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macedonianmike · Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 64

In three years I've never had a gun or knife pulled on me, been in a fight, been stopped by the police, been told to get off someone's property or been harassed by a crackhead.

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

You're cherry-picking.
If you're in Russia, look around and tell me that the USA is more dangerous. It's a laughable notion--to the point of absurdity, that Russia is safer. Everything from drivers/pedestrians to petty crime to uncovered manholes to pollution to random pieces of metal sticking out of random blocks of concrete...
The dangers were made even more apparent to me after having a child.
I have no particular axe to grind with Russia--hey, I've been here five years, but there's simply no comparison.

gondwana66 · Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Posts: 29

Who asked this question?
It's true there are dangerous objects everywhere for the unwary and there's something 38,000 road deaths a year. There's many crazy drivers who have never had a lesson let alone learnt some basic road rules, just buy their licence from a corrupt official.
I've been mugged, robbed and left in the snow and had a gun pointed at me in a minibus, luckily the dudes were just admiring and playing with it but as I sat directly opposite the gun was mostly pointed at me. Scary stuff for me. Also stopped by cops and customs a couple of times but apart from that, no, Russia is not that dangerous!!
Don't know about US but from what you see on TV it's pretty dangerous!!
Gondwana

http://pangaea901.wordpress.com/

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Comparing with the UK: you're more likely to be stabbed or shot in the UK, but much more likely to die in a road accident in Russia. Try to go by train.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject:

Ah, but by train you are more likely to be gassed then robbed! Surprised

gondwana66 · Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Posts: 29

And don't fly Aeroflot. The pilots are as bad as the drivers and the planes are about as good as the Lada 3

Gondwana
http://pangaea901.wordpress.com/

OctoberSkies · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 7

I've lived and worked in a few scary Arctic communities. These are the kind of places where I avoided speaking in English in public. I always walked in a group. I never carried valuables and of course, I avoided carrying booze with me. The police weren't any form of protection. They harass white women to no end. If you're white male, you're safe from the police but more likely to be robbed & beaten by locals.

I'd like to assume that living in these places has made me very 'street smart'. Am I being naive to think Russia is less dangerous?

gondwana66 · Joined: 03 Jul 2010 Posts: 29

HappyFriend · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 2

Hello Everyone! I have been in Russia for about four years. Much of what I have read in this thread is correct but I want to add to the discussion. As far as violence toward you, if you are a white male, there is not much to worry about. Many can tell you are a foreigner just by looking at you. The way we dress and expression on many foreigner's faces give us away. After all this time here, I still have Russians coming up to me speaking English without my saying a word. The biggest thing to worry about getting robbed or having your pocket picked. They just want your money/valuables, they don't want to hurt you. So in this way, Russia (in my experience) is safer. Of course it pays to use some common sense. Avoid groups of young Russian men who are drunk. Don't flash money around. Give a cigarette if you have one and are asked. In the USA, I would not walk alone in South Central Los Angeles. The probability of something bad happening is too great.

As others have posted other parts of Russia are far more dangerous. You cannot expect a car to stop for you if you are crossing the street, even if you are in a cross walk. He will think you are in his way and you had better move. Watch where you are going, even the stairs in buildings can be dangerous.

Finally, before you have the urge to correct my English, I am NOT a teacher. Some of my syntax or use of grammar might be incorrect.

I hope this information helps!

mayumi_kaneyuki · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 12

I think that Russian statistical average inhabitant is not more in danger than American one. There is a good proverb which I try to follow � don�t trouble troubles until troubles trouble you.

Be confident but not aggressive, quiet but not timid in the street. Avoid visiting unsavory places, talking to drunk guys and walking in dense crowd. Look after your belongings, be open-eyed and you�ll be in safety, though all our life is unpredictable Smile