Are you proud to say that you are from Illinois? (Chicago: suburbs, office)

[PILMAN]

I was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois and grew up in Wheeling, IL for 17 years of my life before relocating to Northern Florida. While not technically within limits of the city of Chicago, and while some people have their opinions of "suburbanites" and non 773 area codes, my dad and the rest of his family grew up in Chicago. I think most of the suburbs would be considered metropolitan area of Chicago and so if someone asks, I tell them I grew up in the Chicago area since most of cook county is associated as Chicagoland anyways. I don't think i've ever told anyone i'm from Illinois, just has a different vibe. It's like saying "i'm from California" when you could say your from LA or San Francisco or San Diego.

I don't say i'm from Illinois because most of Illinois outside of Cook county is culturally very different from the rest of the Chicago area in general.

My mother was born in Wisconsin but lived in the Chicago suburbs for 22 years of her life so she considers herself from Chicago.

Anyways i've been through east st. louis, springfield, southern and northern Illinois and completely different in my opinion.

I wouldn't say i'm proud to be from there, but it's where I grew up and I do focus on the positive things rather than the negative, too much politics, corruption, and negative associations, but I do miss the food and riding the CTA through the city, museums and navy pier. I would like to take my wife there to visit, but I can't see myself ever living there again.

[rparz]

Originally Posted by C. Maurio

They will have the same reaction if you say you are from L.A. or NYC. Who cares? Most of them wish they could live in one of the big 3 instead of the little crappy boring ass places they live in. You think somebody from Craphole, KY or Wheatbore, KS or Opensewer, MS is going to look down their nose at me? I don't think so! If you live in the big 3, you are somebody. Not just anybody can live in the big 3. It is a privilege to live in the big 3. Like to visit places but don't want to live anywhere that Dominoes is the best pizza in town!

It's great being from a big city because that means some jobs and opportunity.

I love being from Chicago, and love going back. Also, with the 'Chicago way' I can pick up a phone and make more things happen that I think I could most places.

If a more laid back life is for you, great, but I like the ambition and success the big city offers.

As far as the rest of the state is concerned, I think I can count the number of times I went west of 59 and south of I-80 on both hands. I've gone to Wisconsin or Michigan many times more than I ever traveled within the state. It never existed on my radar.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by C. Maurio

If you live in the big 3, you are somebody. Not just anybody can live in the big 3. It is a privilege to live in the big 3.

Yes, yes... Every two-bit gangbanger, drug dealer, and homeless person who lives in NYC, LA, or Chicago is oh, so special just because they've managed to live in "the big 3" whereas all those losers who live everywhere else are resentful and doomed to a life not worth living because they can never make it happen.

[mjtinmemphis]

I don't know what to write about the big 3 statement.

I know of many who live in rural parts of the Tennessee who do more in life than people who live in Lakeview, Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast. It seems that thought process is the same as the one that thinks people are more sophisticated in the big 3. Its a bunch of crap!!!

I personally love the urban lifestyle of "the big3". At the same time I've lived all over the country and know better than what's being preached by some.

[Heyooooo]

I wonder how many of these "somebodies" from NYC, LA and Chi are actually from these cities and not from nobodyville aka everywhere else?

We all know how transient NYC and LA are.

[C. Maurio]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

Ever think people live where they do because they want to? Not everyone is clamoring to live in cities. Why do you think most people want to live in the big 3? Give me an answer to this question.



If you live in the big 3 you are somebody? What the **** are you talking about? All those folks in SF and DC, etc. are all nobodies I guess.

Im from a city of 60,000, and Dominoes knows better than to be here. We are pizza elitists ourselves since its extremely Italian here, but I still fail to see how this even remotely makes any sense anyway in determining superiority.

Probably one of the worst things ive ever read on the internet.

The big 3 are like the big leagues. When you live here, you know you have made it for the most part. Everything else is bush league or minor league. That is why people call that vast empty space between Chicago and Las Vegas "flyover country".

[C. Maurio]

Originally Posted by PILMAN

I was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois and grew up in Wheeling, IL for 17 years of my life before relocating to Northern Florida. While not technically within limits of the city of Chicago, and while some people have their opinions of "suburbanites" and non 773 area codes, my dad and the rest of his family grew up in Chicago. I think most of the suburbs would be considered metropolitan area of Chicago and so if someone asks, I tell them I grew up in the Chicago area since most of cook county is associated as Chicagoland anyways. I don't think i've ever told anyone i'm from Illinois, just has a different vibe. It's like saying "i'm from California" when you could say your from LA or San Francisco or San Diego.

I don't say i'm from Illinois because most of Illinois outside of Cook county is culturally very different from the rest of the Chicago area in general.

My mother was born in Wisconsin but lived in the Chicago suburbs for 22 years of her life so she considers herself from Chicago.

Anyways i've been through east st. louis, springfield, southern and northern Illinois and completely different in my opinion.

I wouldn't say i'm proud to be from there, but it's where I grew up and I do focus on the positive things rather than the negative, too much politics, corruption, and negative associations, but I do miss the food and riding the CTA through the city, museums and navy pier. I would like to take my wife there to visit, but I can't see myself ever living there again.

If you live in Cook, DuPage, Henry, Lake (IL), Lake(IN) or Kenosha (WI), you are Chicago because you live within the sphere of influence of Chicago.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by C. Maurio

If you live in Cook, DuPage, Henry, Lake (IL), Lake(IN) or Kenosha (WI), you are Chicago because you live within the sphere of influence of Chicago.

You forgot Will County. And really Kankakee County is under Chicago's sphere of influence too.

[C. Maurio]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

I wonder how many of these "somebodies" from NYC, LA and Chi are actually from these cities and not from nobodyville aka everywhere else?

We all know how transient NYC and LA are.

Yes many are from elsewhere. You cannot choose where you are born but if you work hard and get educated, you can choose where you die. If you work hard enough, you may one day get to live in one of the big 3. Or you can be fortunate enough to be born here. But even if you are born here, if you are a failure, you might not get to stay. You might end up in prison- as I did- or you might end up having to go to some God forsaken land like Texas so you can get a job because you were not good enough to get a job here.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by C. Maurio

The big 3 are like the big leagues. When you live here, you know you have made it for the most part. Everything else is bush league or minor league. That is why people call that vast empty space between Chicago and Las Vegas "flyover country".

Actually, many on the coasts -- rightly or wrongly -- consider Chicago to be part of "flyover country" as well.