I know everyone has a different standard... which is why I asked for others to give me their personal definitions.

And you're right, Jamaica is not "the best," nor is it "so bad." It falls somewhere in between. For the record, the Bronx has "not so bad" areas as well. But I think when people start castigating entire neighborhoods as "bad," it's a problem. I think the point of this thread was to say that crime happens in all areas. Different types of crime, perhaps, but crime happens everywhere. I'm not sure that 'Seid illustrated his point in the best way by using St. Johns as an example, but it doesn't diminish the point.

Bottom line (and the reason why I made my initial replies to this thread): the "hood" is simply "home" to some people, and to call the place someone hails from a neighborhood that "blows" just isn't very nice. :)

my thoughts exactly :p

People know their "hood" is run down and full of crime. If they had the money and the energy to deal with co-op boards, they'd be in my hood. And while crime happens all over, the types of crime and the number of times it happens is very different in Jamaica compared to other places.

-Rudey
--Yeah hunts point is a beautiful area...it doesn't blow at all.

At first when I saw this, I didn't get the sarcasm...Hunts Point is also a small town/neighborhood in the Seattle area that is the wealthiest in the state. I had to look it up to see if there was a Hunts Point in New York :)

Forest Hills!

My heart belongs to Astoria, but there are too many condos there and not enough co-ops, so I'm here now. :(