Comments on: An interesting encounter http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter The intersection of Myrtle, Nostrand and me. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:18:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jeffrey Marx http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-2671 Jeffrey Marx Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:44:59 +0000 http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-2671 I'm not sure if you lived here after 9/11 or The Blackout in '03, but there was a brief time everywhere around NYC that people of all sorts of ethnicities and backgrounds bonded together and were, if only for moments, one unit. One neighborhood, so to speak. Since moving here, I have encountered such racism, prejudice and bias. I even have my own racist and prejudiced thoughts since moving here. Thanks, NYC! I have also encountered community, greater appreciation for humanity, and summer Fridays. I suppose its a good ying-yang, but the bad stuff makes me crazy, even though you have to take it to get the good. I’m not sure if you lived here after 9/11 or The Blackout in ‘03, but there was a brief time everywhere around NYC that people of all sorts of ethnicities and backgrounds bonded together and were, if only for moments, one unit. One neighborhood, so to speak.

Since moving here, I have encountered such racism, prejudice and bias. I even have my own racist and prejudiced thoughts since moving here. Thanks, NYC!

I have also encountered community, greater appreciation for humanity, and summer Fridays. I suppose its a good ying-yang, but the bad stuff makes me crazy, even though you have to take it to get the good.

]]> By: MPG http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-2508 MPG Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:10:23 +0000 http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-2508 I came to your website following a link from the NY Times. I'm sure you'll get a lot of these. I don't know if you hang out on your stoop, meet people, and talk to them -- or if you're the kind of person who only sleeps in Bed-Stuy but works, parties, and socializes elsewhere. I think when there are race and class differences, as are indicated but not explicitly mentioned in your story, the most important thing for the newcomer to do is to hang out and meet people. I live in Crown Heights, and I'm black but not Caribbean. And I'm an overeducated, PhD-getting type. But the more I hang out and meet people, the less likely I am to take one slight as indicative of the whole neighborhood. As far as I can tell, longtime residents really treat the street, the common area, as home while gentrifiers treat their apartments like a hotel room or a fortress. Just my thoughts, but I strongly recommend hanging out on your stoop, stopping to talk to others on their stoops. It makes telling the friendly people from the jerks easier, and it makes everyone feel at home. I came to your website following a link from the NY Times. I’m sure you’ll get a lot of these. I don’t know if you hang out on your stoop, meet people, and talk to them — or if you’re the kind of person who only sleeps in Bed-Stuy but works, parties, and socializes elsewhere. I think when there are race and class differences, as are indicated but not explicitly mentioned in your story, the most important thing for the newcomer to do is to hang out and meet people. I live in Crown Heights, and I’m black but not Caribbean. And I’m an overeducated, PhD-getting type. But the more I hang out and meet people, the less likely I am to take one slight as indicative of the whole neighborhood. As far as I can tell, longtime residents really treat the street, the common area, as home while gentrifiers treat their apartments like a hotel room or a fortress. Just my thoughts, but I strongly recommend hanging out on your stoop, stopping to talk to others on their stoops. It makes telling the friendly people from the jerks easier, and it makes everyone feel at home.

]]> By: Emily from the Mynt http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-2350 Emily from the Mynt Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:16:20 +0000 http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-2350 Hi D-Train, Your blog post has certainly caused a stir. Here are my thoughts, for what they're worth: Gentleman 1 probably thought you were sassing him when you said "What's up?" (not everyone around here is a friendly Texan) and "Have a nice day." If I were rude to someone on the street, and the person told me to have a nice day, I would think that it was sarcastic. Also, have you considered the idea that you stick out in this neighborhood, not because you are white, but because you're a little cutie-pie who doesn't wear a jacket in the middle of winter? (Oh you!) As for second part of your post, I am confused by some of what you say. Encouraging diversity does not necessarily mean erasing community. And I think that what people in some historic neighborhoods do not appreciate is other people coming in, developing and building ugly modern buildings, and then creating their own scene that is exclusive and different. People don't like change! And I would be pissed if a bunch of white hipster kids moved into my neighborhood too. You and I don't really fit that description though so don't sweat it;) Emily Hi D-Train,
Your blog post has certainly caused a stir. Here are my thoughts, for what they’re worth: Gentleman 1 probably thought you were sassing him when you said “What’s up?” (not everyone around here is a friendly Texan) and “Have a nice day.” If I were rude to someone on the street, and the person told me to have a nice day, I would think that it was sarcastic.

Also, have you considered the idea that you stick out in this neighborhood, not because you are white, but because you’re a little cutie-pie who doesn’t wear a jacket in the middle of winter? (Oh you!)

As for second part of your post, I am confused by some of what you say. Encouraging diversity does not necessarily mean erasing community. And I think that what people in some historic neighborhoods do not appreciate is other people coming in, developing and building ugly modern buildings, and then creating their own scene that is exclusive and different. People don’t like change! And I would be pissed if a bunch of white hipster kids moved into my neighborhood too. You and I don’t really fit that description though so don’t sweat it;)

Emily

]]> By: Sam http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-28 Sam Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:54:55 +0000 http://antbed.com/2007/1217-an-interesting-encounter#comment-28 I actually have lived in countries where the society is much more diverse like a real 'real melting pot'. Multi-ethnicity couples were much more common than in NYC for instance. My friends (not co-workers) were black, white, Arabic, Asian, ... In NYC, you can see people from different ethnicities only in the workplace because it is politically correct. But it is definitely very different outside of work. I personally believe in heterogeneous societies. When I first dated my girlfriend who is from a different ethnicity than mine, her family was in shock and people in the street were staring at us all the time. Now her family has accepted me and we have learned to pay less attention to people' reaction in the street. I actually have lived in countries where the society is much more diverse like a real ‘real melting pot’. Multi-ethnicity couples were much more common than in NYC for instance. My friends (not co-workers) were black, white, Arabic, Asian, … In NYC, you can see people from different ethnicities only in the workplace because it is politically correct. But it is definitely very different outside of work.

I personally believe in heterogeneous societies. When I first dated my girlfriend who is from a different ethnicity than mine, her family was in shock and people in the street were staring at us all the time. Now her family has accepted me and we have learned to pay less attention to people’ reaction in the street.

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