Is Chicago Underrated? (Champaign, Manhattan, Ohio: skateboarding, school, restaurants)

[BJT83]

Pretty sure they treat that water before running it to your house. Besides, you're using a different definition of fresh. I used it to mean "not saltwater"

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by BJT83

Besides, you're using a different definition of fresh. I used it to mean "not saltwater"

Yep, that's the standard English definition of fresh water. Our buddy isn't as connected to nature as his name implies, apparently.

I agree that the landscape around Chicago can be pretty boring. As is much of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. But it's not typical of the entire Midwest. Wisconsin and Michigan have some gorgeous landscape, and the bluffs along the Mississippi River are amazing in Illinois. Of course, Colorado is in a category of its own when it comes to natural landscape.

Kansas, the Dakotas, and Nebraska are more "Plains States" than Midwestern, though people on the coasts often get this mixed up.

If you live in Chicago and live/work in the city, the urban landscape is much more important. And there is no shortage of stunning views in the city. And the juxtaposition of the urban landscape with the rivers and lake can be amazing!

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Yep, that's the standard English definition of fresh water. Our buddy isn't as connected to nature as his name implies, apparently.

I agree that the landscape around Chicago can be pretty boring. As is much of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. But it's not typical of the entire Midwest. Wisconsin and Michigan have some gorgeous landscape, and the bluffs along the Mississippi River are amazing in Illinois. Of course, Colorado is in a category of its own when it comes to natural landscape.

Kansas, the Dakotas, and Nebraska are more "Plains States" than Midwestern, though people on the coasts often get this mixed up.

If you live in Chicago and live/work in the city, the urban landscape is much more important. And there is no shortage of stunning views in the city. And the juxtaposition of the urban landscape with the rivers and lake can be amazing!

don't be smart, you aren't that cute.

Look at Hong Kong. Now that is the perfect blend of urban and natural landscape. Chicago's "amazing" views pale in comparison to other places on Earth. And this is simply due to its' incredibly boring landscape. It's flat land! You can't spruce it up. It is what it is. Nice try though.

[BJT83]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

Look at Hong Kong. Now that is the perfect blend of urban and natural landscape. Chicago's "amazing" views pale in comparison to other places on Earth. And this is simply due to its' incredibly boring landscape. It's flat land! You can't spruce it up. It is what it is. Nice try though.

WTF? Hong Kong?

FWIW, most major cities are built on a flat terrain, and even in CO it's not like Denver itself has interesting topography. Less flat than Chicago, but it's not like it's built into the mountains.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

don't be smart, you aren't that cute.

????????????

I may not be "cute" according to you, but apparently you're not that smart!

Sorry. Couldn't resist twisting that one around. No offense, really.

[At1WithNature]

you don't understand? really? you must not know the other definitions of "fresh." I found it ironic given the amount of pollution in Lake Michigan, especially from BP plants in Indiana.

And yes, Hong Kong has a better natural landscape. Why is this shocking? I see why it is a dead end for many to even try to speak about chicago, to chicagoans, unless they are biased in favor of chicago.

okay, chicago has wondeful landscape and is totally underrated!!!

does that change things? of course not...

[DC's Finest]

At1,

Give it a rest. You will never win this argument. In the past few months, I have seen similar posts arguing that Chicago's beaches are better than Florida's. Go figure.

[BJT83]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

you don't understand? really? you must not know the other definitions of "fresh." I found it ironic given the amount of pollution in Lake Michigan, especially from BP plants in Indiana.

OK, but the point is that it's a huge resource. And the water is treated before being distributed. Do you have any idea how scarce fresh water is in a lot of cities out west? Water rights are a MAJOR issue in much of the Rocky Mtn. region.

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

And yes, Hong Kong has a better natural landscape. Why is this shocking? I see why it is a dead end for many to even try to speak about chicago, to chicagoans, unless they are biased in favor of chicago.

It's not shocking, I was just confused as to why you would bring an international city into the discussion. You're comparing Chicago to a city that's literally on the other side of the world.

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

okay, chicago has wondeful landscape and is totally underrated!!!
does that change things? of course not...

You certainly don't have to think Chicago has a wonderful landscape, it doesn't, but how is that different from Boston, NY, DC, Atlanta, etc.? Aren't all of these places (within city limits) reasonably flat? You seem to think the midwest is the only flat part of the world.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

At1,

Give it a rest. You will never win this argument. In the past few months, I have seen similar posts arguing that Chicago's beaches are better than Florida's. Go figure.

Now that's just crazy talk. Chicago beaches and Florida beaches are apples and oranges. I don't think anyone vacations in Chicago for the beaches OR natural landscape.

I stand by my argument that the urban landscape in Chicago is quite stunning. The views from the top of the Hancock Tower, from a high-rise on the river, or from Adler Planetarium looking back at the skyline over the water are simply breathtaking. Or take a walk around the Olmstead-designed ponds in Lincoln Park. We didn't have a great natural landscape, so we created our own.

But if you live in an ex-urb and the end of a cul-de-sac, the landscape of Chicagoland is about as depressing as it gets.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

At1,

Give it a rest. You will never win this argument. In the past few months, I have seen similar posts arguing that Chicago's beaches are better than Florida's. Go figure.

I believe that was MI vs FL beaches (not CHI vs FL), both of which are about perfect.