Quote:
Originally Posted by entheosfog
I'd still rather go for a walk in the Canadian version than that American one. I've said it before, but I don't get a sense of fear at all in the Downtown Eastside, even at night. Especially at night, actually, as there's always lost of people on the street. The area can be depressing but it's not dangerous if you mind your own business.
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You would probably be better off minding your own business in the DTES, but I'm not sure you're in danger even if you engage people in a respectful manner.
I'm an average sized person, not intimidating looking really, not vulnerable looking either. I have talked to people on the streets of the DTES in the middle of the night, by myself, and have not had a problem. I have even talked to a few crack dealers. One dealer, a white guy right at Main and Hastings, not an extensive conversation but we talked about the olympics and how there were lots of tourists in the city. Then there was the time I talked to a young native guy with his native girlfriend around the Chinatown area - which most people would find scarier than right at Main and Hasting. Anyway, we're talking a little bit while I'm trying to flag a cab, then finally the young girl says to me, "You don't smoke crack do you". No, I replied. "Good", she softly exclaimed.
Sure there are some who are sizing you up and get some satisfaction if they can intimidate you, but that's usually as far as it will go. But when I talk to people in the DTES, even the dealers, they seem genuinely happy to have had even a small conversation. I guess because they are treated like garbage most of the time.
These are only my personal experiences and I am a bit of a risk taker sometimes, so it's probably not recommended that anybody should start engaging people in the DTES.