I live in Sydney
Up until somewhat recently I lived in one of the more dodgy areas, in fact I used to live on the street that had this happen. Never once did I truely feel unsafe (there were quite a number of dodgy people around but just stepping up and saying "You don't really want my wallet" was enough to get them to back down). I also grew up around where this took place

Now I've moved with the little woman to a nice suburban flat (suburb is called Ashfield), lots of great neighbours and a decent way from the city, that turns out is a hotbed for police activity. As I write this there are police officers in the hallway trying to bash down the door on the appartment above me because the guy up there has a habbit of smacking his wife around a little more than she likes (after last weeks QOTW I've downgraded that from a 'lot more'). I've been warned by police *in my security locked building* to not wander around as much with my black gear on with my hat pulled down (I've not got much style so that is what I look like) as it makes them think I'm up to no good. 3 different appartments have been broken into with no apparent entry method, the current theory is that someone has a master key.

So this current place I'm in is a lot worse as far as everything goes. It's got a lovely veneer of safe and nice going on but as it turns out is a whole lot worse than areas that get there own wikipedia pages due to riots and large amounts of hard core violence.

No funnies here for you, there isn't much funny about smacking a chick around who isn't into that sort of stuff. I just wish it I could move back to the safe violent areas of town tonight to make it easier to sleep.
(pseudomonkey is not a real monkey., Fri 30 Oct 2009, 9:57, 5 replies)

I spent most of September living near Redfern
My brother is living in Darlington (we're poms BTW). Most days I would run the gauntlet of walking to Redfern station and avoiding the drugged up "indigenous Australians" hanging around outside.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 30 Oct 2009, 10:17, closed)

You get a few idiots there
But they're all obvious and easily avoided. Just a little bit of not looking like you want to get mugged and it's fine.
(pseudomonkey is not a real monkey., Fri 30 Oct 2009, 10:30, closed)

Yeah, no real problems, but it was more intimidating at night
when they had had all day to get wasted.

The one bit of advice I got was "Whatever you do, DONT walk down Everleigh Road". I didnt, but I would always have a good look. It reminded me of "The Wire".
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 30 Oct 2009, 10:38, closed)

Yeah, I guess it's the same as most places
"Don't walk down that dodgy back street with the firebin with a tonne of pissed idiots standing around it asking for change"

Not saying people deserve to get mugged or anything like that (hell I used to always walk to the station to collect my partner as she is a 45 kilo chick who runs screaming from flies) but you just need to keep your eyes open and you should be fine.
(pseudomonkey is not a real monkey., Fri 30 Oct 2009, 10:53, closed)

I stayed in Kings Cross and Potts Point on my travels
one of the aboriginies liked to point at scream at me everytime I walked past him on my way to the station or the internet cafe - but I never felt like I was in danger at all.
( h3donist tryin' to play me out as if my name is Sega.., Sat 31 Oct 2009, 21:24, closed)