My wife and I purchased our home 13 years ago in a really nice community shortly before my retirement from the Navy. Over the past 3 years most of the wooded areas have been cut down and apartments built on the land. The homes there are out of reach for most, but the apartments are not. Several families rent out one unit and you know the rest.

When I used to go to Publix there was nice soft elevator type music, but one day I walked in and they were playing Keith Sweat “Keep It Comming”, which is a love/sex song. My eyes see 300lb women in clothing which is meant for a 125lb woman. Jeans which were blue are now light blue from being stretched out. Crazy long nails, butterfly eyelashes, bags on their heads and fake hair hanging past their knees just drives me crazy. We won’t even get into the falling apart cars, loud music or trash that is now common in the parking lot.

Now, before anyone says this is a racist post, I would like you to know I am black myself. I served 24 years in the military and have strict standards that I live by. My wife and I have worked hard for what we have. We both grew up poor and are now very successful and financially secure. It pains me that people will not strive for better lives. I am a ER nurse in my life after the Navy and see every economic situation imaginable, and would never thumb my nose at anyone. Is is just too much to ask for the ghetto to not be where I live?

Hey Doc, I feel your frustration. I’ve lived in the same house for 20+ years and at 54 years old, have no interest in moving.

That said, every time a long time neighbor moves out, it’s a guessing game of who will move in. For the most part we’ve been pretty fortunate (and we’ve always been a racially mixed neighborhood), but recently I’ve seen a few things that have given me pause. Fingers crossed.

I was nodding my head until I got to the “I’m black” part. That made me grin.

I’m so glad I live in the country.

See, that's what you get for being born a long time ago.

We had people who cared about us and taught us junk.

I feel like 70 % of what we learned is mostly not applicable out in public social scenarios.

I share your pain.

I've been watching the same progression migrate across Arlington for years.

The first law of the jungle is obvious. What took me several decades to really understand is just how much insects out breed mammals.

Looks like Jacksonville is moving south to engulf you.

It's easy to lose sight of the truth in such matters, which is that this is not a racial issue; it's a class/cultural issue.

Thomas Sowell's Black Rednecks and White Liberals spells it out. All races have uncouth trash- or, to put it politely, "lower strata".

No one wants trashy people moving into their neighborhood. They commit crimes, cause friction, depress property values, and so forth. Unfortunately, the world is awash in such people, and with each passing day, it gets harder to avoid the dregs.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

It's easy to lose sight of the truth in such matters, which is that this is not a racial issue; it's a class/cultural issue.

Thomas Sowell's Black Rednecks and White Liberals spells it out.

Your first statement is something that I have been saying for years.

I had never heard of the Sowell book. I just sent an inquiry to my local public library, requesting that they obtain an e-book version. With my mobility limitations, it's way easier for me to download borrowed books to my Kindle, than to drag my narrow ass to the library to check out hard copy books.

Happens at places of employment also. Worked with a white trash hood wannabe years ago. Bounced from department to department due to his own actions and customer complaints. Car dealership, he was a lot jockey and got sent to parts in the hope of management to “save” this kid. Ego thing on their part “Look what we did, we made something of him” while alienating everyone around him.

Quick synopsis, I was the one who got him removed from the parts department. After many problems/conflicts in the time he was in our department he blamed me for someone else’s error. When he came in from the parts run he started unloading on me, I told him bluntly what to do with himself and my department manager sided with him. His excuse was that “We all need to make allowances for him, it’s his upbringing”.

Well at this point I told the manager to show me where in my job description it stated that I was supposed to let him scream and yell at me. Manager threatened me with a insubordination write up.

I said “Let’s go see the general manager or the V.P. and see what they have to say about a write up as I walked out of the managers office after us loudly arguing in his office. I clearly intended to quit that afternoon and had made a couple of “I’m available” calls to other managers I knew.

Within five minutes of the last call my manager asked me “Can we talk?”

Culminated with his apology, a handshake and the immediate transfer of Junior hoot rat to the new car sales as their new lot boy.

Unless you can afford a massive land purchase or a gated community, it seems inevitable. I grew up on a dead end road in the middle of nowhere and have several family members still there. In the last 10 years as some long time residents have died/moved on, some less savory types have moved in. The only good thing about the situation is that a couple of the family members still there are guys like us that are keeping a lid on things. It’s only a matter of time though.

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:

Unless you can afford a massive land purchase or a gated community, it seems inevitable.

A gated community is no guarantee. I live in a fairly large one, a bit over 800 homes, middle income, some blue collar, some retirees, and we do see some of the ghettoness.

The HOA seems to be more concerned about petty things, like is your trash bin visible from the street, than about real problems.

First of all, you for your service to our country. I’m sorry you’re encountering this problem. It’s a real shame but it’s happening a lot of places. I’m blessed that I live on 294 acres but am not immune as recently we had a break in by a juvenile that “left” a state run facility about a mile away. Thankfully the ring camera my wife insisted on picked up the perpetrator and I notified a friend who notified police as we were out of town on vacation.

Hey USN,
It's got nothing to do with your race. It's got everything to do with your personal standards and self respect.

First, thank you for your service to our country as well as to your community. I feel your pain... it is hard to figure some folks out.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by parabellum:


I had never heard of the Sowell book. I just sent an inquiry to my local public library, requesting that they obtain an e-book version. With my mobility limitations, it's way easier for me to download borrowed books to my Kindle, than to drag my narrow ass to the library to check out hard copy books.

My local library offers curb side pickup. I reserve books online, when they are available, I drive up, they bring the books out to my car. Maybe this might be of use to you.

v-Tail... I just looked up the book Para mentioned and am probably going to read it in a few weeks while at the beach. I also checked out the author (some of my knowledge and education is limited).. and am impressed with what I've learned. So, if you can't get an electronic copy from your library then private message me and I will see if I can send you a copy through amazon.

Last week, driving down my street going the 30mph speed limit and a car from the driveway of a cornerhouse on a side street blows the stop sign, pulls out in front of me and stops. I have no idea what's going on, so I drive around it. Looking in my rearview mirror, this white woman jumps of the car and does a baboon impression. I stop at the main road and turn left. A minute later, she's barreling up next to me with her window down flipping me off.

I've lived here for 23 years and this was a first for me.

quote:

Now, before anyone says this is a racist post

Assholes come in all colors.

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:
Happens at places of employment also. Worked with a white trash hood wannabe years ago. Bounced from department to department due to his own actions and customer complaints. Car dealership, he was a lot jockey and got sent to parts in the hope of management to “save” this kid. Ego thing on their part “Look what we did, we made something of him” while alienating everyone around him.

Culminated with his apology, a handshake and the immediate transfer of Junior hoot rat to the new car sales as their new lot boy.

I worked at a Chevrolet dealer [porter, by title. told people I did everything but fix & Sell the cars] in college, this type wouldn't have lasted there.

The Honda dealer I worked for, definitely had some of your experiences there, but they usually didn't last too long, with 1 exception that bounced around until he cratered the sliding door on a brand new Odyssey.