would you be more nervous to be walking in Compton/South Central L.A. or Bronx/Harlem

[Dear Summer]

in the bad part of the neighborhood

East vs West

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I walked through a bad part of Queens at 12am, nothing happened.

 

[zerocool84]

Compton/South LA isn't really that bad. Just don't piss anyone off.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Compton/South LA isn't really that bad. Just don't piss anyone off.

Pretty much, I've been in downtown oakland at like 11 PM on a thursday night and its not even that bad, just dont pick a fight with anyone.

I think the worst i've ever been in was driving through a bad part of Rochester, NY in my rental Chrysler 300C with OEM chrome wheels, I got a lot of "complements", lol.

 

[Fayd]

you know....compton doesn't look all that different from the rest of LA. just a thought.

 

[coreyb]

south side chicago

 

[TehMac]

south side chicago is def worse. I just spent 14 hours in the heart of Compton out in the 32*F weather. The weather was really bad, but the gang signs sprayed everywhere were very cheery.

 

[QueBert]

most bad areas the people won't even pay you any attention unless you're wearing the wrong colors, and even then unless you look like a banger they're more than likely going to ignore you. The only place I've been I wouldn't go back was the Jordan Down projects in Watts CA. That place was fucking scary.

 

[Crono]

Bronx (lol, there are plenty of nice places and neighborhoods in the Bronx) and Harlem are both alright places. This isn't the 80s or early 90s. I would feel fairly safe walking in 99% of the places in the Bronx and Harlem, and even in the "bad part" I wouldn't be scared to death (maybe a little nervous, of course).

I know nothing about Compton, so I guess I would be more nervous there.

 

[Whisper]

Of the two, probably Compton, although as others have said, most areas likely aren't terrible.

That being the case, there are also parts of Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA I definitely wouldn't want to stroll through at night.

 

[bigrash]

As a NYer I've walked through Bronx/Harlem many times at night and felt pretty safe. As long as you don't cause trouble/aren't being flashy, you're fine.

Now Compton, I remember getting lost there once while in LA for work, driving in a convertible. Man I got the hell out there as fast as I could. The looks that I was getting from people I swear I was about to get shot lol.

 

[BoomerD]

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil...for I am the meanest son-of-a-bitch in the valley.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil...for I am the meanest son-of-a-bitch in the valley.

In parts of the Bronx the 8 year old Mormon kids are badder than you.

 

[BoomerD]

In parts of the Bronx the 8 year old Mormon kids are badder than you.

That's because they're Mormons...and have horns.

Mormons are not like humans. Everyone knows this.

 

[classy]

Most bad areas, even late at night, as long as you don't mess with anyone or get in the middle of some folks having a disagreement, you'll be alright.

 

[zokudu]

I'm more scared of Trenton than Harlem so I voted compton.

 

[nanette1985]

I voted for LA only because I know the Bronx pretty well and don't know LA at all, never been.

 

[nageov3t]

I wouldn't be particularly nervous walking in either area, but I'd probably be more nervous in Compton just because I'm familiar with the Bronx and Harlem.

I worked 2nd shift (4 pm - 12 am) and graveyard (12 am - 8 am) in Newark, NJ for 5 years. that shit toughens you up. someone was killed around the corner from our office once.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Why would East or west coast matter? There are predators in every ghetto neighborhood. All it comes down to is can you act like you belong. If you look nervous and out of place you stand a good chance of being pistol whipped and robbed regardless of where that ghetto is.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

South bronx or harlem at night no thanks.

There are parts of bronx that are fine. I transfer from the new haven line in harlem 125 to the 6 train to get to my friends in BX. There is a short walk from 125 to subway. no worries during the day but probably not somewhere i'd want to be alone at 3am.

I wouldn't go anywhere in south bx unless I was getting paid to.

 

[AMDZen]

One is the same as the other to me. I wouldn't wander in either one and thats the right answer.

Your poll is homo.

 

[BoomerD]

One is the same as the other to me. I wouldn't wonder in either one and thats the right answer.

Your poll is homo.

But would you WANDER in either?

 

[amdhunter]

I'd take my chances in the worst neighborhoods in any major city, than walk around the nicest neighborhoods in any Teabagger county.

 

[Ns1]

you know....compton doesn't look all that different from the rest of LA. just a thought.

Actually, it does look dramatically different. At least that was my perception when I drove down Alameda from the 405 to the 101.

 

[Scotteq]

This isn't the 80s any more - Harlem and and the South Bronx aren't the war zones they used to be.


As a clean cut white guy, long since out of his 20's - I would never be mistaken for a gang banger. So on that level, I'm not worried at all about either place. Doesn't mean I would exactly be comfortable, but moreso because I dislike being in unfamiliar neighborhoods late at night and don't want to look out of place and therefore inviting of a random robbery/mugging.

Regarding the OP: I'd have to choose Compton, since I know how to get home from the Bronx or Harlem; and LA is a long long way from home.

If I were allowed to freely pick a city? Camden, NJ. The FBI seems to think that it's not the "#1" most dangerous for last year, statistically - But know that they laid off 50% of the police and fire departments early this year.