Isn't it weird to think that if you're an American and reading this, that you're probably a part of the 1% of global wealth?

Not an american, but I realize it every time on travel. Often enough the airports are somewhat out of the city and you pass through less-than-pleaseant outskirts. Realizing you can afford simply to pass through directly to the center, stay there for a few days without having seen more of the greater area. The most bizarre moment was in the US though. Being on a rooftop pool of a casino - no entrance fee as covered by our stay in a nearby hotel. Knowing that Las Vegas has not exactly the lowest poverty rate while those poor simply kept invisible to us. And we were a few floors above them enjoying ourselves. Continuing travel to San Francisco, we had to make a trade off: Hotel near the center and of some quality, but not too expensive. Found it, and we knew it was amidst a ... problematic ... quater although we were correctly advised there was nothing to be scared. So we stood in front of the hotel, smoking. We were tolerated by the staff as we were obviously guests. Passersby, looking like having some money were tolerated as well. Poor passersby? You could see how the security guard internally gave him ten seconds to pass the property before taking action, counting faster if one dared to approach us. Going down the street, realizing the hotel was indeed an island in the sea of poverty. Yes, you sometimes realize you're one of the lucky ones even you aren't rich by your own standards.

/r/CasualConversation Thread