4 ms·
There is still way too much crime in California and in the Bay Area in particular. Perhaps violent crime from juveniles is down; but my observation as a decade-
by joe_the_user 8y ago
There is still way too much crime in California and in the Bay Area in particular. Perhaps violent crime from juveniles is down; but my observation as a decade-long SF resident is that crime overall is certainly not getting better, and it certainly seems to be getting worse.
Theoretically any crime is too much and some amount of crime is inevitable given human beings.
I mean, I was mugged twice, once beaten unconscious, saw someone murdered across the street from apartment, scared away someone who pulled out a gun and tried to mug me, and witnessed numerous other crimes in 90s San Francisco.
It's almost as if the article is equating less crime being prosecuted as less crime existing.
I'd believe statistic and neither your nor my anecdotes and statistics say violent crime is down everywhere. Statistics are taken from reports as well as prosecutions btw.
And police have never had more power than today but police very seldom directly stop crime, just prosecute it afterwards.
- wallace_f 8y agoI'm sorry that happened. I remember in Boston, a couple guys walked out of a bar, one pointed at me, and after some quick talking, realized I had to either fight or flight, and they pursued me. They both looked pretty muscular, and I dont know why they targeted me. I called the police, let them know I was running, and the operator told me "OK maybe we will send someone" and hung up.
- joe_the_user 8y agoAnother story even earlier, when I live in Oakland in the 80s. One day, walking over a deserted overpass, I passed by another pedestrian who I somehow sensed vague hostility from. As we passed, quick as a wink, he punched me but just as quickly I instinctively blocked his punch (my history of playground fights came in handy). He simply continued walking as did I. Which is to say my anecdotal experiences agree with the statistics - violence has been on the decline in the US for a while. Remember, this is a country with a considerable "frontier history" where violence on all sides was common.