American Movies/Computer Games

Right, this is something i have been wondering.

How realistic would you say the likes of Movies like "Menace to Society" and "Boyz N' the Hood" or computer games like "GTA: San Andreas" are to real life?

I have seen in movies how Harlem in New Your is predominantly African American based and how White people are not really seen as welcome. Is this true?

I wonder because, at some point in the future i intend on travelling to the US to travel/work/live (most likely all 3) and wondered if the reality was anything like what can be seen on movies like the above or even that of the listed computer game.

Yup, you're gonna get shot.

as a general rule in US cities, there is always at least 1 bad neighborhood that everyone should avoid. the trick is to know which neighborhood that is. unfortunately, the examples you gave are both realistic and embellished for hollywood. But there are definitely some truths to it.

There are some communities that are very rough. Menace to Society is a very good movie, based mostly on truth. It's tough to grow up in an area filled with violence and drugs. It's amazing that a lot of these kids survive and become great. Survival of the fittest is the best term I can use to describe living in these communities.

Everyplace has a section of town that it would be in one's 'best interests' to avoid... however, I would say violence is not as rampant as say, the West Bank or Kosovo.
It's all a matter of perspective.

For that matter, there's places in London and Berlin I would not suggest visiting after dark.

I think usually life imitates art while art imitates life. But in america life imitates art while art imitates art, so they kinda become a parody of them selves and play up to how they get portraid.

But like anywhere there will be bad parts and there will be nice parts, of course, it dosnt help that half of them are walking around with guns :p

Its bad enough here, and we dont have the gun culture to deal with.

SB, there are neighbourhoods like that here in Scotland. I mean in Edinburgh there a few places where you just know you're gonna get mugged if you go there. There was a statistic on the news the other day that muders, rapes and stabbings had increased by something like 40% over the last 3 years in Edinburgh.

this is hard to say. if you were to go to a restaurant in Harlem [there are a lot of great Soul Food, Jamaican, Haitian, Mexican, and comfort food restaurants in Harlem] then you shouldn't worry about anything. however, if you were to LIVE in harlem...well...that is a different story. there are plenty of people who are nice, kind, and will welcome you. but there are some street gangs, people who will debase your property. i hate to generalize, but the older people will welcome you or think nothing of your presence, but the younger generation [teenagers and such] will definitely stir up problems.

i was walking with a friend of mine through Harlem a few months ago and we passed by a number of street gangs who had PLENTY to say...as i am Asian and quite petite.

i hate to talk so badly about Harlem...it has such a rich history, and not everyone who lives in Harlem wear doo-rags [sp?] and rock their bling.

but for your sake, do not even consider moving to Harlem~

I live in Chicago next to a not so hot neighborhood and I can say that it's just a matter of keeping your wits about you and using common sense - like don't go out around certain places after a certain hour [although now that it's winter and getting colder, people aren't out much at night].

As far as GTA and those movies, well, there are some truths there, but of course they are embellished as UNFLUX pointed out and as far as the comment towards prejudices....unfortunately, that exists as well with certain people. Different strokes for different folks I guess...

listen to the mods. They're omniscient.

If you ever get picked on, just shrug it off if possible. Try avoiding all conflicts, and don't respond to insults. Just avoid trouble, pretty much common sense, and you should be okay if you don't go wandering places after dark too often.

i have a hint

if you come live in the US LIVE IN THE COUNTRY!
there's nothin goin on and you can do basically anything you want

i live in the middle of nowhere and its awesome
no drugs robery nothin...
the only thing to rob is a farmers house
thats it

I live in the middle of nowhere and thers also NOTHING TO DO!

not to mention there tons of people who smoke pot around here, for lack of anything to do. (not that that causes trouble, but just saying about drugs) Oh yea there was a axe murder recently here, but thats like the most excitement in like 10 years

I am aware of this. I suppose i ask because i am not as familiar with America as i would be with Scotland. I was also curious as to whether Holywood (or whoever else make American Movies) over dramatises situations like this.

The problem with myself is, i live in the Countryside of Scotland. There isnt a great deal of stuff to do out here which is pretty boring. I just get the impression that Places like Harlem is going to be quite different to places like Torry, in Aberdeen (most wont know where i am on about, sorry) which isnt exactly the best area of town to be walking at night.. Its not so much we have gangs hanging around every street corner equiped with powerful guns, its more the'll rape you or rob you regardless of what sex or age you are.

Thanks for the replies though!

In all of my travels over the globe I have yet to visit Scotland. Odd, that I love Scotch Whiskey so much yet have never found myself there.

I need to plan that.

Sigh.

Cheers.

If you love whiskey you should travel around the summer time as most distillerys will be open. You will receive a free sample before the tour of the place.

Summer is also good, especially unlike this year, the weather is slightly warmer than the rest of the year.