I don't want to become another statistic. iin?

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9 Comments

How safe is it to walk by yourself in America? I ask because, I long to be able to walk around my area alone and have little adventures but, I fear becoming another statistic in the receng wave of violence and civil unreast between police and civilians.

I'm more scared of being bother by the police than by random civilians.

I don't dress, behave, or communicate like an ethnic stereotype. I've been told that this doesn't matter.

I'm mixed-race but, my looks are ethnically ambiguous. I live in a predominately black area. Despite it being rare for me to see the people in my area get stopped and hassled by the police when in the car, I'm still scared.

It even worries me that I may get hassled because, I've never really been seen around these parts, despite living here all of my life.

The lesser concern I have, is I that I don't dress feminine. My style is androgynous though some might mistake it for being slightly masculine. I would be told stories of how I shouldn't dress masculine when outside because, someone might attack me.

I dress the same way whenever I go out and no one has ever incited violence towards me. I'm not sure if I'm overreacting on this or if it's a legitamite concern. IIN? -Thanks.

Voting Results
63% Normal
Based on 8 votes (5 yes)
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Comments ( 9 )
  • Freedom_
    9 years ago

    I think we're all a little afraid to go out and venture here, for different reasons. The media incites so much fear in all of us, although black people are the current target of this propagated fear.

    I can't really tell you if this is something you should truly feel threatened by. That depends on demographics and such.... I don't think you should live in fear though.

    It's easier to explain how to feel safer going out around other civilians (stick with a group, carry a taser, etc), but going out black against the authorities is something I have little experience with ( don't touch that fucking taser!). I have heard of a "driving while black" app, so maybe that could help? Otherwise, just talk to black people you know in your area to get a good idea of what's safe and what's not. Whatever you do, don't stand to live in fear.

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    • Redcoats
      9 years ago

      Best answer ever (:

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    • Avant-Garde
      9 years ago

      To be honest, I don't really know anyone in the neighborhood. I knew the one of my next door neighbors, not closely. I wouldn't mind asking him but, he is rarely home. I had an acquaintance who didn't live that far from me but, she got on my nerves and I didn't stay close to her. It would be out of place for me to ask her out of the blue.

      I have three relatives who live in the area. One believes that it is completely safe for me to walk from my house all the way to her house alone. I'll have to ask the other one. My mother says its probably safer than most areas in/near the city.

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      • Freedom_
        8 years ago

        My town has a somewhat high crime rate and I'd say about half the police force are dicks and the other half are ok. I've walked around neighborhoods all over town my whole life, most of the time smoking weed or cigarettes underage and never got fucked with by authorities (but I must add that I'm white).

        When I lived in the ghetto ( it wasn't too rough, mostly mild house robberies, drugs and some auto theft) I only had one altercation - some thugs started fucking with my bf at the time because he had long hair (i guess) and was scrawny. He fled while I stood my ground. One guy tried to snatch my overshirt and I pulled it back and proceeded to punch him in the face and that was that. My sister later befriended the thugs.

        Also, late one night, a guy tried to pick me and my sister up. She started to get in the car and I was like nahhh. He said "it's ok, I'm Buddy!" and we walked back home unharmed.

        From my experience people don't usually fuck with you if you don't fuck with them, but there are some people who, for one reason or another, are targeted. I think confidence is key, thugs and cops can smell fear.

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  • [Old Memory]
    9 years ago

    Why hello, Avant.

    As a woman, you're not likely to be harassed by police. Conversely, considering the racial makeup of your area, being targeted by criminals is probably a much realer concern.

    Regardless, just bare in mind this old piece of advice: Don't talk to the cops without a lawyer present, and think twice before consenting to a search.

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    • Avant-Garde
      9 years ago

      Hello, True.

      It's a good thing that you brought up crime rates, otherwise I would have completely forgotten/ignored the issue. Naive, I know.

      I looked it up. The rates were out of 100,000. Rape is relatively low. Burglary is somewhat high. Violent crimes (I guess rape and burglary isn't considered "violent") had higher rates but, they must not be happening in my part otherwise, someone would've told me.

      I appreciate the advice. :)

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  • lordofopinions
    5 years ago

    Overreacting.

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  • notaterrorist
    8 years ago

    I don't live in America but I live in and have lived in some areas that are notorious for crime etc. I think that generally the worse the reputation of the area, people are more guarded and more likely to react violently to someone fucking with them but most people just keep to themselves. as long as you don't do anything stupid like walking through a dark alleyway at night or walking around with valuables on show, you should be fine. in my city, it's about 95% white, so there isn't really an issue of cops stopping people of certain races.
    it's more a case of people who are known to the police getting harassed regularly. if your area is mostly black people then you will probably okay as long as you don't associate with known criminals or hang round on street corners etc

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  • Goomats
    8 years ago

    Most of America is safe. Most of its police force is level-headed. It's the exceptions that make the news. Walk around. Live your life. Don't let the news scare you.

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