Part 5/7:
He recounted a personal tale of walking alone through the Tenderloin district and feeling unsafe in a way he rarely experiences. Despite being a larger-than-average individual capable of defending himself, the unpredictable atmosphere made him uneasy. He shared harrowing encounters: witnessing fights between drug addicts, people engaging in reckless behavior, and the sheer chaos that engulfed the streets.
The Contrast of Denial and Reality
Those who lived in San Francisco often turned a blind eye to the tumult, behaving as if it didn’t affect them. This cognitive dissonance led to memories of palpable tension in the city—a feeling of walking through an alternate reality where those around him appeared indifferent to the turmoil.