Besides the comments left under yesterday's post, a couple of our neighborhood bloggers took it upon themselves to blog about the student who left a message for the Morse Hell Hole readers regarding the safety in Rogers Park.
Outside of the personal rip about my blog, I found one bloggers tips to be quite interesting. To simplify the blog authors tips for Lauren, I just printed four rules below, without all his lame mumbo-jumbo. There were five rules, but the fifth one involved throwing money away.
Here at the 'Broken Heart', we're here to give you the facts. Not a bunch of bogus commentary about what I write on my blog. So, without further delay, here are four rules from the Rogers Park Inconsistent blog.
Rule One: At night, travel in a group, close to groups, in lighted areas, or near others with the tactics, below.
Rule Two: If you choose to 'ever walk alone,' have no eye contact with anyone who you do not know and does not know your name.
Rule Three: When alone, you are a target, when you are moving you are a more difficult bulls-eye.
Rule Four: If you must be alone or with someone else, then look and act as if you have lived there all of your life - e.g. act as if you are 'packing a piece'.
Blognotes: I'd like to leave you with yet another Rogers Park Blogger who blogs about issues raised here on the 'Broken Heart'. This comes from The Albion Hell Hole blog.
"Make no mistake. It is not safe to be in the streets of Rogers Park. If you don't live here don't come here."
So, there you have it, four rules and a tip. Hope this helps you feel safe Lauren? That's what us Rogers Park bloggers are here for.
15 comments:
I'm sorry, but I've lived in RP for eight years now. I've never had a problem. My wife, sister in-law and mother in-law walk around outside, without ever a problem. RP is MUCH better than where I used to live in East Humbolt Park. I've also seen that the nabe has gotten better over the past few years, and, hopefully, that trend will continue.
I've also lived in small cities (Burlington, VT and Ann Arbor, MI). These cities also had a fair share of robberies, muggings and other crime. Like ANY area of high population, you have to be careful, but some of the posters on this (and other) blog(s) make RP sound worse than Englewood!
We've had the opportunity to move out to Portage Park area, and we chose to stay in RP because it's really nice here, despite the problems.
BTW, I believe the highest number of crimes (robberies and muggings) actually occurs in the Mag Mile area (LOTS of people with money walking around and have NO idea what's going on)
I've already gotten a e-mail as to why I didn't provide a link to the blogs in question.
It's not my job, nor do I get paid to promote other bloggers or blogs.
If you're so inclined to find out what other bloggers are saying about the 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park, use google or ask.com. That's what they get paid to do.
At LSU you can leagally walk and pack a concealed loaded piece
http://brgov.com/dept/brpd/csr/
check out the post Katrina stats.
Granny always said if some tries to shoot you well you just shoot them right back.
There is NOTHING that is so revealing of the American acceptance of violence and constant threat thereof, then the injunction to always go out with someone.
Do the people who mouth this realize that we have a huge subset of the population that lives alone?
How crippled would you be in your daily routines if you followed this idiotic advice? You couldn't go to work, grocery-shop, go to the dentist, or elsewise do your daily work and household chores.
I can't believe what Americans have come to accept in the way of daily violence and incivility.
Strange..... back in the 50s, you could leave your doors unlocked in the city (which my family did), and people smoked cigs absolutely everywhere. People in this neighbhorhood of Rogers Park, I'm told, would go sleep on the beach in hot weather.
Imagine.
These days, we are safe from cig smoke but you can't leave your car door unlocked for 3min. for fear someone will be lying on the back floor awaiting your return with a blunt instrument in his hand. You wouldn't dare leave your apt door unlocked one min. to run down to the mailbox.
An even more simplified rule from my days in Detroit, and it certainly applies here or in any other city:
If you look like a victim, you're likely to be a victim.
Unfortunate as it is, that's the reality.
re: linking:
Craig, I didn't email you about this, but am surprised at the harsh comment about linking your sources. It's simple common courtesy: if you repost info from another blog (even paraphrased) link to it. It's not about getting paid, it's about giving credit where it's due and not plagiarizing content. If the source blog was worthwhile enough for you to get info for your post, the least you can do is spend a couple of extra keystrokes to link them.
re: the "victim" comment. Absolutely, diagoras! If you cower around looking afraid, you are definitely much more likely to get assaulted. However, if you walk around like you own the place, you're much less likely to encounter problems. Would-be assailants can see and smell fear, and they prey on it.
I have one correction, ALWAYS MAKE EYE CONTACT. If you look away or down you look like PREY. If you look them in the face, not only can they see you looking, but you also let them know you know what they look like, a crook who can be identified is less likely to try in the first place.
Well, at least someone is reading my blog. Craig, I regret any rips, but appreciate the promotion of the safety tips to students. My blog is much more obscure and less prolific, no doubt. I just can't keep up with you. Who can! The tips are at http://www.fortysomething-politics.blogspot.com/
Yeah, my commentary is overkill and the material occasionally lame. However, the fifth rule on the 'anchor,' that is, a metal billfold is a police officer's recommendation from a television safety documentary. I believe that he says throw the money, if the thief goes for it, then run, when it is a 'severe situation.' I will have to find a link to the officer's website. Again, throwing a billfold never has been necessary, perhaps it never will.
Some of us get nauseated by too much bad news on an empty stomach. Yet, the information, occasional sensationalism (in my humble opinion), and the research is genuinely appreciated. However, I'm taking my maalox and staying put, Craig. I encourage others to join me.
I prefer my neighborhood and hope that other parts of our Community improve, as well. We all need some fresh air, so breathe. We don't need to give every one who may be a drug dealer a dirty look. However, efforts to deter drug abuse have an impact and are appreciated. There is reasonable credibility in your reports. However, sometimes, it can be viewed from differing perspectives.
My neighbors of thirty years have always felt that our neighborhood is reasonably safe. My other neighbors are out in lawnchairs during the summer. My family is bi-racial and others on my block are the same. A few 'occasionally obnoxious' or 'vile mouthed' African American teenagers don't phase me. Perhaps, it is intentional and an issue of maturity, as well. However, there are a few adults, who never grow up, some of whom are nearly as pale as the screen that I am typing on. (This is not an allusion to you, Craig, just a few who I observe on the Purple or Red line)
I enjoy my walks down Touhy or Rogers to the Walgreens or wherever. I have seen the Bill Cosby mural in the foyer at Jordan Academy. I showed up to the last RP Garden meeting. I intend to leaflet a few neighbors who garden on Touhy with info on the Garden Club. I avoid using the word "problem" and replaced it with the word "challenge."
I may eventually elaborate on my blog, courteously, but don't want to obscure the safety tips.
Before I get my zzzzz. Noticed a few comments. First, some people need a buddy, some don't. When you travel at night, you need to think about your options. I do a lot of traveling alone, but not always. Those who feel threatened shouldn't, but need to think about how to deal with their comfort zone. Look, I was practically born here.
Also, you pick your atmoshere, company, mode and your time. If you walk, alone, do what makes you comfortable. If it means wearing an earbuds with an iPod or Zune, then go for it.
On smoking, I quit smoking in April of 1983, so I appreciate the ban, hope others quit. Yet, I have grown to tolerate others bad habits. My kid brother, who chain smoked for about 25 years just quit about six months ago. That took incredible discipline. I am proud of him, but still in shock about his decision. Even I had a nice ashtray on the porch for him.
Also, on the 'open door policy,' some do, some don't. Whether you are in Chicago or Cincinati, most don't put a sign on their door in Chicago and welcome in the local riff raff, whenever they do it, whether it is 1950 or 2007.
We live in a world that contains reactionaries. I sometimes hear, "The world was better without computers". . . "in the fifties, we had x;" "in the seventies we had y;" why don't we have that now? Maybe we do, but we are too busy drowning in our contempt for life to appreciate our options.
I've already gotten a e-mail as to why I didn't provide a link to the blogs in question...
It's common courtesy -- and intellectually honest -- to provide a link back, especially if you are going to cut and paste stuff that someone else wrote.
With all the crime and slumlords in our neighborhood - crooked and corrupt politicians running amok, some felt it so compelled as to ask why didn't have the courtesy to link the blogs up in question. Here's another few reasons why.
Both blogs are published by anonymous people. It's hard to offer credit to someone you don't know by name.
Plus, I doubt any of you commenters have ever had these anonymous blogs or blog commenters dedicating their lives to calling you names like queer, homo, fag or a neighborhood drunk because that's the best argument they can come up with?
Or to insinuate your family members are queer, homo or fags.
Or to threaten your life and with bodily harm.
Why in the world would I link up to bloggers like this?
I agree with the "look them in the face" correction.
I too have another suggestion... especially for women.
BE AWARE of your surroundings and WHO is watching you or hanging around you. As an attractive woman, you DEF have to have your radar on at all times. I notice everything and everyone.
AND don't be too friendly to guys that chat you up. You don't have to be rude... but sometimes even a simple 'hello' can get you a conversation you really didn't want to have. Just remember Ted Bundy. He was cute, intelligent, witty, and super confident. He lured women into a false sense of security by thinking he was just a 'nice guy'. He also pretended to be in need of help. One of his victims was trying to help him because he had a (fake) broken arm.
I can't say that I have ever done what was unintentionally suggested, Craig. However, there are a few loose canons on other blogs. I would rather keep my writings, anonymous, due to misdirected insinuations like the above.
Jesus Christ... you and your "anonymous people" bullshit.
Did it ever occur to you that some people have jobs? Some people don't want to be stalked? Some people don't want to be spammed, etc... etc...
You are always coming up with crap excuses to ban people, delete comments, etc just to justify why you do what you do. Your story changes each week. Just admit it:
It's your blog. You do what you want to do because it makes you feel like you are in control. You only keep comments that go against what you have to say if it stirs up the drama. Everything you say has a negative spin on it that suits whatever point you want to make. You are not unbiased nor fair- you're basically the Fox News of Roger's Park.
And thats fine, but at least don't insult everyone's intelligence by claiming to be otherwise. And link where you get your info- if you want to be taken seriously then do what any SERIOUS reporter does- LINK YOUR SOURCES.
BTW... Weren't you gonna quit blogging? Oh... I forgot... you're full of it.
Drama, drama, drama...
Ms. T. Leave Jesus out of this.
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