Did you feel safer in Canada or in the U.S.?

[bowflex 0]

the same way you can be aware and be prepared in someplace like detroit. watch your ####. don't go out at night in places that you know are unsafe. keep your expensive belongings (ipods) hidden when youre on public transportation. don't court problems with people. know where you are and where you're going. look around. see people looking suspicious? walk away. stay where there are lots of people and places to be. carry a whistle or mace or an airhorn with you.

Lol Unless you're going to one of the casinos or pro sport venues in Detroit there's really no skill to staying safe except for NOT going to Detroit. I grew up there and luckily moved out before it went completely downhill but unless you're around a tourist attraction you're going to be robbed. Heck people have been going into the thousands of abandoned building and removing all the copper from the wiring systems so they can sell it to buy drugs, what a garbage pile lol

[thetreble 19]

the same way you can be aware and be prepared in someplace like detroit. watch your ####. don't go out at night in places that you know are unsafe. keep your expensive belongings (ipods) hidden when youre on public transportation. don't court problems with people. know where you are and where you're going. look around. see people looking suspicious? walk away. stay where there are lots of people and places to be. carry a whistle or mace or an airhorn with you.

Lol Unless you're going to one of the casinos or pro sport venues in Detroit there's really no skill to staying safe except for NOT going to Detroit. I grew up there and luckily moved out before it went completely downhill but unless you're around a tourist attraction you're going to be robbed. Heck people have been going into the thousands of abandoned building and removing all the copper from the wiring systems so they can sell it to buy drugs, what a garbage pile lol

I think that's what I meant when I wrote my post and got that answer. Bogartnoir, I'm not some non-street savvy person. I was out on my own at 17 with no vehicle for 5 years. There are certain places you have to avoid all together, because they are just NOT safe. Looking to see who is suspicious or not is not going to stop you from getting killed, unfortunately.

[The Dude 206]

the same way you can be aware and be prepared in someplace like detroit. watch your ####. don't go out at night in places that you know are unsafe. keep your expensive belongings (ipods) hidden when youre on public transportation. don't court problems with people. know where you are and where you're going. look around. see people looking suspicious? walk away. stay where there are lots of people and places to be. carry a whistle or mace or an airhorn with you.

Lol Unless you're going to one of the casinos or pro sport venues in Detroit there's really no skill to staying safe except for NOT going to Detroit. I grew up there and luckily moved out before it went completely downhill but unless you're around a tourist attraction you're going to be robbed. Heck people have been going into the thousands of abandoned building and removing all the copper from the wiring systems so they can sell it to buy drugs, what a garbage pile lol

I think that's what I meant when I wrote my post and got that answer. Bogartnoir, I'm not some non-street savvy person. I was out on my own at 17 with no vehicle for 5 years. There are certain places you have to avoid all together, because they are just NOT safe. Looking to see who is suspicious or not is not going to stop you from getting killed, unfortunately.

No, but it will decrease the likelyhood of it.

[bowflex 0]

I think that's what I meant when I wrote my post and got that answer. Bogartnoir, I'm not some non-street savvy person. I was out on my own at 17 with no vehicle for 5 years. There are certain places you have to avoid all together, because they are just NOT safe. Looking to see who is suspicious or not is not going to stop you from getting killed, unfortunately.

Yep it's awful to say but you're completely right. My older brother is now a Detroit Firefighter, just as my Dad and Grandpa were, but now there are a ton of them getting concealed weapon licenses and actually taking guns with them on runs. My brother said a few months ago they were fighting a fire and there were people trying to steal tools and stuff off the trucks to sell. Insane stuff.

As for where I'd feel safer, my main experiences in the USA are from Detroit and in Canada they were from Windsor so really not much difference there. My wife and I live in a suburb about 35-40 minutes outside of Detroit and it's a very nice area, generally more older folks that already went through their starter homes and now live well (thank you crappy home market for the house I'd never be able to afford otherwise haha). We have no problem walking around at night with our ferrets or anything but I sure as heck would never want her walking anywhere alone at night, no matter where we are.

[Carlawarla 1]

Definitely Canada, hands down!!

I lived in Oakville, Ontario which is a very safe little town. Low crime, hardly any and I never hesitated to go for walks at night, alone and never felt threatened.

Here, in Philadelphia the crime rate is so high. I don't feel safe at all, especially at night. It's odd but I hear so often about sexual crimes here than I did back home, you hear about a new rape almost every day. Even female joggers in the trails around here, in broad daylight get attacked. I would never go for a walk in the trails alone here, but I did at home all the time. Here I am fearful of being attacked as it happens so frequently. My husband doesn't like me to be in the city alone at night, he'll always come pick me up or whatever. So it's more sexual crimes I fear here, than robbery or shootings although you hear alot about those too. Sometimes I wish I was back in my bubble living in Oakville where I feared nothing really!

Side note - I don't even live in the city, about 30 minutes north. Even though I live in the burbs, I still don't feel safe here. One time I looked up the registered sex offenders in my town and I was aghast.

OH MY GOD! Jill. I did the same thing when I lived in Florida years ago. Looked up the sexual offenders in my area and WOULDN"T YOU KNOW IT! I knew 3 of them personally. I almost peed my pants I could not believe what I was looking at. Two of them were customers at my parents business and one of them was my local pharmacy photo lab guy. FRIGGIN' CREEPY. And YES, they are everywhere in my area where I live as well. Its scary to see all those little sex offender dots on a map so close to where you live.

OH MY GOD! Jill. I did the same thing when I lived in Florida years ago. Looked up the sexual offenders in my area and WOULDN"T YOU KNOW IT! I knew 3 of them personally. I almost peed my pants I could not believe what I was looking at. Two of them were customers at my parents business and one of them was my local pharmacy photo lab guy. FRIGGIN' CREEPY. And YES, they are everywhere in my area where I live as well. Its scary to see all those little sex offender dots on a map so close to where you live.

EWWW you knew 3 of them, that's sick. I'm sure I've ran into some at the grocery store, pharmacy, etc. The dots are all over the map, some close to home. And when I see the offense like pedophile, rape, etc. it makes me SICK

Why is it sick to know 3 sexual offenders? They are people too. It's their behaviour that you don't like, I would hope it's not the person. There is nothing "scary" about having them live near you. I'm sure you run into them everyday. It's not like they have this huge SO tattooed on their forehead. Sex offenders are brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, sometimes sisters, mothers, and nieces. They are your neighbourhood butcher, baker, delivery driver, landscaper, or dog walker. They are not "others". There is no commonality to any as well. They are black, white, yellow...they are rich, poor, and in-between. They are educated and some poorly educated. They are young and old.

[Sprailenes 47]

But I didn't feel unsafe.

I mean I have seen things and heard things in Toronto that weren't good but I have never felt threatened. I have been robbed too - in the Annex of all places. Still feel safer there than I do here.

You've been robbed, and confronted with a borderline concious coke head who left drugs out there, yet felt safe?

I think it's the type of crime, too. In Newark, you might get shot execution style in a wrong place, wrong time gang initiation. I'll take the robbery!

Hey Camden is now #2! Yay I am so going for a walk in the park in Camden tonight! It's 1% safer again!

[bowflex 0]

Why is it sick to know 3 sexual offenders? They are people too. It's their behaviour that you don't like, I would hope it's not the person. There is nothing "scary" about having them live near you. I'm sure you run into them everyday. It's not like they have this huge SO tattooed on their forehead. Sex offenders are brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, sometimes sisters, mothers, and nieces. They are your neighbourhood butcher, baker, delivery driver, landscaper, or dog walker. They are not "others". There is no commonality to any as well. They are black, white, yellow...they are rich, poor, and in-between. They are educated and some poorly educated. They are young and old.

I don't really get your reasoning here. I didn't see anyone trying to say that all sex offenders were one-type of person, only that they wouldn't feel comfortable living by them. I think that's completely logical and normal. Unless the person got one of those stupid charges where they pee'd in public one day and got thrown on the list, I'd never feel comfortable living near a person who was on that list.

[The Dude 206]

Why is it sick to know 3 sexual offenders? They are people too. It's their behaviour that you don't like, I would hope it's not the person. There is nothing "scary" about having them live near you. I'm sure you run into them everyday. It's not like they have this huge SO tattooed on their forehead. Sex offenders are brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, sometimes sisters, mothers, and nieces. They are your neighbourhood butcher, baker, delivery driver, landscaper, or dog walker. They are not "others". There is no commonality to any as well. They are black, white, yellow...they are rich, poor, and in-between. They are educated and some poorly educated. They are young and old.

They are also people who have committed heinous acts. They are far from laudable citizens.

[bowflex 0]

Hey Camden is now #2! Yay I am so going for a walk in the park in Camden tonight! It's 1% safer again!

Hahaha Detroit used to be near the top too but now so many people moved away there are stories on the news about wild coyotes and red fox moving into abandoned lots. I wonder if that makes Detroit more or less safe haha

[Sprailenes 47]

Definitely Canada, hands down!!

I lived in Oakville, Ontario which is a very safe little town. Low crime, hardly any and I never hesitated to go for walks at night, alone and never felt threatened.

Here, in Philadelphia the crime rate is so high. I don't feel safe at all, especially at night. It's odd but I hear so often about sexual crimes here than I did back home, you hear about a new rape almost every day. Even female joggers in the trails around here, in broad daylight get attacked. I would never go for a walk in the trails alone here, but I did at home all the time. Here I am fearful of being attacked as it happens so frequently. My husband doesn't like me to be in the city alone at night, he'll always come pick me up or whatever. So it's more sexual crimes I fear here, than robbery or shootings although you hear alot about those too. Sometimes I wish I was back in my bubble living in Oakville where I feared nothing really!

Side note - I don't even live in the city, about 30 minutes north. Even though I live in the burbs, I still don't feel safe here. One time I looked up the registered sex offenders in my town and I was aghast.

OH MY GOD! Jill. I did the same thing when I lived in Florida years ago. Looked up the sexual offenders in my area and WOULDN"T YOU KNOW IT! I knew 3 of them personally. I almost peed my pants I could not believe what I was looking at. Two of them were customers at my parents business and one of them was my local pharmacy photo lab guy. FRIGGIN' CREEPY. And YES, they are everywhere in my area where I live as well. Its scary to see all those little sex offender dots on a map so close to where you live.

OH MY GOD! Jill. I did the same thing when I lived in Florida years ago. Looked up the sexual offenders in my area and WOULDN"T YOU KNOW IT! I knew 3 of them personally. I almost peed my pants I could not believe what I was looking at. Two of them were customers at my parents business and one of them was my local pharmacy photo lab guy. FRIGGIN' CREEPY. And YES, they are everywhere in my area where I live as well. Its scary to see all those little sex offender dots on a map so close to where you live.

EWWW you knew 3 of them, that's sick. I'm sure I've ran into some at the grocery store, pharmacy, etc. The dots are all over the map, some close to home. And when I see the offense like pedophile, rape, etc. it makes me SICK

Why is it sick to know 3 sexual offenders? They are people too. It's their behaviour that you don't like, I would hope it's not the person. There is nothing "scary" about having them live near you. I'm sure you run into them everyday. It's not like they have this huge SO tattooed on their forehead. Sex offenders are brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, sometimes sisters, mothers, and nieces. They are your neighbourhood butcher, baker, delivery driver, landscaper, or dog walker. They are not "others". There is no commonality to any as well. They are black, white, yellow...they are rich, poor, and in-between. They are educated and some poorly educated. They are young and old.

I know you worked with sex offenders so you may empathize with them, but I don't. I don't try to empathize with someone who steals something from me, and that includes my trust, my body etc.

I associate people with their behaviour. If someone does something I don't like, I am not going to like them as a person and then attempt to justify their behaviour. I think the two go hand in hand.

[JillA 2]

Why is it sick to know 3 sexual offenders? They are people too. It's their behaviour that you don't like, I would hope it's not the person. There is nothing "scary" about having them live near you. I'm sure you run into them everyday. It's not like they have this huge SO tattooed on their forehead. Sex offenders are brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews, sometimes sisters, mothers, and nieces. They are your neighbourhood butcher, baker, delivery driver, landscaper, or dog walker. They are not "others". There is no commonality to any as well. They are black, white, yellow...they are rich, poor, and in-between. They are educated and some poorly educated. They are young and old.

I don't really get your reasoning here. I didn't see anyone trying to say that all sex offenders were one-type of person, only that they wouldn't feel comfortable living by them. I think that's completely logical and normal. Unless the person got one of those stupid charges where they pee'd in public one day and got thrown on the list, I'd never feel comfortable living near a person who was on that list.

Exactly. I don't feel comfortable knowing that a man who was convicted of raping a child lives 2 streets away from me. Do you think I want to have my kids running around playing outside with a pedophile living nearby? Hell no. I have no respect for convicted sex offenders, people that rape women and children and are violent. It's the person and behaviour I don't like nor respect. How can it not be scary knowing a rapist lives nearby, when many sex offenders commit these crimes more than once?!

Edited September 9, 2009 by JillA

[The Dude 206]

Regardless of who lived in my neighborhood, I wouldn't let my kids run around unsupervized and without their electronic collars

[thetreble 19]

I think that's what I meant when I wrote my post and got that answer. Bogartnoir, I'm not some non-street savvy person. I was out on my own at 17 with no vehicle for 5 years. There are certain places you have to avoid all together, because they are just NOT safe. Looking to see who is suspicious or not is not going to stop you from getting killed, unfortunately.

No, but it will decrease the likelyhood of it.

I completely disagree. But, since we both don't have facts, we will just have to agree to disagree homeyyy.

PS- I don't like your new name, can you go back to Rob n Mel please. For meeeee??

[JillA 2]

I think that's what I meant when I wrote my post and got that answer. Bogartnoir, I'm not some non-street savvy person. I was out on my own at 17 with no vehicle for 5 years. There are certain places you have to avoid all together, because they are just NOT safe. Looking to see who is suspicious or not is not going to stop you from getting killed, unfortunately.

No, but it will decrease the likelyhood of it.

I completely disagree. But, since we both don't have facts, we will just have to agree to disagree homeyyy.

PS- I don't like your new name, can you go back to Rob n Mel please. For meeeee??

Me either, I'm not a fan of the naked running smurf

[Carlawarla 1]

My reasoning was not to defend their behaviour, but to minimize the inflammatory generalized comments. We all have opinions, and often those opinions change when the person who commits a sexual offence is a relative or someone who we know. I just wanted to comment since yes, I worked with sexual offenders for many years, and I also liked many of them. While I don't personally agree with a registry, it does allow for people to know where people who have been convicted of sexual crimes live, and that in itself could mean that some people feel safer knowing. People should be more diligent on making sure that people who aren't on the list are safe to be around perhaps?

I thought I'd throw my comments in secondly, as I find it rather interestingly how people can be open minded and want to learn more information about "strippers" and yet make generalized statements about some people who they perceive as "boogeymen". Just my opinion.