Originally Posted by G52

As you can see from the number of posts I've made, I'm a newcomer to this type of thing. Based on the hostile responses I've received, I think this will be my last post on BE.

I asked a fairly simple question about race relations in Columbia and have been asked if I'm "afraid of Blacks," and advised to learn how to rap. How strange! Again, I'm new to these forums but I'm certainly not impressed by the way words are twisted and people are baited. Very immature and not for me.

I was hoping someone from The South could walk me through the serious crime-rates in Columbia, which are triple those of Seattle (per 100,000). After receiving hostile responses about my attitude towards blacks, I did some of my own research which proved that homicide victims were 66% black. It seems taboo to discuss race without being baited as if I were a member of the KKK.

I do want to live in the city of Columbia if I get the job, notwithstanding advice to live in the suburbs where it's safe for middle-class whites, according to one person from PA. I grew up in Glasgow, went to uni in Belfast and have lived very happily in the heart of Seattle for the past 14 years. I'm certainly not going to be part of the "white flight" to the suburbs.

Anyway, thanks to the nutters who have convinced me not to ask advice on BE anymore. It really is astonishing how people switch off their common-sense in order to twist words and confute simple questions. Sad.

Originally Posted by lisa67

Oh do take the stick out of your @ss and get a sense of humour

Originally Posted by chrisfromusa

Well I wasnt nasty about it at least just laying out the facts that most blacks ... DON'T live. Simple. Tho I have to tell him, probably apartments and/or condos in the downtown area would cater to him then if he doesn't want to be part of the white ... power to him.

Originally Posted by DeanUK2US

G52 - I certainly am not going to apologize, although I am also toying with you. You came on here with an attitude that immediately struck me as small minded rather than outwardly racist, with your statistics on crime that specifically involving blacks and asking 'how safe' you would be in SC - being careful to completely ignore any such stats for crimes involving whites, which would be more significant if you were to live in the white suburbs.

When choosing somewhere to live I look at the overall stats for crime ignoring the color of the perpetrators.

Originally Posted by chrisfromusa

Can you really blame him though? You know as well as I do the media here are always on about blacks being involved in carjackings, shootouts, robberies, etc. and that creates the perception that if you live in a black area you will be robbed or whatever

Originally Posted by DeanUK2US

Yes, I think I can blame him. There are many white people out there who are not scared of black people, irrespective of what is in the media.

I would only not blame him if he has personally experienced black crime against him on a regular basis on a par with the statistics that he quotes.

Originally Posted by chrisfromusa

Maybe he hasn't lived around blacks like me and (I'm assuming) you have?

Originally Posted by DeanUK2US

I am black!

Originally Posted by Cape Blue

so have you lived around them?

Originally Posted by Cape Blue

so have you lived around them?

Originally Posted by DeanUK2US

no, I've always lived in rich 'white areas'. Still doesn't justify the fear, though.

Originally Posted by G52

I dug a little more deeply into the crime stats: many of the murders in SC were/are black guys killing black guys. The number one cause of death amongst black men aged 18-21 is homicide. In 2005 two thirds of homicide victims in SC were black; one third were white. Lastly, black women are five times as likely to suffer domestic abuse in SC than white women. An inconvenient truth perhaps. So, yes, I think it is relevant that I'm white and most crimes are against blacks. Sorry if the truth hurts, but I'd rather know the facts than live in a bubble.