General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDo you worry that you will be a victim of crime?
If so, which do you fear most?
35 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited | |
That someone will break into your house and physically attack you? | |
4 (11%) |
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That you will be robbed at gunpoint? | |
0 (0%) |
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That you will be a victim of car-jacking? | |
0 (0%) |
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That you will be swindled out of money? | |
0 (0%) |
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That you will be raped? | |
0 (0%) |
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That you will be killed by gunfire from a gang? | |
0 (0%) |
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That you will be shot and killed by a policeman? | |
0 (0%) |
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None of the above? | |
3 (9%) |
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All of the above? | |
0 (0%) |
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I have little or no concern about being a victim of crime? | |
28 (80%) |
|
0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
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Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
Skittles
(157,752 posts)HELLO
Iris
(15,979 posts)esp since I work on a colllege campus in a state that will likely allow concealed carry at schools by this time next year.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)I can worry about what might happen but probably won't, or I can not do that and go about my life.
Journeyman
(15,132 posts)Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
niyad
(118,987 posts)there is a metaphysical belief that that which you focus on, you attract.
oh, and I have received death threats for my work for women's rights, and domestic violence survivors.
elleng
(135,378 posts)uppityperson
(115,767 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)When not there. Not an option that I see.
But not really a worry.
doc03
(36,476 posts)people worry about never happen" I bet if you ran that poll on a Rethug site or even on the Discussionist you would get exactly the opposite answers all the Rethug I know worry about everything.
Ex Lurker
(3,895 posts)My dad or my grandfather told me that, I don't remember which.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)violent crime ... more than once; but, I don't worry that I will suffer it, again.
I can't/won'tlive my life in fear.
Solly Mack
(92,258 posts)Have been the victim but refuse to live in fear.
S_B_Jackson
(906 posts)milestogo
(17,267 posts)Biased poll.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)and others. I lock doors, don't go certain places (but not many), stay aware of what is going on around me, and generally avoid places where right/white wing yahoos are likely to be carrying guns and are full of paranoia and hatred.
VOX
(22,976 posts)They slipped in through a small, pried-open bathroom window, stole my watch (belonged to my late dad), wife's wallet and prescription drugs. We were on the other side of the house, never saw or heard a thing. Perps were likely young men, and must have been in and out in mere moments. They were not looking for confrontation, as we would have been easy enough to locate in the house. We're in an okay neighborhood, decent folks, etc. Filed a police report, got *proper* locks on the windows, had the alarm company wire another doorway. We're fine, just disappointed in fellow-humans. I could get all twisted up in righteous fury about it, but what would that gain? Do I feel the need to arm myself? Hell no, a handgun is just one more shiny, quickly fence-able goody to steal. But I do need a new watch...(I did learn that the master bedroom is THE spot thieves gravitate to: it's where the jewelry, cash, guns, safes, etc. are usually stored. We've changed that.)
kentuck
(112,491 posts)People will follow UPS truck around and then steal the packages once they are delivered. They also like birdbaths, fountains, and hanging baskets.
I hate thieves. I have no respect for them.
nolabear
(42,972 posts)And no, I don't fear those, but for women they're the two biggest risks.
Colorado has more than its share of road rage, also.
hunter
(38,809 posts)Nevernose
(13,081 posts)Life is suffering, but that doesn't mean I need to live in fear. That's just the way it goes.
I do worry about my daughter quite a bit, but 90% of that is whether or not she drops out of college
DeadLetterOffice
(1,352 posts)I have an awareness that I may be a crime-victim again at some point in my future, but I don't spend my life planning how to avoid being a crime target.
That being said, as a woman I am particularly aware that I may be a target of sexual violence, and that one *does* impinge on my consciousness in particular situations -- car parks, walking late at night, etc. I practice due diligence in such situations and always listen to my 'this person is creepy' vibe.
panader0
(25,816 posts)SuperDutyTX
(79 posts)I've been a "victim" of a crime a few times, but I wouldn't say that I spend time actually worrying about it; it's more an acceptance that there are more criminal elements at large than I would like, and that something will likely happen again one day.
That said, there have been a pattern of home robberies within a 5 mile radius of my area (per the local news, and police FB pages), and admittedly it's closer to home than I would like.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)Less safe when I travel though
Boudica the Lyoness
(2,899 posts)So I don't worry about crime.
hamsterjill
(15,440 posts)It was a nightmare and I've yet to feel safe again. Crime is on the upswing in our city in part because our police force is about 200 officers short thanks to a city council that doesn't support police.
Say what you want about the police. But their absence, on patrols and simply being visible, has contributed greatly to a negative change in my area.
scscholar
(2,902 posts)Instead of just allo0wing crime to continue unpunished. They constantly give speeding tickets and parking tickets, because that is safe, but they need to start finally doing their jobs.
Heeeeers Johnny
(423 posts)Nor do I live in fear that I'd lose life or property due to a fire, yet I make sure my smoke detectors have fresh batteries
and my fire extinguishers are up to date.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)But I do pay attention to my surroundings, try not to be in "bad" neighborhoods, don't flaunt my (hah!) wealth, and just a go about my life. An awful lot of crime is purely random. The victim simply has the misfortune to be the one targeted.
I feel reasonably safe from burglary because anyone getting into my house would look around, see there's no TV, probably wouldn't be bothered to steal my desktop computer, maybe my laptop but even it's old enough not to be very desirable. I have some jewelry that might be worth taking, but not sure how hard a thief would search.
When I worked at DCA (National Airport) back in the 70's I took the bus from Alexandria, VA, to the airport. Almost always worked an afternoon shift, meaning I got off work at 10pm or later. Often, if weather was bad, a LOT later. Occasionally someone would ask if I wasn't worried about taking the bus home at 1am. I always laughed, pointing out that someone trying to stalk me would soon give up in despair because I never took a bus at the same time any two nights in a row. My walk from the bus stop to my apartment was well lighted, I paid attention to the surroundings, and NEVER had anything the least bit odd, let alone scary, happen.
I'm now 67, and am aware that as I get older there's the potential for being more of a target just because of my age. And while there are no guarantees in life, I simply trust that doing what I've done all along is sufficient.
If I become a crime victim tomorrow I will most likely just chalk it up to random, unfortunate chance. And I hope I'll then go about my life as before.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)I feel much better now.
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)But do I? Yes, I can not lie.
ecstatic
(34,197 posts)Unfortunately, I live in a high crime suburban area, so most items on your list aren't off the table. I try my best to take the proper precautions. Regarding cops, I'm more concerned when travelling outside metro Atlanta. Around here, I'm invisible to cops (knock on wood). From what I've witnessed in Atlanta, cops tend to stop young (black) men the most, especially if driving a dark colored sports car, or if the car is customized in a way that's super masculine, "cool" or flashy (custom rims, paint, etc).
Also, they stop you if you're riding a clunker. Ironically, they mostly ignore the people who look like they can afford random, unexpected traffic tickets.
gwheezie
(3,580 posts)Will continue to fuck us over and none of them go to jail. In fact, we may have to kick in our hard earned cash to keep them out of jail.
pablo_marmol
(2,375 posts)Predators look for soft targets. Older folks make for softer targets.
Saphire
(2,437 posts)do is be cautious. I think most liberals are optimistic. Rethugs are paranoid chicken littles...always worried.
whatthehey
(3,660 posts)All are very possible. There is no nice neighborhood/blameless life exemption from criminal action. My mother in law, a church volunteer who never used any profanity nor got so much as a parking ticket in her upscale whitebread suburban life, was abducted in broad daylight from a parking lot and later murdered. I've lived a far worse life sometimes in far worse places and never been in any great danger of victimhood past a couple of enraged but ineffectual Christian warrior wannabes. But any of your events listed could happen to me today. That's the all part.
However none are very likely. Just like people win the big lotteries several times a month but it's still a quarter billion to one for any ticket, violent crimes happen all the time but individuals, outside areas of concentrated criminal activity that is, are generally likely to live their lives free of the big-ticket items you list. Since I no longer have to live in very poor high crime neighborhoods, my risk is very low, but it still could happen any time.
So what's a sensible likely safe but still potential victim supposed to do? The same thing we do with other rare calamities like house fires, fatal car crashes, sudden permanent disability, etc. We try to avoid high risks, protect ourselves where possible, and insure ourselves just in case.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,725 posts)Bank executives, 401k administrators, investment houses, leeches all.
Igel
(35,981 posts)It happened a few blocks from here. Nobody knew anything that they'd tell the police.
There are robberies from time to time around here. Last year a kid up the block accidentally killed himself, the police report said. A couple of miles away there have been killings and at least one guy killed by police (who "extrajudicially executed" him after he killed one person, wounded another, and was pointing the gun at police and screaming he was going to finish off his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend).
Not a big worry, but enough to make me consider getting my string instruments insured against theft.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)It is something that will continue. It gets worse during economic downturns. I am talking non-violent crime.
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)It's a prejudice that I believe was born of watching too much television news. I can't shake that, even though I've never been a victim of a crime in a city.
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)Mental illness or robbery is probably on a case-by-case basis.
kentuck
(112,491 posts)And there is nothing they can do about it. That scares me more than the criminals...