Chicago hate: Does the negativity bother you ? (Schaumburg, Barry: violent crime, houses)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

I'm over 35 (as are many of my friends), and I find plenty that caters to me. I personally wouldn't want to live in Wrigleyville or at Milwaukee and Damen (though I know people my age and older who have enjoyed living in those areas), but fortunately there are a ton of other options. No need to feel sorry for us.

I agree completely that the Red Eye is crappy and aimed at a young demo, but I find it astonishingly easy to avoid reading things I don't like. Who still reads dead tree publications in an era when you can get anything you want on your phone, anyway?

That was an extremely odd comment. I have yet to encounter anyone of any age that is forced to read the Red Eye.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

I'm well past the bar-hopping phase of my life, but are the young'uns these days really that much more rotten than 20, 30, and 40 years ago? Sure. the vast majority of 20 somethings are trend-followers who in the end won't achieve exceptional things, but that's true of every generation. Being exceptional, is well, exceptional, its not common or routine, its something only a minority of people achieve.

No disagreement here, but I just find these self-absorbed, I-Phone clutching-for-dear-life types to be pretty annoying. Can't these (figurative) kids put their toys away for a while?

I've had experiences in restautants where I'm there, by myself, just gettin a quick after-work bite, and I look across the aisle, and I see four 20-somethings, seated facing each other, but NOT talking to each other because they're too engrossed in their I-Phones. Really silly, and pretty sad..

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by MassVt

No disagreement here, but I just find these self-absorbed, I-Phone clutching-for-dear-life types to be pretty annoying. Can't these (figurative) kids put their toys away for a while?

I've had experiences in restautants where I'm there, by myself, just gettin a quick after-work bite, and I look across the aisle, and I see four 20-somethings, seated facing each other, but NOT talking to each other because they're too engrossed in their I-Phones. Really silly, and pretty sad..

...what are the odds that one was reading the WSJ, another the Trib, another the NYT, another the SunTimes???

Yeah, tell me about it!

Getting their Instagram posted ready for when the food comes out and they can take pictures of it.

Sick and twisted!

[ChiNaan]

I hate it when people take pictures of everything they eat and post it online. I'll definitely get on board the grumpy-old-man train with you all on that issue. I sometimes wonder if they secretly take pictures of it all after it comes out the other end, too.

The food porn trend must die. But this is too far off-topic even for me.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

That was an extremely odd comment. I have yet to encounter anyone of any age that is forced to read the Red Eye.

The Red Eye was just something I picked out of a newstand, to read a little later in my Chicago hotel room. It's basically "cotton candy journalism", quickly digested, and even more quickly forgotten.

Is the "Paper Bag Boy" still a guest columnist? And I always have to adjust my thinking when writers discussed "the Sox", meaning "White" instead of "Red'...

I never regarded it as being anything more than something to stare at while eating a snack from Domenick's while in my hotel room. It won't win any Pulitzers anytime soon, and I can ignore it whenever I want..

[NARFALICIOUS]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

I hate it when people take pictures of everything they eat and post it online.

It's small talk via pictures.

I sometimes wonder if they secretly take pictures of it all after it comes out the other end, too.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

I hate it when people take pictures of everything they eat and post it online. I'll definitely get on board the grumpy-old-man train with you all on that issue. I sometimes wonder if they secretly take pictures of it all after it comes out the other end, too.

The food porn trend must die. But this is too far off-topic even for me.

...Denny's all the time -- their menu has the pictures on it for you!

Maybe there is hope for you afterall...

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by MassVt

The Red Eye was just something I picked out of a newstand, to read a little later in my Chicago hotel room. It's basically "cotton candy journalism", quickly digested, and even more quickly forgotten.

Is the "Paper Bag Boy" still a guest columnist? And I always have to adjust my thinking when writers discussed "the Sox", meaning "White" instead of "Red'...

I never regarded it as being anything more than something to stare at while eating a snack from Domenick's while in my hotel room. It won't win any Pulitzers anytime soon, and I can ignore it whenever I want..

In my pre-smart-phone days I would sometimes pick it up for something to read on the train, but I nearly always regretted it. I would definitely go for a Reader, Time Out, or Onion (or Trib or S-T if I had quarters) first, with the Red Eye being my last resort.

The Red Eye always seemed like a weak attempt by The Trib to tap into some of the audience of The Reader or Time Out. "Hey, look kids, we're hip too! This ain't yer grandpa's Tribune!" It came across as trying too hard and failing miserably, to me.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...what are the odds that one was reading the WSJ, another the Trib, another the NYT, another the SunTimes???

Yeah, tell me about it!

Getting their Instagram posted ready for when the food comes out and they can take pictures of it.

Sick and twisted!

Here, it would be the NYT, the Globe, the WSJ, and the Herald..but the odds are the same:

1,000,000,000,000,000 to 1.

Taking pictures of your food =

Pretty subtle, huh?

[stephei2000]

It's enriching, energizing, and inspiring to me. The suburbs were soul-crushing to me.

I actually understand this perspective. A typical suburb can be soul crushing. You have to go where you get your energy. I think there is such a huge debate on this right now because the Chicago metro area is mostly a dichotomy. Boring suburbs vs exciting urban city with a couple of middle ground suburbs like Evanston and Oak Park. I am basically generalizing now.

However, I believe you do have to find you energy. This is so important and did not realize this until about a year ago. I like excitement but hate most urban environments and dark brown colors. It seems like the single person neighborhoods are all brown and working class looking except for maybe a few blocks in East Lakeview where it more bright and modern. But overall this brown, dull, gritty look literaly sucks the energy out of me whatever is left because of my chronic health condition and barely go out, and I like to go out.

Also the judgemental vibe is there with your career and jobs. In Chicago, you are either a 9-5 fiver or blue collar. I was able to deal with Chicago a little better while I was an independent contractor as I felt like I could relate to people better, but still hated the urban environment so socially it never lived up to the hype for me.

The environment really affects me and I am obviously leaving but I am cautious with my money so I am going to be here longer than I like. However, I feel if you like the energy or environment of place you will have better interactions with people therefore bringing more positive energy.

I do not know if leaving if I will have a more genunine connection with people which is the key, but I would least like to allow myself a chance. I know somethings will not change because of a location like I will not start going to random restaurants trying different foods as I am not into that, but maybe I will try other things.

Also, I never associated suburbs as soul-crushing boring as I am from the Detroit area and if most people do not know suburbs are looked at highly. I was use to places like Royal Oak, Ferndale, Birmingham which to me weren't as cookie cutter.

So I was shocked when I first came here that it was so gritty and urban like a New York. I thought the Northside of Chicago was going to look like a Columubus or Upper Arlington. I know that sounds crazy doesn't it, but I think it is possible since you do not have a lot media presence here and I thought more midwestern. I knew the Southside was a big Detroit as I visited as a child.

So everybody should go where the get the most energy, and I feel that a lot of negativity came from crazy expectations and thinking I was suppose to love because I am young.