danger

my sister just told me that a girl she knows was attacked recently, not too far from where we live. three guys followed her into her apartment building when she was coming home, raped her, held her hostage all night, and then took her to her bank, at gunpoint, when it opened, and made her take out all her money and give it to them.

gentrification is a dangerous game. but it's impossibly expensive to live in safe (i.e. well-to-do) neighborhoods. so what's a girl to do? stop leaving the house? take taxis everywhere instead of walking at night? always walk with other people? spend 3/4 of your income on an apartment in a building with a doorman?

i think my immediate neighborhood is probably somewhat safer (busier, more middle-class) than the neighborhood where this happened. but the truth is, there's not really anything you can do to ensure this kind of thing won't happen to you. the best solution might be just to lie in bed all day with the covers up over your head.