Slumming

favela of Rochinha in Rio

No one is accusing anyone of being a snob but you may, on the other hand, be guilty of slumming. It's what well-to-do educated people prosecute when they hang around the tough part of town. As a kid you may have been afraid of getting beaten up. So one day you joined a dojo or boxing gym. What's the result? You remain a sissy who's basically still afraid of their own shadow. Here is a comment from a prosperous friend: "In the past 10 years I have been in two scary situations. In the first, crossing 21st and 3rd, I gave the bird to some guy who was honking me. He pulled over and threatened me with his MMS abilities. I smelled alcohol on his breath. Situation #2--I stupidly made eye contact with a loony on an R. He started provoking me, calling me “grandpa” etc. I have replayed this back and forth in my head. What if I had  sat right smack down next to him and upped the ante? Of course I walked away with my tail between my legs in both instances. I have no street smarts. I mean niente, nada! I am still that kid, tormented by the neighborhood toughs who threaten you with rocks in socks on Halloween.”

read "The Waste Land" by Francis Levy, The East Hampton Star

and also read "Punk" by Francis Levy, Vol.1 Brooklyn