Come to the City: We Won't Kill You

I won’t say where, but lately I’ve been seeing a lot of ‘anti-city’ sentiments from certain areas of my internet social sphere. For fear of igniting an electronic flame war, I won’t say who or what specifically but if they are reading this they know who they are.

 

The crux of the argument is that certain cities – my own adopted Chicago included – are filled with deranged criminals bent on the destruction of all life and property, and that anyone who would want to move into a city is taking their life into their own hands, and can only be saved by the intervention of the National Guard. It is far better to live in the suburbs, where crime never ever ever ever ever ever happens.

 

Unfortunately, not all of us want to live out where the leprechauns and unicorns frolic, where Applebees are plentiful and where no baby ever cries.

 

And so, ever year, young suburban lads or lasses announce their intention to move where the population density is high – to be closer to a job or to be where they don’t absolutely have to drive everywhere they go – and without fail at least one person begins the wringing of hands and wailing and gnashing of teeth. ‘Doom!’ they predict, ‘Doom and unmitigated disaster! You haven’t signed a lease yet, have you? It’s not too late!’

 

Even in moving to Chicago, despite the general positive reaction I received by the vast majority of people, I was still met with the occasional confounded “Why?”

Why?!  Look at this place!

 

You can argue culture and convenience and excitement and renewal until your throat dries up and you run out or words. You live in the problem that suburbs were created to solve. Nothing you can say or do will convince them otherwise.

 

As for the city? Yeah, it’s more dangerous. I’m not going to argue the statistics. That said, even a city like Detroit – a city that I’ve joked always has at least one building on fire – is livable and, at times, even pleasant.

This is where museums, theatres, riverfronts, lakefronts, parks, and many other wonderful things tend to congregate.  The city is worth a visit or, dare I say, worth calling home.  Like anything else, though, you just need to know how to live in your environment.

 

So, I’ve put together a couple of tips for those of you venturing into the city. These should help decrease your chances of having a prejudice affirming nightmare visit your next time you come down town.

 

1. Know Where You Are Going: as in, like, know the directions you need to take to get where you’re going, and have a working knowledge of how the city is laid out. This will help prevent you from ending up somewhere you have no intention of being.
2. Know Your Neighborhood. Some places are better than others, but just because those places exist doesn’t make the entire city a lawless wasteland. 
3. Pay Attention to What’s Going On Around You: this is a good thing to do in general – like when you are driving around on your gigantic suburban roads and you need to know where the traffic is so that other cars don’t run into you. It’s like that, but with people. 
4. Don’t Walk Around With Your Wallet in Your Hand: I’ve seen this happen before. It’s like going to Europe and then leaving your incredibly expensive camera out on the table. You are asking someone to steal that. Don’t do that.  Put your wallet in your front pocket.
5. If You Don’t Know The Neighborhood, Don’t Park Your Expensive Car on the Street: you can use the parking lots or the garages. 
6. Don’t Stare At People: Not everyone is out to get you. Chances are, most people actually want nothing to do with you. Know where they are, but don't ogle them.  Staring at people or treating them like they are dangerous or crazy will only piss them off.
7. Try to Enjoy Yourself: There's plenty for the city to offer.  Just don't do anything asinine and you will most likely be fine.

 

You city dwellers with any additional tips, please leave them in the comment section.