Shading from 1 to 2 depending on my mood. I have always lived in cities for my 65 years, and have been a (non-pejorative) victim of violence only once, when I was mugged* near midnight in a bad neighborhood (unfortunately, one in which I lived at the time). I got mace and then moved to a better place before long.
*Mugging in this case consisted of two guys pretending to have guns and threatening to hit me when I balked at giving them a ring that had sentimental value. Besides the ring they got a cheap watch and a couple bucks in change. I had $80 folded in my sock, so I wasn’t a total fool.
Anyhoo, I’d be interested to know the sex of the respondents, because I think I would have a lot higher concern-about-violent-crime score if I were a woman.
When I was a high school/college student in New York City in the Seventies and early Eighties (when crime there was at its worst), I’d say my fears were about… 2, and that was based on general awareness of crime, not on any specific threats I perceived personally.
Today, in Austin, TX… maybe 1. I can’t say zero, but I rarely think about violent crime.
I’ve never been a tough guy, but I AM big (6 foot 4) and never lived in high-crime neighborhoods, so I never felt I had that much to worry about. No one has ever tried to rob or assault me.
I was going to say “1”, but others have said “1” and then listed doing things that I would rate somewhere between a 3 and a 9 (always locking your doors even when at home, checking your backseat, having a firearm nearby, etc.) Wait, is this a logarithmic scale? Darn it, Skald, you need to specify these things, recipes or no recipes!
I usually lock my front door when I’m out of the house for more than an hour, and occasionally the back door as well. The only violent attack I’ve suffered recently is when I taunted my cat with a treat for too long, and she reminded me that she has claws.
But still, I’d put my personal worry at between zero and one. Meaning, will I go for a walk around here late at night? No. Will I go for a walk early in the morning? Sure. Do I lock my doors and vehicles? Yes - but I’d do that anywhere. I am not armed (although I have thought about it.) I have dogs, one noisy, two very large. I know all my immediate neighbors. I am reasonably watchful. Basically, I feel perfectly secure.
At home, a 1. I live in an inner ring suburb which is safe IF you’re smart. We lock doors and windows at night. We have property crime, but very little personal crime in my neighborhood.
At work is a different story. I work in a field with highly emotional clients, I now am stationed at a site in the most violent part of our city, and have been physically threatened many times. I would put myself at a 5 when I’m in office. Luckily, we have armed deputies and panic buttons - which helps since we do not have metal detectors.
1, insomuch as I lock my house at night. In the last year, I’ve moved from what many in my city would consider much “rougher” than my current neighborhood, and I can’t say that my Threat Index would have been any higher then either.
It fluctuates between 0 and 1. I’ll think about it maybe 1x a week and that depends on the situation that I’m putting myself in at the moment. I’m an old guy and live in Raleigh, NC… just for the record.
But upon retrospect I’ll bump my answer up a bit to 1.5, I do close/lock my door every night so that alone could bump me over 1, I guess. But I don’t know that I’m consciously doing it out of fear or just habitual security. I’ve also woken-up in the night and thought, “Oh crap, I forgot to close the garage/door/window”, but I won’t mobilize to deal with it. I don’t consider it a serious-enough risk to actually get out of bed and do something about it.
I have heat, but I don’t pack it. Nor do I even think about it very often.
I am concerned about being a victim of violent crime about as much as I am concerned about being the victim of a lightning strike. It is something that could happen, but the only thing I do to avoid it is to refrain from golfing in a thunderstorm.
I live in a low-crime area but I always lock my doors (both door lock and deadbolt). My apartment is on the second floor and one reason I picked it was that the windows and deck are inaccessible without a very tall ladder (the building is built on a hill). I always lock my car, including when I’m driving. I don’t leave anything of value visible on the seats. I avoid traveling late at night; I do not go into questionable neighborhoods; I do not associate with people prone to alcohol- or drug-induced violence or stupidity. I am aware of my surroundings. I don’t walk through a parking lot or across the parking garage at the mall with my face turned down toward my cell phone, but up and scanning who is around me. My car keys are already in my hand.
I am vigilant by choice, because I do not want to be the victim of violent crime. I’d rate myself about a 3 on Skald’s “worry” scale.
[slight hijack]
Not related to violent crime, but I always, always zip up my purse when I’m shopping. I am astonished by women who leave their purse open, with wallet, phone, car keys, what-have-you clearly visible, sitting in the child seat of the shopping cart or hanging off their shoulder, while they turn away to peer at something on the bottom shelf. They’re just asking for someone to steal from them.
At home, zero. Never crosses my mind. I live in a semi-rural area, know everyone on my dead-end road. If I’m in a strange city at night in a low class motel (only kind I stay in), I have my Big Blue Dog with me, and again, zero. No one is getting by Big Blue.
Middle-aged female.
By the way, I believe moose have a much worse criminal record than mountain lions. They’re like the hippos of North America.
I’m voting 1. I don’t live in a high-crime area and I don’t fit a victim profile. I do have some worries about property crimes. There are times when I’m away from home and I sometimes worry somebody might notice and break in. But it’s a remote possibility because I have neighbours who keep an informal eye on the place.
