Those photos of Johannesburg are in the CBD and Hillbrow btw, you know it’s bad when your city centre looks like that.
[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:
Steel Nation wrote:
Driving down Penn Ave. through East Liberty on your way to downtown Pittsburgh is the same way.
I used to live 2 apartment buildings north of Penn & Negley, next to those fancy new low income houses. I define the word ghetto.[/quote]
So at least you were never hurtin for booze or fried chicken. One of the advantages of living in a shithole. That and really cheap rent.
[quote]Nich wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
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.
Oh My God!!! this was my point in another thread.
[/quote]
I wonder about the stats for murders in these cities. I know several areas in NY where a dead body can last on the street for a day or night.
I also read the paper in jersey and there’s at least one murder for Newark, EVERY day, but then they say the city is only at a decade best 54 murders for the year. It’s been 180 days, and a murder in the paper every one of those days it doesn’t add up.
To people who say mind your business in the ghetto and your good, you must not know what it’s like to come from a true middle class or better neighborhood.
I’ve lived in both and it’s a big ass difference between a 1% chance of something happening in the hood, and .5% chance of something happening in a nice area. For one when you have 100 people per capita in the burbs, and 10,000 people in the hood things get a lot more dangerous.
As to Detroit, anywhere the Mayor is going to jail for kicking a police officer’s ass HAS to be dangerous.
[quote]Rattler wrote:
waltrulz wrote:
Yes I have. But I hate your shirt…
I hate your avatar.
So we’re even![/quote]
Wait… Thats actually you in your avatar?! I always thought it was some guy, with a really hot girl in his avatar. Not really sure why anyone would do that, though…
Edit: I just looked at your profile. I hate you.
Im glad everyone liked the link. Although I disagree with the myth that the police are scared to enter any particular neighborhood. That has not been my experience growing up in NJ and seeing some of the grimiest neighborhoods of NY and NJ firsthand. The pic above is of Hamilton projects in Paterson NJ, my hometown. A true life New Jack City.
See the small red circle in the corner? That trailer is a mobile police precinct. The police can not be everywhere at once, but its more likely because of logistics issues, and certainly not out of fear. I remember running down a piss soaked staircase inside one of those buildings and running straight past a pair of uniformed officers standing on a landing. Hilarity ensues, and as I continued to run, I remember thinking, wow, so much for the cops being ‘scared’ of the projects…
[quote]Airtruth wrote:
Nich wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
As to Detroit, anywhere the Mayor is going to jail for kicking a police officer’s ass HAS to be dangerous.[/quote]
It was really just a shove, but it is still assaulting an officer. The sooner that thug is out of office the better, luckily Detroit is already to bruised for another black eye to show up much.
Here is my master list of Ghettos I’ve been to off of the top of my head:
ATL
Detroit
Chicago (South Side and East Side)
Joliet, IL (South Side, and “the Hill”)
Newark, NJ
East St. Louis
Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia
Lima, Peru
Cultural changes aside, they all have a couple of things in common:
People surviving, with different ends of the spectrum of what that entails. That could be scrapiong to make ends meet or criminal activity.
The areas are filthy. The people, only if they do not have adequate shelter and / or running water.
During the day, in your car, you can get through w/out a lot of ingenuity and intelligence. Stepping out of your car, you should still be ok if you have some street smarts. But don’t make it a habit, and don’t get cocky.
At night, all bets are off. Especially out of the country or when you are in no-man’s land. X10 if you do not fit in with the predominate race in that area, or in the style of dress.
Your tour is over. Stay home.
Detroit has got to be the scariest place in America. I live in the burbs, about 20 minutes away. I had a summer league basketball game at a really famous gym in the D and I kid you not, in the 3rd quarter, while someones shooting free throws on one end, all of the sudden there’s a bunch of noises coming from the other side of the court, right beynd the doors.
Then, BOOM, like 20 dudes come flying in through the doors, right onto the court, mid-brawl. It was like 18 of them kicking the shit out of 2 others. Then, like 10 guys ( and even some girls) who were watching the game from the stands rush onto the court and start fighting some of the 18 guys.
This went on for like 10 minutes til someone pulled out a gun and everyone ran for it. Amazingly, we finished the game. Lol.
On top of that, it seems like evryting in Detroit is burned down or boarded up, abandoned buildings and mainly homeless, crackheads and gangs. It’s like a known fact that you do not go there, ever, especially at night. Not only is it the murder capital, but our freaking mayor is going to prison. It sucks.
I have been to all of the major ghettos here in california. Not by choice but I am very naive and tend to somehow end up in places I shouldn’t be. I definitely don’t suggest going into the ghetto.
Even if you are minding your own business, you will eventually become a target. My cousins live up in the bad parts of Los Angeles and they are a bit crazy. They were in fights everyday. And gun shots were common in their neighborhood.
I can’t really even say you are safe “driving by” because there are even gangs on the highways and such. I am not really scared of anything but I do admit I was a bit nervous because my family was with me and I would have hated for something to have happened to them.
@ bballsavant
That story cracks me up. I have always wanted to see a riot in person. I know not too long ago over here around where I live (about 10-15 minutes away), there was a riot at a concert and people started fighting and some of them flipped cars over.
Rattler:
Where are you from in Toronto? I grew up in Malvern & there has been a distinct downtown in the community’s fortunes it seems since the late 1990s…
All my neighbours moved out; only a few like my parents are still hanging on - but like other posters have said if you mind your own business you are generally not bothered
Your post reminds me of the song “In My Hood” by Suni Clay from the Need For Speed soundtrack
[quote]bballsavant wrote:
Detroit has got to be the scariest place in America. I live in the burbs, about 20 minutes away. I had a summer league basketball game at a really famous gym in the D and I kid you not, in the 3rd quarter, while someones shooting free throws on one end, all of the sudden there’s a bunch of noises coming from the other side of the court, right beynd the doors.
Then, BOOM, like 20 dudes come flying in through the doors, right onto the court, mid-brawl. It was like 18 of them kicking the shit out of 2 others. Then, like 10 guys ( and even some girls) who were watching the game from the stands rush onto the court and start fighting some of the 18 guys.
This went on for like 10 minutes til someone pulled out a gun and everyone ran for it. Amazingly, we finished the game. Lol.
On top of that, it seems like evryting in Detroit is burned down or boarded up, abandoned buildings and mainly homeless, crackheads and gangs. It’s like a known fact that you do not go there, ever, especially at night. Not only is it the murder capital, but our freaking mayor is going to prison. It sucks.[/quote]
I don’t know if I’d say the scariest. My ex used to live right at Van Dyk and 11 Mile Rd, which is not that far away from some of these neighborhoods. I have seen them, many times and although I will not lie and say that I was not scared, Atlanta is, by far, much worse. I also used to date a man there and a driving through these neighborhoods in a BMW is asking to get shot or worse. Honestly, I thought that I was going to die there. The only reason we even did drive through there was because he was licensed to carry a concealed weapon and to avoid traffic jams for hours on end. I will NEVER do that again. Talk about an idiotic idea.
[quote]MsM wrote:
I don’t know if I’d say the scariest. My ex used to live right at Van Dyk and 11 Mile Rd, which is not that far away from some of these neighborhoods. I have seen them, many times and although I will not lie and say that I was not scared, Atlanta is, by far, much worse. I also used to date a man there and a driving through these neighborhoods in a BMW is asking to get shot or worse. Honestly, I thought that I was going to die there. The only reason we even did drive through there was because he was licensed to carry a concealed weapon and to avoid traffic jams for hours on end. I will NEVER do that again. Talk about an idiotic idea.[/quote]
Van Dyke and 11th isn’t bad at all, thats Sterling, I think. How bad can a place be with a Dunlkin Doughnuts and a Olive Garden. Even the greasy spoons on Van Dyke are okay. The bad doesn’t happen until after 8 mile road, and progessively crappier as you hit, and go past 94. ( I spent a couple of years going to Detroit monthly as a contractor for Daimler Chrysler).
Did you go down by jefferson, south of the airport?
Not a great place. The weidest thing is from there, two miles or so away from the Daimler Plants is Gross Point, a really nicer area. So you drive and within two blocks, you go from bars on the windows to 1/4 mil houses and up. Strange layout.
[quote]ephrem wrote:
Rattler wrote:
For the europeans on here. Are there places like this in the 1st world countries of europe? England, Germany ect…
Are they as bad as the American craptowns?
…not in Holland, and i don’t think there are in Western Europe. Sure, bad areas exist everywhere, but police staying out of whole city blocks is not something i’ve ever heard. Guns aren’t readily available in Europe, i think that has a lot to do with it. Yay guncontrol! [/jk]
[/quote]
There are police no go areas in Britain and you wouldn’t be saying yay guncontrol if you were about to join the 25,000 people who were stabbed last year.
Guns are readily available to criminals there just like drugs. They just had a gunman go on a rampage today. Here is todays gun related headlines.
[quote]jaybvee wrote:
Rattler:
Where are you from in Toronto? I grew up in Malvern & there has been a distinct downtown in the community’s fortunes it seems since the late 1990s…
All my neighbours moved out; only a few like my parents are still hanging on - but like other posters have said if you mind your own business you are generally not bothered
Your post reminds me of the song “In My Hood” by Suni Clay from the Need For Speed soundtrack[/quote]
I live in Thornhill. If you know where it is, you’ll know why I’m interested in what cities can really be like. I grew up with everything fine around me, completely oblivious to the real world. I’m not saying i wanna go into places like that and be tougher, I just kinda want to understand it.
[quote]Gerg wrote:
MsM wrote:
I don’t know if I’d say the scariest. My ex used to live right at Van Dyk and 11 Mile Rd, which is not that far away from some of these neighborhoods. I have seen them, many times and although I will not lie and say that I was not scared, Atlanta is, by far, much worse. I also used to date a man there and a driving through these neighborhoods in a BMW is asking to get shot or worse. Honestly, I thought that I was going to die there. The only reason we even did drive through there was because he was licensed to carry a concealed weapon and to avoid traffic jams for hours on end. I will NEVER do that again. Talk about an idiotic idea.
Van Dyke and 11th isn’t bad at all, thats Sterling, I think. How bad can a place be with a Dunlkin Doughnuts and a Olive Garden. Even the greasy spoons on Van Dyke are okay. The bad doesn’t happen until after 8 mile road, and progessively crappier as you hit, and go past 94. ( I spent a couple of years going to Detroit monthly as a contractor for Daimler Chrysler).
Did you go down by jefferson, south of the airport?
Not a great place. The weidest thing is from there, two miles or so away from the Daimler Plants is Gross Point, a really nicer area. So you drive and within two blocks, you go from bars on the windows to 1/4 mil houses and up. Strange layout.[/quote]
I know. That’s why I said that he lived there but not far away from some of these neighborhoods. He’s a Coast Guard; I doubt he’d be in a crack neighborhood although, like I said, you only have to drive a few minutes away…and hey, I like that Dunkin Doughnuts and Olive Garden:)
That’s ironic that you mention the layout of that area because I’ve had this discussion many times! You see beautiful homes for a few blocks and then poverty stricken homes for a few and then nice homes again…no rhyme or reason. Strange layout for sure!
[quote]Rattler wrote:
jaybvee wrote:
Rattler:
Where are you from in Toronto? I grew up in Malvern & there has been a distinct downtown in the community’s fortunes it seems since the late 1990s…
All my neighbours moved out; only a few like my parents are still hanging on - but like other posters have said if you mind your own business you are generally not bothered
Your post reminds me of the song “In My Hood” by Suni Clay from the Need For Speed soundtrack
I live in Thornhill. If you know where it is, you’ll know why I’m interested in what cities can really be like. I grew up with everything fine around me, completely oblivious to the real world. I’m not saying i wanna go into places like that and be tougher, I just kinda want to understand it.[/quote]
Thornhill? Very nice neighborhood! (I’m from London.) I can see why you would want to see how others live but when you see that all people do not have it as good as you (and I) have, I just can’t explain the feelings that will overcome you when you see how some people in our country actually live.
[quote]Gerg wrote:
MsM wrote:
I don’t know if I’d say the scariest. My ex used to live right at Van Dyk and 11 Mile Rd, which is not that far away from some of these neighborhoods. I have seen them, many times and although I will not lie and say that I was not scared, Atlanta is, by far, much worse. I also used to date a man there and a driving through these neighborhoods in a BMW is asking to get shot or worse. Honestly, I thought that I was going to die there. The only reason we even did drive through there was because he was licensed to carry a concealed weapon and to avoid traffic jams for hours on end. I will NEVER do that again. Talk about an idiotic idea.
Van Dyke and 11th isn’t bad at all, thats Sterling, I think. How bad can a place be with a Dunlkin Doughnuts and a Olive Garden. Even the greasy spoons on Van Dyke are okay. The bad doesn’t happen until after 8 mile road, and progessively crappier as you hit, and go past 94. ( I spent a couple of years going to Detroit monthly as a contractor for Daimler Chrysler).
Did you go down by jefferson, south of the airport?
Not a great place. The weidest thing is from there, two miles or so away from the Daimler Plants is Gross Point, a really nicer area. So you drive and within two blocks, you go from bars on the windows to 1/4 mil houses and up. Strange layout.[/quote]
11 and VD is not a bad area. GM has it’s research and development center there. I worked on the south side of 8 and VD for a couple of years, that could be bad. 7 mile was worse.
When I lived near this place near I94 the neighborhood wasn’t so nice.
http://www.urbandecay.ca/Files/Content/Detroit/Detroit/Urban%20Decay/d72.jpg
We had one of our neighbors in the front yard shooting an AK in air on New Years. The police never bothered with it. If he tried that where I used to live at 15 mile in the suburbs the police would have sent a swat team.
To the OP since you live in Toronto why don’t you take a cruise through Buffalo. I once went to a nice establishment there called the Chit Chat Club. We thought that area was reminiscent of Detroit.
One thing I have learned about Detroit is you can be in a area that looks run down on a nice sunny day in the summer with a nice cool breeze coming in off of the river and just as you start thinking this isn’t so bad things can change.
That is the thing with the ghetto. Things can seem not so bad, nice even, then in a moment things can flipout. You have to have your wits about you. In some ways it’s not as bad as you see on tv shows like The Wire. Then out of nowhere something can happen.
There was a time where I went into a gas station at VD and I94 bought some munchies paid for gas. When I went out to pump my gas two young hoodrats who came in after me followed me out. Just as they stepped out behind me a Crown Vic came schreeching up and three cops jumped out grabbed the kids threw them on the hood and started searching them while I’m pumping my gas. They pulled a ammo clip out of one of them. One of the cops ended up thrashing the kid up and down on the hood of his car screaming “I’ll break your fucking neck if you don’t tell me where the gun that goes to is”. While the other two dragged his partner off behind the gas station.
My advice is don’t get too curious about the ghetto.
[quote]Sifu wrote:
11 and VD is not a bad area. GM has it’s research and development center there. I worked on the south side of 8 and VD for a couple of years, that could be bad. 7 mile was worse. [/quote]
You are right about that but we would end up driving through 7 and 8 mile to get anywhere. On a Friday or Saturday night, that is not where I want to be.
[quote]When I lived near this place near I94 the neighborhood wasn’t so nice.
http://www.urbandecay.ca/Files/Content/Detroit/Detroit/Urban%20Decay/d72.jpg[/quote]
That is not a good area, no.
This is good advice.
[quote]Sifu wrote:
My advice is don’t get too curious about the ghetto.[/quote]
I should have used a different name for my thread, but I figured it would get people’s attention. Even in Toronto it’s so strange. You can be in such a nice area, then across the street it’s like night and day. Especially in parts of Scarbourough and Missisauga. Especially sauga where they have one intersection as all govt. housing and all around it are big ass houses.
What I noticed about Canada for the most part is, the worst parts are out of major cities and actually in smaller cities around the country. Places like Brantford, Thunder Bay. I hate to say it, but a lot of places with high population of lower class natives near the reserves. There aren’t many murders (that we’re told of at least) but people get the shit kicked out of them all the time.
But hey, that’s what happens when you try and stick people in the middle of nowhere. They get pissed off, and move back in. Strange that in a first world country like Canada, we have such a serious AIDS epidemic among Native Reserves and nothing gets done about it.
This is very accurate.
I grew up in Fresno, California and for the most part this is what you see on a day to day basis there…