The area that I currently reside in
has a very bad reputation for being dangerous. Unfortunately, it lives up to
that reputation on a fairly consistent basis. The reality is that, even though
the people there may speak and dress a certain way, most of the people that
live there, are just trying to get by and make a decent living or go to school.
But, the sad truth is because of certain stereotypes and a small group of people
that perpetuate those stereotypes: like not paying to ride the bus, and (not so
random) shootings The whole area suffers, with side affects such as decreased bus service, virtually zero cab service.
I’ve grown up in many different
neighborhoods but for the most part had lived a relatively sheltered life, more
out of neglect than necessity. But it would be out of pure naivety for me to
believe that who I have become, has not, in some part, been affected by where I
now live would be pure gullibility. When I took the time to reexamine how
living where has influenced how I think and act and react to life, I’ve come to a realization that it has some adverse effects on psychology. My “neighborhood”
has made me more suspicious of other people, I have prepared myself to be able
to engage in and ultimately safely extract myself from a physical
altercation. I don't talk to anybody. I don't want to talk to anybody; and it's a shame that the prospect of getting to know a new person is becoming marginalized with the not so invalid excuse of "I don't want to get shot because i decided to get to know this person". To not arouse curiosity, I've made a point of not buying anything that people with impoverish mentalities would hope to own, and steal to do so. I've learned to VALUE, what a poor person wont. I know that no matter how expensive I will never have to worry about some one stealing my books.
