Observing and local parks (I.e safety)

[dhumpie]

Guys I have a question...how safe is it to observe from local parks in and around big cities (well Brissie qualifies as a big city right)? Reason I ask this is because I have a park close to my current place and my townhouse yard has very restrictive views (trees to the broth and south so all I have is east west and zenith) and was thinking of bringing the 10" dob to that park for some all sky observing....what do you think?

Darren

[ving]

I was once looking for a place for a small meet near home... I looked at a park in the middle of nowhere (a small town about 15min from home), wondered out into the darkness of the oval and felt somewhat unsafe... maybe its a sydney thing?

are you doing this alone? whats your area like safety wise? got gangs of kids roaming the streets at night? look for grafitti, thats a give away to night activities.

[cahullian]

Darren
I live in Newcastle (not too big) but I go to the local aussie rules ground to view. Some weekends I get a few drunks walk over to see whats going on but I have never had any trouble of any kind.
I would recommend you stay in your local area and if your not too sure give the local cops a ring and see they will keep an eye out for you when they are on their beat.

Gazz

[astrogeek]

In all the times I have been out observing I have never had a bad experience. Everyone, be they drunk or rough looking or anything, has just been fasinated and wanted a look through the scope. Even the people that once were doing a major drug deal in a parked car came over for a look and were extremely friendly (Only once see a drug deal while out though ;) ). For some reason when astronomy is involved everyone is friendly and interested. I would still recomend observing with a friend because it is always nicer to share the observing experience :).

[togo54]

I know this will open a can of worms....but here goes. If someone "bad looking" approaches me while I'm observing at my remotely located park...first...I'll whip out the Ruger P85. If that doesn't calm things down, next comes the dreaded AK47. If the Ruger and AK fails to resolve any intimidating situations....out comes the UZI. Land Of The Free...Home Of The Brave...PS....I had a Federal Firearms License for 17 yrs....got a safe full of guns :)

[janoskiss]

You scare me togo! I wouldn't last two seconds observing near you if being "bad looking" gets one shot.
Dobbie cannons and laser finders are about the scariest things I want to see whilst observing under the stars. :scared:

[Ziggy Stardust]

where I came from...that was standard home issue!!!:P

but I have found that pointing a lazer pointer on someones chest, while attached to my Borge...scared the $$%@ out of him and had him running like a whipped dog. My mate has a paint ball gun, which he loads with marbels and ball-bearings when fishing on some of the beach's north of us... Says it works a treat on guys wanting to liberate your wallet and mobile phone...
not legal to use that way...but who would know and it does not need a full gun permit.

Other thing to do, is to find out if schools in the area have sports feilds you can use, make a deal with a few of the grade 11 & 12's and you get protection thrown in too...:wink2:

Tony

[togo54]

janoskiss
My post was not an attempt to scare anyone (cept maybe the bad guys). I grew up in the one of the most diverse ethnic area in the world (San francisco, CA). Gangs are everywhere...the recent riot reports in Sydney trouble me. If I had my way...there would be a dress code...you wear baggy pants that show [censored by iceman].

[togo54]

And with that said....I'm sure I'll be quite the unpopular guy here....exactly why I've been klined on 14 IRC servers....simply cause I speak my mind.

[ving]

yeah troubles me to tom. kids hey... and for the most part thats what they are

[togo54]

ving
There's quite a difference in the society you and I live in. I don't know what kind of weapons the "gang banging kids" in yer neck of the woods carry....but over here...they tote all that I mentioned and then some. I don't have a prejudiced bone in my body...except when it comes to gang members.

[ving]

baseball bats seem popular... but theres plenty of black market guns avaliable aparently... anyhow, we are hijacking the thread.

[togo54]

dhumpie
If I hijacked your thread....you have my most sincere apology.

[togo54]

OK....may as well chalk me up as being banned here. It seems my posts are being censored. Mike...fell free to delete my post for the water contest....jeez...it's good to live in the USA where freedom of speech is still recognized...to all my other friends I've made here...take care....later

[janoskiss]

Easy there Tom. Inciting murdering people for the way they dress is pretty extreme!
And I believe also goes well beyond the bounds of what many people (as well as the law) would consider the reasonable extent of freedom of speech.

[iceman]

Janos is right.

If you think it's ok to post about putting a bullet in someone's brain, in a mature astronomy forum, then you're in the wrong place. I'm sure there's other forums out there dedicated to that sort of thing, I suggest you visit them. I'm sorry this isn't one of them.