Second Blog

In the reading, Sampson refers to place as a specific location. Sampson seems to suggest that place, or location, has a direct impact on neighborhoods. Chicago is widely recognized as one of the crime capitals in our country, that statement in itself has a dramatic impact on how the neighborhoods within Chicago act. Sampson's "virtual tour" through the city describes what most people would commonly picture when walking through any major city in our country, be it LA, Portland, New York, Miami, Dallas, or any others. One question I starting to ponder while reading the chapter was whether or not Sampson is going to explain in further detail the geographical locations of the specific neighborhoods within Chicago. I started thinking about whether or not "death corner" has a higher number of railroad tracks running through it compared to the rest of the town. I questioned whether "death corner" has more bridges (which Sampson claims to be an "approved location" for homeless) than the rest of the city. Such questions could be asked in reference to other major cities within the country where poverty, homeless, or higher crime is a factor.
The neighborhood I live in is very much the opposite of total strangers. I do not know (personally) any of the people in my neighborhood, but many of them know each other. I live in a neighborhood of many 55+ communities and many of the people in my physical location are retired. I feel extremely safe and comfortable in my neighborhood even though everyone is still a stranger to me. My communities are really just my family, along with some close friends. I have always been a person to trust those that have earned my trust so my community is always small in comparison to someone who openly trusts anyone. On a broader scale I am a veteran so I belong to certain groups related to that and I am also a passionate swimmer so I belong to some swim groups. Due to the nature of such groups they are not local (place oriented) groups. Meaning my comrades generally are not even in the same state as me. The use of technology helps the functionality of these groups tremendously. These groups are perfect for my personality because trust is gained through strict "testing" when joining (at least at the time when I joined them) so I know I can trust my communities with my life.