# So, what exactly WOULD happen to a silly white girl in Compton... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 7, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839 "2006-09-07T21:43:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/21 "2006-09-08T03:24:24Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate) Compton has the 47th highest violent crime rate in the country and from what I can tell the highest violent crime rate in all of California. (Numbers are quoted as being based of 2003 FBI stats) And from [here](http://compton.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm) the overall crime rate is slightly higher than average, but the violent crime rate is about 4 times the national average, the homicide rate about 8 times national average and the vehicle theft rate over double. Interestingly, the rape rate is slightly under national average. (2004 info given) I cannot attest to the accuracy of the figures given in either of these cites. Basically, Compton is known for being dangerous due to the greatly increased rate of violent crime over the average. While you’re still unlikely to have _TERRIBLE THINGS_ happen to you on one trip, it’s considered conventional good advice to avoid the city if you can, especially if you’re alone. [/QUOTE] The 91 freeway used to end in Compton and you had to take surface streets for about a mile to get to the next freeway. On a trip to San Pedro to go fishing I took the 91 and I was just a tad uncomfortable going through Compton. However I took it easy and made sure I didn’t cut anybody off, have any fender benders or other stuff like that and nothing happened. I wouldn’t drive there at night. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/22 "2006-09-08T04:04:27Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] There are parts of LA that I would never go to alone, especially after dark. South Central being one of them. There are parts of the north San Fernando Valley that black people and hispanics will tell their white friends not to go there after dark and if they absolutely have to for some reason, take a black or hispanic friend with you. [/QUOTE] Heh, I live in (former) South Central. I’ve only had someone attempt to rob me twice. 🙂 But I drove through skid row the other night… now that’s a place I wouldn’t want to hang out at night. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/23 "2006-09-08T04:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] There are parts of LA that I would never go to alone, especially after dark. South Central being one of them. There are parts of the north San Fernando Valley that black people and hispanics will tell their white friends not to go there after dark and if they absolutely have to for some reason, take a black or hispanic friend with you. [/QUOTE] FTIW I live in the barrio of the North / Eastern San Frenando Valley. I’m about as white as you can get, and have never heard such warnings. Either you are incorrect, or I missed the memo. My neighborhood is very mixed. ::: Shrug::: Getting back to the OP, probably the largest risk to a single white female drivig though Compton is a smash and grab at a stoplight. Particulary after dark. Brick comes through window, purse goes bye, bye. Over all, I would be more concerned with my car being stolen than violent crime. BTW Compton is not all burned out buildings, crack houses, and flying bullets. Parts of Compton are very nice with well kept homes, and obvious pride of ownership. The problem is that a few blocks away it may look like Beruit. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/24 "2006-09-08T06:40:02Z")
_So, what exactly WOULD happen to a silly white girl in Compton?_ I’ve never been, but I imagine its like asking “So, what exactly WOULD happen to a silly white girl in an Aristocrat’s joke?” ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/25 "2006-09-08T07:31:16Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] There are parts of the north San Fernando Valley that black people and hispanics will tell their white friends not to go there after dark and if they absolutely have to for some reason, take a black or hispanic friend with you. [/QUOTE] What??? The North San Fernando Valley? Who told you that? I’ve lived in the San Fernando Valley most of my life and there are some parts that are a little poorer than others but there’s no place that’s a real problem. And a black man in the north San Fernando Valley would stand out more than if you just went there by yourself! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/26 "2006-09-08T12:11:32Z")
Of course, England has its own [Compton](http://www.towball.freewire.co.uk/church19.htm). Scary stuff 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/27 "2006-09-08T12:21:56Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] Actually, this happened to me along the 3rd Street Promenade while shopping in Santa Monica. 😃 (He was fund raising for something - I don’t remember what. I gave him $10 and he thanked me profusely, blessed me a bunch of times and told me if I was approached by anyone else to tell them I’d already given to “Jack”.) From the sounds of it, Compton is about the same as East Hastings in Vancouver, or some parts of Victoria Park in Calgary - not a super good place to hang out, but if you’re just passing through and don’t go looking for trouble, most likely nothing much will happen. Is that fair? [/QUOTE] You gave a panhandler $10? Wow. As for Vancouver, I recall an area we were in near “Chinatown” that seemed to be extremely skanky. Since I tend to think of Canada (incorrectly, I know) as a more sanitized, almost “Disneyesque” version of the USA, I was pretty shocked to see someone pulling something on someone else in what looked like a drug deal gone wrong. Fortunately they seemed kind of freaked to see me staring at them and ran before anything else happened. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/28 "2006-09-08T15:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=luvtinayothers] What??? The North San Fernando Valley? Who told you that? I’ve lived in the San Fernando Valley most of my life and there are some parts that are a little poorer than others but there’s no place that’s a real problem. And a black man in the north San Fernando Valley would stand out more than if you just went there by yourself! [/QUOTE] I phrased that badly, I guess it’s more parts of the central SFV they were refering to. I tend to think of anything north of about victory blvd or so as North SFV. A hazard of living right off ventura blvd I suppose. I have personally been told that by several people. As to how correct the advice is I don’t know. As I said it’s a piece of advice I’ve heard several times. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/29 "2006-09-08T15:26:23Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Of course, England has its own [Compton](http://www.towball.freewire.co.uk/church19.htm). Scary stuff 😉 [/QUOTE] Hmmm. Given a choice between ours and yours, I’d take… yours. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/30 "2006-09-08T16:28:46Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] As for Vancouver, I recall an area we were in near “Chinatown” that seemed to be extremely skanky. [/QUOTE] Yep - that sounds like East Hastings. There are a few alleys that reportedly if you go into, you don’t come back out of. I don’t know how much of that is hype, and how much istrue. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/31 "2006-09-08T17:39:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Listen, I live in a very, very upper class neighborhood in South Florida. I lock my doors when my wife is home, and call her every chance I get while she is driving around, just to make sure she is alright. Um. I don’t mean to make light of your concerns, but I suspect drivers are more likely to have an accident because they were distracted by their cell phone than they are to become crime victims, so maybe this isn’t the best way to ensure your wife’s safety… ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/32 "2006-09-08T18:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Heh, I live in (former) South Central. I’ve only had someone attempt to rob me twice. 🙂 But I drove through skid row the other night… now that’s a place I wouldn’t want to hang out at night. [/QUOTE] I grew up on the very northern edge of South Central (45th and Budlong, if anyone’s taking notes). People used to say I wasn’t _really_ from the hood, or just barely. Worst thing that ever happened to me was getting jumped by a bunch of kids when I was maybe 10 years old. Oh, and the lights of the ghetto bird coming through my window on a regular basis at night. 🙂 Skid Row is scary for different reasons, though. You aren’t worried about gangs so much as swarms of desperate people looking for an opportunity. It’s a little uncomfortable during the day – but the way the population increases at night it fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/33 "2006-09-08T19:11:32Z")
[QUOTE=Fretful Porpentine] Um. I don’t mean to make light of your concerns, but I suspect drivers are more likely to have an accident because they were distracted by their cell phone than they are to become crime victims, so maybe this isn’t the best way to ensure your wife’s safety… [/QUOTE] I see your point, but I was making a point also. Back this up with statistics please and I will concede entirely. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/34 "2006-09-08T19:37:23Z")
(Just wanted to mention that East Hastings, Van, is only extremely skanky by CANADIAN standards. Which is to say, it’s better than the worst neighbordhoods of, say, Portland Oregon. I know western Canadian cities want to be gritty and have dodgy neighborhoods, too, but Hastings/ Gastown. . . just doesn’t rank up there in terms of scary. There are some black guys and some white guys who take heroin panhandling you. Shrug. That does not equal certain death. Vancouver news, likewise, is hilarious, from a So. Cal standpoint. “Today someone drew a knife on someone in Surrey! Here’s our headline coverage!”) ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/35 "2006-09-08T20:13:06Z")
[QUOTE=capybara] Vancouver news, likewise, is hilarious, from a So. Cal standpoint. “Today someone drew a knife on someone in Surrey! Here’s our headline coverage!”) [/QUOTE] Heh - Calgary used to be like that too. Now bodies get dumped out of cars, bodies are found in the trunks of cars, people get stabbed going to 7-11 and people get shot at dinner time. I am so leaving this shit-hole. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/36 "2006-09-08T20:23:38Z")
I’ve never seen more strung-out YOUNG junkies panhandling than when I visit downtown Vancouver. Like, every other corner. Yeesh. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839/37 "2006-09-08T22:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] I phrased that badly, I guess it’s more parts of the central SFV they were refering to. I tend to think of anything north of about victory blvd or so as North SFV. A hazard of living right off ventura blvd I suppose. I have personally been told that by several people. As to how correct the advice is I don’t know. As I said it’s a piece of advice I’ve heard several times. [/QUOTE] Back in the 80’s Bryant-Van Alden (North of Victory near the Northridge Mall) was a very rough neighborhood, but it is all cleaned up now. The LAPD Devonshire division covers Northridge and B-V. Their workload is so low compared to some other LAPD divisions, that it has the nickname “Club Dev” 🙂 North of Victory on the east side of the valley is a large hispanic bario, parts of it may be a little run down, but I don’t think of it as scary. Hell I live north of Victory (way north, but north none the less) [This](http://www.student.oulu.fi/~hmikkola/shootout.html) happened north of Victory, but I don’t think most rational people are worried about a repeat. I think the people that told you this need to learn that brown people don’t bite. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-would-happen-to-a-silly-white-girl-in-compton/371839.md?page=1)