Sometimes the Best Gift is 'The Gift of Fear'

One of the things that makes it possible for me to live in an urban environment is that, for the most part, I’m not afraid to get around on my own.

I’ve embraced train and bus transportation since I first arrived in Chicago in 1997.

That doesn’t mean I’m not careful. I’ve read Gavin Becker’s “The Gift of Fear” (my dad made an early version of his work required reading/listening when I was in high school).

But I generally feel pretty safe, especially when I’m in a crowded place.

That’s why it was so jarring this evening to hear my train conductor, three stops from home, make an announcement that we were entering a “high-crime area.” He proceeded to tell all of us to put away our electronic devices because there’s been an increase in “incidents” involving presumably theft of said devices.

I stowed my iPod, but kept tweeting and Facebooking away on my BlackBerry.

Then one of my friends told me that she’s witnessed six iPhone thefts – in broad daylight. Two were on the CTA Green Line and four on the Blue Line, smack dab in the middle of evening rush hour.

Makes me want to be more careful about pulling out my iPod or my phone. And it makes me want to drive tomorrow.