Atlanta: Gets a bad RAP.WHY?! (houses, income, shop)

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by WilliamM

I was thinking of a similar metaphor after my first post. It's as if you had an athletic team that had been in division III for some time getting better and better, then suddently they move up to division II where their weaknesses are mercilessly exposed even as they're playing better than they ever did before. And not only do they go up against the other division II teams, but since division I is so small but still have to play somebody the result is that this formerly division III team is suddenly thrown into competition with the div I teams as well. Which is unfair in a way, but as they say, that's how it goes in the big leagues.

exactly. i'd rep you but i gave you too much rep in the past 24 hours. i'll rep you again. bottomline is Atlanta is the Capital of the South and I respect this. Not to mention I love sports and Hotlanta is an excellent sports city. it's just that the big boys play with bigger bats and bigger balls. atlanta has some growing to do.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by Alexus

I've only been to Atlanta a couple times and I have relatives who have lived there all their lives. They are good people, but I prefer the substance that is Chicago and New York. Proud to be a Yankee.

Yeah, it's got a lot of marketing, that's for sure. But no 'substance'? What is substance anyway?

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by Alexus

I've only been to Atlanta a couple times and I have relatives who have lived there all of their lives. They are good people, but I prefer the substance that is Chicago and New York. Proud to be a Yankee.

WOW surprise a SAN Franciscan has a point!!Well half of the U.S. can afford to live in that bastion of American snobbery where wanna- be- European overbearing people trying to "out liberal" each other.LOL

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

exactly. i'd rep you but i gave you too much rep in the past 24 hours. i'll rep you again. bottomline is Atlanta is the Capital of the South and I respect this. Not to mention I love sports and Hotlanta is an excellent sports city. it's just that the big boys play with bigger bats and bigger balls. atlanta has some growing to do.

Thanks. And I'll return the favor.

[Alexus]

Originally Posted by afonega1

WOW surprise a SAN Franciscan has a point!!Well half of the U.S. can afford to live in that bastion of American snobbery where wanna- be- European overbearing people trying to "out liberal" each other.LOL

Sounds like something that would come from one whose city is all marketing and no substance. "wanna-be-European"?, "out liberal'?

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by afonega1

WOW surprise a SAN Franciscan has a point!!Well half of the U.S. can afford to live in that bastion of American snobbery where wanna- be- European overbearing people trying to "out liberal" each other.LOL

LOL. I was trying to think of a witty rejoinder, but you beat me to the punch!

Reminds me of what a former girlfriend of mine - and San Francisco-admirer - used to say: "In SF everyone's snobby about SOMETHING."

[Alexus]

Originally Posted by WilliamM

Yeah, it's got a lot of marketing, that's for sure. But no 'substance'? What is substance anyway?

Means that when you say that you have the best, you actually do, and it is recognized by all, not just in your own mind.

My relatives are always talking about how Atlanta has the "best", yet nationally, whatever is considered "best" is not recognized as such.

[WilliamM]

You know the wanna-be European thing got me thinking. I noticed over the years that Europeans with astonishing frequency claimed SF to be their favorite of all US cities, apparently even over NY (hard as it is to imagine). Wonder what that's all about. Do they find there their narcissistic mirror image of how they like to see themselves? Or is it they like the flattery of seeing the best Europe imitation American can provide in an effort to impress and out-Europe the Europeans?

Oh well, it's past midnight and I'm starting to get a little too Hegelian here. (Look him up, Alexus. Or better yet, just run down to one of your wonderful little high "substance" used book shops, of which I'm sure you must have plenty within walking distance).

[pirate_lafitte]

Atlanta gets a bad rap because it doesn't live up to what it appears to be.

[WilliamM]

Originally Posted by Alexus

My relatives are always talking about how Atlanta has the "best", yet nationally, whatever is considered "best" is not recognized as such.

Ah, so it's a family thing. I see.

Well, your criticism is well taken. Up to a point, that is. All cities boast (where do you think that moniker of "windy city" comes from anyway?) and no city pushes the envelope more than Atlanta, so the criticism is to some extent warranted. Still, I think it's a stretch to say it has no substance at all. I think you just have to know how to tune that marketing mumbo jumbo out and learn how to look at it as though through the spectacles of the anthropologist. (Assuming seeing the things as they really are is what you're after, of course.)