Why do people here bash suburbia when most of the NW DC moms live in what is essentially the burbs?

[Anonymous]

In the past, I have lived a block from the Cleveland Park metro and two blocks from the Woodley Park metro, and those neighborhoods were absolutely more suburban than my current Virginia home. I can walk to everything I need, including the grocery store and about forty restaurants. Being inside the District line doesn't confer "urban" status.

If you are telling the truth about living one block from the Cleveland Park metro, then at that time you were easy walking distance to "the grocery store and about forty restaurants."

Just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where in DC do you live, moral compass?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

This makes no sense - just because someone lives in the District, how is that helping the region's poor?

Doesn't matter. If you're a DC taxpayer, you're disproportionately supporting the region's poor. If you live outside the city, you've made the decision to segregate yourself, and leave them to their fate. And that goes for black or white folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

You're not living in a yurt and immunizing babies in remote central asia.

LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

You're not living in a yurt and immunizing babies in remote central asia.

Right, and someone who spends every weekend volunteering at a homeless shelter isn't Mother Theresa in India living in poverty with lepers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in DC do you live, moral compass?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

This makes no sense - just because someone lives in the District, how is that helping the region's poor?

Doesn't matter. If you're a DC taxpayer, you're disproportionately supporting the region's poor. If you live outside the city, you've made the decision to segregate yourself, and leave them to their fate. And that goes for black or white folks.

You do realize that taxpayers in MD and VA pay STATE taxes and they help poor people in their states, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where in DC do you live, moral compass?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

This makes no sense - just because someone lives in the District, how is that helping the region's poor?

Doesn't matter. If you're a DC taxpayer, you're disproportionately supporting the region's poor. If you live outside the city, you've made the decision to segregate yourself, and leave them to their fate. And that goes for black or white folks.

again - this makes no sense. If you pay DC taxes you support the poor in DC, those who pay MD and VA taxes support the poor in their states. We all pay federal taxes and support the poor around the entire country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

I hope you're speaking tongue in cheek. I love DC and I don't live in upper NW but I don't think I'm helping out the region's poor just by living here instead of suburbia!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

You're not living in a yurt and immunizing babies in remote central asia.

Right, and someone who spends every weekend volunteering at a homeless shelter isn't Mother Theresa in India living in poverty with lepers.

Yeah but the person volunteering in a homeless shelter is a lot closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of what the immediate environment of someone living in NW, if they're living in DC, they're doing more to help the region's poor than anyone living in the burbs. Living in DC is a moral act.

Gee, can I just write a check to a charity and be your moral equivalent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In the past, I have lived a block from the Cleveland Park metro and two blocks from the Woodley Park metro, and those neighborhoods were absolutely more suburban than my current Virginia home. I can walk to everything I need, including the grocery store and about forty restaurants. Being inside the District line doesn't confer "urban" status.

If you are telling the truth about living one block from the Cleveland Park metro, then at that time you were easy walking distance to "the grocery store and about forty restaurants."

Just saying.

PP here -- there are nothing close to forty restaurants within walking distance of the CP metro, unless you're counting Adams Morgan. As for grocery stores, I should have been more specific. How about "decent grocery stores?". The Giant on Wisconsin used to run out of basic stuff, like tomatoes. What kind of grocery store runs out of tomatoes? They used to bring folks from the Russian Embassy to shop there. We used to joke that it was so they'd believe the propaganda about life not being better in the US. Last time I checked, the neighborhood had managed to get the ever-helpful city bureaucrats to stymie the store's plans for expansion.

And, in Virginia, they let me keep more of my own money to spend as I see fit. Just sayin'.

[Anonymous]

PP new to this particular exchange here. I'm the last person to defend Cleveland Park's urban cred., but Brookville Market is a good little-medium grocery store and, as far as I know, has been about a block from the CP metro station for years. Much better than that dismal Giant on that especially desolate stretch of Wisconsin Ave. I'd even agree that there probably are about 40 restaurants within 15 minutes walk of CP station without requiring CPers to venture into the infinitely superior neighborhood of Adams Morgan (reveals her own prejudices/ neighborhood affiliation).

BUT, I'll repeat my assertion that plenty of families are living beyond upper NW and staying, so suburban posters shouldn't be assuming that this disdain is coming from non-urban DC. If we all lived north or west of Woodley Park, that would be one thing. But that's a false assumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children can run on grass in their own yard.

I'm trying to recreate your logic, but I just don't see why this matters.

not so quick to catch on, eh?

Read any thread on suburban vs. urban and you'll see the city "elitists" who claim that they can walk or take public trans to the museums - while the 'burbans are driving minivans to activities and to work.

Please, PP, you don't see that?

Some of us live and work in suburbia. We like land. We don't mind driving b/c our commutes aren't maddening. We prefer a quiet lifestyle.

I don't need to live five minutes from a museum to feel as though I've got a bit of class. I like my garden on my 3/4 acre. I like the fact that my kids have a playset in their own yard. I even like seeing deer even though they destroy my garden.

different lifestyle choices for people who don't like a chaotic lifestyle

[Anonymous]

quote]What kind of grocery store runs out of tomatoes? They used to bring folks from the Russian Embassy to shop there. We used to joke that it was so they'd believe the propaganda about life not being better in the US.

LOL! I think they finally did agree to let that awful Giant expand. Hopefully it will have less of an 'eastern bloc' feel after the renovation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're assuming that the DC moms responding live in suburban NW. But lots of us live more centrally-- so many, in fact, that you should no longer assume the posts you see originate in AU Park.

I'm from suburban NW. I don't like the burbs because the people I met there were unbearable snobs. Not saying that people here aren't, but it's really hard for me to swallow the nonsense I heard from some of these moms. "I ONLY wear this or that designer." or "Designer clothes are sooo much better." And then they whine about the cost of a college education and that they don't know what they're gonna do in a few years. I know what I just wrote is really flameworthy and I don't think ALL suburbanites are like this. But I met enough to make me want to steer clear. Also, all suburban NW people aren't designer wearing, Prius driving, sour pusses. There's a good share of down to earth people here. And yes, there's a problem with social insecurity, but that's true in lots of places. Now, who knows the name of a good designer flame retardant suit? (I kid!)

Lived in the burbs and the city. I've met a lot of a-hole posers. My experience has been that where they live has little to do with it.

[Anonymous]

You needed a place to live. You made a choice. That doesn't entitle you to anything. Period.

I live in NWDC. Personally, I love it. I'm not going to get snooty about it, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

However, there are plenty of things I like about the suburbs and "real" city living too, and when I meet people from either the burbs or the city I can totally see why they like being there.

Ultimately, we made a choice that met our needs and our wants. It works for us. You live where you live because it works for you. If you have to resort to judging others well then maybe you doubt your own choice, but deal with it yourself. Don't be a bitch because you have insecurity about where you live.