Chicago (Marshall, Phoenix, Hudson: homeless, beach, trains)

[Milwaukee City]

Here is a perspective from someone who USED to hate Chicago just like everyone else from WI.

I hated Chi b/c I was intimidated by the BIG city, fear of the unknown basically. I hated the traffic, bears fans, cubs fans and every person from IL ragging on WI and MKE. I hated the fact that every time I went up to the Dells it was like going to a Chicago suburb and all the vacation homes were being bought up by people from Chicago. Another reason a lot of people from WI hate people from Chicago was their driving style, on your bumper and 80mph and flashing their brights at you. So I cannot speak as someone who used to live in Chicago and then hated it but from the other side of the state line.

Now I'm educated and have been coming to Chicago ever since I got my drivers license as much as I can. I hate the packers now, I'm a white sox fan and Bears, Blackhawks fan and I love Chicago, after spending two summers in Lincoln Park I love Chicago and can't get enough of it. Hopefully some day I can call the Northwest side my home. Plus I've met some really nice people from Chicago and some of my best friends are from Chicago and it makes for an interesting Brewers-Cubs game.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Here is a perspective from someone who USED to hate Chicago just like everyone else from WI.

I hated Chi b/c I was intimidated by the BIG city, fear of the unknown basically. I hated the traffic, bears fans, cubs fans and every person from IL ragging on WI and MKE. I hated the fact that every time I went up to the Dells it was like going to a Chicago suburb and all the vacation homes were being bought up by people from Chicago. Another reason a lot of people from WI hate people from Chicago was their driving style, on your bumper and 80mph and flashing their brights at you. So I cannot speak as someone who used to live in Chicago and then hated it but from the other side of the state line.

Now I'm educated and have been coming to Chicago ever since I got my drivers license as much as I can. I hate the packers now, I'm a white sox fan and Bears, Blackhawks fan and I love Chicago, after spending two summers in Lincoln Park I love Chicago and can't get enough of it. Hopefully some day I can call the Northwest side my home. Plus I've met some really nice people from Chicago and some of my best friends are from Chicago and it makes for an interesting Brewers-Cubs game.

See, now thats just silly. You can like both. Be a fan of both. I consider myself a tri-state region resident. A resident of everything within 3-5 of me.

In fact, really the only thing that gets on my nerve, are young people that come from outside the region, move to Chicago, and trash talk their home state that they came from. All of the Great Lakes (its really a better term than midwest, since states west of the Miss. are more rural) are great, Chicago may provide opportunities that are not elsewhere, but Milwaukee, etc. all have attractions that can't be found in Chicago.

Personally the sports teams, that I don't like are the new ones. They have no history. Any sports team that dates back to the 1920s I'll cheer for. Teams based in Phoenix, AZ and Miami, FL are ones I like to see lose. They're not supposed to be there.

[city414]

things i hate about chicago:

-houses to close to each other in most areas
-corrupt politicians and u elect them over and over again can we say dumbasses?!
-not enough el lines to the sw part of the city and burbs.
-lack of neighborhoods w/o gang/heavy crime presence besides suburbs

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Here is a perspective from someone who USED to hate Chicago just like everyone else from WI.

I hated Chi b/c I was intimidated by the BIG city, fear of the unknown basically. I hated the traffic, bears fans, cubs fans and every person from IL ragging on WI and MKE. I hated the fact that every time I went up to the Dells it was like going to a Chicago suburb and all the vacation homes were being bought up by people from Chicago. Another reason a lot of people from WI hate people from Chicago was their driving style, on your bumper and 80mph and flashing their brights at you. So I cannot speak as someone who used to live in Chicago and then hated it but from the other side of the state line.

Now I'm educated and have been coming to Chicago ever since I got my drivers license as much as I can. I hate the packers now, I'm a white sox fan and Bears, Blackhawks fan and I love Chicago, after spending two summers in Lincoln Park I love Chicago and can't get enough of it. Hopefully some day I can call the Northwest side my home. Plus I've met some really nice people from Chicago and some of my best friends are from Chicago and it makes for an interesting Brewers-Cubs game.

Wisconsin in the cradle of civilization, and the Packers are the greatest team in the history professional sports.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Wisconsin in the cradle of civilization, and the Packers are the greatest team in the history professional sports.

No, Alabama, the heart of Dixie, is the cradle. Roll Tide!!!....aw, screw it, I can't even fake affection for my place of birth. Too painful.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by city414

things i hate about chicago:

-houses to close to each other in most areas...

If you hate that then you will hate most cities and towns with a population over 10,000.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Personally the sports teams, that I don't like are the new ones. They have no history. Any sports team that dates back to the 1920s I'll cheer for. Teams based in Phoenix, AZ and Miami, FL are ones I like to see lose. They're not supposed to be there.

LOL, I couldn't agree more. Plus, it's hard to be any more pissed off a Cubs fan to see some johnny-come-lately win it all.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by city414

things i hate about chicago:

-houses to close to each other in most areas

It's called density, and it's what makes a city vibrant and pedestrian friendly. Low-density cities rarely have anyone walking the streets.

[MannheimMadman]

I'll never quite understand what it is that some people are after when they declare Chicago not sufficient enough in the category of being cultured. Are our arts and theatre scenes THAT bad? I feel like there is plenty for me to do and see.

And what type of bar scene promotes a cosmopolitan culture anyhow? Why is it so important to let people know that you're the cosmopolitan type? That post a while back about a girl who claimed that she could debate foreign policy or politics with the best of them seems to be pretentious. I've devoted my life to English literature, yet I don't go to bars to talk about it. Does that not make me cultured?

I guess I just don't understand how some people think this city is too culturally restricting. Oh well.

[synapse]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

It's called density, and it's what makes a city vibrant and pedestrian friendly. Low-density cities rarely have anyone walking the streets.

Absolutely. Phoenix - where a lot of Chicagoans retire - is attractive to Chicagoans because it's got a midwestern attitude, is different scenically than the midwest, the Cubs and Sox play spring training here, and has good restaurants. But in terms of it being a city, despite the art, culture, restaurants, and scenery, it has nothing on Chicago. Why? Density. You don't see people on the streets. Too sprawling - too many cars. So it's not a "city", not like Chicago is.