• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

My 15 Seconds In Oakland

I stopped in Oakland about 30 years ago to get gas. When I got out, a dude popped out from around the gas pump and squirmed into the back seat of my car, and opened the passenger door where a woman and another dude hopped in. They just wanted a ride, and there were a few instances where I was weighing the value of the car, integrity of the safety restraints, vs. just letting it play out their way...

Obviously, I survived, and it was fortunate or not that I happened to be going on a trip and had a lot of cash, so they were happy with that. Months later, long after replacing my CDL and CCs, my washed up wallet came in the mail with my old CDL. I still keep that wallet as a reminder of what Oakland is all about.
 
Film everything that happens inside the walls. 24/7. I'd pay a grip for that entertainment.
 
i am sorry Jeff. what a shit moment to use that serenity prayer.

i have always carried uninsured motorist coverage. i figure at least i can be the responsible adult. but also: god damn, people need to feel the consequences of their actions and bear some responsibility. :afm199
 
I remember years ago watching these two dudes pull some guy out of a truck and beat him. Apparently he made the grave mistake of hitting their car when they cut him off. Anyways, I got him to run into the marriot and I called 911, then went outside to wait for the cops. One of the guys that did the beating was waiting next to me. I still can't figure out why he was waiting for the cops, but there he was standing right next to me complaining about his dented Lexus and that idiot that didn't stop so he could turn right.

This was one block from headquarters.

About fifteen minutes later a cop shows up, I point out the guy standing next to me and they cuff him and take him away. The look on his face was priceless.

I still shake my head about that incident.
 
Crappy luck. I avoid driving in the Oakland streets at all costs, even being on 580/880 passing through is scary enough. 😬
 
You handled that as well as you could. I feel your pain, I was T-boned on my new '77 RD400 in Stockton**. A SPD saw the accident and came over. I luckily only had pavement rash*, ATGATT. Bars, paint and a bent rear shock where she hit me. SPD told me I was hit by an emancipated minor no DL, car not licensed and owned by her BF who I found was in San Quentin. SPD said sorry but you can't get blood out of a rock. Rode my new hard tail home and got some med care. Wasted a lot of time finding the SPD was right and I should have said it is what it is.

*never wore cheap gloves again.

**EDIT I never saw her coming. SPD told me she made a U turn from the merge lane and hit me in the read shock.
 
Last edited:
My buddy lived in Oakland for part of his teen years and has a weird (to me) pride about it. Like street cred or some crap. He would say that when he had a kid he wanted to move back so the child could experience life in the city. I thought it was a stupid idea. We live in sleepy lil (Flooded) Sonoma.

When his daughter was born I asked him about his plans to move to Oakland he said something along the lines of "Fuck that shit."

I knew he was frontin the first moment he said he planned to move there. Very few would trade Sonoma for Oakland.

My SIL (Born and raised in Sonoma) just bought a house in Oakland. She's rude to me and is one of the most self centered people I've ever known, so I'm really happy that she lives there now. Have fun being single with three kids in Oakland!!
 
Bummer Jeff.

You were smart not to escalate it.

I think it's a sign to get rid of the boat!
 
Bubba_s said:
My buddy lived in Oakland for part of his teen years and has a weird (to me) pride about it. Like street cred or some crap. He would say that when he had a kid he wanted to move back so the child could experience life in the city. I thought it was a stupid idea. We live in sleepy lil (Flooded) Sonoma.

When his daughter was born I asked him about his plans to move to Oakland he said something along the lines of "Fuck that shit."

I knew he was frontin the first moment he said he planned to move there. Very few would trade Sonoma for Oakland.

My SIL (Born and raised in Sonoma) just bought a house in Oakland. She's rude to me and is one of the most self centered people I've ever known, so I'm really happy that she lives there now. Have fun being single with three kids in Oakland!!
Click to expand...
I find it funny that there are lots of people who praise Oakland, how wonderful it is despite obvious it's problems.
 
One of my get-offs in the split was similar. Black Honda Accord jumped from #1 to #2 in front of me, I sideswiped him on the Burgman. Picked it up, got it on the side of the road, gave him my insurance card, asked for his, and he shrugged. Tried to pawn off an expired towing insurance card. No plates. He did try to claim on my insurance, the video I sent Allstate shut that down. Glad it wasn't worse damage or a worse confrontation with an angry lunatic.

Oakland is an epicenter of culture. It has all of the problems that come along with that status.
 
Last edited:
greenmonster said:
I find it funny that there are lots of people who praise Oakland, how wonderful it is despite obvious it's problems.
Click to expand...
there’s the community aspect. my friend has lived there a long time and loves her neighbors. nothing is black and white.
 
There are great areas of Oakland, but the area near the PD and leading into Alameda is horrendous. I've been going through it for the last 25 years and it has just gotten worse. It sucks and I feel for all of the normal people just trying to "make it" living there.
 
Reli said:
I guess you guys never heard of Montclair? Piedmont? Piedmont Pines? Claremont? Upper Rockridge? Hiller Highlands? Skyline? I'd rather live in one of those places than anywhere in SF, to be honest
Click to expand...
i get your point. i've also heard people say they are from Piedmont rather than Oakland...
 
two wheel tramp said:
there’s the community aspect. my friend has lived there a long time and loves her neighbors. nothing is black and white.
Click to expand...
good friend of mine grew up there, still lives there and is raising her kids there. bought a house in a bad part of town. she doesn’t ‘love’ it (painfully aware of the issues), but she’s a community activist, and working hard to help where she can. it’s hard work, but she’s not alone in making the effort.

also have a friend who’s ex-husband was an oakland cop. after they divorced, he moved to texas. that should tell you everything you need to know about him, and his attitude toward law enforcement (and many, if not most, of his colleagues on the police force).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top