Reddit reviews Dark Heart

went to college in Notts.

there is a very dark underbelly to that city...or at least there was 20 odd years ago.

'This all began quite unexpectedly one rainy autumn evening a couple of years ago in a fairground near to the centre of Nottingham...'

In amongst the bright lights and bumper cars, Nick Davies noticed two boys, no more than twelve years old, oddly detached from the fun of the scene. Davies discovered they were part of a network of children selling themselves on the streets of the city, running a nightly gauntlet of dangers: pimps, punters, the Vice Squad, disease, drugs. This propelled Davies into a journey of discovery through the slums and ghettoes of our cities. He found himself in crack houses and brothels, he befriended street gangs and drug dealers.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Heart-Shocking-Hidden-Britain/dp/0099583011

a lot of this book is set in Notts...the bit at the goose fair is doubly creepy for me as I was living directly opposite when he describes what was going on in those public toilets. I used to walk across that park rather than round the edge as it cut about 30 minutes off my journey; but I kinda know how to blend in...a lot of other students I knew got mugged in there. and though we knew there were hookers working from there...and the local area (including right outside a few mates houses) we never realised that underage stuff was going on...makes me shudder to even think of it.

the hookers used to actually be useful when we wanted some weed or whatever. other than a friend from home deciding to bring one home back to my rented place one night (much to my gf's 'amusement') we never had any issues from them...

knowing what I know now tho...shiiit...smh.

Ok, I didn't explain myself. I didn't want to reveal big details about myself, but the hectoring tone in your reply....makes me want just be totally honest. I never said anything about money=happiness. Look what I wrote: ''having lots of cash won't make getting a gf any easier but at least I'd be able to date a whole lot more often!'' Right now I spend about five nights a week sleeping outside a public library. That is on the street. I have sometimes have money for food, but not for a bed to sleep. On Friday and Saturday nights I don't feel safe on the street so I go to the cheap all night internet cafe and try to pretend that I'm still using a computer after my money runs out.Sometimes they turn a blind eye. To be blunt, I don't smell too fantastic, and it's obvious from looking at me that I sleep rough. Although I have severe depression, I can talk to girls generally. I'm not so good after the first date (I tend to talk too much), but one thing I know for sure; If I won the lottery I'd be able to clean myself up, sleep regularly, and be in the situtation where although I'd still be depressed, I'd be able to go to places to meet women and not feel self conscious. That was the point I was making.And dating women, even a succession of first dates, sounds pretty good from where I'm sitting.

The mistake you're making is that you believe that every African citizen is poor ''imagine just a single person in Africa'' and every Western citizen is rich: ''Relax and realise how good you've got it'' Let me ask you a question.Have you been to Africa?My parents are from Ghana, West Africa.In 2008 I was fortunate enough to visit the country of my ancestors, and stayed in the biggest house I've ever had the luck to sleep in.I met my cousins,who have experienced a MUCH better life financially (not to mention in other terms) than I have.They have never known homelessness.(This is my third and longest bout of homelessness). They have never had to steal food to survive. (Fortunately I'm not in that position this time around).They are dual nationality Ghanain/Nigerian citizens.I am a British citizen. ''Because you're living in the Western world you're still in the top 15% of the world population'' No my friend. That is not true. I believe you were trying to say that I'm in a COUNTRY that is in the top 15%. That does not mean that that lifestyle trickles down to me. Please read ''Dark Heart'' by Nick Davies. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Heart-Shocking-Hidden-Britain/dp/0099583011
That's all I have to say about that.

The day I wrote my entry I bought a lottery ticket with the little money I had and fantasised about living the life of riley. I also did a youtube search on lottery related subjects.So it was a funny co-incidence that a lottery winner was on reddit.

''Relax and realise how good you've got it'', you say.It would be fucking NICE to relax-maybe I'll do that when I can sleep somewhere that isn't on the street.In the meantime, please don't talk about people you know nothing about (African citizens) and of THINGS you know nothing about (my personal circumstances).

If you're really interested, try the book Dark Heart: The Story of a Journey into an Undiscovered Britain by Nick Davis. Over 10 years old, but completely relevant now.