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[DaCocoBrova]

Someone who was sitting on my couch just a day prior, got murdered here in DC.

Shot 6 times in broad day light.

We weren't close or anything like that, but I hate the whole 'here today, gone tomorrow' feeling that comes with early death.

It sucks.

 

[Lemurnator]

Yeah, death sucks. What was your relation to them?

 

[Grizzlyjin]

That's horrible, sorry to hear that. Yeah, it really gets to me when someone my age dies. It really makes you think.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Thanks.

He was a friend of my cousin's that was always around.

A real comedian. Talked w/ an exaggerated lisp.

DC is just a violent place, and he was in the heart of it (Potomac Gardens).




Of course, as expected...this doesn't even make the local news.

 

[shuri]

Shot 6 times in broad daylight? I doubt it was a random attack

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Not random at all.

People saw it happen but no one talks in fear that they'll be retalliated against as a result of snitching.

Cops around here will do cruddy stuff like question you, tell you to get in the car... Ride you around the neighborhood so everyone can see you, and then let you go... People assume you were running your mouth (in order to get out of their custody) and then it happens again. Hence people not saying sh!t or IDing the perp.

 

[norinrad21]

Shouldn't you consider moving yourself? I mean you have a son and all

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Why?

I have lived in urban environments my entire life. Heinous stuff happens everywhere. Running doesn't accomplish anything IMO.

Columbine wasn't exactly 'the hood' you know...

 

[MrAngryFace]

I dunno, this area of Washington is pretty nice.

 

[ge-man]

Why?

I have lived in urban environments my entire life. Heinous stuff happens everywhere. Running doesn't accomplish anything IMO.

Columbine wasn't exactly 'the hood' you know...

I completely agree with this.

I went through a similar situation years ago. I knew a guy in my PE class in highschool who died in a gang related shooting in Sacramento over a winter break. I remember thinking that I had just been playing football with the guy a few days prior, and now he is NEVER coming back to class. I didn't think there were gangs and shit where I lived, but there it was.

You have to be careful wherever you decide to settle.

 

[MrAngryFace]

I dunno, ive lived like 9 places, one of them was dangerous. Im not well to do either. West Side rul3z. Washington/Oregon = yesssiiir

 

[Escape Goat]

Why?

I have lived in urban environments my entire life. Heinous stuff happens everywhere. Running doesn't accomplish anything IMO.

Columbine wasn't exactly 'the hood' you know...

You say "running" like relocating to a safer neighborhood would be a cowardly thing to do. Columbine was an uncommon occurance, yeah there have been some copycats but its hardly as frequent as crimes committed in the neighborhood you've described.

 

[mrmyth]

I completely agree with this.

I went through a similar situation years ago. I knew a guy in my PE class in highschool who died in a gang related shooting in Sacramento over a winter break. I remember thinking that I had just been playing football with the guy a few days prior, and now he is NEVER coming back to class. I didn't think there were gangs and shit where I lived, but there it was.

You have to be careful wherever you decide to settle.

The best defense against a gun is not to be there.



Now, nowhere may be safe, but there are places where the people waving guns around are far less likely to be. That's where I choose to be. I didn't 'run' from the ghetto, in fact I visit it far too often for my own good. But at night when I want to relax and sleep peacefully, I come home where the guns aren't.
And if the guns come here, I'll leave again. I don't owe the ghetto a damn thing.

 

[karasu]

The best defense against a gun is not to be there.



Now, nowhere may be safe, but there are places where the people waving guns around are far less likely to be. That's where I choose to be. I didn't 'run' from the ghetto, in fact I visit it far too often for my own good. But at night when I want to relax and sleep peacefully, I come home where the guns aren't.
And if the guns come here, I'll leave again. I don't owe the ghetto a damn thing.

Word.

 

[MrAngryFace]

WASHINGTON OR OREGON!

 

[Xenon]

I have lived in urban environments my entire life. Heinous stuff happens everywhere. Running doesn't accomplish anything IMO.

Columbine wasn't exactly 'the hood' you know...

I disagree with you on this. I have lived in the country, burbs and city. In my eighth grade class, in the city, 9 of the dudes that graduated with me(out of maybe 40) died via guns or some kind of violent death either that year or the next couple of years. During that year the playground was shot up twice! Something that doesn't happen in the burbs or country. Yeah Columbine is the exception to the rule. I wouldn't say that makes those areas just as dangerous. I still to this day get a little nervous when I see a car full of people drive slow down the block.

 

[Cimarron]

Damn coco sorry to hear about that. DC is a rough town. When I was living in Morningside I used to hear about all sorts of crazy shit that used to go down there.

 

[DarienA]

Why?

I have lived in urban environments my entire life. Heinous stuff happens everywhere. Running doesn't accomplish anything IMO.

Columbine wasn't exactly 'the hood' you know...

Moving to a place potentially safer for your child is considered running?

Situation:

You live in a community for years, and as an young adult to adult you watch it deteriorate. The local gov't does nothing and personal safety and schooling just are spiralling out of control downward.

You have the opportunity to move to another locale, less crime, and better schools for your child(ren).

Do you not move because that would be considered running?

I am SO not down....

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Re-locating is not an end-all/cure-all. Sh!t happens everywhere.

I grew up in Harlem, NY. None of the people I grew up with that I know about, did much with their life. I think Byron going off to the military was the only real success story...

I don't think it was the environment, as much as it was their families, or lack thereof. Most people I grew up w/ were raised by their grandmothers, aunts etc.

I was the exception, even though my parents were divorced. My mother was such a force in my life. I was a latchkey kid, but one w/ parents that really gave a fuck about my well-being.

I went to good schools, was always active and never really spent time doing 'nothing'... Which is how a lot of sh!t happens in the first place.

 

[mrmyth]

Re-locating is not an end-all/cure-all. Sh!t happens everywhere.

You missed the point. Yeah, shit happens everywhere, but some where's less than others.

You honestly sound like you're burned out on it all, which is understandable. But dude, seriously, you don't owe that area shit. It's dirt, asphalt, and concrete. It won't call you at midnight cause it misses you. It won't write you sad love letters. Its the ghetto, and it will move on without you. You need to move on without it.

 

[MrAngryFace]

Ive lived in like 9 places, 5 different states, shit doesnt go down everywhere. Come to Western Washington, live a nice quiet life of trees.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

There are so many other variables involved here...

1. Job/Job security
2. Family (My Grandparents moved down here from Jersey to see more of me and my child)

Granted, my money would go waaaaay further if I moved elsewhere, but I don't know. I have been all over this country, Europe... No matter where I go, there's 'no place like home'.


DarenA - You get stuck on the Redline this morning? Total mess.

 

[ge-man]

The best defense against a gun is not to be there.



Now, nowhere may be safe, but there are places where the people waving guns around are far less likely to be. That's where I choose to be. I didn't 'run' from the ghetto, in fact I visit it far too often for my own good. But at night when I want to relax and sleep peacefully, I come home where the guns aren't.
And if the guns come here, I'll leave again. I don't owe the ghetto a damn thing.

I'm pretty sure the guy I mentioned thought he was safe until his car got shot up. I don't think he was looking for trouble.

My main point is there isn't a place to hide. Some places are safer than others, but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. That is the kind of thinking that let 9/11 happen.

 

[MrAngryFace]

You guys live in some shitty places.

 

[Particle Physicist]

Someone who was sitting on my couch just a day prior, got murdered here in DC.

Shot 6 times in broad day light.

We weren't close or anything like that, but I hate the whole 'here today, gone tomorrow' feeling that comes with early death.

It sucks.

yeah. its a shitty feeling. even worse when you are good friends with them. i know way too many people (some around my age, some a little bit older) that have passed away.. its so wierd thinking about them.. and then realizing.. they arent here anymore.

 

[belgurdo]

No shame in moving to a safer place, and it's not like all ghettoes are the same. You do have to consider that basically being "marked for death" by the people that are supposed to be protecting you ranks pretty high up on the "fucked up things that no one should see or go through" scale

 

[mrmyth]

I'm pretty sure the guy I mentioned thought he was safe until his car got shot up. I don't think he was looking for trouble.

My main point is there isn't a place to hide. Some places are safer than others, but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. That is the kind of thinking that let 9/11 happen.

Again, I acknowledge that nowhere is really 'safe'. But I left my kitchen door wide open in a rush to get to work about two weeks ago. (the door faces my driveway and is clearly visible from the street). I got home ten hours later to all my shit still in my home. Wouldn't've happened when I was on the West side and had my apartment cleaned of every electronic gadget save a word processor. ("Can't sell that - it makes words!")

I up my chances of getting shot every time I go back into the ghetto. I reduce them when I go home. I'll take the low odds every time.

 

[Seth C]

You guys live in some shitty places.

No joke.

Believe it or not, folks, there are places you can live where you most likely will not ever see a shooting, and the only people you'll lose growing up will die of cancer or car accidents.

 

[DarienA]

There are so many other variables involved here...

1. Job/Job security
2. Family (My Grandparents moved down here from Jersey to see more of me and my child)

Granted, my money would go waaaaay further if I moved elsewhere, but I don't know. I have been all over this country, Europe... No matter where I go, there's 'no place like home'.


DarenA - You get stuck on the Redline this morning? Total mess.

No since the missus is due anytime now I'm driving to/from work. What happened this morning?

 

[DaCocoBrova]

The redline was practically shut down from Judiciary Square onward. It was chaos.

People were heated!

Good thing you drove.