A sad social commentary indeed.

I suppose "Jim's West" (No relation to Secret Service Agent James West from that old TV show, I am sure, but hmmm.... Artemis Gordon... nevermind) refers to that sandwich shop being in "West Philly"? Is that the good side or the bad side of town? Or is it even that simple? I've never been.

From how you describe these "Philly Cheesesteaks" I might be inclined to swing on by there If I ever happen to be transiting through on the Interstate, but the notion of not knowing anything about a dangerous #cesspool (San Francisco is another one I'm a little familiar with) other than I should make sure I'm covered by armed paramilitary guards when gassing up or grabbing a #sandwich....

Well, I should thank you for that first pic - coz now I know I can call ahead and ask if I'll be safe while ordering takeout at Jim's West Steak and Hoagies.

Jim's: "Thank you for calling Jim's, can I take your order?"

Me: I can haz #Cheezburgerz? 🍔

Jim's: "Yes sir, you'll be safe here. Come on over for the bestestist #Philly_Cheesesteaks!"

Now, full disclosure; I'm here and a native of #Los_Angeles. There are indeed demilitarized zones here in what might be described as the nations largest metropolis, but they're well known to residents so folks just drive around them. They've existed and have maintained the same basic invisible #boundaries for my entire life, yet even in most of those places, if you don't wander into residential neighborhoods, I've always felt relatively unthreatened.

But that doesn't mean that to others, it isn't the same or similar kinds of shithole that San Francisco is - I can say there's a couple of areas there that I've literally sweated through, and I suppose that every #metropolitan city in America has similar areas best avoided by all but the #locals.

Still, I find it ironic that so many people I've met are afraid of L.A., while I'm afraid of #San_Francisco and perfectly comfortable in most places around Los Angeles. If we're to take the news media at face value (which I believe critiquing that is part of your mission here at "Dumb News", then cities like #Philly and #Baltimore number among the scariest places on earth, akin to #Aleppo and other actual war zones.

Even the weather, when reported back east, prompts friends and relatives to call and ask if we're doing okay here: "Uh.... yeah just a bit of wind and rain, a lot of palm frawns and a few downed tree branches, but no biggy", is usually how we respond.

Similarly, during this last major #hurricane in #Florida, I called a few friends literally affected harshly by it, but there was a kind of matter of factness with respect to their resolve that struck me as a bit overly optimistic about just cleaning up and rebuilding, as if it were just a part of living in your preferred locale. I guess we do the same thing with #Earthquakes here in #California too - even when they knock down freeway overpasses, bridges, and buildings; or tear rips into roadways.

Where mental health is concerned, I think it's important be comfortable in one's own skin, like where I am here near the #waterfront of the #harbor in Los Angeles, but then again, it would be nice if I could feel as comfortable #travelling to another big city as a destination, without the anxiety that accompanies that when unescorted.

Thank you very much for sharing! I'm always looking forward to your articles :)

Kindest regards,

#tallship #safety #crime

⛵

.