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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Aug 20, 2018 23:16:17 GMT -5
Its incredible how depressing some places in the US have become. Imagine how nice this neighbourhood probably was just 35 or 40 years ago. I'd love to see a then and now.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 21, 2018 3:17:23 GMT -5
Those houses at the start looked like they were quite something. It's shocking how a whole neighbourhood can change like that.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2018 4:04:40 GMT -5
When the auto makers of Detroit had the BIG layoffs and shutdowns Detroit basically went into the toilet. Detroit is on its way back and rebuilding, it will take quite some time but the city council and Mayor has Detroit moving in the right direction.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 21, 2018 4:29:36 GMT -5
That's good to hear.
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Robert Perkins
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Post by Robert Perkins on Aug 21, 2018 5:36:59 GMT -5
The neighborhoods full of vacant houses are definitely reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic world. If this were a movie, one would expect to see a throng of zombies walking up the sidewalk at any moment.
However, I'm not sure what the filmographer's point was, combining those scenes with scenes of urban nightlife. I hope they are not saying that there is something wrong, simply because black people are walking around at night.
I just want to make sure that's not where we're going with this, because I'm pretty sure we don't make African Americans feel unwelcome here on the forum.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 21, 2018 5:50:07 GMT -5
The neighborhoods full of vacant houses are definitely reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic world. If this were a movie, one would expect to see a throng of zombies walking up the sidewalk at any moment. However, I'm not sure what the filmographer's point was, combining those scenes with scenes of urban nightlife. I hope they are not saying that there is something wrong, simply because black people are walking around at night. I just want to make sure that's not where we're going with this, because I'm pretty sure we don't make African Americans feel unwelcome here on the forum. I didn't see that far into the video. But I have never sensed any animosity to any other race or religion within this forum and I hope it stays that way.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Aug 21, 2018 6:20:53 GMT -5
I lived 20 miles from Detroit before I moved down south. I witnessed the downward spiral of the city before we left. I visited a few years later and it looked like a waste land. It got to the point where the city would pretty much give you a house if you signed a paper saying it would be fixed it a set time frame.
Detroit is on track for a rebirth. I surely hope so, it's an iconic city and I have good memories there.
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Post by oldcajun123 on Aug 21, 2018 6:32:30 GMT -5
I’m staying away from this one, as Guilliana says sometimes the truth ain’t the truth.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 21, 2018 7:11:37 GMT -5
I’m staying away from this one, as Guilliana says sometimes the truth ain’t the truth. Maybe there's more going on than I realise.
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joeman
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Post by joeman on Aug 21, 2018 8:34:02 GMT -5
I'm a 44 year Detroit & Suburb native. I was born downtown, and lived right next to Detroit for many years. I did just move to SC more recently, but my family is still there, and I'll always spend time in the area. For 15 years, I was in home medical equipment...and I set foot on nearly every single street in that city...both in the daytime and at night...since home medical equipment needs a tech when it has an issue. I've seen many streets in the city which this video represents. There are certain pockets (as with any medium-to-big city) that you absolutely don't want to be in after dark unless you belong there. I've had guns pulled on me at night, hookers trying to jump in my rolling vehicle, approached by guys looking for drugs...all of it. However...I'd say that someone found likely the very worst of the city...and this does not represent the vast majority of it. Most neighborhoods are decently if not well kept, with neighbors who watch out for each other, and where I was not concerned about my own safety when visiting at night. And, many of these very bad areas have either already been revitalized, or are targeted to be so. Things are indeed changing, and yes...city leadership is FINALLY on a better track...after FAR too many years of having unqualified and uncaring folks running the city who weren't interested in building the right bridges or putting their hand to the plow.
I would also agree (as a white guy) that the video makes a point at first about badly trashed and abandoned neighborhoods, but then the next entire segment shows black people at night...seeming to be just hanging out, talking, walking around. Someone should capture video of me and some of my white friends hanging out in front of my house, or outside of a store after dusk and post it...to what end? Not sure the motive for part 2 of the video.
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Post by Matthew on Aug 21, 2018 8:36:41 GMT -5
I’m staying away from this one, as Guilliana says sometimes the truth ain’t the truth. Maybe there's more going on than I realise. This topic can get political and ugly quickly,so Please folks lets not go there.
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 21, 2018 8:44:03 GMT -5
When I was a kid, I remember Gary Indiana being the Ideal American City. And Rochester NY being the center of science and technology. This was before all of the manufacturing was outsourced to other country. The fat cats were still rolling in dough, while everyone in the middle class had to scramble for scraps under the table. We are all responsible for what has happened to these cities.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 21, 2018 8:45:39 GMT -5
Maybe there's more going on than I realise. This topic can get political and ugly quickly,so Please folks lets not go there. Yes guys. Let's not.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2018 10:44:08 GMT -5
I’m staying away from this one, as Guilliana says sometimes the truth ain’t the truth. Thank you for your restraint - and I mean that honestly.
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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Aug 21, 2018 11:03:53 GMT -5
I'm a 44 year Detroit & Suburb native. I was born downtown, and lived right next to Detroit for many years. I did just move to SC more recently, but my family is still there, and I'll always spend time in the area. For 15 years, I was in home medical equipment...and I set foot on nearly every single street in that city...both in the daytime and at night...since home medical equipment needs a tech when it has an issue. I've seen many streets in the city which this video represents. There are certain pockets (as with any medium-to-big city) that you absolutely don't want to be in after dark unless you belong there. I've had guns pulled on me at night, hookers trying to jump in my rolling vehicle, approached by guys looking for drugs...all of it. However...I'd say that someone found likely the very worst of the city...and this does not represent the vast majority of it. Most neighborhoods are decently if not well kept, with neighbors who watch out for each other, and where I was not concerned about my own safety when visiting at night. And, many of these very bad areas have either already been revitalized, or are targeted to be so. Things are indeed changing, and yes...city leadership is FINALLY on a better track...after FAR too many years of having unqualified and uncaring folks running the city who weren't interested in building the right bridges or putting their hand to the plow. I would also agree (as a white guy) that the video makes a point at first about badly trashed and abandoned neighborhoods, but then the next entire segment shows black people at night...seeming to be just hanging out, talking, walking around. Someone should capture video of me and some of my white friends hanging out in front of my house, or outside of a store after dusk and post it...to what end? Not sure the motive for part 2 of the video. Well to be fair the guy filming is black (I think), if that matters. Also I think his point was to show how rife prostitution is there after dark, a clear sign of urban decay. He's approached by at least a half dozen prostitutes if you look closely. We don't even have that problem in DC anymore.
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Post by puffy on Aug 21, 2018 11:16:25 GMT -5
Between jobs lost to other countries and automated machines and robots taking other jobs.Without a good education it's difficult these days to get a good paying job.The Detroit area has a great number of high rise buildings that are being refurbished for modern use.The area is slowly on the rebound.Only though for those who have skills to offer an employer.Far too many folks don't have those skills.Education is the key. When the job market tanked and folks lost their jobs they couldn't sell their houses so they just moved away and left them .Most of them are falling down now or being torn down.I lived in the Detroit area for over 40 years before I moved back to Carolina.In some ways it's a great place.Like any other large city it has problems I'm hoping though that it will someday be a prosperous and beautiful city...
One last note..Detroit has a diverse multi cultured population.Folks there from all around the world..I ate some great food there that I wouldn't have had If I had stayed in the south my whole life.
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Post by toshtego on Aug 21, 2018 12:37:49 GMT -5
Communities grow and die according to economic conditions.
The West is filled with old mining and farm towns which once bustled and are now nearly deserted. I live in such a place. 100 years ago, my village was bigger than Taos, the County Seat. We had the largest general store in northern NM plus several others. Farming and sheep husbandry was the main occupation. Today, we are down to one gas station covenience store and about 190 souls. Elsewhere, in these parts, can be found the ruins of old settlements long abandoned as conditions changed. This was partly because of climate change and partly becuase better lives could be lived in the factory and mill towns of Colorado and Calfornia. Years back, we stopped in Hays City, Kansas, the home of Bob Dole among others. Once a booming farm center of western Kansas, it was boarded up and deserted. We could not even find a place to eat except out at the Interstate in a corporate chain restaurant. I was very sad to see that.
Sometimes, communities come back. Detroit is not taking their demise lying down and working towards revitalizing their city. I wish them every success.
As a practical consideration, those old houses should be cleared and the space made available for new construction of modern and more efficient homes. There has been much thought given to what makes a more efficient living space. Those towering old frame houses with little insulation, high ceilings, obsolete plumbing, wiring and heating systems could be replaced with energy efficient smaller homes.
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Post by joeman on Aug 21, 2018 12:49:37 GMT -5
blah...blah...blah... Well to be fair the guy filming is black (I think), if that matters. Also I think his point was to show how rife prostitution is there after dark, a clear sign of urban decay. He's approached by at least a half dozen prostitutes if you look closely. We don't even have that problem in DC anymore. True, it does matter; I think a couple of us made an assumption...bad on us. Thanks for clarifying on both points.
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Robert Perkins
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Post by Robert Perkins on Aug 21, 2018 13:27:06 GMT -5
Well to be fair the guy filming is black (I think), if that matters. Also I think his point was to show how rife prostitution is there after dark, a clear sign of urban decay. He's approached by at least a half dozen prostitutes if you look closely. We don't even have that problem in DC anymore. Ah, okay, very good. And thanks for the clarification. Yeah, I actually had my sound off the first time I watched this, so I didn't hear all the solicitations. I, myself, am not going to throw any stones, but it's definitely problematic that prostitutes are soliciting into the windows of passing cars without a care for whether there are children in the car or whatever. That's just wrong.
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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Aug 21, 2018 14:54:36 GMT -5
Well to be fair the guy filming is black (I think), if that matters. Also I think his point was to show how rife prostitution is there after dark, a clear sign of urban decay. He's approached by at least a half dozen prostitutes if you look closely. We don't even have that problem in DC anymore. Ah, okay, very good. And thanks for the clarification. Yeah, I actually had my sound off the first time I watched this, so I didn't hear all the solicitations. I, myself, am not going to throw any stones, but it's definitely problematic that prostitutes are soliciting into the windows of passing cars without a care for whether there are children in the car or whatever. That's just wrong. Yeah that one of my main problems with what is going on in my home away from home, too (Thailand). Sukhumvit is one of the hearts and souls of Thailand tourism and at nightfall its overrun with streetwalkers. I'd never bring any child anywhere near Sukhumvit Road in Asoke at night for that reason. I really don't mind the girls doing their thing in Thailand's red light districts. Its part of Thai culture, honestly. But the main thoroughfares need to be cleaned up and the trade needs to be regulated in the red light districts. For lots of reasons, to reduce human trafficking, reduce organised crime, for the safety and well-being of the girls, and the tourist bar patrons.
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Post by toshtego on Aug 21, 2018 15:47:02 GMT -5
When I arrived in New York City for my new job, July 1984, I stayed in a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Celebrating this new job starting the next day, I visited the Oak Bar of the Plaza Hotel, early, just after 5:00 PM It was packed with nicely dressed and well groomed women each sitting alone at tables. All eyes were on me as I entered. That was surprising as I am not someone women usually notice. Eventually, I went from a bar stool to sit down next to one of the younger ladies. Innocently, I asked if there was some sort of ladies convention at the hotel? This provoked a laugh and some chit-chat, eventually, she asked me, "You do know we are all Hookers, right?" The openess of this amazed me. I asked for a few pricing options although I am not the kind of man who embibes in this. Later that evening, I walked around the affluent hotel and restaurant area around Central Park South and it was awash in these women. Some I recognized for the Oak Bar. There were no cops on foot patrol. I did not even see a squad car. There were many limos dropping off and picking up. A thriving commerce was clearly underway.
I am not willing to criticize Detriot for their problems. This vice has always been with us and likely always will.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2018 15:52:17 GMT -5
On a more positive note.......
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Post by toshtego on Aug 21, 2018 15:55:50 GMT -5
And don't think I was not tempted......
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Post by pepesdad1 on Aug 21, 2018 16:20:48 GMT -5
Truly a sad waste of real estate.
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