(no subject)

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I've been living here for about a year and 2 months, and boy, is it great.

But could someone explain to me why no one can drive in/through Davis Square without

a) slamming on their brakes for no apparent reason

b) putting their flashers on in front of starbucks so they can get their caffeine fix

c) coming to a screeching halt in case someone 20 feet away was close to beginning to think about maybe stepping onto a crosswalk

I'm also confused why people fight like banshees for a meter spot when there are usually a plethora of parking spots on highland avenue. Oh noes, a 2 block trek!

There are also a lot of old people, which is fine -- I grew up in a geriatric paradise in pennsylvania, but often I seem to get nasty looks while walking down the street. Not to mention, I've caught more than one of my elderly neighbors spying on me while I walk/root to/around my car. I can't tell if they're fascinated or disgusted, but you'd really think living around Davis would have acclimated folks to less-than-mainstream dress, hair, and attitudes.

Bleh. It's just one of those days.

Comments

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

d.) the old people were here before you. you've moved into their neighborhood. the increasing popularity of davis square with young people who have higher incomes have priced many older people out of their neighborhood. there's no real excuse for them to be rude to you, but i can understand them looking on you with a bit of disdain.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I guess people are ignorant, young and old. It's depressing for me to see the elderly remain so judgmental of others without knowing their situation, despite having accrued so much 'wisdom'.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

And I'm just saying that it can be very difficult to be an older person living in a neighborhood that used to be very, well, neighborhoody/townie that has, in the past decade, rapidly been almost totally gentrified.

I lived in Davis for over five years. I was part of the gentrifying process so I take some responsibility too but I feel, at the very least, we could be aware of the impact that we are having and have a little more respect/patiece for people who feel that they've "lost" their neighborhood.

[jadelennox]

Thanks for pointing this out.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not sure how I've shown anything but respect and patience -- just venting on the community. :P A lack of respect or patience would be... I dunno, egging houses or hissing at people when I passed them by? :P

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

I think assuming they have the same point of view as you (i.e. that you are a harmless non-impact on the neighborhood) is the lacking patience part. Just saying it might take them a while to "come around" to the fact their neighbors are all now mostly 1/3 their age.