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

[Anonymous]

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!!

[Anonymous]

Because when I tell people (that don't live in this area) I live in Virginia, they picture me living on a farm with cows. I haven't seen a cow in Arlington recently.

[Anonymous]

It's simply an easy way to say "the DC area". I live in VA and often say that to people who don't live here.

Let me guess - you live in DC itself?

[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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

This seriously bothers you?

[Anonymous]

Not everyone who lives in VA and MD does this - and my guess is that people who do say they're from DC are doing it to give an easy, quick answer to "where are you from?" rather than having a longer discussion about where, say, Leesburg or Germantown are to someone who doesn't know the area. Is this really such a big deal? Also, VA and MD aren't "suburban towns," as you say, OP - they're states.

[Anonymous]

When I was in Europe a few years ago I met someone from California. When he asked where I was from, I said Maryland. He had ABSOLUTELY no idea that Maryland was a state. He asked me what state Maryland was a city in. I had to tell him that I live in the DC area. He was able to understand that....

Like PPs have mentioned, I think it is just easier to say the DC area when you live in the suburbs. Plus, who cares??

[Anonymous]

I'm not OP, but it bothers me a little, too. I think "DC suburbs" would be more accurate, although I agree that it isn't a big deal at the end of the day and that the suburbanites who say they're from DC are motivated by the convenience of generalization rather than the intention of advertising falsely. If you're investing the imprecise statement with significance, it does kind of deny that they live on the periphery, though, and that there is a distinct core.

It also bothers me when people who live in extreme NW claim urban-dweller pride. In such cases, it is technically true but also imprecise.

[Anonymous]

if you have time to worry about this...I am jealous.

[Anonymous]

Because most people don't give a shit, and you need to just get through the conversation until you can politely excuse yourself to refill your wine glass.

This has been my experience when traveling for work, on vacation, and people ask me this. I assume they are not familiar with local terminology I would use around here, which is "in Silver Spring, just outside the beltway."

[Anonymous]

"Everyone who lives in Virginia and Maryland claim to be from DC"

Not true. I would say I'm from the DC area if I were visiting another state. Obviously if I'm talking to someone from around here I would say I live in NOVA or Alexandria, Springfield, whatever.
It just makes it easier for people that aren't from here. How could you not know that?
But then again you stated MD and VA are suburban towns which is ridiculously so far off the mark I shouldn't even be surprised.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Get a life! I usually say I am from the DC area. DH and I have lived in DC, VA and MD. I grew up elsewhere (actually in many places), so the question is always difficult to answer with a short answer.

People who care about semantics like this are nuts and come off to me as very superficial and status conscious. Very silly.

[Anonymous]

You need to get a grip.

First, not "everyone from VA and MD" do this. I say I'm from the DC area or a DC suburb.

Second, do you really think people have some great design to fake that they are from the district? Maybe they are talking quickly? Maybe they recognize that most people will recognize geographically where you are from if you link it to the major population center (DC). Frankly, where i live in NoVA is more closely related to DC than most of the rest of VA.

All better?