BE AFRAID. BE VERY AFRAID

Is TV news a lethal killer? We'll have the full story tonight at 11:00

 

I helped move my son to Florida (20 min. from Tampa) last year (this is where he wanted to go to college) in what seemed to be a nice, older neighborhood. It's the visitor from the downtown area that walk the streets at night that are the problem, and this quiet neighborhood is in their path.
Needless to say, my son decided to take matters into his own hands, for that just in case situation. He feels, he has the right, as a citizen, to defend himself and his property. He took target shooting lessons and has purchased a shotgun (all legal there), and also...acquired himself two dogs.
And I was thinking of retiring there someday, will have to think this over.

 

i can identify. we're moving to a different area of town in march, cheap rent has helped us out a lot this year but it's not worth living in fear of a stray bullet killing you in your own home.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Sep 22 2007, 05:16 PM) [snapback]516303[/snapback]</div>

Came across real estate properties for sale in "gated communities" as we were looking to purchase a place for our son. Did not even think the real purpose for those "developments". Could have, should have, would have.... as they say. I guess the best plan would have been to rent first, get to know the neighborhoods and the surrounding communities first. A lesson to be learned here, a mistake not to be repeated.

 

The problem is that you have an ever increasing population and a hlaf hour news slot. More people = more crime even if the percentages stay the same as for as crime rate.

 

Fear sells! Almost as well as sex does. But primetime news has to stick to the fear angle, since the sex angle is usually frowned upon when used by "legitimate" news organizations.

Fear of sex sells best of all! (or fear of NO sex)

 

I've been involved in a few news stories. One was "possible" elections ballot tampering which the TV news station knew was false but continue to run the story for three days until their investigative reporter "discovered" there were no irregularities. Pretty pathetic. The stories I have had first hand knowledge of were very inaccurate to say the least.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hycamguy07 @ Sep 22 2007, 01:14 PM) [snapback]516199[/snapback]</div>

In defense of Deltona (where we bought a house 5 years ago) it's not nearly as bad as all that. Sure, we hear stuff on the news - but we've never had a bit of trouble. I even have a decal of a dinosaur eating a JesusFish, and all that seems to have done is prevent everyone BUT the Baptists from knocking on my door.


High minority population or not (and I guess my brown husband and I end up contributing to that terrible statistic, eh) it's a great place to live. I hope you actually live here too, hycam, because I've seen you go on about DelRico before - not terribly fair to consistently talk crap about it if you aren't a resident.

As for me, I like it here. We have a great preserve with hiking trails within easy biking distance that I'm not afraid to go to before the sun even rises. It's right next to a nice library that's always full of fairly well behaved kids - a lot of hispanic kids reading english books - surprised? I get the door for everyone who walks into a building after me, and I nearly always get a nod and a smile, and I'm not nearly rude enough to be offended if I get a 'gracias.' I go biking and get waves from anyone who happens to be on their front porches, in their yards, or in a open garage. I drive around and the kids of all different shades playing basketball in the street together move to the side as I pass. I grew up on dirt roads, and I feel right at home here. Maybe we live in different Deltonas.

 

I will admit that it's about the last place (now) that I would choose to retire. That's got little to do with crime (you'll find it just about anywhere there are lots of people, regardless of color) and more to do with simply not liking subdivisions that don't have any empty lots left. I think sometimes I won't be happy until I can't see my neighbors at all.

I live close enough to 'Crime Ridge' high school to have heard the same things you talk about - it's just not been my experience by a long shot. Even Pine Ridge students think the label is something of a joke. I have never been anywhere in Deltona that I thought, "Perhaps I shouldn't be here after dark..." Really, the worst thing I ever thought about the city was, "Damn, why are there so many biblethumpers coming to my house all the time? Do we just smell ripe for conversion or something?"