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dancingtongue · 80-89, M
Reality is that the U.S. is little different than anywhere else in the world: every city, location has its sketchy areas. At your age, you should have a well-developed spidey sense where your gut begins to send warning signals. Trust it.
Many will tell you to avoid Oakland, California, totally. Like any major city, it has its good areas and bad areas. Raising my kids there, I remember when my youngest -- when he was just entering his teens or was a preteen -- saying at dinner he had taken his bike down East 14th to see how far he could go and his mother and I just about choked. There are several blocks that are fine, then it rapidly deteriorates and becomes rough territory rife with gangs, street walkers, drug dealers. Before we could say a word, he said "I got as far as X and I figured that was as far as I should go, and turned around". And I heaved a big sigh of relief, and felt the kid had matured into street safe.
Many will tell you to avoid Oakland, California, totally. Like any major city, it has its good areas and bad areas. Raising my kids there, I remember when my youngest -- when he was just entering his teens or was a preteen -- saying at dinner he had taken his bike down East 14th to see how far he could go and his mother and I just about choked. There are several blocks that are fine, then it rapidly deteriorates and becomes rough territory rife with gangs, street walkers, drug dealers. Before we could say a word, he said "I got as far as X and I figured that was as far as I should go, and turned around". And I heaved a big sigh of relief, and felt the kid had matured into street safe.