I'm in LA, and don't feel unsafe. I also am surrounded by incredible diversity and richness of cultures and I always have a tough time leaving that when I travel. This is "real" America. But I suppose it isn't the whitest place on earth...

I don't know. I think the problem is everywhere, just more pronounced in a city as large as this one.

Look at what our fellow Pelicanite from South Africa, LeRoux Strydom, said on this thread, and you sort of get the feeling that soon, it won't be entirely 100-percent safe anywhere. :(

Well put. And truly, not that it makes getting one's house broken into worth it, the experience of living here is like nothing else in the world.

Well... I don't think you will find too many people that will agree with you that LA is "real" America. It's an oddball city no doubt- mostly because of Hollywood.

Color of skin isn't important- but culture is. A true American city is not one where different cultures tolerate each other, but one where the differences in culture are set aside to promote the one true American culture.

Cities lke Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Albuquerque, etc all seem more like real American cities to me. No offense- I just think California has gotten so weird no one can relate, and LA is pretty much ground zero for weird.

Oh, and speaking of Pits and Rotts, in the paper today, the city of Lancaster here in So. Cal, is thinking of banning both breeds - why - 'cause it's believed both breeds are "gang weapons."

+1 on a big dog, or a big bark.

One true American culture? Wtf is that?!?

But I suppose it is true. LA is a world city like London, Paris, Hong Kong, Berlin, etc. It ain't perfect, but I'll take California over pretty much any other state in the nation.

I do find it interesting though that many who rail against CA in general and LA in particular have never lived here. It certainly isn't for everyone, but there is a lot of misperception and hyperbole around this place. Just like I'm sure GA isn't rife with lynchings, LA isn't quite the hellhole that some make it out to be.

Oh, I really have to disagree. Second generation kids of immigrants assimilate here as well as anywhere in the U.S. They end up becoming real Americans very quickly. The Hollywood Industry is just another industry like autos in Detroit, aerospace in Seattle, or textiles in Northern Georgia.

What is the one true American culture?


Atlanta is just like L.A. - plenty of rich people in Buckhead, plenty of gangs downtown near CNN.

Also, speaking of "weird" or non-American, I think Georgia is heart of the latest culturally-related controversy, where a Muslim father strangled his daughter to death because she wanted a divorce from her husband. It was called an "honor killing," and took place in a very small, American-type town with, as the detective described it, "not a lot of diversity."

No one wanders around our house or yard without everyone in the neighborhood knowing about it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232994052.jpg

Of coarse I live in a very small town, strangers would be noticed. I had a cop show up at my door awhile back and I was thinking one of my boys were in trouble or hurt. Ends up someone ran over my mailbox. That was the big crime of the night.

http://www.mydogbreed.com/images/doberman-pinscher.jpg

^ Get one that's a trained killer. You get a weapon, and a new best friend! :-)

Depending on where you're talking about, this is a wet dream. A myth. I've lived in nice midwestern small cities that had much bigger burglary and property theft problems than L.A. I've lived in L.A. for 26 years, in many different 'hoods and with the exception of one stolen VW bug many years ago, I've never been the victim of any kind of crime.

Now I realise that there is luck involved in that but not much. I don't conduct my life like the ideal victim. No one deliberately does, but many people never give it any thought. Guns and dogs can be dangerous things in the hands of the wrong people. Both require quite a bit more understanding than what's being displayed here. "Just get a big dog", etc. I don't think that anyone who is not a good *dog person* should own a dog, period. Far too many people have dogs that should not have them. When you start talking about non-dog people getting protection type dogs, the potential calamity really multiplies. Same with guns. Same with motorcycles, but I digress. :)

The problem with property crime is that it does not happen so much in rough, low-income parts of town. Everything is generally dead-bolted or bolted down in those 'hoods, and people will shoot you for stealing. Where DD lives is a pretty nice, suburban-type neighborhood with white picket fences and kids playing outside. Burglary has always been a HUGE problem in Mpls., where I grew up, going back to WW2 at least. And you can't even begin to imagine a whiter, more upscale and educated city. (Back then). Predominantly Scandinavian and Lutheran, mostly great citizens but perfect victims for burglars as well. Our house got hit in the '60s pretty bad, (wedding silver, jewelry, etc.), then just in recent years my parents house got cleaned-out during the winter when they are out-of-state. Someone must have backed a van in the driveway because they took valuable antique furniture, (family heirlooms in some cases), these thieves knew just what they were after because they left behind less-valuable stuff.

There are other reasons to live in fly-over country if you choose but this ain't really one of them, IMO. Unlike Milt, PoP and others here, I generally love living in L.A. I like it more and more as I get older, or maybe just appreciate the perfect climate. No place is perfect but I'd much rather be depressed here than in the middle of Ohio or something. ;)

The reasons that people love L.A. or NYC would probably not resonate for people who are happy in a rural or suburban setting. There are millions living in a suburban setting in L.A. county who would also not feel the same way about city living as me. Suffice it to say that I know a lot more interesting people and have a lot more fun than I would if I lived somewhere else. I know this for a fact. With little or no downside, for me anyways. When I leave L.A., I can't wait to get home.

Sorry for the hijack, just needed to clear that up. :cool:

While I am inclined to agree, was there corresponding increase in crimes in prior economic downturns? In speaking with my depression era parents in years past, they made it sound like many were even too proud to even ask for welfare - much less begin a life of crime.

Tell us about the time you've spent here; what years, what part of SoCal, (specifically), etc... :cool:

I wonder if NYC will go back to the way it was in the 1970's?

i dont understand this statement. what is your def of culture?

it think most of our crime is an act of opportunity. we are a target rich enviornment here in california. lots of people equals lots of opportunity. maybe petty robbery is a poor persons crime, but lots of very rich people stealing too. they just dont do it at gunpoint.

What makes you think these dirtbags can read? English?

For the guys that like the idea of NRA stickers or signs advertising the prescence of firearms don't you worry about that being a tempting target in itself for a burglar? I'd rather not chance it.

Before Christmas I went through out house and put security locks on all the windows, extra bolts at the top and bottom of all the doors, and made sure the alarm system was working.
We live in a pretty nice neighborhood, reasonably quiet, with no history of break-ins. My point of view was that you can never make a house impossible to break into, but why make it easy?

My wife thought I was nuts for doing all of this, but seeing the economic downturn ahead I figured crime would likely increase and wanted to play it safe.

That was part of my point. But I do recognize that CA is not for everyone. You actually have to have an open mind to live here :p

Ok, I kid, I kid. But like NYC, not everyone is equipped or inclined to live in LA. It is rather unique as large world cities go, and if you don't have the stomach or personality type for it, then it can be miserable. No value judgement there...people are different.

That said I don't think I could live in a small town. While I appreciate the beauty and relative calm of certain areas, I go stir crazy pretty quickly. But I'm born and bred SoCal so being in a cultural stew is natural for me.

One place or preference isn't better or worse than the other. I understand why people don't like LA, just like they might understand why I don't care for most any place outside of CA. But I do think that LA gets a lot of undeserved black eyes from people who really don't know the place.

Oh wait, I forgot. Yes...this place is a PIT. Earthquakes every day! Illegals raping and pillaging. Heathens and gun control. Did I mention earthquakes?

http://nostatic.com/photos/zuma45.jpg

A house down the block used to have a human shape and sized paper shooting range target hanging in the front screen door. It of course was "used" and riddled with bullet holes.

I don't think anyone in the neighborhood home owners association even knocked on their door to invite them to our next meeting..

Similar to this:
http://jezchill.blogspot.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~derrickb1/target.jpg

More population, less welfare (the state unemployment in CA. is said to run out of money today.), so yes, I'm certain there's more crime these days with this recession/depression than ones previous.