Ghetto/project rules ?

I recently moved into a building complex and have come to realise that I’m in a different world , So my Question is " what are the UNwritten rules of living in the Ghetto ? " or " how to stay safe ?" . The other day i passed a guy sitting on the steps and i asked him , " how are you doing ?" and He cussed me out and threatened to kick my a@@ . So any help would be be great . thanks

At the risk of sounding snarky and unhelpful, Rule Number Uno is simply: Be bigger, tougher, and badder-assed than the other guy. :mad: That’s often just how it is.

At my Age and Health , I couldn’t defend myself against a 10 yr old. thanks Senegoid for responding

Aside from “the ghetto” where do you live?

Knoville TN , Walter pete Aera

Well these rules have always served me well, assuming you want to just live there indoors with little trouble or crime.

1.Mind your own business!

2.Don’t loiter or hang, just come and go. Don’t go on midnight jogs.

3.Don’t take shit, you’ll have to feel this out but it just means don’t become known as a easy mark. Carry some pepper spray and a pocket knife or baton etc, you say you are old well then whatever you can handle.

4.Don’t get involved in the drug trade, if you use source elsewhere.

5.Don’t invest in pricey objects if break ins are high.

Grude , thank you so very much for your reply

Try not to get recognizable habits for things like coming and going. Keep them guessing where you will be and what you’re doing next.

Act crazy. Real wild eyed, maybe you have a human head in a box type crazy.

Albino, consider getting in touch with your local public library. They should be able to connect you to a local tenant’s association or senior citizens’ group that could give you advice specific to your community.

ETA: You could also call your police department (non-emergency number, please!) and ask if they have any sort of “town hall” meetings coming up, discussing crime and safety issues in your own neighborhood. The police in my neighborhood put one on every month or so.

No! For one thing, crazy people have medicine worth stealing. For another, they are more likely to be unaware of their surroundings and thus easier to mug, and less reliable as a witness. I also wouldn’t let it be too obvious if you have chronic pain or the like and take medicine for it.

Welcome to the board, albino. Since it sounds like you are looking for advice, I’m moving your thread to the In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) forum from General Questions. It’s a better fit and I think you’ll get more replies here.

Don’t the minimum security prison rules applies here also? Kick someone’s ass the first day or become someone’s bitch?

I think grude is right. Stay away from the drug trade. Don’t get involved in drugs, prostitution, ‘gangs’. Happy slummin’!

Here’s a good primer on how you should walk in the hood.

If you have any Larry Bird t-shirts, ditch them for Magic shirts.

The two biggies are don’t f*** with people, and both give and expect respect.

The “Night Shift”- the people out from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM- are the ones most likely to be involved in stuff you don’t want to get mixed up in.

Get a walking stick- really a staff, long and heavy. Perfectly legit for an older person to carry, and merely incidentally well-suited to cracking people in the head if necessary.

Situational awareness: a fancy term for “don’t let yourself get blindsided by an ambush”. Low-level opportunist predators prefer easy marks.

I’m pro-gun carry, but I won’t offer “get a gun” as blanket advice. If you’re gun-phobic and have zero experience with firearms than the worst thing you could do is get a gun and think it’s going to keep you safe by magic. I will say that if despite every effort trouble comes your way, then with the right training and the right mindset- including knowing when not to use a gun- a gun can be the last option to prevent a dire situation from becoming worse. If your personal comfort zone is that you want to pursue that option, great. But be aware that guns are to people what nuclear weapons are to nations: the final, terrible existential measure, hopefully never used except as a deterrent.

Hm on the other hand, shooting someone probably offers exponentially more “street cred” than merely kicking someone’s ass.

Are you an actual albino? Do you have a mug-me face? Those might make you an easy target.

But seriously, crimes against law-abiding people in bad neighborhoods are largely overstated. Avoiding that is mostly a matter of common sense and using your survival instincts. My list would be as follows:

  1. Don’t fraternize with criminals or get involved in illegal activities.
  2. Be respectful
  3. Don’t be someone you’re not. Don’t act crazy, don’t dress differently, or try to use slang to fit in.
  4. Mind your business. Don’t try to be a hero
  5. Don’t walk around late a night if you can avoid it
  6. Trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings. For example, don’t feel bad crossing the street is you see a group that makes you uncomfortable.
  7. Do try to get to know people on terms they are comfortable with. Most people you meet will be sane, law-abiding, nice folks who are just trying to get by. If you get to know them, they will look at for you.

This is questionable advice. You pepper spray someone in the ghetto, more likely than not, a gun is going to enter the equation. Same with a pocket knife or baton. Unless you are someone who is exceptionally proficient and confident with such weapons, leave them at home. Get a CCW.

This is questionable advice. You pepper spray someone in the ghetto, more likely than not, a gun is going to enter the equation. Same with a pocket knife or baton. Unless you are someone who is exceptionally proficient and confident with such weapons, leave them at home. Get a CCW.

Oh, and nice username/OP combo. lol