So much tragedy lately

[Igottago]

I've been living in Vancouver for the past year, after living in Calgary for 25 years. I've been wondering if or when I would move back to Calgary, and I'm not sure it'll happen. To me the friendliness and small town hospitality of Calgary vanished years ago. There are ######bags everywhere, from downtown c-train stations, to malls, to residential streets. And yes, every city has its share of ######bags, but Calgary just seems to be overrun with them recently. While some of the big city problems of Vancouver bother me, moving back to Calgary wouldn't really be a much better alternative anymore. I'll have to find some other small town to settle down in one day.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I suppose one of the side-effects of being in a big city is growing a thick skin or a level of indiffference - things don't seem that bad here in my estimation.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I suppose one of the side-effects of being in a big city is growing a thick skin or a level of indiffference - things don't seem that bad here in my estimation.

Well said. I don't see Calgary any worse or better than 5-10 years ago.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Are the Guardian Angels "patrolling" the streets yet?

Yes but in my opinion they are largely ineffective and a waste of time.

[jam26]

I moved from Calgary back to Ontario in Nov 05. I miss the city and still read the online versions of the Calgary papers in the morning. It saddens me to read about the recent tragic events. I still think Calgary is a wonderful city, but I think maybe I left at the right time.

[Cliche]

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...5d24fc&k=11268

anyways, thought I would like to share that. (Article indicates that violent incidents go up with the temperature.)

Boyanowsky learned through a series of experiments conducted at 10, 20 and 30 C, that when circumstances cause a person to become irritated or aggressive, that aggression will be heightened by heat.
Using a thermometer that fits in the tympanic membrane of the eardrum, he was able to measure the temperature changes in the brains of a number of people subjected to a variety of stressful situations at the three temperatures.

So... drink more slurpee's/frosters. stay away from those disinhibitors'(alcohol) or travel with the ac on..

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yes but in my opinion they are largely ineffective and a waste of time.

Well, it is their time to waste, and if one purse snatcher misses a chance because there is a red beret around, well, why not?

[CaptainCrunch]

RE the Guardian angels, I understand why they were formed, and in a lot of ways I admire the civic mindedness of thier volunteers, but I also have some trouble with half trained civilians running into situations that they can't handle.

When thier founder came to Calgary one of the first things that he did was confront a group of drug dealers, and confiscate thier crack pipes. I'm worried that an overzealous angel is going to do that and get shot, or stabbed or mobbed.

Leave the policing to the police who are thouroughly trained on law enforcement and the law itself, don't let amateurs do it.

[Resolute 14]

The thing about the tragedy, is is it really out of line with a city this size in Canada?

Stabmonton has had massive murder problems for a while, and Winnipeg has had murder and arson issues in the last few years. Far more than Calgary, which is 40% larger than either city.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Well, it is their time to waste, and if one purse snatcher misses a chance because there is a red beret around, well, why not?

Well sure. But if we are talking about real solutions to the bigger problems - I don't see them helping in the least.

[HelloHockeyFans]

nm

[FireEgo]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

yup alot of death lately. it can happen to any of us.

..and eventually it will... unless you have some secret you're keeping from us?

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I suppose one of the side-effects of being in a big city is growing a thick skin or a level of indiffference - things don't seem that bad here in my estimation.

I agree with this.

A Bit OT, but related to the big city growing pains comment, Calgary has always been a big small town, which has it's +s and -s. But one of the cons is people don't know how to deal with bigger cities things.

A couple examples are:
Few people think of efficiency. People don't think ahead and what the implications of a decision is longer than 2 seconds in front of them. One example is Calgary must lead the league in terms of going through a green lights even though traffic keeps them in the intersection. Just to see the light turn red and cut off everyone perpedicular to them.

When in line for anything from food to registering something people don't spend their time in line readying for the transaction. Once they get to the front of the line then they dig around for whatever money they need.

[sadora]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

I've been thinking about this the past couple days. It is getting to be a crappier place to live I think. And what do I hear when I turn on the radio this morning? All of 4th ave shut down from 1st to 10th because of a drive by fatality and general carnage. Unbelievable.

I don't agree with you when you say that Calgary is becoming a crappier place to live. Yes all these recent incidents are terrible and unfortunate but this is still a great place.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by fotze

Does anyone purse snatch these days or was that a crocodile dundee mith. Just grab the genitals of the assailant and it will be resolved by an uncomfortable hilarious incident....or was it hucking a can of beans, who knows.

Can of corn, I believe.

Not nearly as sweet as when Carl Winslow uses the boomarang from the back of his limo on that street tough trying to get away.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

When in line for anything from food to registering something people don't spend their time in line readying for the transaction. Once they get to the front of the line then they dig around for whatever money they need.

This drives me up the wall. Liquore stores are especially bad for this as you get the fresh-faced 18 year-olds who cannot suffer the indignity of being ID'd and then dig around in their pockets for 5 minutes trying to find the chump change for their six-pack of Canadian.

/rant.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Can of corn, I believe.

Not nearly as sweet as when Carl Winslow uses the boomarang from the back of his limo on that street tough trying to get away.

LOL.

Dundee: "You sure you're not tribal?"
Winslow: "No, man. Harlem Warlocks."

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

And Calgary continues it's descent into big-city problems.

While i agree with CaptainCrunch in looking for other places to live (I'm looking to get out too), for those that want to stay, just be more street-weary and keep to yourselves in sketchy places and around sketchy people.

IMO, there seems to be alot more transients passing through here, simply using Calgary as a stop to waste time in, or do some shady dealings. It's defintely not the Calgary we grew up in, I'm quite saddened by this fact.

I echo those setiments. I grew up in Calgary and lived there for my first 18 years, but I don't think I'll be looking to go back to Calgary to live for a while. Calgary's not a "bad" city, its transitioning into a big city, but its still looking for its identity.

[habernac]

seriously, though. The pathway by the river down by the drop in centre and the Cecil is getting downright scary. I see two mountain bike cops arresting a dealer and not 500 metres down the path, there's a whole group and another bunch of deals going down. You could have 20 officers patrolling that, they wouldn't be able to keep up. I could have grabbed a wad of twenties from a guy's hand last week as he was counting it right in the middle of the pathway. They just don't care how many people are watching.

It's only a matter of time before I run over one of these wastoids wandering all over the path (I'm not slowing down in that part of my ride, I don't give a crap if the speed limit is 20km/h). That's the price of being a boom city. Could be worse. I could still be in Fort McMurray.