Stereotypes of Cities?

[Anonymous]

San Diego:
Diverse, perfect weather and beautiful/rude people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

...and also Fells Point and Harbour South

...lots of Hons!

...and the Museum of Visionary Art (such a trip!)

...eating cheap oysters and drinking beer out of a takeout food container at Cross Street Market.

...the best and cheapest farmers market on the East Coast (on Sunday mornings).

I enjoy living in DC, but Baltimore is 5x more fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Philly -- massive insecurity re NYC. Constant need to prove that NYC isn't all that. In reality it's full of people who don't leave Philly bc they can't make it anywhere else; they need to be where they were born and raised bc preferential treatment re hiring is alive and well. Don't like outsiders. Not the brightest lights in the harbor. The only city that seems to look down on the ivy league school in its cities. 'Nova, Temple, Rutgers, and Penn State grads get hired constantly over UPenn grads bc UPenn students are thought of as elitists or outsiders -- even the ones that WANT to stay in Philly after college.

+1. Philly is just insecure in general. No one cares about philly.

I dislike everyone I meet from Philly.
They are arrogant and egotistical, and racist. And so overly proud of their city, which is a crummy s-hole. Good food though!

I feel the same about Philly, which I always think of as Filthadelphia. I took Amtrak there from DC and it went through I swear shantytowns. The scene looked like a favela. It is criminal that they've allowed the public schools (not talking about surrounding suburbs) in Philly to fall to shit... much worse situation than DC. The people seemed very defensive; very proud townies who think Philly is the absolute best even though they've never been anywhere else. And I hate that weird accent they have.

I'm from Phila. I agree with all the negatives but you have to include that the people who live there are in on it. They are angry, defensive and insecure but they are proud underdogs. Rocky is a meaningful allegory to these people. Everyone I know that is successful in town does something in finance or real estate, law, or healthcare- nothing intellectual (ok law excluded). They are incurious and superficial but most of them are scraping by, the roofers, the pipe fitters- and they LIVE, year round, for the E.A.G.L.E.S. They don't have much else. So, I agree they are ugly, angry, fat and mean but they have redeeming qualities. They are refreshingly honest. You know where you stand with people, you don't have to guess. And it is this country's birthplace. That said, I would HATE to live there. Sorry to respond, I really wanted to just agree but I felt the criticisms were missed something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Philly -- massive insecurity re NYC. Constant need to prove that NYC isn't all that. In reality it's full of people who don't leave Philly bc they can't make it anywhere else; they need to be where they were born and raised bc preferential treatment re hiring is alive and well. Don't like outsiders. Not the brightest lights in the harbor. The only city that seems to look down on the ivy league school in its cities. 'Nova, Temple, Rutgers, and Penn State grads get hired constantly over UPenn grads bc UPenn students are thought of as elitists or outsiders -- even the ones that WANT to stay in Philly after college.

+1. Philly is just insecure in general. No one cares about philly.

I dislike everyone I meet from Philly.
They are arrogant and egotistical, and racist. And so overly proud of their city, which is a crummy s-hole. Good food though!

I feel the same about Philly, which I always think of as Filthadelphia. I took Amtrak there from DC and it went through I swear shantytowns. The scene looked like a favela. It is criminal that they've allowed the public schools (not talking about surrounding suburbs) in Philly to fall to shit... much worse situation than DC. The people seemed very defensive; very proud townies who think Philly is the absolute best even though they've never been anywhere else. And I hate that weird accent they have.

You have never been to a favela if that's what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

...and also Fells Point and Harbour South

...lots of Hons!

...and the Museum of Visionary Art (such a trip!)

...eating cheap oysters and drinking beer out of a takeout food container at Cross Street Market.

...the best and cheapest farmers market on the East Coast (on Sunday mornings).


I enjoy living in DC, but Baltimore is 5x more fun.

Where is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

...and also Fells Point and Harbour South

...lots of Hons!

...and the Museum of Visionary Art (such a trip!)

...eating cheap oysters and drinking beer out of a takeout food container at Cross Street Market.

...the best and cheapest farmers market on the East Coast (on Sunday mornings).

Just east of downtown. Super safe and family friendly. Go early, stands begin breaking down at 11am and by noon most purveyors have left.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/baltimore-farmers-market-and-bazaar-baltimore



I enjoy living in DC, but Baltimore is 5x more fun.

Where is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

...and also Fells Point and Harbour South

...lots of Hons!

...and the Museum of Visionary Art (such a trip!)

...eating cheap oysters and drinking beer out of a takeout food container at Cross Street Market.

...the best and cheapest farmers market on the East Coast (on Sunday mornings).


I enjoy living in DC, but Baltimore is 5x more fun.

Where is it?

Just east of downtown under the expressway. Super safe and family friendly. Go early, stands begin breaking down at 11am and by noon the market is done. We love going right when they open at 7am.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/baltimore-farmers-market-and-bazaar-baltimore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

...and also Fells Point and Harbour South

...lots of Hons!

...and the Museum of Visionary Art (such a trip!)

...eating cheap oysters and drinking beer out of a takeout food container at Cross Street Market.

...the best and cheapest farmers market on the East Coast (on Sunday mornings).

I enjoy living in DC, but Baltimore is 5x more fun.

So true. Baltimore's not perfect, that may be one of the biggest understatements ever, but it is SO much more fun than DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread should be re-titled "Stereotypes of White, Straight People in Various American Cities"

I'd love to hear how Latinos, African-Americans, or LGBTQs stereotype their peers in different cities.

I'm game: Indian here: Chicago : money, money, money, so much money indians don't know what to do with it. shallow. big diamond necklaces worn to the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Chicago again -Yes, there is money, and people are nice but so incredibly BORING and unsophisticated. Love DC for the interesting, friendly people you meet every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most city folks: Food comes from the grocery store. Rely on others to defend them.

Are you naked and afraid somewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Philly -- massive insecurity re NYC. Constant need to prove that NYC isn't all that. In reality it's full of people who don't leave Philly bc they can't make it anywhere else; they need to be where they were born and raised bc preferential treatment re hiring is alive and well. Don't like outsiders. Not the brightest lights in the harbor. The only city that seems to look down on the ivy league school in its cities. 'Nova, Temple, Rutgers, and Penn State grads get hired constantly over UPenn grads bc UPenn students are thought of as elitists or outsiders -- even the ones that WANT to stay in Philly after college.

+1. Philly is just insecure in general. No one cares about philly.

I dislike everyone I meet from Philly.
They are arrogant and egotistical, and racist. And so overly proud of their city, which is a crummy s-hole. Good food though!

I feel the same about Philly, which I always think of as Filthadelphia. I took Amtrak there from DC and it went through I swear shantytowns. The scene looked like a favela. It is criminal that they've allowed the public schools (not talking about surrounding suburbs) in Philly to fall to shit... much worse situation than DC. The people seemed very defensive; very proud townies who think Philly is the absolute best even though they've never been anywhere else. And I hate that weird accent they have.

I'm from Phila. I agree with all the negatives but you have to include that the people who live there are in on it. They are angry, defensive and insecure but they are proud underdogs. Rocky is a meaningful allegory to these people. Everyone I know that is successful in town does something in finance or real estate, law, or healthcare- nothing intellectual (ok law excluded). They are incurious and superficial but most of them are scraping by, the roofers, the pipe fitters- and they LIVE, year round, for the E.A.G.L.E.S. They don't have much else. So, I agree they are ugly, angry, fat and mean but they have redeeming qualities. They are refreshingly honest. You know where you stand with people, you don't have to guess. And it is this country's birthplace. That said, I would HATE to live there. Sorry to respond, I really wanted to just agree but I felt the criticisms were missed something.

NP: Also from Philly. I couldn't wait to get out of Philly when I applied to colleges. Left and never looked back. I remember as a teenager wondering why people around me were so proud of the fact that they never traveled anywhere outside of the Philly area or never wanted to leave. I'm trying to convince my mom to move to VA to be close by but she won't leave no matter how lonely and bored she is.

[Anonymous]

Chicago - City of gangsters and corruption

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

...and also Fells Point and Harbour South

...lots of Hons!

...and the Museum of Visionary Art (such a trip!)

...eating cheap oysters and drinking beer out of a takeout food container at Cross Street Market.

...the best and cheapest farmers market on the East Coast (on Sunday mornings).

I enjoy living in DC, but Baltimore is 5x more fun.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

+2

I know a few really well-off people in Manhattan - that's the way to do it. The friends who've struggled smartly left. What's the point of living there if you're just going to be stressed?

Another issue with NYC is the extended adolescence the city encourages. I have MANY single female friends in NYC in their late 30s, making $80-100K, with zero prospects for marriage and still living with roommates in a rental apartment. They'd love to settle down with the right guy, but guys in NYC still single in their 30s have no desire to get serious. They are on an endlessly spinning hamster wheel of 12 hour work days, grinding it out on the subway, dinner with friends, bad dates, partying, and lugging their laundry to the launder-mat. Miserable!

How does working 12 hour days = "extended adolescence"?

Working 12 hrs day IMO is not extended adolescence but it is an extension of the work hard play hard lifestyle of a 25 yr old. Certain industries in NYC - like finance and law - just require 12+ hrs/day for crazy compensation. But the reality is if your life becomes working from 9 am-midnight and you embrace being a workaholic or if it's 9 am to 9 pm and you're out to drinks nightly after that, it becomes impossible to have or maintain any kind of family life. Back in my NYC days, if you finished off work around 9-10 pm and weren't going out with the crew - whether work friends or friends - bc you hadn't seen your spouse and kid all week, that was viewed as "lame" - and not by the 25 yr olds but rather by the 35+ crowd.

+1


And it is really obvious!

This is what I miss about NYC, actually. That and the spontaneity. It took me a very long time to adapt to the DC plan ahead mentality.

I hate to pick on DC because I love it, but this reminds of one of my qualms (as a former New Yorker). If people don't want to do an activity after work, the excuse is always "I'm too busy with work." But that is patently false, because in NYC people are just as busy with work. Be honest DC people, you don't want to hang out because you want to see your family! Totally fine. I think the "I'm too busy with work/overworked" shtick is played out.