invasion, but (a) our house was a fucking fortress and (b) we often went out shooting, as loading a whole bunch of rifles and shotguns into a car in broad daylight tends to make people calm down real quick.
If you decide to do a tour, make sure-
*You know someone reliable who can show you around; the bigger and more intimidating this person is, the better. A small group also works well.
*Be polite but not meek. Don’t talk down to people.
*The INSTANT you start to sense some static between you and another person/group of people, get the fuck out of there.
*Tour a mixed working-class neighborhood, not the segregated hoods. Certain places in East LA, Compton and Oakland (dunno about the east) are either all black or all Mexican and can be less than welcoming. On the flip side, some of them are pretty neat, have good people in them and huge swathes of the neighborhood itself are safe as houses. Listen to the locals; they know which areas to stay away from.
*Stay away from large house parties, known drug areas and parks after dark. Easy to get into a fight or robbed.
*Don’t get into a fight if you can possibly avoid it, as it’s always the person you never expect who’s packing.
*Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Hilarious. I live in a very segregated area. There are a pair of train tracks that run through town that seperate the rich white neighborhoods from the ghetto up in North Bellport. I live on the white side, but have friends who live in the ghetto and I have gone there for parties, or dropping off friends and shit.
Nothing much different besides houses that aren’t the biggest and more kids playing outdoors and in the streets. There are violent acts every once in awhile but it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.[/quote]
Have you ever been to E St Louis???