Why do people say they are from DC when they are not?

[Anonymous]

I grew up here and back in the day the zip code for Bethesda was actually the same as NW (20016) and we had the option of using a Washington or Bethesda address. Other than that, I agree with PPs that outside the area saying DC is just easier. But further, I live 1/2 mile over the line, work in DC, have kids in school in DC, do most of my shopping in DC, etc. And I went to high school in DC and have lived in DC as well. So I do feel like I am "from" DC. But if I am talking to someone local I would obviously say Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same reason people who live in the suburbs of Chicago always say they are from Chicago. People identify with DC as opposed to Leesburg or Silver Spring. I dont think they are actually claiming to be from DC but rather using it as a familiar geographic location.

To this point, people who live in the burbs of Chicago still have a Chicago postal address, as with LA, Boston, etc. DC is not a metropolitan city within a state. The city of DC it all there is to it. So the surrounding burbs are all either Maryland or DC. I live 5 miles from downtown dc and my address is in Maryland. People can live 20 miles from downtown Chicago and still live in Chicago.

Are you serious? People who live in the Chicago suburbs have a postal address for that suburb! Same for all cities. If you come from the Chicago suburb Evanston, then your address is "Evanston, IL." Cambridge, MA people have that as their postal address, not Boston.

I think this person's point is that Chicago extends far geographically, so it has many far-flung residential areas that are still technically in the city but are as suburban-feeling as the suburbs next to them. Trust me, I've been there.

[Anonymous]

Same reason people who live in the suburbs of Chicago always say they are from Chicago. People identify with DC as opposed to Leesburg or Silver Spring. I dont think they are actually claiming to be from DC but rather using it as a familiar geographic location.

To this point, people who live in the burbs of Chicago still have a Chicago postal address, as with LA, Boston, etc. DC is not a metropolitan city within a state. The city of DC it all there is to it. So the surrounding burbs are all either Maryland or DC. I live 5 miles from downtown dc and my address is in Maryland. People can live 20 miles from downtown Chicago and still live in Chicago.

Are you serious? People who live in the Chicago suburbs have a postal address for that suburb! Same for all cities. If you come from the Chicago suburb Evanston, then your address is "Evanston, IL." Cambridge, MA people have that as their postal address, not Boston.

I think this person's point is that Chicago extends far geographically, so it has many far-flung residential areas that are still technically in the city but are as suburban-feeling as the suburbs next to them. Trust me, I've been there.

Yes, that was my point. And if someone told me they were from Evanston, I would ask what the f Evanston was. And FYI, not all cities are like that. LA contains dozens of neighborhoods, but they are all LA (except for Santa Monica, which is a separate city).

[Anonymous]

OP, are you actually from DC or do you just live in DC now?

[Anonymous]

OP here- actually what bothers me is not that they are trying to get through the conversation as quick as possible, but that they would rather say DC because it sounds more civilized than say, a suburb in Virginia. I know it seems like a petty issue, but it's annoying- I think people are prouder to say DC than MD or VA, but MD or VA is NOT DC!!!

[Anonymous]

Seems like you should take some pride in people wanting to piggyback on DC's success. If you were actually from here you would know that DC has not always been synonomous with civilized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- actually what bothers me is not that they are trying to get through the conversation as quick as possible, but that they would rather say DC because it sounds more civilized than say, a suburb in Virginia. I know it seems like a petty issue, but it's annoying- I think people are prouder to say DC than MD or VA, but MD or VA is NOT DC!!!

Three exclamation marks, I guess you really care about this unimportant issue.

I am not "prouder" to say I'm from DC, but if I'm talking to someone from out of the country or across the country I sometimes say DC area rather than Fairfax because they don't know it. But I did live in DC proper for 9 years and still work in the city.

[Anonymous]

Your assumptions are off OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- actually what bothers me is not that they are trying to get through the conversation as quick as possible, but that they would rather say DC because it sounds more civilized than say, a suburb in Virginia. I know it seems like a petty issue, but it's annoying- I think people are prouder to say DC than MD or VA, but MD or VA is NOT DC!!!

OMG. You need a hobby. I would bet a whole lot that you are not FROM DC. Or even a -gasp- suburb of DC. Because if you were, you would have a better understanding of how a metropolitan area works. Good Lord. And civilized and PROUDER? I beg of you to tell me you're joking.

[Anonymous]

New poster here. It might be easier to say D.C. than VA or MD. They want to identify with the scurry of D.C., as opposed to the less-than-scurry of the 'burbs.

I have noticed that people who aren't even "from here" CLAIM to be "from here" - ie: they were not born and raised here, nor have they even been here that long (less than 20 years).

It is a coping mechanism for some so that they will look like they are "playing the game" or "blending in" or at least trying. They get very defensive about it, so it puzzles some of us.

I was raised to look at things with more diversity. How boring would it be if everyone was actually "from here"!?!?! Isn't that part of why people relocated here to begin with?

How boring would it be if everyone was alike?
Is where you were born and raised that bad? Really?

I was born and raised in an overeducated, overmonied, overachieving area to some, it's kind of nice to be in someplace "more plain", so to speak, but gosh - I was not born and raised here and am therefore not from here. Simple.

But another thing about this area; things which are simple are made complicated and vice versa. They are really touchy (out of proportion) about things that aren't so much.

It's like animals - they puff themselves up and make themseles look big - LOL! How primitive!

Flame away. I would bet I've been here longer than you - LOL!

[Anonymous]

Wow, OP. So sorry to hear that you are so bothered by this. I used to live in Arlington. Most of the 10+ years I lived in VA I worked in downtown DC EVERY DAY and spent many an hour of my free time in the District as well. So when people ask me where I moved from (I live on the west coast now), I say "Washington, DC" or sometimes, "the DC area." If I know them better or they inquire further, I'll say we lived in Arlington because I loved Arlington and am very proud of living there. Sorry that you find that offensive but you know what I always found offensive? District residents who get on their soap box about living in DC vs. MD or VA when in reality, my time from my Arlington house door to my DC office door, was less than some have to travel from their Point A door in the District boundaries to Point B door in the District boundaries. As another example, I'm guessing you know that Rosslyn is approximately five seconds from WDC - really just divided by one river? Would that offend you if someone who resided in a condo there told someone they were from DC versus the "suburbs" of VA?
Get over it.

[Anonymous]

To 12:57's point, I think it also depends on the context of "where are you from". Are you asking because you want to know where I currently reside? If so, and you are local I'll tell you I live in Arlington (or even N. Arlington or the specific neighborhood). If you are not a resident of the DC Metro area, I'd tell you I live in DC or the DC area.

That's very different from the answer I'd give if I thought you were wondering where I grew up/where I was originally from in which case I'd answer Pittsburgh, PA.

Different people identify differently. I know a dear friend who has lived in DC for over ten years, but she proudly considers herself as being from Portland OR but just currently living here. Me? I knew as a kid I wanted to live in DC, and I've been here for over 15yrs so I consider myself "from" this area.

at the end of the day, why does it matter? seriously, OP? It's a status thing -- I'm just secretly wishing I was as cool as you when I tell someone in the midwest that I'm from DC as opposed to specifying that I live in Annandale or Herndon or Takoma Park or some other suburb? wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

New poster here. It might be easier to say D.C. than VA or MD. They want to identify with the scurry of D.C., as opposed to the less-than-scurry of the 'burbs.

I have noticed that people who aren't even "from here" CLAIM to be "from here" - ie: they were not born and raised here, nor have they even been here that long (less than 20 years).

It is a coping mechanism for some so that they will look like they are "playing the game" or "blending in" or at least trying. They get very defensive about it, so it puzzles some of us.

I was raised to look at things with more diversity. How boring would it be if everyone was actually "from here"!?!?! Isn't that part of why people relocated here to begin with?

How boring would it be if everyone was alike?
Is where you were born and raised that bad? Really?

I was born and raised in an overeducated, overmonied, overachieving area to some, it's kind of nice to be in someplace "more plain", so to speak, but gosh - I was not born and raised here and am therefore not from here. Simple.

But another thing about this area; things which are simple are made complicated and vice versa. They are really touchy (out of proportion) about things that aren't so much.

It's like animals - they puff themselves up and make themseles look big - LOL! How primitive!

Flame away. I would bet I've been here longer than you - LOL!

I mean I could tell people I am from Georgia - but I haven't lived there since I was 18 (I am now 40.) So if someone wants to know where I am from, I answer DC - not GA - since my perception of GA is from a child's perspective and I wouldn't have very much to say about it in an adult conversation. So at what point are you from here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- actually what bothers me is not that they are trying to get through the conversation as quick as possible, but that they would rather say DC because it sounds more civilized than say, a suburb in Virginia. I know it seems like a petty issue, but it's annoying- I think people are prouder to say DC than MD or VA, but MD or VA is NOT DC!!!

There's no way you could think like this and be from this area. DC sounds more civilized?! Where on earth are you from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone who lives in Virginia and Maryland claim to be from DC, but that isn't DC! That's another state, people! It drives me crazy because Virginia and Maryland are suburban towns and DC is a city!!

Who would want to admit to living in Virginia or D.C.?