chandler bing you can probably see by now that there are also some crazy people in Philadelphia (as there are in China I am sure) When they don't take their medication they say funny things on message boards.

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Feeling safe or unsafe is a very acquired skill, which takes a long time to hone, and is tied to the culture and the area. Hell, even in the US it's different from city to city, which are a few hundred miles apart.

Most countries in the world make it illegal for civilians to own firearms. I guess crime is hugely lower there


Ohh, and by the way, I have never been killed in Philly, not even once. You are safe here, chandler!

Like people who think gun control is good idea.

I don't know if you noticed but china is an oppressive communist country and... your an idiot*




*Edit: added tired old insult after re-reading post and realized i was just put in my place by the old "off the medication" zinger

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The guns used by the ciminals are illegal here. Just like any other foreign country don't run around without a tour guide. you will be fine!

Thats the spirit!

As much as i can't stand this city i do feel safe here comparatively.

Just don't leave the green zone.

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www.obamanist.com

Your classmate's statement is not accurate.

It's a big city. Some areas are safe. Some areas are risky. Make some friends as soon as you get here and have them give you a little orientation about how to be safe here.

I think Philly is a dangerous city. People will kill you here for nothing. Too many under-educated people carry guns. It's a great adventure to come here. You just have to be smart about how you conduct yourself out on the street.

I lived in Moscow, Saint Petersburg Russia, Kiev Ukraine. I've been in all kinds of crappy neighborhoods over there and felt safe. But I don't have this feeling in Philadelphia. Over there, a bad guy will just try to beat you up. He's not going to pull out a gun and blow you away.

Anyway, it's not as bad as it sounds. If you have street smarts, you'll be fine.

And I can say that foreign friends who have visited me in Philadelphia absolutely loved coming here. But I mainly kept them in the good, safe places. And we stayed out of the risky places.

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I've lived in this city my entire life, in three separate neighborhoods, two of which certain deranged posters would call "dangerous" I'm sure.

I work in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in the city.

The only crime I've had to deal with is 1) smashed car window to steal about 50 CD's left stupidly in sight and 2) a stolen 10 dollar trashcan.

If you aren't in the drug trade, your chances of being shot go down DRAMATICALLY, to virtually nil.

That doesn't mean there isn't any dangerous crime. There is. You just have to use a little common sense.

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The people get the government they deserve. --Alexis de Tocqueville

chandler, most people in Philadelphia (even most people outside of Center City) have no desire to rob or murder anyone. With you being generally unfamiliar with the culture and this city I would recommend not traveling alone to places where there aren't lots of people - on campus, off campus, Center City - anywhere at anytime except business hours. This doesn't mean Philadelphia is like the Thunderdome (despite what some folks here seem to believe) but it reduces your already relatively low risk of becoming the reason behind one of Phillyblog's famous "I Heard Sirens Last Night!" threads.

And ignore the Chicken Littles. I've lived in one of those "red zones" from zur's map my entire life and haven't been killed yet. Minding one's own business and not engaging in crime tends to reduce one's risk in those areas.

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If the shoe fits..............

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That's one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time. And how much time has your classmate spent in Philly? He sounds like his logic is really solid!