Here's the thing though Cat, 90% of those murders happen in area of the city known as central city. The city of N.O. makes up about 30% of the metro population. the problem is gangs drugs and poverty. Just like South Central L.A, Detroit or where ever you similar problems.

But then that brings us back to the discussion of the different experiences of fans visiting the respective city's NFL football games. Why do you think there's such an obvious difference? It has to attributable to something. This isn't a dig, I'd like what you think about the matter.

Thanks for the reasonable perspective.

I can't explain the difference between the respective city's NFL football games except to say that I think people in NOLA have much more class than the buffoons who turnout at CandleStick Park -- where notably -- I showed up last year wearing my black and gold -- and the 49er fans were incredibly nasty. And, if I had been alone, I would have felt extremely uncomfortable -- possibly to the point of leaving.

But, for people on this site to equate the unstable behaviour of football fans in the Bay Area -- to the entire Bay Area much less the entire state of California -- well, all I can say is that is just -- as my grandmother from Opelousas would say -- "asinine".

Saying Oakland, Vallejo, and Richmond are dangerous is like saying Metairie, Kenner and Gretna are dangerous. Are they different cities? Yes, but in reality they are all San Fran, just parts you know not to go to, the Bay Area is just as dangerous as any other urban area, calling it totally safe is ignorant.

A0so, no one from New Orleans can ever criticize any city for how bad their crime rate is. My parents were across the street (at a steakhouse) from the shooting in lakeview (at a Susan Spitzer restaurant,) I mean christ, nowhere in this city is safe for any person.

Saying Oakland, Vallejo, and Richmond are dangerous is like saying Metairie, Kenner and Gretna are dangerous. Are they different cities? Yes, but in reality they are all San Fran, just parts you know not to go to, the Bay Area is just as dangerous as any other urban area, calling it totally safe is ignorant.

A0so, no one from New Orleans can ever criticize any city for how bad their crime rate is. My parents were across the street (at a steakhouse) from the shooting in lakeview (at a Susan Spitzer restaurant,) I mean christ, nowhere in this city is safe for any person.

Here's my issue Cat. If defense of my reasonable assessment that the bay area is full of thugs and that it is nearly as violent as any place in the US, you, rather than look at the facts in a reasonable way, prefer to defend ( I guess ) the area by slamming New Orleans, a city that has nothing to do with the conversation.

This is the last comment I will make on this topic.

If you re-read my posts, you will find that I am not defending the violence that obviously exists here is California, but I do not think that either the Bay Area, specifically, or California, in general, merits the criticism it has sustained on this thread. I used the examples of the beauty of Northern California to point out that this area clearly does not "suck".

I hear the concerns for yourself and your families' safety. And, while I understand how stressful it can be to feel afraid -- I have lived here on the Peninsula since 1990 and, from my experience, I simply do not share your concerns or perspective. I do not often listen to local news about murders -- so it could be that I am not aware of the increasing violence here.

My assumption on this thread is that I am mostly talking to people who live in New Orleans or have some previous connection to the city. On this thread, we were originally discussing "thuggery" at Candlestick. The discussion devolved from there into an actual "slamming" of the Bay Area ( mostly by you ) and California, in general. I simply pointed out to the good New Orleanians that incidents of thuggery or violence is not limited to California -- and used the historical New Orleans murder rate as an example. One person's "slamming" is another person's recitation of the facts.

AND, I absolutely DID NOT USE violence in New Orleans as an DEFENSE for violence in the Bay Area. That is a asinine remark.

First, there are over 6 million people living in the Bay Area. Like other major metropolitan areas, there are mentally ill, violent people living here. But, let's face it, there are plenty of crazy, violent people in the south. I'm sure the KKK is still operational down there. I don't see anyone driving around here with gun racks. As John Kelso, in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, described Charlestonians, "they are all drunk and heavily armed." And, I don't say drunk as a bad thing.

I have never seen anyone get in a bar fight here -- but that s**t happened all the time down south.

While I LOVE New Orleans, the south in general, does not compare in any way to Northern CA. If you had ever been here you would know that. Northern CA is stunningly beautiful. Have any of you ever driven from San Francisco to Big Sur on Hwy 1? Hiked through Big Basin Redwood forest with redwoods 250 feet tall and as wide as three cars at the bottom. Gone to Chandon Winery in Napa for the incredible champangne? Gone white water rafting down the American River in the Gold Country? Eaten warm dungeoness crab, right off the boat, boiled right on the dock? Off-road biked from Waddell Creek Beach to Berry Falls? Photos here: Waddell Creek/Berry Falls Mtn Bike Ride Had fresh ollaieberry pie at Duarte's in Pescadero? Gone horseback riding on the beach in Half Moon Bay? Kayaking on Lake Tahoe? Gone whale watching off Monterey Bay? This list just begins to scratch the surface of amazing things to do out here.

There are some lovely places in the south -- and I was just there in September -- and thought about moving back, because I miss home. But, just for variety of activities, and natural scenic beauty, Northern California is hard to compete with.

And, as far as whether people are dangerous out here ... the ONLY place in the world ( and I have traveled quite a bit ) ... where I was ever assaulted at gun point and almost kidnapped was one night in the French Market.