Feel like a fish out of water in Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“People with different political beliefs are unsettling to me.” So you’re the fascist trying to control your neighborhood streets, cool. Real head-scratcher why you don’t fit in anywhere.

I'm not OP, but I don't think it's about politics. It's about a more traditional, small-c conservative community that revolves around the nuclear family and sports and school politics. They probably mostly vote the same, but those are not OP's people - she is a single mom and an opinionated social justice activist.

OP, Takoma Park seems like the obvious choice for you.

Well, I’m a conservative living in Takoma Park. I love it. I recognize where most people are coming from, but almost everyone is really nice and I’ve made great friends. Maybe just take a step back. You can agree to disagree.

I'm pretty traditional, conservative on some issues, and live in TKPK, and love it, too. I have plenty of open and honest discussions on all sorts of issues. I don't think OP's "I don't care if I rock the boat" attitude is going to be socially successful anywhere.

But that is the point, right? OP wants to have these open and honest conversations. Her neighbors don't want that. That is why TKPK would be a better fit. Not because it has no conservatives, but because it's less conformist allowing people with a variety of viewpoints to feel comfortable

+1.

This is what OP said: "I’m not super interested in playing politics with my neighbors. I’m pretty vocal about social injustice and I curse a lot — I don’t really buy into the “don’t rock the boat” ethos around me."

That doesn't sound like reasoned discussion of political issues. It sounds like ranting and cursing. Nobody likes that really. People might tolerate it if they already like you, but that's no way to make friends, even in Takoma Park.

+1 from another (third?) Takoma Parker. I’m pretty liberal, and even my most liberal friends don’t want OP ranting and cursing around them, even if they agree with the general gist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

OP’s post was ridiculous and people are responding in kind in a somewhat tongue in cheek way. It’s ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

OP’s post was ridiculous and people are responding in kind in a somewhat tongue in cheek way. It’s ok.

As someone who lived in Vienna for several years I would say OP’s post resonated. It’s just a very uptight, conformist community. I think if she stayed she’d eventually find some like-minded people but why make the effort if she’s in a position to move now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

OP’s post was ridiculous and people are responding in kind in a somewhat tongue in cheek way. It’s ok.

+1. OP's post could have been phrased as "I lean more liberal and am feeling out of place in conservative leaning Vienna" and I think responding posts would have been more empathetic. The fact that she uses words like "conformist" and "tightly-wound' showed that she thought 1) everyone was the same and 2) she was better than everyone.

At the end of the day, not all neighborhoods are meant for everyone and I truly hope OP finds a community but to think people in Vienna are beneath her because of her particular parenting style or politics is unfair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

I guarantee most of this thread is op replying to herself and agreeing with herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.



It is very much a Vienna thing - both the conformity of the residents and the hostility to criticism.

The people who live there generally work in mid-level jobs (they are the VPs, not the C-suite members; the law firm senior associates and counsels, not the partners; and a ton of defense contractors and consultants). They are people pleasers who don't rock the boat. But at the same time they make enough money to feel like they should be admired and looked up to by others.

Put those traits together and you have a mob with pitchforks whenever the downsides of living in Vienna are discussed. They are the same folks who shave 10-15 minutes off their commute to make it seem like a breeze, or talk about the walkability of Vienna as if a series of strip malls on Maple Avenue is a walker's paradise.

I don't think you live in Vienna. It is possible to walk to strip malls, but it's also possible to walk to/through parkland, or down the W&OD trail. Cycling is also popular. The festivals and farmer's market are centrally located and easy to walk to. It's a great mix of walkable commercial and park destinations for a suburb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

OP’s post was ridiculous and people are responding in kind in a somewhat tongue in cheek way. It’s ok.

+1. OP's post could have been phrased as "I lean more liberal and am feeling out of place in conservative leaning Vienna" and I think responding posts would have been more empathetic. The fact that she uses words like "conformist" and "tightly-wound' showed that she thought 1) everyone was the same and 2) she was better than everyone.

At the end of the day, not all neighborhoods are meant for everyone and I truly hope OP finds a community but to think people in Vienna are beneath her because of her particular parenting style or politics is unfair.

This exactly (and thank you to this poster for their reasonable response)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.



It is very much a Vienna thing - both the conformity of the residents and the hostility to criticism.

The people who live there generally work in mid-level jobs (they are the VPs, not the C-suite members; the law firm senior associates and counsels, not the partners; and a ton of defense contractors and consultants). They are people pleasers who don't rock the boat. But at the same time they make enough money to feel like they should be admired and looked up to by others.

Put those traits together and you have a mob with pitchforks whenever the downsides of living in Vienna are discussed. They are the same folks who shave 10-15 minutes off their commute to make it seem like a breeze, or talk about the walkability of Vienna as if a series of strip malls on Maple Avenue is a walker's paradise.

I don't think you live in Vienna. It is possible to walk to strip malls, but it's also possible to walk to/through parkland, or down the W&OD trail. Cycling is also popular. The festivals and farmer's market are centrally located and easy to walk to. It's a great mix of walkable commercial and park destinations for a suburb.

My best friend lives in TOV so we are over her way a lot visiting and hanging out. We can and do literally walk from her house to the: Vienna Community Center, W&OD Trail, Vienna Library, Town Green, Vienna Inn (which is NOT uptight or any of those things that the original OP of this thread claims for Vienna), the VVFD (which hosts the Taste of Vienna every spring and we attend with these friends), at least 5 really great restaurants with patios, sports fields and schools, and more. To say that all there is to walk to in Vienna is strip malls is laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.



It is very much a Vienna thing - both the conformity of the residents and the hostility to criticism.

The people who live there generally work in mid-level jobs (they are the VPs, not the C-suite members; the law firm senior associates and counsels, not the partners; and a ton of defense contractors and consultants). They are people pleasers who don't rock the boat. But at the same time they make enough money to feel like they should be admired and looked up to by others.

Put those traits together and you have a mob with pitchforks whenever the downsides of living in Vienna are discussed. They are the same folks who shave 10-15 minutes off their commute to make it seem like a breeze, or talk about the walkability of Vienna as if a series of strip malls on Maple Avenue is a walker's paradise.

I don't think you live in Vienna. It is possible to walk to strip malls, but it's also possible to walk to/through parkland, or down the W&OD trail. Cycling is also popular. The festivals and farmer's market are centrally located and easy to walk to. It's a great mix of walkable commercial and park destinations for a suburb.

You’re right. I don’t live in Vienna. But I did, for several years, which was more than enough time to pick up on the conformist vibe and the tendencies to understate commuting times and greatly exaggerate the walkability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.



It is very much a Vienna thing - both the conformity of the residents and the hostility to criticism.

The people who live there generally work in mid-level jobs (they are the VPs, not the C-suite members; the law firm senior associates and counsels, not the partners; and a ton of defense contractors and consultants). They are people pleasers who don't rock the boat. But at the same time they make enough money to feel like they should be admired and looked up to by others.

Put those traits together and you have a mob with pitchforks whenever the downsides of living in Vienna are discussed. They are the same folks who shave 10-15 minutes off their commute to make it seem like a breeze, or talk about the walkability of Vienna as if a series of strip malls on Maple Avenue is a walker's paradise.

I don't think you live in Vienna. It is possible to walk to strip malls, but it's also possible to walk to/through parkland, or down the W&OD trail. Cycling is also popular. The festivals and farmer's market are centrally located and easy to walk to. It's a great mix of walkable commercial and park destinations for a suburb.

You’re right. I don’t live in Vienna. But I did, for several years, which was more than enough time to pick up on the conformist vibe and the tendencies to understate commuting times and greatly exaggerate the walkability.

It's pretty walkable compared to most of DC but it is a conformist vibe. In a good way mainly. Helping out with the community whether with Ukranian refugees or with the school play. There are just so many people here and just outside the town that it's just a bit ridiculous for OP to generalize to this extent like she lives in a town of 500 people. My neighbor decided to move because there were too many singles renting on her street and she's in the town limits. It's a bit conformist of a town but not that conformist that OP can't find her niche if she tries. And who knows maybe between political activities she will find she also likes helping out with the drama club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

I guarantee most of this thread is op replying to herself and agreeing with herself.

OP here. Ask Jeff. I haven't been sock puppeting on here at all.

I know it’s you because a few pages back, someone else said that OP is replying to themselves and then interestingly enough, someone (who claimed they weren’t OP) also said to “Ask Jeff”.

Funny how you and that “other person” both said to ask Jeff.

It’s ok if it is you. We’re just tired of this topic being bumped that has nothing to do with real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

I guarantee most of this thread is op replying to herself and agreeing with herself.

OP here. Ask Jeff. I haven't been sock puppeting on here at all.

I know it’s you because a few pages back, someone else said that OP is replying to themselves and then interestingly enough, someone (who claimed they weren’t OP) also said to “Ask Jeff”.

Funny how you and that “other person” both said to ask Jeff.

It’s ok if it is you. We’re just tired of this topic being bumped that has nothing to do with real estate.

"Ask Jeff" is a standard DCUM response when people make false claims about sock puppeting, since he's uniquely positioned to evaluate those claims. You aren't too bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

OP’s post was ridiculous and people are responding in kind in a somewhat tongue in cheek way. It’s ok.

+1. OP's post could have been phrased as "I lean more liberal and am feeling out of place in conservative leaning Vienna" and I think responding posts would have been more empathetic. The fact that she uses words like "conformist" and "tightly-wound' showed that she thought 1) everyone was the same and 2) she was better than everyone.

At the end of the day, not all neighborhoods are meant for everyone and I truly hope OP finds a community but to think people in Vienna are beneath her because of her particular parenting style or politics is unfair.

+2. Also OP turned off a lot of potential sympathizers with this: "I’m pretty vocal about social injustice and I curse a lot — I don’t really buy into the “don’t rock the boat” ethos around me." Nobody, but nobody, wants to live around that person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, most people can freely express their views on this site - about communities, houses, schools, etc - and when other posters push back, it's usually to try to rebut the specific criticism that's been voiced. But in all my time reading this Real Estate forum, I don't think i've ever seen such a weird sustained barrage of personal attacks on an OP -- "no, OP is the problem, she sounds like a real b****, doesn't she? i know people like her, ugh."

Honestly, if these other posters were trying to prove her point about the unwelcoming and problematic personalities in Vienna (who knows where they hail from, but something in her comment about Vienna triggered them), they couldn't have done better job.

I cannot believe this thread is still going and with the same level of vitriol as 10 pages ago. Our family lives in Vienna and is always trying to convince us to move. We went to see a few homes last weekend. After reading this thread, I can firmly say no freaking way. We are super happy where we are.

OP’s post was ridiculous and people are responding in kind in a somewhat tongue in cheek way. It’s ok.

+1. OP's post could have been phrased as "I lean more liberal and am feeling out of place in conservative leaning Vienna" and I think responding posts would have been more empathetic. The fact that she uses words like "conformist" and "tightly-wound' showed that she thought 1) everyone was the same and 2) she was better than everyone.

At the end of the day, not all neighborhoods are meant for everyone and I truly hope OP finds a community but to think people in Vienna are beneath her because of her particular parenting style or politics is unfair.

+2. Also OP turned off a lot of potential sympathizers with this: "I’m pretty vocal about social injustice and I curse a lot — I don’t really buy into the “don’t rock the boat” ethos around me." Nobody, but nobody, wants to live around that person.

Personally, I'd rather live around a live wire who has opinions and curses occasionally than the polite but gossipy, backstabbing types so common in Vienna.