# Debunk fears of your city or country here! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213 "2014-06-20T15:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/81 "2014-06-23T18:19:57Z")
Los Angeles: No, you will not run into George Clooney or Angelina Jolie in a restaurant or at the supermarket. Most of us don’t run into celebrities on a daily basis, you have to actively look for them, and even then they are sometimes hard to recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/82 "2014-06-23T18:33:28Z")
Texas: No, we’re not all cowboys. I’m sorry, you probably won’t see too many boots or Stetson hats (you might get lucky and spot a few in a crowd, though). Sorry, people generally don’t ride horses everywhere. Don’t worry about getting shot. Most of us don’t carry firearms around, even if we do own them. Arkansas: Don’t worry about taking directions from illiterate rejects from _Deliverance_. I swear, despite the baggage associated with the accents, we’re polite, friendly, and we’re actually educated (though perhaps we do hold outdated stereotypes about everybody else). Yeah, there are some backwards folks around, but we do our best to keep them from the good company. And, no, most of us don’t carry firearms around on a general basis, even if we do own them. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/83 "2014-06-23T18:56:26Z")
You’re not likely to be robbed raped or murdered in Stockton, CA despite hysterics trying to convince you otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/84 "2014-06-24T02:19:27Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Florida: > > 1. The average person on the street is armed. > 2. Construction is always booming in Florida because every 5 years or so a hurricane comes along and destroys everything. > 3. The government is a puppet for the Republican National Committee, which also rigs all the elections there. Ok… 1. As far as I know, there is only one person in my 20 person office who carries a gun daily. And only one other who goes to a shooting range regularly. The average person isn’t armed. 2. Construction is booming in Florida, but mostly because people like to move here. We haven’t had a hurricane destroy everything since Andrew came through back in 1992. Although in 2005, Wilma did destroy something like 98% of the traffic lights in my county. (Yeah…that was fun to deal with afterwards!) 3. I can neither confirm nor deny that. I live in a heavily Democratic region of the state, so the state government tends to seem out of step to me. But that’s local politics versus state politics. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/85 "2014-06-24T02:49:12Z")
San Luis Obispo is NOT the happiest town in the USA. Also, all you Oprah sheeple best be stayin outta my hood. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/86 "2014-06-25T03:36:33Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Ok… > > 1. As far as I know, there is only one person in my 20 person office who carries a gun daily. And only one other who goes to a shooting range regularly. The average person isn’t armed. > > 2. Construction is booming in Florida, but mostly because people like to move here. We haven’t had a hurricane destroy everything since Andrew came through back in 1992. Although in 2005, Wilma did destroy something like 98% of the traffic lights in my county. (Yeah…that was fun to deal with afterwards!) > > 3. I can neither confirm nor deny that. I live in a heavily Democratic region of the state, so the state government tends to seem out of step to me. But that’s local politics versus state politics. 1. Ask about knives and sprays. 2. Duh, I’d look it up but I’m too lazy. I know several people who moved there only for construction jobs. 3. Duh!! ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/87 "2014-06-25T03:53:44Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > Pittsburgh is… actually a gorgeous place to live and has been voted one of the world’s most liveable cities more than once. Downtown is nice. How much time do you spend in such gems of the greater metropolitan area as Clairton, McKeesport, Aliquippa, and so forth? The region got crushed when the steel industry imploded and an awful lot of it never did recover. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/88 "2014-06-25T04:00:28Z")
Fears of Canadian Cities? I think you’re probably safer here than any city in the world. No really. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/89 "2014-06-25T06:20:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Fears of Canadian Cities? I think you’re probably safer here than any city in the world. No really. Even with all the polar bears? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/90 "2014-06-25T13:55:25Z")
> [@syncrolecyne](#): > > I live back and forth between El Paso, TX and McAllen, TX. Most of the headlines surrounding these places state things such as “Cartel Warzone,” “Flood of Illegals,” “Drug Bust,” “Terrorist Gang War,” and so on. Friends and relatives who live in places like Memphis and Chicago are afraid to come here. Hell, the Valley has that reputation only 350 miles away within Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/91 "2014-06-25T16:02:31Z")
I’ll just back up what the other Australians have said: I’m nearly 50, never lived anywhere but Australia, been out into the country on many occasions, and I’ve never been bitten by anything worse than a mosquito. To the best of my knowledge, nobody I’ve ever met (and I’ve met a _lot_ of people) has ever been bitten, stung, or harmed in any serious way by any native creature. Yes, we do have some particularly nasty wildlife, but it’s also very rare and very shy, and your chance of coming into contact with any of it, unless you deliberately seek it out and provoke the fuck out of it, Steve Irwin style, is zero. Many more Americans are killed by bears every year than Australians are killed by anything native to Australia. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/92 "2014-06-25T16:05:15Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > I’ll just back up what the other Australians have said: I’m nearly 50, never lived anywhere but Australia, been out into the country on many occasions, and I’ve never been bitten by anything worse than a mosquito. To the best of my knowledge, nobody I’ve ever met (and I’ve met a _lot_ of people) has ever been bitten, stung, or harmed in any serious way by any native creature. > > Yes, we do have some particularly nasty wildlife, but it’s also very rare and very shy, and your chances of coming into contact with any of it, unless you deliberately seek it out and provoke the fuck out of it, Steve Irwin style, is zero. Many more Americans are killed by bears every year than Australians are killed by anything native to Australia. Right. But I heard the drop bears can smell the difference between Aussies and tourists. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/93 "2014-06-25T16:17:58Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life. > > When traveling and people ask where I’m from, it always goes like this: > > **Them** : “So, where are you from?” > > **Me** : “Ohio.” > > **Them** : “Oh. My brother-in-law’s sister is from Ohio. and I once stopped by there on my way to NJ.” > > End of conversation. :rolleyes: > > Of course, this is what they’re _thinking_: > > **Them** : “Ohio? Why the \*hell \*do you live in Ohio? How \*fucking \*boring. What’s there to do in Ohio??” > > But it’s _not_ boring. Living in the Midwest is awesome. Lots of land, no traffic, plenty of jobs, homes are cheap, crime is low, four beautiful seasons, lots of ground water, universities, quaint towns, festivals, nature, woods, streams, etc. etc. etc. I grew up in Ohio. I stop there once in a while on my way to Tennessee. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/94 "2014-06-25T16:22:55Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Downtown is nice. How much time do you spend in such gems of the greater metropolitan area as Clairton, McKeesport, Aliquippa, and so forth? The region got crushed when the steel industry imploded and an awful lot of it never did recover. True but I was making a point about the smoke and ashes, not the crappy economy. I know crappy economy. My husband’s family is from McKeesport and I lived in small towns all around Beaver County, including Aliquippa and Beaver Falls. It’s a beautiful place to live but good luck finding a job. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/95 "2014-06-25T16:24:06Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Detroit isn’t that bad and is actually a fun, vibrant place. Sure, you might get shot once or twice, but it’s usually not fatal and there’s excellent healthcare 50 miles away in Ann Arbor! > > But seriously, Detroit is not that bad. Not true; you don’t have to go to Ann Arbor for great care. When I got stabbed they took me to a fine level II trauma center at 8 Mile and Grand River. They really know how to treat gunshot wounds as well. Might even meet the fellow who injured you (and his friends) at the hospital in the next room. Great place Detroit; come over anytime and we’ll show you around. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/96 "2014-06-25T17:43:38Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > True but I was making a point about the smoke and ashes, not the crappy economy. I know crappy economy. My husband’s family is from McKeesport and I lived in small towns all around Beaver County, including Aliquippa and Beaver Falls. It’s a beautiful place to live but good luck finding a job. I concur. If you can find a job that pays a living wage, this is a nice place to live. If you can’t find that job, it can be a grindingly dreary area. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/97 "2014-06-25T19:42:43Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > There are parts of East Of The River Southeast DC that are indistinguishable from Northwest DC if you don’t know where you are. Agreed, absolutely. And there are places east of the river that I’d cheerfully move to, if only they were better served by Metro. DC Mayors live in Hillcrest, for example - the housing stock is lovely, and it’s right by Ft. Davis Park. Also near the absolutely stunning Francis Gregory neighborhood library. (One of my favorite buildings in DC, and the best-designed library I’ve ever been in, bar none). [http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19316/for-david-adjayes-dc-libraries-seeing-is-believing/](http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19316/for-david-adjayes-dc-libraries-seeing-is-believing/) Even the prototypical “bad” DC neighborhood, Anacostia, isn’t particularly scary. And there are neighborhoods in DC (west of the river) that _do_ frighten me deeply - Brentwood is creepy as hell. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/98 "2014-06-25T19:50:10Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Montana (because outsiders know fuck-all about the different cities and regions of this gigantic state): Bears are rare. Wolves are rare, even with the re-introduction efforts. Most of the animals you see aren’t going to be very dangerous, especially if you aren’t out in the middle of nowhere, and **our big cities are just as urban as big cities everywhere else.** We just have more land which isn’t in a city, that’s all. Parts of the state _are_ desolate and extremely isolated, but only parts. I’m going to argue with you about that bolded part. 🙂 I used to live near Billings, and I’ve also lived in DC, Boston, and outside Philadelphia, and there is no urban area in Billings or indeed Montana that compares with the urban-ness of an East Coast city. Now, that said, that’s a good thing. That’s what I loved about Montana. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/99 "2014-06-25T19:59:35Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > There are lots of guns in the state but most people I knew who died of gunshot were suicides. A few others got into bad situations–but random shootings are rare. The fundamental problem with this statement is that you seem to know more than a few people who have died of gunshots - regardless of the reason :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213/100 "2014-06-25T20:11:20Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > I > I thin people don’t so much fear the subway as fail to realize that it’s how people actually get around. I think New Yorkers, and people in the urban Northeast generally, use public transportation further up the socioeconomic ladder than people do in (many, though not. It’s also probably a generational thing. I work with a woman in her eighties who is shocked that my colleagues and I use Metro - probably because, for a big chunk of her life, DC’s metro system really was dangerous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-fears-of-your-city-or-country-here/691213.md?page=6)