What's wrong with my city today...?

[fajrdrako]

I was shocked to hear that limmenel witnessed a stabbing on Rideau Street today. Now, I work on Rideau St., or at least a few feet around the corner. I was walking on Rideau Street several times today. I walk on Rideau Street every day, and I go to the Rideau Centre several times a week. I've seen all sorts of things, some pleasant and some not, but never a stabbing.


Except... I saw something today I'd I'd forgotten until I saw limmenel's post. I witnessed a street-fight today, near the corner of Bank and Laurier. I was going from one bus stop to the next, and there were these two loud, drunk-or-stoned men physically attacking each other right in front of me. I crossed the street to avoid them.

Is it the heat? The alignment of planets? What has happened to peaceful, safe Ottawa?

Comments

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

This city has gone insane. It must be the heat.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It must be. We don't handle it well.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

Clearly. Silly northerners.

Omg, I need to leave for the airport. *scurries to find shoes*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Have fun!

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

Arg, my parents are gonna be grouchy if I'm late, but I CANNOT FIND MY SHOES.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Whistle and see if they come to you.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

They were hiding under my bed, the hobags.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Shoes do that.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

Evil little things.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And they lurk in pairs.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

so they do...

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

maybe it is good to know that crime (including violent crime) has gone down, again, in the Netherlands. It is becoming a significant trend. (At the same time though people feel more and more unsafe and hostile to the group they blame for that - that would be Marrocan and Turkish boys.) It is important not to extrapolate from real but annecdotal evidence.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. This thing is that any violence looms large if one witnesses it or comes close to it. Despite the recent gang-related shootings in Toronto, they say the statistics for murder are lower than they used to be - they've been going down for years.

It's a shame that there is any violent crime. It tends to be the Somali teens that get blamed here.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

yes, any crime at all is to be regretted. But I honestly can't think of a period in human history without any crime (or actions we would nowadays classify as crime but might not have been because they happened 'in the family'). Off course it varies, but I think it is part of human nature, of the way we live.
I think it important to make people aware of how easy it is to get scared above or beyond proportion. If people report that they are afraid to go out after dark and then complain that they feel unsafe because they never get out after dark and none of their friends does it becomes a self moving circle. Only making everyone miserable and feeding racism. There are only a few spots I wouldn't go late at night in Amsterdam, I generally feel save. I have been attacked once, in front of my house, in broad daylight. So you never can tel ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I agree. I once spent a weekend in New York, where I walked everywhere, often by myself, often after dark - and I had no problems at all, even though I'd been warned it was unsafe, and I felt nervous (at first). Everyone was nice. The day after getting home, I went to visit my parents to tell them about my wonderful trip to New York, and I was mugged at the bus stop on their street.

No, life isn't safe, but staying at home and being fearful isn't the answer. Racism is even less the answer - it's more likely to be part of the problem.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

yup.
But that isn't to say that witnessing a crime (the start of this conversation) isn't a shocking event. I didn't want to belittle that.

(good night - it is bed time for me)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sleep well!