About Social Media Today
The Independent (UK) and the Baltimore Sun have swapped crime reporters for a week, and the difference in crime rates between the two cities prompts a discussion at MetaFilter, including this very true comment from MeFi member outlier:
I take part in my neighbourhood association in west London and the disconnect between what people talk about [in relation to crime] and what it’s actually like is vast. Election material almost always focuses on crime, painting a picture of fearful elderly trapped in their houses, wild and out-of-control youth roaming the streets. Halloween prompted feverish discussions about hooligans and how to keep them from harassing people. Stolen bikes are treated like the wedge of oncoming anarchy.
In a strange way, this attitude actually encourages crime. Youth is treated as a pathology, alienating the young. Communities are encouraged to be fearful, destroying community. Petty, odd irrelevant symptoms (like hoodies) are attacked, taking resources away from real crimes.
(The MeFi page links to the relevant articles in both papers)
