There was a dead, tarp-covered body outside my building today.

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I went out to the balcony to get my bike and just happened to look down.

Police tape. Cop cars. And a tarp-covered human form on the concrete. I won't know if it was a jumper or a shooting unless it makes the news. When I got down to ground level, they had pulled the tarp back to take photos, but I wasn't about to go in for a closer look.

I'm really starting to hate this neighbourhood.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

Where about do you live again?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

I'm sorry to hear that. Cities are crowded places, where sometimes death crowds you a bit too closely for comfort.

― Aimless (Aimless), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

I'm in St. Jamestown, near Parliament & Wellesley. Not the greatest area of town, but there's been more death here this summer than I'm used to (there was a shooting literally one block from my building last month), and I've lived in downtown Toronto for over 12 years.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:30 (twenty years ago)

Shit I had a friend that lived at Parliament & Wellesley - right across from the cemetery! It's a good neighbourhood if you're into bodybuilding asian transvestite hookers.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

It's a good neighbourhood if you're into bodybuilding asian transvestite hookers.

Yeah, but they've doubled their rates, and half of them forget to shave anymore.

But seriously, I've really had it with the random killings, the pigeons everyfuckingwhere, and the goddamned illegal flea market that sets up uninvited outside the grocery store every bloody weekend. (No, I *don't* want to buy a previously enjoyed VHS copy of Spy Kids that you rescued from a dumpster, thank you, you obesity-scooter-riding creepo.)

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Tantrum, that's horrible! What a thing to see, upsetting to say the least. Is it time to make a change? Can you move to a different area?

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Sunday, 4 September 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

That's a very, very good question.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

When you say there has been more death more often, how often do you mean? And is this in your immediate neighbourhood? I'm not trying to play it down, just wondering.

― nathalie's pocket revolution (stevie nixed), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

there was a crashed car with a decapitated body inside outside my house once

― whatev., Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

OK, I'm exaggerating slightly, but as I said upthread, there was a shooting just west of my building, like stumbling distance, literally. It's been a hot summer this year (finally cooling down with the Labour Day weekend), and it just seems like there have a lot more senseless deaths in the downtown than usual. Anyway, I'm probably whining now, what with the horror in New Orleans.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:35 (twenty years ago)

Think it over, and maybe a couple of pro and con lists? Pro-stay Con-Stay & Pro-Move, Con-Move and see which weighs in the heaviest.

Also take into consideration that we're in transition from summer season to fall season and because it is one of the most distinct seasonal changes people tend to make changes in their lives or at least contemplate them more profoundly - thus your thought process abount moving - and perhaps whatever is happening in your neighborhood may calm down a bit now as it cools off; summer heat is notorious for making people do strange things. It's a good time to make a fresh start in a new place if you're ready to do it.

I am trying to be very objective & helpful here but I may be coming off kinda esoteric. sorry.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

No, no, I didn't want to imply you were exaggerating! But like Wiggy says: make a list of the pros and cons.

― nathalie's pocket revolution (stevie nixed), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, Tantrum.

The increase in gun violence over the past few months has been the biggest summer news story in Toronto. Didn't somebody get shot at Yonge & Dundas amidst a gathering of thousands? That sort of thing is unheard of in Toronto, at least as far as I can remember.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

xpost:

No offense inferred or taken, Nathalie! And thanks to you and Wiggy.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

xxpost:

Thanks to you too, Barry, and you're right, this has been a banner year for gun deaths in this city...

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago)

Wow. And I just moved back to my beloved hometown to see this sort of nastiness on the rise... Sorry to hear that amigo. Come hang out in my part of town with the Portuguese!

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Sunday, 4 September 2005 19:09 (twenty years ago)

It does seem like there's been a spike in violent deaths in the news around here (southeast New England), but maybe this person just keeled over from the heat and humidity.
Scary neighborhoods are usually the only ones us non-plutocrats can afford to live in.
Everyone there is walking around with a pantload of rage because the delusional dream of the Good Life that the media shoves in their faces like a cream pie just doesn't seem to be coming true for them. Understanding why it is that way never made me okay with it, though. I moved. I got tired of guys making sexual/hostile remarks to me every single time I left my apartment. I was developing quite a pantload of rage myself.

― Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Sunday, 4 September 2005 19:22 (twenty years ago)

Ian, a batchelor pad just opened up right above me. $800! In the scenic, slightly-less depraved neighbourhood of Bloor and Ossington!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 4 September 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

When I first moved to L.A., I lived in North Hollywood in a guest house. The day before I moved out, a 17-yr old girl was shot and killed in front of her place about two doors down. It was a driveby, I don't know the circumstances. I heard the pops, heard the sirens, stepped out, saw a body twenty yards down the sidewalk.

― gear (gear), Sunday, 4 September 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

Our lease is not up until April. As I mentioned on that other thread, I have been contemplating living on my own again, as this whole cohabitation thing isn't really working out for the best (we had a really *bad* summer, though lately we're getting along better), and this not-feeling-safe-in-my-neighbourhood is opening up a series of internal dialogues that I probably shouldn't be having on a long weekend. Oh well, time to go home and make dinner - I'm at the studio now. Thanks to everybody who's offered advice so far.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Sunday, 4 September 2005 21:32 (twenty years ago)

Beth, there's always PUDDING! Eat the chocolate kind for rage! (Or pour it down someone's pants who's full o rage and stand back! and wathc the action) - eat some creme brulee while you watch and laugh.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Sunday, 4 September 2005 21:36 (twenty years ago)

Moving won't necessarily help. I moved from Hollywood to a "nice" area by the beach and still got the SWAT team around the corner last week. Shit happens.

― Orbit (Orbit), Sunday, 4 September 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

Turns out it was a jumper after all - the second in as many months, apparently. *sighs*

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

Tantrum! Sounds like you have had more than your share of turbulence and unrest in the last few months. No matter what you do regarding your lodgings, I hope that things smooth out for you soon.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:38 (twenty years ago)

Thanks, Wiggy!

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 02:20 (twenty years ago)

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