Worst Areas You've Been To (Ghettos, Hoods, etc.)

[Nephill Kilner]

The worst areas I've ever been to (and briefly live in) are probably Compton, SC LA, Oakland, Stockton, in that order. I currently live in South Sac, which isn't really on the map as far as reputation. It is a cakewalk compared to the aforementioned cities, but it can be safely considered a bad area. Share fair of crime that any "bad" urban area would have.

Spoiler: Infamous Piru Street

I'm curious, especially with the international memberbase of SWRP, as to what are the worst areas you've ever been to? I'm sure there are many that we are not aware of simply because we don't live in those countries or have visited.

Post below and include stories if you so desire :) I'm interested as to what sort of conversation can be started on this topic. Ask questions! If you aren't really familiar with what it's like to live in a rough area, please keep an open mind.

Also, let's try to keep this as apolitical as possible (let's see how long that lasts) - as I'd like this to be more of a discussion/sharing thread then a political debate on social programs, municipal services funding, etc.

 

[LaPurple]

certain areas in Detroit are rather scary. I don't live there but I make the drive for sports games at Ford Field, the Joe Lewis, and Comerica. Outside of that sports area and Greektown it is very scary

 

[Nike]

Not quite a ghetto or a hood, but I once lived in a house right below an overpass and all sorts of crazy stuff went on there. For instance, less than a month from when we moved in, the US Marshals knocked on our door and searched our house dressed in full swat gear for the guy who used to live there. Fourteen year old me was terrified.

A few months later, I was getting dropped off by a friend real late at night and our entire street was lined with cop cars, and a helicopter was circling the neighborhood. They never found who there were looking for, and after they left my mom swears she heard someone trying to open the door but were scared off my the dog. (Thank God for Rocky, he was so big he once scared a police officer off. When we opened the door, he was at the end of the driveway, standing behind his car door.)

The people around there were all insane. One of them, an eleven year old girl, BIT my little sister for no reason. Another family had a gazillion cats and two massive iguanas that chilled in their front yard. Actually, now that I think about it, thats pretty cool. Oh, and once we caught our landlord going through our trash because he thought we weren't changing the air filters. We didn't live there long.

tl;dr: Highways are terrible places to live by.

 

[The Derp of Hooves]

I live 2 mins away from mlk blvd and crenshaw in los angeles :CScool

 

[Ping]

Chester, PA; it's right outside Philly. Dilapidated houses everywhere, and all the people walking around look like gang members. I think the mayor of the place actually declared a state of emergency at one point, due to crime being so rampant. The frustrating part is that I have to go there whenever I want to see a soccer game, since somebody decided it would be a good idea to put a stadium in the ghetto.

 

[Lloyd Gross]

Zona 18 Guatemala. Can honestly say all five trips into Zona 18 ended with me being shot at.
View attachment 1141View attachment 1142
Almarante, Panama. While no where near as dangerous, the shear amounts of pollution and human remains/excrement this tiny city accumulated was astounding. Couldn't find a great picture of the city but picture this over 100+ square miles. It got pretty nasty.
View attachment 1143

 

[Phil]

Stockton, California. Words can't describe what a slummy and filthy city it is, with over 100+ murders there last year...

 

[Nike]

Zona 18 Guatemala. Can honestly say all five trips into Zona 18 ended with me being shot at.

What brought you to Guatemala 5 times?

 

[Dóiteán]

Worst- Fifth Ward in Houston,TX & an apt complex in Pasadena, TX

 

[Lloyd Gross]

What brought you to Guatemala 5 times?

I actually lived there for 8 years. I only had the unfortunate opportunity to make it to Zona 18 five times, mostly my errant youthful ways made me end up there. I lived in Antigua which is about an hour from Guatemala City for most of my time in Guatemala, which ironically would make the list of Best areas I've been to.

 

[Nephill Kilner]

Not quite a ghetto or a hood, but I once lived in a house right below an overpass and all sorts of crazy stuff went on there. For instance, less than a month from when we moved in, the US Marshals knocked on our door and searched our house dressed in full swat gear for the guy who used to live there. Fourteen year old me was terrified.

A few months later, I was getting dropped off by a friend real late at night and our entire street was lined with cop cars, and a helicopter was circling the neighborhood. They never found who there were looking for, and after they left my mom swears she heard someone trying to open the door but were scared off my the dog. (Thank God for Rocky, he was so big he once scared a police officer off. When we opened the door, he was at the end of the driveway, standing behind his car door.)

The people around there were all insane. One of them, an eleven year old girl, BIT my little sister for no reason. Another family had a gazillion cats and two massive iguanas that chilled in their front yard. Actually, now that I think about it, thats pretty cool. Oh, and once we caught our landlord going through our trash because he thought we weren't changing the air filters. We didn't live there long.

tl;dr: Highways are terrible places to live by.

That's...certainly interesting. Seems to describe an area with some more eccentric folk. What area was this, if you don't mind me asking?

I live 2 mins away from mlk blvd and crenshaw in los angeles :CScool

Respect, sir. I used to live out near Dominguez High when I was younger. Hazy memories at best.

Chester, PA; it's right outside Philly. Dilapidated houses everywhere, and all the people walking around look like gang members. I think the mayor of the place actually declared a state of emergency at one point, due to crime being so rampant. The frustrating part is that I have to go there whenever I want to see a soccer game, since somebody decided it would be a good idea to put a stadium in the ghetto.

Never heard of it before, although Philly is definitely a hotspot...will have to look into Chester. Stadiums seem to be ill-placed at times, indeed.

Zona 18 Guatemala. Can honestly say all five trips into Zona 18 ended with me being shot at.
View attachment 3223View attachment 3224
Almarante, Panama. While no where near as dangerous, the shear amounts of pollution and human remains/excrement this tiny city accumulated was astounding. Couldn't find a great picture of the city but picture this over 100+ square miles. It got pretty nasty.
View attachment 3225

Third World South America is some place I never want to go. Major respect. Also would like to know why you were there, if that isn't intrusive.

Stockton, California. Words can't describe what a slummy and filthy city it is, with over 100+ murders there last year...

Indeed, I lost four relatives this year in the space of a week this year - highest murder count ever this year. RIP RIP RIP RIP MIP

Worst- Fifth Ward in Houston,TX & an apt complex in Pasadena, TX

Will also look into these. I know TX has its fair share.




Lots of great responses, keep em coming! This is great :)

 

[Nike]

That's...certainly interesting. Seems to describe an area with some more eccentric folk. What area was this, if you don't mind me asking?

In Orlando, close to Winter Park, away from all the touristy stuff. Further back into the neighborhood wasn't bad, it was just us by the overpass.

 

[Just Matt Now]

I've been to Compton. I trained, boxing, in this hood section of NYC. Fortunately my coach was a police officer, but the stories he would tell us were insane. He would point out some people who are undercover and sold hard drugs to catch people and whatnot. Oh also, Newark. A nasty place where bums litter the streets. I managed to have to ride through it by mistake in my girlfriends bright yellow camaro, legit almost got car-jacked.

 

[Lloyd Gross]

Third World South America is some place I never want to go. Major respect. Also would like to know why you were there, if that isn't intrusive.

As for what I was doing in Guatemala, my parents work down there. They've since moved on to Mexico. As for what I was doing in Zona 18, that was more of the "If I told you I'd have to kill you" nature. XD

 

[Nike]

As for what I was doing in Zona 18, that was more of the "If I told you I'd have to kill you" nature. XD

<.< >.> I believe it

 

[Lloyd Gross]

<.< >.> I believe it

Lol, don't let your imagination run away. I worked with the Guatemalan Kaibiles (Special Forces) for two years, got to do some exciting stuff but mostly sitting around bored in the jungle. :P

 

[Nike]

Lol, don't let your imagination run away. I worked with the Guatemalan Kaibiles (Special Forces) for two years, got to do some exciting stuff but mostly sitting around bored in the jungle. :P

Holy trout. Special Forces is actually along the lines of what I was thinking. After evil super-spy-hitman, of course.

 

[Lloyd Gross]

Holy trout. Special Forces is actually along the lines of what I was thinking. After evil super-spy-hitman, of course.

Yes, I was young and naive and thought joining the military was a great idea. Short Story: It was not. :P I will say though I've traveled throughout most of the western hemisphere and Guatemala is the most "Generally Violent" for any country I've been too. As for specific streets or cities I'm sure there are many that trump Guatemala in terms of pure violence. But overall for a country, my vote goes to them. Never been to the other side of the world though so can't speak for them. I'd assume an African Nation or Middle Eastern Nation has the highest overall violent crime rates. But that's just pure stereotypes and no factual basis on my part.

 

[Unreliable Genius]

Earth is pretty bad, tons of war and political discord etc.

also Saturn was sketchy

 

[Horizon]

Nice place called Theodore.

I've never seen such a quick transition from everyday folk to psychopaths. Stopped at a nice looking gas station and was immediately approached by a mob of people asking me for cash. These ****ers literally came from the woods.