Steve, where did you get this chart? If the numbers for the rest of the cities are as far off as the numbers for Birmingham, it it worthless. I live just outside of Birmingham and the number of murders this year is way higher than what this chart shows.
Fine, how about this article showing the exact same 28.0 per capita rate? https://www.wbrc.com/2022/08/04/dat...irmingham-compared-other-major-nearby-cities/
I cant speak for other cities, but the crime is pretty bad here in NYC. Unprovoked attacks, the "knockout game" is very popular. There was a mass shooting earlier in the year. People are getting shot routinely. Pretty sure Steve doesn't live or work here...
Define NYC. Are we talking about Manhattan or all the boroughs? And are just talking about your chances of getting murdered or just hit in the back of the head and getting your skull cracked open for no reason?
As far as NYC is concerned, crime is happening in the same places it has always occurred. I feel very safe in my neighborhood in northeast Queens. NYC still compares favorably to other major cities in the country when it comes to crime. There will always be more crime in major cities. If you listen to the media, you probably think NYC is very unsafe, but that is not true. That is what the media does though, they sensationalize everything. I don't go into Manhattan very much anymore, or use the subway as much as I used to. I do use the buses quite a bit. I've never had a problem. Like everything else, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. I still see people completely distracted by their cell phones. They walk around in traffic with their earphones/headphones in/on. In the subway, they stand at the edge of the platform while looking at their phones. When I use the subway, I stand against the wall away from the tracks, and I pay attention to what is going on around me. Have never had a problem.
It is sad that one has to be so defensive. Thomas Sowell often talks about growing up in Harlem and the Bronx in the 30s and 40s. He says he never heard a gunshot, nor did most of his family.
Situational awareness and being confident in public settings go a long way in keeping yourself safer than most.
Just caught up on this thread. Interesting the different takes. My father was abused by his drunk stepfather so bad he never ever called him dad until the very end of his life. My grandmother gave him the ultimatum her or the booze. He never drank again and didn’t hit him my dad again either. It wasn’t until my dad was palliative that he finally called him dad and gave him the respect for changing and sticking. My dad still spanked us and for me it was always deserved and yes it stung but I would take the spanking over being grounded every time. When this debate comes up I always think of dog/wolf packs. There is correction without abuse. It sets the rules and boundaries and if followed there is harmony. It’s mostly pups that need to be taught the respect for the pack and it doesn’t take long for them to learn. Oh and as far as education systems go my wife worked for several schools and the problem kids were products of their upbringing for the most part. The parents were worse than the students. That is the challenge to the system. How to break the cycle.
I for one noticed the quote in your signature long ago. I believe it is one of the greatest if not, thee greatest.
JW[/QUOTE] IN HIGH SCHOOL.. Plus more practical stuff, like consumer math, home ec for the girls, and shop class for the guys. Those were electives, but either gender could take JW[/QUOTE] While leaving this thread on a lighter note, I have to laugh and this actually brought a smile to my face. That’s ok, right? True story: While during my freshman year, I discovered real fast. That I and one other male friend, should enroll in Home Ec for our sophomore year. It was then unheard of. But why not? Two young boys full of an all girls class. What could go wrong? Great place to meet girls! It worked,. Met a lot of girls! The teacher caught on real fast. But she thought it was the greatest thing. The school even questioned our parents! And it came to be that the teacher really worked with the two of us. Actually learned a lot. I ended up being the cook in my early married years and continues to this day. Still really enjoy it. Get to prepare the food the way I like it! But sewing, not so much lol. My sisters helped me on that part. Back up a few years in my happy family life. On special occasions, our father would make a gourmet super for us five kids. Super comes after dinner or sometimes replacing dinner. Usually around midnight. Us kids would go to bed. And our parents would wake us up for it. Sometimes even inviting our grandparents and neighbors. Good memories for sure. If anything taking Home Ec grounded me somewhat. And during our junior year, it caught on with other boys. I must say, the teacher was very pleased. Of somewhat on a related note. I had this feeling high school would be thee happiest years of my life. During the last weeks of my senior year I was becoming sad realizing this. But made up for it the last day. When the last day came to an end. Right after school closed, on the road adjacent to the school bus parking lot picking up all the kids. Some of my friends.. think five others and I with pretty hot cars decided to do brake stands, six of us in a row. I was first in line. While in my Buick Skylark with NOS (nitrous… really!) There was a tremendous amount of smoke, and unbeknownst to all of us, the city police was across the road. Again true story. Me being first in line…the police pulled all of us over. One by one. When he walked up to ticket me, after he gave everyone of my friends tickets. He asked me “what were you thinking ?”. Told him it’s our last day of high school! He came back with, “well why didn’t they say so?” He let me off. My friends were pissed! I think high school was the best part of my life!!!
