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Pretty much every place I've been. It's always a good move to carry cigarettes (just in case you do run into a squatter's home unintentionally). I've found they're most always appreciated and usually lead to some interesting conversations.
I think my most nerve inducing one was when my buddy and I went into a factory right after a snowstorm and found fretting footprints in a snowdrift on the 3rd or 4th floor of the building. Needless to say we beat feet out of there quick.
It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. |
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I have found some squats but usually they are covered in layers of dust so I know no one has been there for a long time so I kept exploring. The only time I bailed was when I saw a bunch of needles. It just wasn't worth it.
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I was at an abandoned asylum last week in the DC area - place was really really large. Upwards of ten buildings in the middle of the woods, like a small town in itself. It was really neat but just unsettling in general. After exploring two buildings on the outskirts I decided to venture to the middle and go into the main building.
As I was doing so, caught sight of a man on the second floor, though he disappeared as soon as I saw him. I got nervous and left soon afterward, but he was probably just as on edge as I was. It probably wasn't anything to worry about, but the first time I had ever come across anyone else while exploring.
Just a little unsettling.
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There's a warehouse around here that someone has been squatting for years, only seen him there once but he has a "bedroom" on the ground floor. Looks like it might of been a couple at one point, seeing as there where bottles of perfumes and such around also had one of the largest dildos I've ever seen, no joke.
Prohobo in training.
Best thread on UER |
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In Gary last year I accidentally barged in on a guy living (ironically) in a former mortgage bank. Didn't think much of the piles of stuff in this one office until I tried to push the heavy glass doors open, and saw bedsheets rise-up. Was by myself so I apologized, went back in the next room to grab the camera shit and quickly GTFO, dismantling outside. If we even saw each other at all, we never made eye-contact.
I later felt like a dick and regret not going back with some food or something.
[last edit 1/4/2015 5:52 AM by jonrev - edited 1 times]
[jonrevProjects] | Flickr flicks
Founder: Belvidere Cinema Gallery - Waukegan, IL |
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This is Philly! I've met and partied with more fucking squatters than actual explorers. One abandoned shithole apartment building in West Philly had eight floors of rooms and extended for a city block and was at, at least 50% occupancy! Even had some rigged wiring to the pole outside and an entire floor dedicated to just shitting and pissing. It was a popular rail-traveler's stop and most of it's occupants were caucasian and from all across the United States. I couldn't count on ten hands how many crackheads, generic homeless bums, squatting teen couples with Daddy's debit card and loner-scrappers I've run into. Fuck. Some folks were "return squatters" or holed up in one place for so long, I got to know them and brought extra beers and smokes just for them. They'd sit in while we were doing the "night-time thang" and just party like you were at the cafeteria table with some co-workers. People are people and if you treat them with respect and as an equal, they may be stinky and piss-poor but are still decent company. Add a couple of 40's to the mix and smiles and stories all around.
"Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?" "Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?"
"Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?" "Winners and losers... which one will you be today?"
***Social Distortion*** |
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Posted by Radical_Ed
People are people and if you treat them with respect and as an equal,
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bingo
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Early on, when I was just starting to urbex without knowing what it was, I climbed under a graffiti covered bridge. I'd seen sleeping bags and firepits there before, but this time I saw some guy sleeping under a ratty old blanket. Some other guy came down though, so I left.
I've also found squatter camps along side the local railroad tracks- mattresses and duffel bags under trees. But those were all empty.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.
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I honestly never stumbled upon any squatters or homeless people but I think probably because Montreal's a bit too cold for that. And locations I went to are almost feel "too" accessible. Homeless people don't want to get bothered by urban explorers either.
Every time I went there I bumped into other people either. Once it was some dudes going graffiti, another time it was a seasoned explorer with him little brother and another time it was some creepy dudes with a fat girl taking naked pictures. Noped right outa there.
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I was exploring an abandoned rec center and found evidence of a squatter living in the locker rooms. There was a mattress, various articles of womens clothing, several playboy magazines, and tubs of vasoline. I'm glad that the occupant wasn't there when we stumbled across his masturbation station O.o
Winter & the Wolves |
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Most of the squatters I've run into were evictees with nowhere else to go and who were fighting legal battles with the government.
Around 2010-2012, there was an abandoned section right on the edge of the main party district of Seoul. One of the buildings, a three-storey-tall building overlooking a busy road, had a noodle restaurant on the main floor. Hired goons attacked on Christmas Eve 2010 and evicted them violently, customers and all. The owner came back the next day and began a sit-in that lasted over 500 days.
I used to run into them all the time when exploring the neighbouring buildings, as well as a subway tunnel accessible right next door. They converted the second floor of the building into a squat and the third floor became a music practice space/live music venue. I booked a very fun punk/hardcore/ska show there once. For May 1 2011 they had a concert with over 51 bands on the property, and made a movie about it. Hell, I should make a post about that.
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looks like some people get pleasure out of running into homeless! that's got to be dangerous?
Abandoned House Album NSFW https://www.flickr...72157648771556933/
https://c1.staticf...6_613ec71426_k.jpg
"she was anticipating the squatter or squatters arrival with every creak or bump through both shoots. she made no attempt to covering up when she heard something"
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A few weeks ago I was exploring an old mill with no signs of squatters. I managed to climb up to one of the catwalks and as I was setting g up to take a picture I noticed someone in the corner of my eye. I immediately tucked myself away and watched the man pace back and forth. once he left I got down and made my way to the exit.
On my way out the same man walked up to me with a stop sign shield around his arm and some kind of club in his hand. No shit.
I asked him how he was doing and he just tightened his grip and grunted at me. Only then did I notice the small tent in the corner of the lot.
I then apologized and got out of there.
[last edit 3/22/2015 9:01 PM by Triodug - edited 1 times]
Bananas are good. Always bring a banana to a party. |
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