People who have moved to Atlanta from rural Georgia (Savannah: home, live)

[gerrythesnake]

Do people always ask you when you go home "How do you like Atlanta?" It seems like everybody in south Ga ask me the same question each time I go home to visit

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by gerrythesnake

Do people always ask you when you go home "How do you like Atlanta?" It seems like everybody in south Ga ask me the same question each time I go home to visit

They absolutely do. Often times, that question is followed by the exclamation, "I don't know how you can stand it there!" (or something along those lines). I think that there are occasional racial undertones to the question and statement, but I think, too, it is fear of a fast-passed life, traffic, big metro governments, political and religious bents, etc.

[Mutiny77]

I think it's more so an urban vs rural thing. Unfortunately, Georgia doesn't have a midsized metro that could serve as more of an intermediary between the very large Atlanta and the other much smaller metros and rural areas--something about the size of Birmingham or Charlotte.

[AnsleyPark]

I also get questions about all of the "yankees" in Atlanta. There can be some interesting conversations! But, then again, plenty of the rural denizens appreciate Atlanta and understand its critical importance to the region.

[WanderingImport]

Being from Savannah, my parents (especially my mother) ALWAYS say "I could never tolerate the traffic, I don't know how you do it."

A positive counter is that there are many big city amenities that smaller Savannah does not have.

[CCATL]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

They absolutely do. Often times, that question is followed by the exclamation, "I don't know how you can stand it there!" (or something along those lines). I think that there are occasional racial undertones to the question and statement, but I think, too, it is fear of a fast-passed life, traffic, big metro governments, political and religious bents, etc.

I'm not from South Georgia, but I travel around the state a lot for work, and meet a large number of people from some of the most rural counties in the state. Whenever I visit the small towns, it's obvious I'm not from there, and people ask where I am from. When I say I'm from Atlanta, I ALWAYS get responses similar to what you've heard. I've gotten, "Oh my God, I don't know how anybody lives there", to a simple " I HATE Atlanta". I defend Atlanta, and try not to retort back with "and I don't know how you can live HERE!" :-)

I've noticed, at least in my experience, that people in southwest Georgia seem to come here more for concerts and the like, while people from areas between Valdosta and Brunswick (the swamps) tend to be more on the extreme end of avoiding it like the plague. But, they are also 4 hours away and in the most rural part of the state, so it's understandable - their lifestyle is VERY different. I always do love visiting those small towns though - I'm originally from a small town and it's nice to get out of the city every now and then.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by CCATL

I'm not from South Georgia, but I travel around the state a lot for work, and meet a large number of people from some of the most rural counties in the state. Whenever I visit the small towns, it's obvious I'm not from there, and people ask where I am from. When I say I'm from Atlanta, I ALWAYS get responses similar to what you've heard. I've gotten, "Oh my God, I don't know how anybody lives there", to a simple " I HATE Atlanta". I defend Atlanta, and try not to retort back with "and I don't know how you can live HERE!" :-)

I've noticed, at least in my experience, that people in southwest Georgia seem to come here more for concerts and the like, while people from areas between Valdosta and Brunswick (the swamps) tend to be more on the extreme end of avoiding it like the plague. But, they are also 4 hours away and in the most rural part of the state, so it's understandable - their lifestyle is VERY different. I always do love visiting those small towns though - I'm originally from a small town and it's nice to get out of the city every now and then.

I agree with you, CCATL. I wish our rural cousins loved Atlanta as much as this Atlantan loves rural Georgia.

[Iconographer]

I wish I had a dollar for every refugee from a Pentecostal family in rural Georgia that I met. I'd be a millionaire.

[gerrythesnake]

They seem shocked when I say I love it here

[gerrythesnake]

Originally Posted by CCATL

I'm not from South Georgia, but I travel around the state a lot for work, and meet a large number of people from some of the most rural counties in the state. Whenever I visit the small towns, it's obvious I'm not from there, and people ask where I am from. When I say I'm from Atlanta, I ALWAYS get responses similar to what you've heard. I've gotten, "Oh my God, I don't know how anybody lives there", to a simple " I HATE Atlanta". I defend Atlanta, and try not to retort back with "and I don't know how you can live HERE!" :-)

I've noticed, at least in my experience, that people in southwest Georgia seem to come here more for concerts and the like, while people from areas between Valdosta and Brunswick (the swamps) tend to be more on the extreme end of avoiding it like the plague. But, they are also 4 hours away and in the most rural part of the state, so it's understandable - their lifestyle is VERY different. I always do love visiting those small towns though - I'm originally from a small town and it's nice to get out of the city every now and then.

Same here, same here . I want to say it so bad. If I said it I would be the bad guy smh