How to avoid getting killed in Mexico

[Hype]

I understand what Perkana and Mockbee are trying to say, but I have to disagree that "not wearing jewelery" is "common sense", at least, everywhere. Sure, it might be common sense in a state with a high ratio of corrupt police officers and potentially dangerous cab drivers, and I'm not really sure why Mockbee's apparently had some troubling experiences (from what he's described he may just be easily annoyed by things that don't easily annoy me), because I've never had issues with cabbies or uber drivers.. and I've used both of them in Chicago, Madison, NY, Toronto, Montreal... I like cab drivers. Maybe it's because they all have degrees in philosophy too?

I agree that it's not a normal thing to have to ask a police officer for directions... but I'm 100% certain that most of the time (unless there's literally a crime happening right there and then), Canadian police would try to help you, even if just to say "Sorry, I don't know." And that's the same thing a cop in NY said to me when I got lost there.

[mockbee]

...................... and I'm not really sure why Mockbee's apparently had some troubling experiences (from what he's described he may just be easily annoyed by things that don't easily annoy me), because I've never had issues with cabbies or uber drivers.. and I've used both of them in Chicago, Madison, NY, Toronto, Montreal... I like cab drivers. Maybe it's because they all have degrees in philosophy too?

Won't argue the cop anecdotes, yeah, for a white guy, cops are pretty benign here.

In the past I haven't minded the cab drivers here, I hate paying $20+ to get across town, but that is a personal issue. But lately, with cabs pretty much dead here due to Uber and Lyft, there is a weird/angry vibe with them now towards their customers. There are plenty of examples on yelp beyond my own, but maybe that's nothing new.
I prefer my cab drivers to be awake with their eyes open, not veering far outside the white line into the gravel median when doing 65, I guess I'm weird that way.....

[perkana]

Isn't asking police for directions a bit old skool? I'd say unless you're 94, you'd have some kind of navigation on your phone, or at least the internet. If it's something very specific I'd ask s local or someone in a shop or something. Plus you can never find a policeman when you really need one...

I have used their service when I didn't know how to use google maps and I was still learning. They were nice enough to stop traffic so I could get into reverse on an avenue. But I wasn't alone and they seemed nice

[perkana]

I understand what Perkana and Mockbee are trying to say, but I have to disagree that "not wearing jewelery" is "common sense".

Sorry, forgot to say here it is. If you've heard stories or seen people mugged because of their jewelry or having their phones out of their pockets/bags. You would be stupid not to follow your common sense

[perkana]

I know, use Uber or Lyft or whatever, I can't get on board with that, fine for other people, but they are just as annoying/terrible drivers, like the cabs.

Neither do I. After reading about the rape stories, since I would take them by myself. I've taken cabs late at night by myself and have been lucky enough not to get raped nor mugged. I swear the drivers must have thought I was testing them. There is a cab site 2 or 3 blocks away from where I live, so that's what I use. Knock on wood, I have never been mugged on the streets, cabs or other kind of public transportation. I know people who have been mugged dozen of times. Guess it's luck, too

[Hype]

I understand what Perkana and Mockbee are trying to say, but I have to disagree that "not wearing jewelery" is "common sense".

Sorry, forgot to say here it is. If you've heard stories or seen people mugged because of their jewelry or having their phones out of their pockets/bags. You would be stupid not to follow your common sense

... I'm confused... why is this common sense? Yes, there are stories about those things. But they're not that common, at least, in most cities. I won't use my own experiences here, because I'm a guy, and I guess the equivalent would be yeah, the phone, or a laptop, or money.

Common sense might, for example, suggest that you don't flip through a stack of cash or have your wallet out on the subway, or in a crowded city in general. But as with general guidelines for tourists, proper common sense isn't "don't do this or that specific thing because causality is magic and bad guys might be around", but rather be aware of your surroundings, especially when in a place you don't know well. For women, obviously there's an extra level of caution/danger because of size/strength/sexual stuff, but if it's just a matter of getting ripped off, well, yes, it might depend on which country you're visiting, which part of which city, etc., but I think it's just wrong to think that the kind of caution you're suggesting is "common sense" is really true everywhere, so I'm not really sure why you've said a few times "follow your common sense"... what do you mean, exactly? Do you mean the common sense that you use to avoid problems in Mexico? Because that's exactly the thing I'm saying just isn't the same everywhere.

I know people who have been mugged dozen of times.

I don't know anyone who has ever been mugged. I heard about one kid at the skatepark once who had a gun pulled on him so he gave up his cellphone, but I didn't know the kid, and that isn't common. That's what's so puzzling about your insistence that your guidelines are "common sense".

[Artemis]

When I was in London last fall, I asked a cop for directions because I didn't have a map or one of those app things with the directions. He gave me the info I needed, PLUS directions to a tourist information centre and told me to get a map!

[mockbee]

I know, use Uber or Lyft or whatever, I can't get on board with that, fine for other people, but they are just as annoying/terrible drivers, like the cabs.

Neither do I. After reading about the rape stories, since I would take them by myself. I've taken cabs late at night by myself and have been lucky enough not to get raped nor mugged. I swear the drivers must have thought I was testing them. There is a cab site 2 or 3 blocks away from where I live, so that's what I use. Knock on wood, I have never been mugged on the streets, cabs or other kind of public transportation. I know people who have been mugged dozen of times. Guess it's luck, too

When I was in mexico city I remember not being very excited about that fact that I had to get a cab to get into town late at night with all the horror stories. We waited at the sitio or something at Benito. It was of course fine and the guy was nice, but when we got near the Zocalo, he went down some alley and said he had to drop us there and had to take off, I had no idea where we were. We got out and just looked for people quickly and found huge groups on a more major street. They said they were going to the Zocalo so we just followed them and there was this huge celebration going on with lights and fireworks and processions with caricatures of mary or guadalupe or some such. It was amazing, and for sure a highlight of the trip. It was the middle of December, I don't know what holiday that was, but it was huge, the Zocalo was full of people.

[Bandit72]

I don't know anyone who has ever been mugged. I heard about one kid at the skatepark once who had a gun pulled on him so he gave up his cellphone, but I didn't know the kid, and that isn't common. That's what's so puzzling about your insistence that your guidelines are "common sense".

I've been 'mugged' twice, but never really physically harmed, so I'm not sure what you'd call it. The first time was at University in 1993 by a guy who wanted money. It was about 3 am and I was walking home with a mate. We're both 6'4 and we emptied our pockets. The guy had a blade so you do as he says. Unfortunately for him, picking on students isn't very profitable.

The second time was in 1995 again in the early hours at the bottom of my parents road by two black guys. I think that was more of a 'we're going to beat the shit out of you' type of mugging. It seems as if the older guy was initiating the younger one. He kept tapping my face with his fist and verbally abusing me so I was just clenching my jaw just in case he did swing at speed. Didn't want to lose any teeth. I also had my kubotan in my right hand in my pocket just in case it went off. I had a licence for it at the time so I wasn't worried about the consequences of me using it.

Still, both times were still pretty scary.

[Hype]

Once, a guy asked me for money. Then I said: "Sorry, I don't have any." Then he asked someone else for money.

I don't know what would happen in Mexico.

[Bandit72]

I don't know, but I imagine Al-Raqqah would be somewhat worse.

[Hype]

I don't know, but I imagine Al-Raqqah would be somewhat worse.

I mean... recently, sure. But a couple years ago?

[perkana]

I understand what Perkana and Mockbee are trying to say, but I have to disagree that "not wearing jewelery" is "common sense".

Sorry, forgot to say here it is. If you've heard stories or seen people mugged because of their jewelry or having their phones out of their pockets/bags. You would be stupid not to follow your common sense

... I'm confused... why is this common sense? Yes, there are stories about those things. But they're not that common, at least, in most cities. I won't use my own experiences here, because I'm a guy, and I guess the equivalent would be yeah, the phone, or a laptop, or money.

Common sense might, for example, suggest that you don't flip through a stack of cash or have your wallet (phone, money, jewelry, anything of value) out on the subway, or in a crowded city in general. But as with general guidelines for tourists, proper common sense isn't "don't do this or that specific thing because causality is magic and bad guys might be around", but rather be aware of your surroundings, especially when in a place you don't know well. For women, obviously there's an extra level of caution/danger because of size/strength/sexual stuff, but if it's just a matter of getting ripped off, well, yes, it might depend on which country you're visiting, which part of which city, etc., but I think it's just wrong to think that the kind of caution you're suggesting is "common sense" is really true everywhere, so I'm not really sure why you've said a few times "follow your common sense"... what do you mean, exactly? Do you mean the common sense that you use to avoid problems in Mexico? Because that's exactly the thing I'm saying just isn't the same everywhere.

I know people who have been mugged dozen of times.

I don't know anyone who has ever been mugged. I heard about one kid at the skatepark once who had a gun pulled on him so he gave up his cellphone, but I didn't know the kid, and that isn't common. That's what's so puzzling about your insistence that your guidelines are "common sense".

My common sense tells me to ignore your posts from now on...
For guidelines you can always check the advisory notice from your own embassy, but I do trust my common sense in general situations. That is solely my own opinion and experience. I'm not saying it's the rule, silly.

[perkana]

I know, use Uber or Lyft or whatever, I can't get on board with that, fine for other people, but they are just as annoying/terrible drivers, like the cabs.

Neither do I. After reading about the rape stories, since I would take them by myself. I've taken cabs late at night by myself and have been lucky enough not to get raped nor mugged. I swear the drivers must have thought I was testing them. There is a cab site 2 or 3 blocks away from where I live, so that's what I use. Knock on wood, I have never been mugged on the streets, cabs or other kind of public transportation. I know people who have been mugged dozen of times. Guess it's luck, too

When I was in mexico city I remember not being very excited about that fact that I had to get a cab to get into town late at night with all the horror stories. We waited at the sitio or something at Benito. It was of course fine and the guy was nice, but when we got near the Zocalo, he went down some alley and said he had to drop us there and had to take off, I had no idea where we were. We got out and just looked for people quickly and found huge groups on a more major street. They said they were going to the Zocalo so we just followed them and there was this huge celebration going on with lights and fireworks and processions with caricatures of mary or guadalupe or some such. It was amazing, and for sure a highlight of the trip. It was the middle of December, I don't know what holiday that was, but it was huge, the Zocalo was full of people.

Sounds like dec. 12, day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. I actually live near the Virgin's basilica. We have the day off because of the pilgrims who arrive.

[Bandit72]

Perkana, have you watched The Legend of Shorty? I enjoyed it. Do you know of any other decent documentaries? On any cartel not necessarily Sinaloa.

[perkana]

Haven't watched it. Found out there's a new one out this year about autodefense groups like in Michoacán. It looks good.

[Bandit72]

That looks great. I'll see if I can find it.

[perkana]

How about how to be a Mexican and avoid getting killed elsewhere? e.g.Egypt

[Everybody's Friend]

How about how to be a Mexican and avoid getting killed elsewhere? e.g.Egypt

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

[Bandit72]

Haven't watched it. Found out there's a new one out this year about autodefense groups like in Michoacán. It looks good.or army

I watched this yesterday on iPlayer. It's excellent. Fair play to the autodefensa. I would rather have them than the police or army upholding the law.