What the heck? Where the heck do I live?

[Happyflowerlady]

I think that we (especially we senior women) are right to be more careful and try to be prepared to defend ourself if necessary; but I think that spending all of the time fretting about something happening is not beneficial either. If a person makes the best preparations that they can, and avoids going places alone at night , then don’t let fear stop you from enjoying life.
We live in the worst part of town, and there are people walking up and down the streets yelling and fighting day and night, and sometimes it seems like all of the drug dealers in Huntsville must congregate in our neighborhood.
As much as I would like to go out for walks, it is just not a good idea, so I only walk when Bobby is along with me, and we usually don’t walk after dark. We do go to the fitness center, where we can exercise in safety, and we also have an exercise bike and other equipment in the back room so that we can use that when the weather is not good for traveling to the fitness center.
As far as the news goes, I agree that we are being fed one disaster after another, until it seems like the whole country is a nightmare in progress. The news media, print, online, and on television are owned by about six large corporations, so they make the decisions of what we are shown on the news and what we do not see.
To sit and watch the news constantly can be very scary or depressing, so there is a line between being informed of what is happening, and wallowing in it.
Even with all of the bad things on the news, I still believe that we live in the best country in the world.

 

[hollydolly]

I think that we (especially we senior women) are right to be more careful and try to be prepared to defend ourself if necessary; but I think that spending all of the time fretting about something happening is not beneficial either. If a person makes the best preparations that they can, and avoids going places alone at night , then don’t let fear stop you from enjoying life.
We live in the worst part of town, and there are people walking up and down the streets yelling and fighting day and night, and sometimes it seems like all of the drug dealers in Huntsville must congregate in our neighborhood.
As much as I would like to go out for walks, it is just not a good idea, so I only walk when Bobby is along with me, and we usually don’t walk after dark. We do go to the fitness center, where we can exercise in safety, and we also have an exercise bike and other equipment in the back room so that we can use that when the weather is not good for traveling to the fitness center.
As far as the news goes, I agree that we are being fed one disaster after another, until it seems like the whole country is a nightmare in progress. The new media, print, online, and on television are owned by about six large corporations, so they make the decisions of what we are shown on the news and what we do not see.
To sit and watch the news constantly can be very scary or depressing, so there is a line between being informed of what is happening, and wallowing in it.
Even with all of the bad things on the news, I still believe that we live in the best country in the world.

No...No.....you can't live in the best country in the world..because WE live in the best country in the world.... lol... wanna fight over it? :tongue::rofl:

 

[Smiling Jane]

I agree with LindaW about the "hiding the head in the sand" syndrome. I've known a few people that have gone so far as to only read the so-called "good news" newspapers (there's even a Kickstarter that offers a quarterly good-news hard-copy paper).

But not reading about it, or watching it on the TV, doesn't make the bad news go away.

And yes, I agree that the media over-saturates us with bad news - "If it bleeds, it leads".

What to do? Perhaps achieving a balance between becoming a doom-and-gloomer by listening to all the bad things that could possibly happen (and all too often ARE happening) and becoming a Pollyanna who traipses around spewing sunshine and unicorns.

As a self-defense instructor for many years I've all too often seen what happens when a person refuses to acknowledge reality. At the same time, I sometimes wonder if I have gone overboard with my precautions and my distrust of almost ALL strangers, a state which many proclaim to be on the far side of paranoia.

My usual response is, "Hey, I'm still here!"

But at what cost?

Thus, the need for balance ...

P.S.: I firmly believe the U.S. is seen by many other countries as being populated by a bunch of bloodthirsty savages.

I couldn't disagree with you more, and I defy you to prove to me that watching the local Spencer agenda newscasts is going to improve my life in any way. I don't need that brand of sensationalism and one-sided reporting, and that's all you will find on our local broadcast news. You're fortunate to live in a city where you undoubtedly have better news sources.

I often watch BBC and PBS news (I miss Gwen Ifill terribly) but I admit I don't watch them every day. I read a number of news outlets, and appreciate those that report the news and let me make up my own mind. I watch Frontline, Nova and Washington Week every week, along with a very informative local weekly called New Mexico in Focus. Apparently your definition of burying my head in the sand means I should be watching some 21 year old newbie reporter be all aghast because a drugged out mother let her baby die, so more power to you. You won't be the only wrong person I deal with today.

 

[SifuPhil]

Guns are not banned in Australia. They are well regulated though.

My bad. Meant to say "regulated".

Post Port Arthur we have seen no massacres and suicide by firearm has been reduced considerably.

That's what I've read. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Knight]

I'm still back when rock & roll was going to undermine the whole USA. Real fear was somewhat lessen when we had those drills to hide under our desks.

It must be hell living in fear, and wanting to move. The tough part is where to move to to avoid crime, good thing there is the internet to pick a place that is utopia. I don't think there is a utopia but there is a solution. Do as Richard Branson did and buy your own island.

Without looking up the rape stats for senior women that as a potential seems not to likely as a real fear. Mugging potential higher but there is a ton of info on the inter net how to avoid that and usually in large cities high crime areas are pointed out. Murdered another possibility but being hit by a car is a possibility, no way to know when or how death is going to happen.

 

[SifuPhil]

I couldn't disagree with you more, and I defy you to prove to me that watching the local Spencer agenda newscasts is going to improve my life in any way. I don't need that brand of sensationalism and one-sided reporting, and that's all you will find on our local broadcast news. You're fortunate to live in a city where you undoubtedly have better news sources.

LOL - I live in a former coal-mining town where 29% of the population is below the poverty line, and that is being filled with "immigrants" from NY and NJ who come here because there is a lack of drug dealers and they can fill the bill.

I kind of like knowing where the hot spots are and who my potential attackers are.

I often watch BBC and PBS news (I miss Gwen Ifill terribly) but I admit I don't watch them every day. I read a number of news outlets, and appreciate those that report the news and let me make up my own mind. I watch Frontline, Nova and Washington Week every week, along with a very informative local weekly called New Mexico in Focus. Apparently your definition of burying my head in the sand means I should be watching some 21 year old newbie reporter be all aghast because a drugged out mother let her baby die, so more power to you. You won't be the only wrong person I deal with today.

There's a very large difference between world news and local news. Watching Nova isn't going to let you know about the druggies down the street.

You totally don't get the "burying the head in the sand" thing.

 

[SifuPhil]

I'm still back when rock & roll was going to undermine the whole USA. Real fear was somewhat lessen when we had those drills to hide under our desks.

Heh, heh ... we used to go into the 1st floor hallway at school, face the wall and clasp our hands over our necks.

Yeah, that would be great protection from The Bomb. At least we got out of class for a while.

It must be hell living in fear, and wanting to move. The tough part is where to move to to avoid crime, good thing there is the internet to pick a place that is utopia. I don't think there is a utopia but there is a solution. Do as Richard Branson did and buy your own island.

I had students in my earlier days of teaching that said "Oh, we live in the suburbs - we don't have to worry about (name the crime)".

You don't hear that so much anymore.

Without looking up the rape stats for senior women that as a potential seems not to likely as a real fear.

Assisted living facilities and nursing homes have a long, sordid history of rape and assault that is only now coming to light.

Mugging potential higher but there is a ton of info on the inter net how to avoid that and usually in large cities high crime areas are pointed out. Murdered another possibility but being hit by a car is a possibility, no way to know when or how death is going to happen.

True. In the end, I think it's all just a numbers game. However, there are certain things that can be done to slightly increase your odds.

 

[Smiling Jane]

LOL I kind of like knowing where the hot spots are and who my potential attackers are.

There's a very large difference between world news and local news. Watching Nova isn't going to let you know about the druggies down the street.

You totally don't get the "burying the head in the sand" thing.

And for that I am grateful. Your version of burying my head in the sand is my version of choosing not to get my news from sources for which I only have contempt.

I live in Meth Country USA. Ever hear of Breaking Bad? That's where I live -- Albuquerque New Mexico. I'm well aware of the hot spots in my community; they're obvious when I'm driving around. The problem with Albuquerque is that one block can be pretty clean and the next block is where the criminals hang out. The local news can't be trusted to provide that kind of demographic information anyway. They report only the most lurid crimes that will bring them the eyeballs they crave, but no overview is ever provided. It's not as if they put up a map and tell people to stay out of certain neighborhoods.

People who lived in the house across the street were manufacturing meth; the biohazard team that has been on that site repeatedly this month has been a major reality check. Oh but wait, let me run to the TV and see what the fresh out of college reporter has to say about it.

If you want to trust shady outfits like Spencer to give you accurate news, good for you. I'm not required to feel the same way. Besides, I've met some of the nicest ostriches recently.

My next door neighbor (who is a friend) has a son who is a heroin addict. He is a one-moron crime wave, and he and his girl friend (whom I call Sid and Nancy) have moved in with the neighbor again because they've been kicked out of another apartment. This kid has been stealing anything I haven't nailed down since he was 13, but maybe I should see what the bimbo news reporter says because I can't disseminate information on my own.

 

[SifuPhil]

And for that I am grateful. Your version of burying my head in the sand is my version of choosing not to get my news from sources for which I only have contempt.

I live in Meth Country USA. Ever hear of Breaking Bad? That's where I live -- Albuquerque New Mexico. I'm well aware of the hot spots in my community; they're obvious when I'm driving around. The problem with Albuquerque is that one block can be pretty clean and the next block is where the criminals hang out. The local news can't be trusted to provide that kind of demographic information anyway. They report only the most lurid crimes that will bring them the eyeballs they crave, but no overview is ever provided. It's not as if they put up a map and tell people to stay out of certain neighborhoods.

People who lived in the house across the street were manufacturing meth; the biohazard team that has been on that site repeatedly this month has been a major reality check. Oh but wait, let me run to the TV and see what the fresh out of college reporter has to say about it.

If you want to trust shady outfits like Spencer to give you accurate news, good for you. I'm not required to feel the same way. Besides, I've met some of the nicest ostriches recently.

My next door neighbor (who is a friend) has a son who is a heroin addict. He is a one-moron crime wave, and he and his girl friend (whom I call Sid and Nancy) have moved in with the neighbor again because they've been kicked out of another apartment. This kid has been stealing anything I haven't nailed down since he was 13, but maybe I should see what the bimbo news reporter says because I can't disseminate information on my own.

Well, since we're being so smug and condescending ...

Being aware of one's immediate environment is not at all equivalent to learning about it from the media. Experiential learning is always far superior to second-hand knowledge.

There are online tools such as CrimeMapping that, if your local PD participates, can show trends that your drive-bys might not catch.Just because you SEE a "bad" neighborhood doesn't mean that there is not skullduggery going on in the so-called "good" neighborhoods.

But of course, since you cited Breaking Bad as your reference I'm sure you don't need to be told that. Nothing like a fantasy TV show created by the hated media to inform one of reality.

 

[Smiling Jane]

I'm glad you said "smug and condescending" because I've thought that throughout your posts on this subject.

If you lived in Albuquerque, you might realize Breaking Bad barely skimmed the surface of the meth problem here. Of course it was sanitized so viewers wouldn't be exposed to the truth.

 

[Shalimar]

I think that we (especially we senior women) are right to be more careful and try to be prepared to defend ourself if necessary; but I think that spending all of the time fretting about something happening is not beneficial either. If a person makes the best preparations that they can, and avoids going places alone at night , then don’t let fear stop you from enjoying life.
We live in the worst part of town, and there are people walking up and down the streets yelling and fighting day and night, and sometimes it seems like all of the drug dealers in Huntsville must congregate in our neighborhood.
As much as I would like to go out for walks, it is just not a good idea, so I only walk when Bobby is along with me, and we usually don’t walk after dark. We do go to the fitness center, where we can exercise in safety, and we also have an exercise bike and other equipment in the back room so that we can use that when the weather is not good for traveling to the fitness center.
As far as the news goes, I agree that we are being fed one disaster after another, until it seems like the whole country is a nightmare in progress. The news media, print, online, and on television are owned by about six large corporations, so they make the decisions of what we are shown on the news and what we do not see.
To sit and watch the news constantly can be very scary or depressing, so there is a line between being informed of what is happening, and wallowing in it.
Even with all of the bad things on the news, I still believe that we live in the best country in the world.

Hmmm. As a Canadian, of course I believe we live in the best country in the world.

 

[SifuPhil]

I'm glad you said "smug and condescending" because I've thought that throughout your posts on this subject.

I'm sure a lot of folks here see me the same way.

The thing is, I feel that I've "done my part" by teaching many hundreds of people how to be safe and by personally putting a few bad guys in both the hospital and jail.

Experience.

"It ain't bragging if it's true".

If you lived in Albuquerque, you might realize Breaking Bad barely skimmed the surface of the meth problem here. Of course it was sanitized so viewers wouldn't be exposed to the truth.

I know that Albuquerque is a hot-bed of crime. You have my condolences for living in such an area. Even when I lived in NYC back in the '70's, in the so-called "wild" days, the stats were slanted more toward petty crimes, muggings, car theft and such. The whole coke/heroin/meth problem didn't exist then.

 

[Shalimar]

Yes but there's plenty of economy in Hollywood and yet addiction problems abound. You can go one route because of your situation or another in spite of it. It comes from within.
But you're right that would likely help crime rates.

I think that addiction is perhaps a little more complex. Frankly, given enough emotional pain, for long enough, most people will resort to almost anything to reduce/eliminate it. No one's inner strength is inexhaustible.

 

[SifuPhil]

Hmmm. As a Canadian, of course I believe we live in the best country in the world.

Canada is a country? I thought you guys were just a U.S. Territory. layful:

 

[Shalimar]

Heh, heh ... we used to go into the 1st floor hallway at school, face the wall and clasp our hands over our necks.

Yeah, that would be great protection from The Bomb. At least we got out of class for a while.



I had students in my earlier days of teaching that said "Oh, we live in the suburbs - we don't have to worry about (name the crime)".

You don't hear that so much anymore.



Assisted living facilities and nursing homes have a long, sordid history of rape and assault that is only now coming to light.



True. In the end, I think it's all just a numbers game. However, there are certain things that can be done to slightly increase your odds.

Yes, I was appalled at the levels of violence toward elders in facilities/homes in America. Canada is not exempt, but we have more regulations in place regarding quality of care, etc.

 

[Smiling Jane]

Yes, I was appalled at the levels of violence toward elders in facilities/homes in America. Canada is not exempt, but we have more regulations in place regarding quality of care, etc.

I've never heard anyone talk about this, but is there a difference between Canada and the US in terms of how working in an elder care facility is perceived and rewarded? Here in the US it's considered one of the worst jobs, and only done by those who can't get jobs anywhere else. I've known a couple of hard core addicts who worked in nursing homes, which is scary.

 

[Smiling Jane]

I'm sure a lot of folks here see me the same way.

The thing is, I feel that I've "done my part" by teaching many hundreds of people how to be safe and by personally putting a few bad guys in both the hospital and jail.

Experience.

"It ain't bragging if it's true".



I know that Albuquerque is a hot-bed of crime. You have my condolences for living in such an area. Even when I lived in NYC back in the '70's, in the so-called "wild" days, the stats were slanted more toward petty crimes, muggings, car theft and such. The whole coke/heroin/meth problem didn't exist then.

I've spent almost 40 years clean and sober in 12-Step programs. I figure sponsoring and otherwise working with hundreds of addicts and alcoholics and helping people change themselves is a very effective way of preventing crime.

 

[Camper6]

I've spent almost 40 years clean and sober in 12-Step programs. I figure sponsoring and otherwise working with hundreds of addicts and alcoholics and helping people change themselves is a very effective way of preventing crime.

Thank you for that. That is something to be proud of.

 

[Shalimar]

I've never heard anyone talk about this, but is there a difference between Canada and the US in terms of how working in an elder care facility is perceived and rewarded? Here in the US it's considered one of the worst jobs, and only done by those who can't get jobs anywhere else. I've known a couple of hard core addicts who worked in nursing homes, which is scary.

An aide is not a high paying job, but it is viewed as a respectable one. In order to be hired, one must pass a background check.

 

[SifuPhil]

An aide is not a high paying job, but it is viewed as a respectable one. In order to be hired, one must pass a background check.

Our background checks here are not always very effective (witness the Texas church shooter's background check). I can only imagine that nursing homes are prone to much the same problems of oversight.

 

[Smiling Jane]

An aide is not a high paying job, but it is viewed as a respectable one. In order to be hired, one must pass a background check.

I believe the background checks are necessary here too. I've known some people who worked in eldercare facilities. They worked long, thankless hours providing the kind of care many families don't want to do. In return, the facilities treat them badly and give them little to no support, the families who don't want to do the work themselves are sometimes overly critical and micromanage, and the wages are terrible. It's scut work, and that may be part of the reason for poor and abusive treatment. Not an excuse, but I could see someone feeling abused by managers and taking it out on a vulnerable patient.

Phil is probably right about the efficacy of the background checks.

 

[Shalimar]

Canada is a country? I thought you guys were just a U.S. Territory. layful:

Living dangerously, little man?grrrrr.

 

[Smiling Jane]

Yes but there's plenty of economy in Hollywood and yet addiction problems abound. You can go one route because of your situation or another in spite of it. It comes from within.
But you're right that would likely help crime rates.

No doubt there is drug use in affluent areas. The difference is that many or most of those people are able to support themselves and their addiction without resorting to violent crime. It's fairly obvious when TV showrunners are using drugs like coke because the attitude comes out of their characters' mouths. So there you have the example of an addict who is making millions of dollars a year. He's still an addict -- no question about that -- but he's unlikely to be holding up convenience stores at gunpoint. What he does in the privacy of his own home is a whole other story.

 

[Manatee]

Visit a few third world countries, they make the USA look pretty good.

 

[hearlady]

No doubt there is drug use in affluent areas. The difference is that many or most of those people are able to support themselves and their addiction without resorting to violent crime. It's fairly obvious when TV showrunners are using drugs like coke because the attitude comes out of their characters' mouths. So there you have the example of an addict who is making millions of dollars a year. He's still an addict -- no question about that -- but he's unlikely to be holding up convenience stores at gunpoint. What he does in the privacy of his own home is a whole other story.

I guess with them I resent the example they set for the children who will resort to violent crime.