re: Ever driven into an area where you didn't feel safe?

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I work in NOLA. Never really concerned in the daylight but there's some sketch arse places down there at night.

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This. I have worked in all the worst areas. Streets and hoods most people who lived in NOLA most of their lives never even heard of. (I hadn't until I went there) (Flordia area, Cessna Ct, Milan) Horrible places.

Though I found even in the worst areas it's how you carry yourself that helps out. Always great people sitting outside. Be chatty, don't seem like you don't belong.

I have never had a problem in the daytime. That does not mean I'm never scared, I just try and be cautious, if the area is really bad, I will make the block once or twice and look for things out of the ordinary. I never do anything provocative like open carry, but I try and stay 'strapped'. I also politely tell the customers in those areas that I will not do any jobs later than 4pm. Generally it's the property owner that pays me so I am less worried about upsetting them.

Only once have I ever been on a job and said "I can't work here" and left. Crescent City Gates in Algiers. It was like Candyman. I have never seen as much squalor in my life. I told the owners "I don't like to work for slumlords, and your units are the worst I have ever seen in my life" 12 stoves needed repair, as all the customers had no heaters and used their ovens to heat their houses.
I fixed three, saw a crack whore suck a guy off and at another unit found what was left of a crack bake, and just packed up, went to the office and left.

I had a thread on here with pictures the day that happened. To this day Crescent City gates is by far the worst area I have ever seen in NOLA.

I live in Baton Rouge, so yes is the answer.

I was in Baton Rouge and stopped at a Chevron station on the corner of Roosevelt and Highland--did not feel safe at all.

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To the OP: the lower 9th ward. I can tell my kind is not wanted there.

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Lower 9 is not that bad, it's the upper 9 and the 7th where you "will get your cap peeled back"

Lower 9 is pretty much 100% property owners now.

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I go to West Jackson occasionally. They don't mess with me, though. They are too busy killing each other.

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I did some process serving for about four months after quitting law school and had to make some trips into West Jackson. Never really went exploring in that area before even though I was in undergrad there for 3 years prior. I swear that I had entered Beirut or something.

I've been at LSU for four years now and I've never ventured into Brookstown or anywhere like that. Is north BR really that much worse than the bottom?

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Though I found even in the worst areas it's how you carry yourself that helps out. Always great people sitting outside. Be chatty, don't seem like you don't belong.

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A good friend of my father worked those same areas of NOLA for thirty years repo-ing cars for an insurance company. Never had any issues, if you can believe it. He had the same approach and did fine.

Yep. I grew up in New Orleans and frequently drove past the Florida housing projects, Dryades back in the 1980's and 90's, Hollygrove, Gert town, Upper and Lower 9th ward, etc. Never had real trouble. The trouble always came to me, never my going to it.

Got lost landed up in West Philly where Will Smith was born and raised.Got lost in Jersey City seen real life hookers with big boots and big hair.
Got lost in NYC Bronx area, cop stopped me told me not to stop at the red lights if possible.
So yeah, I've been nervous a few times. After a while I learned not to venture out and get lost anymore.

Right after Katrina, helping a relative that lived out off Elysian Fields near ponchartrain. Worked a little too late and had to drive out after dark. It's a bad feeling - no lights, cars, anything. Never want to be in that situation again. Thank God for Glock on the seat.