Jaywalking in the 'hood

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking the OP doesn't notice this at all, but simply wants to stir up shit.

I was born and raised in SE DC (and not the good part). Go there almost every day to pick up my daughter who my Mom sits while I'm at work. I've NEVER seen people just aggressively step in front of moving cars. They (including me) will cross if the light is red, but only if there's no traffic or the oncoming cars are moving slowly. But to just step out and expect the cars to stop? No fucking way. Please stop lying just to find some made-up reason to dislike people who live in the "hood".

[Anonymous]

I'm the most bleeding heart liberal person I know. I posted earlier to say that I grew up in subsidized housing and this was not a trend back then. I think there are a lot of reasons for it, but I think folks who say this is not a disproportionate issue has either never spent time in an actual poor neighborhood, or is just glossing over it. I absolutely have noticed that this is prevalent in the hood now. How do I know? Because I volunteer for an organization that delivers goods and food to people living in impoverished communities. The slow down, look at you, and take your time crossing against the light is absolutely, positively, and completely a gigantic F.U. People saying it is down to not having enough crosswalks are delusional. Yes, that actually is another issue (people getting killed crossing busy 4 lane streets is evidence of this) but I think there are two distinct things here - the lack of crosswalks and the belligerent attitudes. That said, nothing in this world can be viewed by itself. A better question to ask is: how did these people come to feel so disenfranchised that this takes place? That they will put their body in front of an oncoming car and dare you to hit them? Why has it gotten this bad? It's easy to blame the people walking in front of your car, but we all share in it. Many people feel marginalized their entire lives. It's a self-protection thing, in some ways. The 'hood is a place that belongs to them, where they are free from the different cultural expectations set by people who do not share their background, do not feel that same marginalization. Then we drive through that 'hood and wonder why we're given the metaphorical cold shoulder or middle finger?

Race relations have NOT come a long way in this country, despite what you've tried to imagine. we all need to do better.

[Anonymous]

The most aggressive jaywalker(s) I've ever run across was a group of white frat boys in Crystal City. I have seen a Hispanic mom walking on the side of the road (Rt. 50 in Falls Church) while it was dry and there was a sidewalk on the side, though.

[Anonymous]

BTW, the people who are going out of their way to pretend this isn't happening are missing an opportunity, IMHO. Why exactly do black kids in the 'hood feel like they need to give white folks (or wealthy black folks) the metaphorical middle finger? That's the question we should be asking. While you personally may not have been racist, you're part of a system that is stacked against them. I can hardly blame somebody for resenting me and all the power i have in society, (power i got for no good reason, basically just by being a white person).

Many white people go out of their way to say "I don't see color" or "I don't believe these things happen." C'mon now. Spend some time in West Baltimore, and you'll see this take place 25 times while you drive through the hood. These places are DEVASTATED by poverty, these people are on the fringe of society. Society has failed them, so I don't blame them for the F.U. nor do I blame them for failing to hold up their part of the social contract. What has the social contract ever done for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW, the people who are going out of their way to pretend this isn't happening are missing an opportunity, IMHO. Why exactly do black kids in the 'hood feel like they need to give white folks (or wealthy black folks) the metaphorical middle finger? That's the question we should be asking. While you personally may not have been racist, you're part of a system that is stacked against them. I can hardly blame somebody for resenting me and all the power i have in society, (power i got for no good reason, basically just by being a white person).

Many white people go out of their way to say "I don't see color" or "I don't believe these things happen." C'mon now. Spend some time in West Baltimore, and you'll see this take place 25 times while you drive through the hood. These places are DEVASTATED by poverty, these people are on the fringe of society. Society has failed them, so I don't blame them for the F.U. nor do I blame them for failing to hold up their part of the social contract. What has the social contract ever done for them?

+1

Ditto with littering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has the potential to get really ugly and I hope it doesn't. I've encountered this so much. I think there are a few things going on:

1. There is a general feeling of lawlessness in the 'hood that is pervasive - like, the rules don't apply here - both in terms of enforcement of things like jaywalking and protection of the people there.
2. People there feel invisible and marginalized, and walking in front of someone's car is a tiny way of exerting some power and control
3. Sadly, some of the people do not protect themselves because there is too much going on.
4. Yes, some people are just loitering, hanging out, and don't have anywhere to be or go.
5. A lot of the people doing this are children (even if they're teenagers, they are still children), the children are often unsupervised or undersupervised, parents are struggling so hard to put food on the table or manage addiction, or deal with the problems that have been heaped upon them that they don't have time to make sure their kids aren't getting into trouble / in danger.

I grew up in subsidized housing and do not remember it this being a pattern back then. I think the jaywalking is a modern 'hood thing.

I knew someone in the Uhuru movement and this is what she claimed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny, I feel that way about driving through downtown Bethesda.

Yes, and they're looking at their iPhones at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever noticed that city people in an urban area who walk a lot instead of drive know how to negotiate through traffic briskly on foot, and are adept at moving out into an intersection, and will not stand around waiting at red lights for the walk sign, like say, people who live in Germantown? This goes for wealthy Parisians, New Yorkers, Dupont Circle-ites, Silver Springii, and really anyone who lives in an urban area ("the hood"). It has nothing to do with income level and everything to do with time spent walking through traffic.

As cosmopolitan as that sounds, the law is that if there is a walk sign you have to obey it over and above the red light. This is as adept as a cyclist running a light because they don't see oncoming traffic.