So often we just get used to situations, and fail to see the full extent. Coming into Seattle, the problem is extremely obvious for those that visit.
I live in a fairly rough area. I have no problems with the area, but my brother always complains about how bad it is. I laugh at him, but... sometimes the problem becomes too clear. Like the time I took my 11 year old daughter to a red box and was approached by a homeless man asking for money, who then started to go in to a seizure in front of us ( I think an OD.) Oh well, I just started going to a different store. It was ok until someone pulled a gun on me as I was leaving. Last week, late at night, a man walking down the middle of the street appeared to get hit by the car in front of me. I slowly drove by as he rolled in the street. I was fairly sure he wasn't hit, so I just called 911 and kept driving. The operator response made me take pause. Her first question was not if the guy was ok, but rather if I saw anyone with a gun. I went a few blocks and drove back the other direction. Sure enough, he was standing on the side of the road talking to another guy that had come out of the shadows. The list goes on and on. Yet, I still pretend that there is nothing dangerous about the area. Because so often, what should alarm us, becomes normal.