A high unemployment rate can have undesirable results on an area - the crime rate increases.

Do you agree?

I have created a poll - hope you participate and leave a comment

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I've put 'no'. Mind you you will have to define crime as it's a big subject theft? mugging? fraud? scams? If most people weren't law abiding society just wouldn't work.

Mind you having said that on some of my visits to the US I have had people try the old "$20 for petrol" con- possibly trying to set me up for a mugging too. Also have had to gently warn off sharp-eyed predators 'hanging about' possibly with an eye to bag or chain snatching from my less aware family members.

To some extent crime has actually dropped! Possibly due to lower lead in the atmosphere, better security systems, or even people just being more aware.

Equally it could be due to incarceration becoming a business in it's own right.

Well, well - look who decided to visit!!!!

Thank you Ian for your awesome comment. I am going to experiment with replying within your quote as I do tend to forget what I want to say - yep, those senior moments/lol.

I hope I don't confuse everyone too much - okay here goes - see below



You are so right - crime does involve a lot of things. Hmmm, never thought of that. If anyone wants my "two cents" worth - I think the scams have increased and the sad part is that they are focused on the desperate job hunters. LOL, I no longer deal with the online job sites as I finally figured out that they post job ads and do not care if the job really exists. For example, a lot of "id" thefts are happening from information taken from "online" resumes. I caution folks on my "How To Survive Unemployment" site to not provide personal information like phone numbers and addresses until they are sure the job posting is valid. I had challenged CareerBuilder about a year ago about one of their ads just to see if they care. Yes, they took down the ads for a while (one of their largest clients) but put it back up claiming they had investigated. Yikes - that is when the "light bulb" went on in my head - these jokers will post an ad for anyone that pays them. I am hoping more people will challenge these "bogus" ads and maybe boycott certain sites to make a point. Until such time I now find my own job openings the old fashioned way - networking and using my feet and hands to knock on someone's door. Yes, the online routine is ever so convenient but I am in my 50's and see too much heartache every day from folks that got their identity stolen through their resumes. In ending, I marvel at the boldness of some "bogus" sites asking for your social security number. Oh no! They will get that when I am in their chair filling out paperwork. And even then I am leery.



LOL, crime is worldwide and I tell people visiting my island (Jamaica, West Indies) to try to go with a group. Why? Hopefully the tour guide will know the areas to stay out of. I as a local will not visit some areas - hey, love my life and want to be around to see my future grandkids. Bottom line, even when the economy is great - you have to use commonsense when you are out and about. My 25 year old daughter (only child) thinks I am crazy, and I have had to back up and not worry as much - but she takes some serious chances with her safety. Bottom line, if something happens to her - I will know in my heart I did try to teach her to be careful. I have never been mugged, raped, robbed or had my place broken into. I love my life, but use caution with my surroundings.

Hi Ian:

Thanks for sharing this link with us and I stopped by to glance at the article.

Yes, the jail/prison has become a total joke. I no longer look to the system as so many victims do get their time in court only to end up with zero.

My take on all this - take steps to PROTECT yourself so that you hopefully do not become a "victim"...

It is like the "victims" have no right. Example - if you shoot someone that is breaking into your home, you may be the one that goes to jail. Yikes!!!!

Never been to jail and have no interest in going.

Sadly you are right about the scams being practiced on the unemployed. I get the 'Scambusters' newsletter - or used to until we started getting computer hardwear problems- which details a lot of these types of subterfuge. I haven't had the chance to visit Jamaica yet, but one of my friends at work got married out there, and I have read Robert Barrett's And De Fun Don't Done both sources concur on the level, and type of crime on the island

In the UK things seem a lot quieter than most of the rest of the world. The gun control thing means that most amateur 'crims' firearms are replicas, and someone even being threatened with a knife makes the local newspaper. Most of the violence is drink/drug related and seems to be confined to the inner cities, or remote villages.

My council job, fitting safety equipment for the under fives' over sixties, and installing devices to help the sensory impaired takes me into a few of the 'rougher' areas of Portsmouth. Still very sedate compared with London. Although the Bellaonline Gathering took place in London at the same time as last years riots and I don't think any of the editors saw or heard anything about them at the time!

Hi Ian:

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing with us about your side of the country. I always ENJOY hearing about what is going on worldwide.

A pleasure Angela. Crime differs from country to country and region to region within the country. Having lived in Iraq, Mexico, China, Japan, and Hungary at various times it's interesting to see what's 'normal' for them and the precautions people take.

On my visits to the US all the houses do seem very vulnerable with poor outside lighting and limited lines of sight from the front door. The doors and walls don't feel that strong either. I will have to write an article on home protection from both the magickal and earth plane perspectives.

Ran into a problem early on - we have to "define crime" as "it's a big subject".

Hmmm... someone asks if it is or includes "theft? mugging? fraud? scams?" Gosh, tough question. Let's see, Is theft a crime? Yes, so that's included. How about mugging, could that be a crime? Sure, it probably includes an assault, a battery, and a theft, actually a robbery, so yes, mugging is a crime, so indeed mugging is included. How about fraud? Certainly there's such a thing as criminal fraud, so we can include that too. Scams are usually defined as frauds, so we can include them too. How about that! Every thing suggested is a crime, so they can all be included when we say crime.

Here's an idea- how about we define crime as criminal activity? That's not too much of a stretch is it?

Now that we have a proposed acceptable definition of crime as criminal activity, hope this helps the discussion can move forward.

In addtion to the 'Scambusters' site, this one from "Scamwarners" seems to be carrying the best and most up to date information on employment and other scams.

Hope it helps!

Hi Ian:

A lot of neighborhood watch organizations are trying to get people involved in their own protection from crime. The issues you mentioned - lighting for example, a SIMPLE way to deter possible crime.

Bottom line, the police can only do so much - you have to start by using wisdom each day whether you leave your house or stay in. Criminals have gotten so BOLD and now rob you when you are home!!!! Yikes. And I remember those days when a man around would be a good way to be safe. LOL, now they are attacking them too.

In ending - an area that really bothers me and I no longer watch on TV, kids disappearing on their way to school. I am so glad my only child is now 25. But when she was younger, I took precautions to safeguard her. Sometimes you can trust a neighbor with making sure your child is safe, but I chose not to as I lived in the ghetto at the time. LOL, neighbors were drug dealers and so on.

Thanks for your input

Yes it does help Ian - appreciate all your input!!!!!

Indeed, these days young men are one of the major groups most at risk from violent crime . Mind you most of the violent crime in various parts of the world involves young men attacking, or being attacked by other young men. In the UK alcohol is usually involved although in Brazil you can be mugged for your swimming trunks in the sea!

As a co-ordinator for our local Neighbourhood Watch (Yes, the local Witch does run the Neighbourhood watch ) , things here are pretty quiet. The biggest question at the moment is ....do we apply to have our road made a no cold calling area? As far as I can remember the last gun crime in Portsmouth was in 2009 and no-one was shot. What's it like where you live now?

Hi Ian:

Wow and thanks for the info from your end of things.

I am from Jamaica, West Indies but now live in the States.

When the English were still involved (yes your country/lol) in Jamaica, things were awesome.

When we became independent it was like all HELL broke loose. No direction and fraud. I am now in my 50's and have no desire to go back there to live. Kingston which is the capital is awful. Tourist are warned not to wear items like earrings that can be pulled out of their ears. It saddens me to hear this as I have fond memories of my island as a child.

Okay, now on to the USA. Like all areas, you have the areas you stay out of no matter what time of the day it is

And you have others you can go for a jog and would be hopefully safe during the day.

The big cities like New York and Chicago have their gangs I hear - adults and young people. And we are losing more young people to crime due to a lot of families not being families. And by this I mean, family structure.

My daughter grew up in the "ghetto" (yes, the gun shots and so on/lol) - but we were not of the it. And by this I mean - I would say good morning and hi to my neighbors, but they knew not to approach me or my child with anything illegal. And yes, I would call in stuff but would not reveal my name, phone number and so on. Hey, did not want any police knocking on my apartment door = they would know I called it in. But I realized that if I was going to stay alive, I had to get involved in my area of the complex.

Thank you again for stopping by Ian - been awesome chatting with you as usual

For a international 'snapshot' of crime- and policing- here is policing from the USA , UK , and Australian point of view. Interesting insights into all three cultures

Hi Ian:

Thanks and I will make some time to check out these links.

I see we have an expert on crime = you

LOL, it pays to know what the rest of the world is up to just in case I decide to travel the world before I die.

Indeed- In my experience the number of times criminals have 'tried it on' when they think you're a non-local who's never seen their particular approach before, has only been equalled by their shocked look when they find out: "Yes he has, and in tougher environments too".

The "$20 for petrol" was a classic fail in that not only was I able to tell the person about the Road Rangers , thanks to an item in the local news. But, because I'd walked around the area in daylight too, I even gave him directions to the nearest church- which could provide help - as he said he was a "Good Christian" as part of his approach.
I think the final action was my turning to put the wall at my back and slipping my walking stick into a an across the body two handed grip. Not only did this bring a possible confederate coming up behind me (who suddenly made himself[?] scarce). This seemed to be accoster's signal to walk off quickly muttering to himself.

In Side, Turkey, we did draw comments from all the other tourists that we were the only ones not bothered by shopkeepers trying to physically pull us into their shops. I said it was because we looked poor, but I think it was more to do with the first day there anyone who grabbed me 'fell over' and anyone who reached for my wife got a tap on the radial or ulnar nerves near the wrist from my walking stick. This only happened a few times, and the other shopkeepers found it very funny as the perpetrators weren't seriously hurt and they looked very silly as they picked themselves up or waited the half-hour or so for full use of their hand to be regained.

It also acted as a notice to the more serious individuals to find someone else to bother. Evidenced by people lurking near hotels and bars in the evening going elsewhere when we were out walking.

LOL, that walking stick of yours does the trick - awesome!

Yes, when traveling it pays to pay attention to your surroundings - which you did.

Traveling is on by ever getting longer bucket list and I know I will have to do some research before heading anywhere.

Glad to see your wife was okay - nothing like having a man around that knows how to handle things.

As usual, ENJOYED reading your post