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Idk what the truth is. But I visited SF and went into a Walgreens. The shelves were mostly empty and there were a number of people just sweeping stuff off the

Idk what the truth is. But I visited SF and went into a Walgreens. The shelves were mostly empty and there were a number of people just sweeping stuff off the shelves into their backpacks. It was bizarre to see.

the_snooze 3y ago
A lot of the arguments about whether SF crime statistics say X or whether stores leave for reason Y miss the point entirely: There's simply a lot of human misery and complacency towards it out in the open in SF (and in nearby areas like Oakland and Berkeley). When you've experienced it firsthand, apologists' arguments sound just like "who are you going to trust, me or your lying eyes?"
- colpabar 3y ago
  At this point I really want to go and experience it myself. Every single real life person who lives there or close by has said that things are pretty bad when I've asked them about it. Seemingly every article about it says it's pretty bad. The only people saying it's no big deal are anonymous people online claiming to have lived there forever and that it's all just right wing propaganda. What am I supposed to believe? The videos I've seen of the city and the "flash mobs" (lol) emptying stores make it seem really bad. Should I just wait for the city to put out a tourist friendly "look how great SF is" video and take their word for it?
  - wombat-man 3y ago
    My intern was based there and she had no complaints. If you have any kind of reason, SF is totally worth a weekend visit and maybe longer. I've been there a few times and I'd say it's mostly fine. But you may see pieces of the bad scenes you've seen online.
  - x1ph0z 3y ago
    FWIW I visited SF back in 2021. I got a bunch of comments saying to never leave anything valuable in your car, but other than that it was a great trip. Stores were stocked and people were friendly.
sundaeofshock 3y ago
Which Walgreens was this? Give me some cross-streets or a general area. “ The shelves were mostly empty and there were a number of people just sweeping stuff off the shelves into their backpacks”. Is that right? And what was it these people were sweeping from empty shelves? Dust?
- wombat-man 3y ago
  Well, some of the shelves had stuff. I did say mostly. I had gone in to grab a beer on my way back to the hotel and one fellow I remember specifically was sweeping chex mix or something off the shelf. He just kinda looked at me and moved down the aisle. I was staying at the Hyatt Regency in SOMA, so I think it was probably the one on Pine and Montgomery. Anyway, I figured if they were stealing chex mix and snacks and stuff the place was probably out of beer so I didn't stick around long. The security guards were on the phone with the cops watching these people. That's all I know. Maybe it was a freak occasion. I view the videos online with skepticism too, which is why it was kind of jarring to see it in person. If it's like that all the time, then I don't know why they still operate there.

the_snooze 3y ago

A lot of the arguments about whether SF crime statistics say X or whether stores leave for reason Y miss the point entirely: There's simply a lot of human misery and complacency towards it out in the open in SF (and in nearby areas like Oakland and Berkeley). When you've experienced it firsthand, apologists' arguments sound just like "who are you going to trust, me or your lying eyes?"

colpabar 3y ago
At this point I really want to go and experience it myself. Every single real life person who lives there or close by has said that things are pretty bad when I've asked them about it. Seemingly every article about it says it's pretty bad. The only people saying it's no big deal are anonymous people online claiming to have lived there forever and that it's all just right wing propaganda. What am I supposed to believe? The videos I've seen of the city and the "flash mobs" (lol) emptying stores make it seem really bad. Should I just wait for the city to put out a tourist friendly "look how great SF is" video and take their word for it?
- wombat-man 3y ago
  My intern was based there and she had no complaints. If you have any kind of reason, SF is totally worth a weekend visit and maybe longer. I've been there a few times and I'd say it's mostly fine. But you may see pieces of the bad scenes you've seen online.
- x1ph0z 3y ago
  FWIW I visited SF back in 2021. I got a bunch of comments saying to never leave anything valuable in your car, but other than that it was a great trip. Stores were stocked and people were friendly.

sundaeofshock 3y ago

Which Walgreens was this? Give me some cross-streets or a general area. “ The shelves were mostly empty and there were a number of people just sweeping stuff off the shelves into their backpacks”. Is that right? And what was it these people were sweeping from empty shelves? Dust?

wombat-man 3y ago
Well, some of the shelves had stuff. I did say mostly. I had gone in to grab a beer on my way back to the hotel and one fellow I remember specifically was sweeping chex mix or something off the shelf. He just kinda looked at me and moved down the aisle. I was staying at the Hyatt Regency in SOMA, so I think it was probably the one on Pine and Montgomery. Anyway, I figured if they were stealing chex mix and snacks and stuff the place was probably out of beer so I didn't stick around long. The security guards were on the phone with the cops watching these people. That's all I know. Maybe it was a freak occasion. I view the videos online with skepticism too, which is why it was kind of jarring to see it in person. If it's like that all the time, then I don't know why they still operate there.