Crime leading to lack of eye contact?

[izzy]

Has anyone else noticed a lack of eye contact in the downtown area lately? I noticed this morning drivers at four-way stops not making any eye contact with other dirivers. The first time, I just figured it was one of "those" drivers who drive me crazy but then as it kept happening I wondered if it was something else, like maybe we are getting too scared with all these shootings, robberies, kidnappings, and general bullying. Or maybe it's my own paranoia taking hold.
Has anyone else felt this?

[jojobeans1120]

You're NOT alone. I have noticed the same thing in recent weeks. I've also become one of those drivers. My husband and I were downtown Saturday. A man waved at us and Derrick made mention of how he felt weird waving, smiling, or even making eye contact with other people now. When your sense of security is gone... everything else heads out the door soon thereafter :smt086

[Maggie-Doodle]

JoJo, you hit the nail on the head! People in the Burg are scared and rightfully so....I too have noticed more people being distant..it is not a good feeling that is for sure! I hate having to look over my shoulder every day when I leave my house!

[carsalesguy]

i wear sunglasses........

[58ford]

i wear sunglasses........
...so you can ogle chicks undetected.

They know. Trust me. They know.

[citygirl]

In my business that's the first thing we do. From the time we hear the outer door open - we look up to: 1. make eye contact and 2. greet the customer within the first 5 seconds they enter our lobby.

In most any type customer service related materials I've read or listened to, eye contact is supposed to discourage wrongfulness activies.

[medtrans]

I too have found myself not looking at other drivers. I also have started locking my car doors, which is something I should probably have been doing anyway. I just never before felt the need to do so.

[wilebill]

I intentionally give every driver I meet the evil eye.

[Wayward]

I always attempt to make eye contact, a slight head nod, a small wave (if appropriate), and a "hello or hey" if I'm on foot. It's reciprocated by most and sometimes a little disarming for someone who is in a hurry or might not have taken the time. :)

Old Southern habits die hard ... and the increased crime alert won't change that ... at least for me. Personally, I see virtually no difference in day to day civility now compared to, say, a year ago. :smt102

:smt006

[Maggie-Doodle]

medtrans, YES locking doors is something you really need to be doing...at home and in the car...
I am so thankful my car locks the doors automatically when the car is put in gear. I have driven up to a store and stopped to check something or to use my cell phone before getting out..after I put the car in park, I hear it unlock and then immediately hit the lock button...in this crazy ass town you just can't be to safe!

[dave06668]

wow! i didnt know people are that scared,dont go to NO or jackson.i know crime is worse than it ever has been here,but MY GOD!
maybe i am nuts,but i cant force myself to be that scared.
a lot of people here must have to drive through places like,katie,dabbs,mobile
and 42 bypass,if so i can understand.

[carsalesguy]

i have gotten to the point that i'm more scared about hattiesburg than jackson or new orleans,,,,my that's just my outlook

[No-Halo]

Does anyone know where I can get an Armored Personnel Carrier, I need to take the family to Walmart to buy more ammo...

[TheCapitalist]

wow! i didnt know people are that scared,dont go to NO or jackson.i know crime is worse than it ever has been here,but MY GOD!
maybe i am nuts,but i cant force myself to be that scared.
a lot of people here must have to drive through places like,katie,dabbs,mobile
and 42 bypass,if so i can understand.

Don't freak out, people. For 10 years I have done service work in all these places. E. 3rd to Dabbs and beyond. My time may come and I don't downplay the danger at all. However, I have never confronted real danger and most of the people even in the worse neighborhoods are good God-fearing people, black or white doesn't matter. I have been welcomed in all these places. In general, people treated with respect will respond in kind. The others, it would not matter what you do. They only see others as prey.

[Bahlk]

It makes me sad for those good law abiding citizens who are stuck in high crime area due to their finances or other personal problems.

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

wow! i didnt know people are that scared,dont go to NO or jackson.i know crime is worse than it ever has been here,but MY GOD!
maybe i am nuts,but i cant force myself to be that scared.
a lot of people here must have to drive through places like,katie,dabbs,mobile
and 42 bypass,if so i can understand.


Yeah, and I agree somewhat, but you gotta realize that many people consider Hattiesburg a small town and it is small compared to outside Mississippi. People know stuff goes on in Mobile, New Orleans, or Jackson. People would hope that it doesn't go down as much as it does in a city of this size.

[Booshay]

Does anyone know where I can get an Armored Personnel Carrier, I need to take the family to Walmart to buy more ammo...Yeah actually I do....the police chief (so I was told)somehow wrangled getting one awhile back. It was parked down underneath the shed at Public Works at one time. Of course this one is unarmed, but from what I was told the tracks were in good shape and it ran.

[Booshay]

...so you can ogle chicks undetected.

They know. Trust me. They know.Hmmm, do ya think its because your tongue is hanging out and theres drool down the front of your shirt?:smt118

[Bee Line]

I intentionally give every driver I meet the evil eye. So YOU'RE the guy scaring hell out of me.:)

[Desert Donkey]

I'll make eye contact with whoever I please, and gangbangers be damned. I refuse to run around scared to death in my own hometown after putting up with a year in Iraq. These so-called "thuggz" don't scare me one damn' bit.

[Desert Donkey]

The others, it would not matter what you do. They only see others as prey.

And there are those of US who see the predators as prey...:smt070

[No-Halo]

Hee Haw DD!

[Desert Donkey]

I just don't see any point in knuckling under to a bunch of moronic, violent little creeps in my own hometown. I refuse to do it, and I'll fight them any way I can.

[dollfus46]

I'll make eye contact with whoever I please, and gangbangers be damned. I refuse to run around scared to death in my own hometown after putting up with a year in Iraq. These so-called "thuggz" don't scare me one damn' bit.

Gotta draw the line somewhere. Must be terrible being afraid all the time.

[bartspoon]

I not only make eye contact, i look the car over too. The best way to be safe is to be aware of your surroundings. keep your head up and look, you may have to identify them.

The frist thing a woman or man should do when they exist a place to get in their car, is after they exist the place (like the mall or work or a restaurant) they should frist stop and look the parking lot over for anything out of the ordinary and put there keys in their hands. They should look for trouble as they walk to there car and while they are unlocking the door with the key that they already have out, they should be looking all around to make sure there is no one coming up(that is when you are most vunerable). They should then look in there back seat making sure it is unoccupied and the frist thing they should do when they get in is lock the door behind them. Then put their seat belt own.

And last, the days of a woman helping anyone is over, if you are alone never offer help it is just too dangerous and is the best way to get in trouble. If you are one of those great samaritans who has to help,you can tell them you will call them some help.

I use to be one of those sumaritans myself. Until one of those acts of kindness turned into a nightmare. I never felt so stupid in my life and i was just lucky that things went as they did. We do not live in a world where you can take a chance. Esp. at the present time.