Chicago: it's just a city, honestly. (Humboldt: apartments, new home, neighborhood)
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Chicago has an amazing history. It's just overwhelming. As well as the downtown, just epic. It may take your breath away the first time you see it. On "paper" everything seems just fantastic but the reality hits in...
I lived in Chicago for 6 years and I can honestly say that it is a horrible city to live in. Once again, I will as honest as possible.
The houses and apartments are truly just ugly (unless you're a millionaire, of course). They are all almost 80+ years old. Mostly made of wood. Then comes the bugs. Yea. There may be a lot of ugly bugs depending on where you live. Afterward comes the heating system! it looks as if it was from the 1940s, because it is! (the one that goes "around" in circles).
It is cold the majority of the year. Winter. Chilly. People may be like "but but.. the snow!". Yea, okay. Sometimes it snows, most of the time it doesn't. When it does snow, it's pretty at first. After a few days it turns into ice, as well as ugly "black snow". Really. From the salt and dirt. It's just, err, ugly. It is no longer a pretty sight. Imagine this (you probably have already experienced it anyway): walking down the street, "black snow" on the side, and the wind is very very chilly. Oh, I almost forgot: the trees are halloween most of the year. A depressing sight, honestly. They have no leaves almost throughout the whole year.
Buildings. Most of them are old and look as such. Depending on where you may be, they are covered with graffiti. Everything is crowded together. Blah.
Now comes the most important part of all: crime. Which I believe is the most ignored fact in all those online review guides, as well as posts made by Chicago residents. To be brutally honest, gangs are throughout the whole city. Black gangs, mexican gangs (sorry, thats what it is), and gangs. All you have to do is drive around, ANYWHERE, and you will see a group of Mexicans/Hispanics and/or Black kids walking around doing something shady. Yes, as well as the white gang kid. It's not too hard to find them. It is almost as if you didn't have to try.
I've many memories. A particular one is when the police advised everyone to NOT go out at night due to how dangerous it was. During the day, psssshhh.. it was like a movie. On one corner you had that mysterious car that came and drove away with someone new in it (prostitute), on the corner across was a group of ~8 men doing "something" and then on the other corner it was a little normal.
All in all, Chicago is not that great a city as people make it seem. If you are planning to move here, you are much better off moving to somewhere else. NYC is the same thing, I imagine.
You must have lived in a seedy area, because I've lived here for three years and this hasn't been my experience at all.
I just about never see gangster types.
The old buildings are quite charming and are usually made of brick or stone.
I don't have a bug problem.
The trees are green for nearly six months a year.
I'm from Florida originally and I don't feel like it's cold here most of the year. It only gets truly cold every now and then.
You are entitled to hate Chicago if you like, but you can find something to dislike about any place if you look hard enough. There are plenty of people who love Chicago and choose to live here.
hmmmm Well Im nowhere near a millionare and I have a pretty nice place and have no problem skipping around outside at 2am. I guess if you consider older houses to be ugly that is your opinion, but there are brand new places which are affordable to middle class people. Yeah Chicago can and does get cold, welcome to the midwest.
Chicago has an amazing history. It's just overwhelming. As well as the downtown, just epic. It may take your breath away the first time you see it. On "paper" everything seems just fantastic but the reality hits in...
I lived in Chicago for 6 years and I can honestly say that it is a horrible city to live in. Once again, I will as honest as possible.
yawn. can I ask why you even feel the need to whine about a city on a message board? you know, there are a lot of people who come and go and move away, yet not all of them feel the need to whine online, esp. w/ such BS excuses
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex9001
The houses and apartments are truly just ugly (unless you're a millionaire, of course). They are all almost 80+ years old. Mostly made of wood. Then comes the bugs. Yea. There may be a lot of ugly bugs depending on where you live. Afterward comes the heating system! it looks as if it was from the 1940s, because it is! (the one that goes "around" in circles).
I live in a gorgeous greystone apartment building. didn't even need to be a millionaire to live here. I've seen a lot of really nice houses. I'm not a fan of bungalows, but I have some very pretty ones in various areas. oh, and I don't have any bugs, ther than the odd spider or two (in one place I had house centipedes). nothing Raid or your friendly neighborhood exterminator couldn't solve. better a few centipedes than the massive flying critters you see in the South
as for your rant about the building being old, guess what? THE CITY IS OLD!!!
seriously, what did you expect, brand new, cookie cutter homes? move to the suburbs or some sunbelt city that just rose up from the desert. if old houses are a big concern, don't bother moving to any on the east coast (in fact, there a quite a few cities on the west coast w/ 80+ year old houses too). And GOD FORBID, don't even entertain the idea of moving to Europe where they've got buildings predating the founding of America! I grew up in Boston where the homes can easily be over 100 years old and are gorgeous. let's face it, they made houses better back then. real wood, none of that laminate/ engineered wood crap. or you can have the best of both worlds and move into a renovated house. what, too lazy to find a place w/ an updated heating system? they exist and aren't that expensive. your own dang fault for not looking for places w/ updated heating systems
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex9001
It is cold the majority of the year. Winter. Chilly. People may be like "but but.. the snow!". Yea, okay. Sometimes it snows, most of the time it doesn't. When it does snow, it's pretty at first. After a few days it turns into ice, as well as ugly "black snow". Really. From the salt and dirt. It's just, err, ugly. It is no longer a pretty sight. Imagine this (you probably have already experienced it anyway): walking down the street, "black snow" on the side, and the wind is very very chilly. Oh, I almost forgot: the trees are halloween most of the year. A depressing sight, honestly. They have no leaves almost throughout the whole year.
oh, boo hoo, the snow got dirty! what, would you like the city to place massive blankets over all the pretty white snow so it doesn't get dirty so you can feel better? move to a desolate, mountain woods if this bothers you so much, but don't be surprised if you see some yellow snow here or there (woodland creatures aren't exactly potty trained). when it comes to whiny, BS reason to hate a city, this really takes the cake
I don't even understand what you mean by "the trees are halloween most of the year". what, on top of the blankets, would you like the city to replant all the trees w/ evergreens?
yes, Chicago is cold and it boggles my mind why people are surprised by this. no, it's not cold the majority of the year (*waits for someone, likely Steve-O, to come roaring in w/ factual data that proves this). don't like the cold? don't move ot a cold area. go drag yourself out to Maui or something
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex9001
Buildings. Most of them are old and look as such. Depending on where you may be, they are covered with graffiti. Everything is crowded together. Blah.
what crap neighborhood did you live in? I live in East Humboldt Park in a newly renovated greystone devoid of graffiti. I don't see much graffiti in my area. and guess what, honey? Chicago is a dense city. something that can be easily researched. yup, there are areas where buildings are pratically touching each other, areas where buildings have some space in between, and areas where the houses are spread wide. don't be lazy and find one of the latter if this bugs you so much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex9001
Now comes the most important part of all: crime. Which I believe is the most ignored fact in all those online review guides, as well as posts made by Chicago residents. To be brutally honest, gangs are throughout the whole city. Black gangs, mexican gangs (sorry, thats what it is), and gangs. All you have to do is drive around, ANYWHERE, and you will see a group of Mexicans/Hispanics and/or Black kids walking around doing something shady. Yes, as well as the white gang kid. It's not too hard to find them. It is almost as if you didn't have to try.
you've pretty much describe every single good sized city in America. heck, even Boston, that's like 1/20th of Chicago size (not exact numbers) has issues w/ gangs. again, I have to wonder where you lived and why you didn't move to a quieter area w/o a heavy gang presence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex9001
I've many memories. A particular one is when the police advised everyone to NOT go out at night due to how dangerous it was. During the day, psssshhh.. it was like a movie. On one corner you had that mysterious car that came and drove away with someone new in it (prostitute), on the corner across was a group of ~8 men doing "something" and then on the other corner it was a little normal.
oh please! I guessing by your screen name your a guy, right? well, if you are, GROW A PAIR! seriously! I'm female and have no problems walking outside in the dark. a little common sense goes a long way
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex9001
All in all, Chicago is not that great a city as people make it seem. If you are planning to move here, you are much better off moving to somewhere else. NYC is the same thing, I imagine.
all in all, your excuses come off as whiny and full of BS. this isn't an issues w/ Chicago, this is 1000% an issue w/ YOU. YOU apparently didn't bother doing any research or moved around to areas less dense/graffiti and gang filled. YOU didn't bother trying to get a renovated place, or even a newly constructed place if old houses bug you so much. you sound like someone who would find something to fault about every locale, even Maui ("wah, it's too hot!" "wah, there's so much freaking pineapple and coconut here! where are the apple trees!" "wah, wah, wah"). your issues aren't unique to Chicago. I ask again, why bother w/ this thread? Chicago is not for everyone, which people get, but why waste time ranting about it here and coming off as a fool?
yawn. can I ask why you even feel the need to whine about a city on a message board? you know, there are a lot of people who come and go and move away, yet not all of them feel the need to whine online, esp. w/ such BS excuses
I live in a gorgeous greystone apartment building. didn't even need to be a millionaire to live here. I've seen a lot of really nice houses. I'm not a fan of bungalows, but I have some very pretty ones in various areas. oh, and I don't have any bugs, ther than the odd spider or two (in one place I had house centipedes). nothing Raid or your friendly neighborhood exterminator couldn't solve. better a few centipedes than the massive flying critters you see in the South
as for your rant about the building being old, guess what? THE CITY IS OLD!!!
seriously, what did you expect, brand new, cookie cutter homes? move to the suburbs or some sunbelt city that just rose up from the desert. if old houses are a big concern, don't bother moving to any on the east coast (in fact, there a quite a few cities on the west coast w/ 80+ year old houses too). And GOD FORBID, don't even entertain the idea of moving to Europe where they've got buildings predating the founding of America! I grew up in Boston where the homes can easily be over 100 years old and are gorgeous. let's face it, they made houses better back then. real wood, none of that laminate/ engineered wood crap. or you can have the best of both worlds and move into a renovated house. what, too lazy to find a place w/ an updated heating system? they exist and aren't that expensive. your own dang fault for not looking for places w/ updated heating systems
oh, boo hoo, the snow got dirty! what, would you like the city to place massive blankets over all the pretty white snow so it doesn't get dirty so you can feel better? move to a desolate, mountain woods if this bothers you so much, but don't be surprised if you see some yellow snow here or there (woodland creatures aren't exactly potty trained). when it comes to whiny, BS reason to hate a city, this really takes the cake
I don't even understand what you mean by "the trees are halloween most of the year". what, on top of the blankets, would you like the city to replant all the trees w/ evergreens?
yes, Chicago is cold and it boggles my mind why people are surprised by this. no, it's not cold the majority of the year (*waits for someone, likely Steve-O, to come roaring in w/ factual data that proves this). don't like the cold? don't move ot a cold area. go drag yourself out to Maui or something
what crap neighborhood did you live in? I live in East Humboldt Park in a newly renovated greystone devoid of graffiti. I don't see much graffiti in my area. and guess what, honey? Chicago is a dense city. something that can be easily researched. yup, there are areas where buildings are pratically touching each other, areas where buildings have some space in between, and areas where the houses are spread wide. don't be lazy and find one of the latter if this bugs you so much.
you've pretty much describe every single good sized city in America. heck, even Boston, that's like 1/20th of Chicago size (not exact numbers) has issues w/ gangs. again, I haqve ot wonder where you lived and why you didn't move to a quieter area w/o a heavy gang presence.
oh please! I guessing by your screen name your a guy, right? well, if you are, GROW A PAIR! seriously! I'm female and have no problems walking outside in the dark. a little common sense goes a long way
all in all, your excuses come off as whiny and full of BS. this isn't an issues w/ Chicago, this is 1000% an issue w/ YOU. YOU apparently didn't bother doing any research or moved around to areas less dense/graffiti and gang filled. YOU didn't bother trying to get a renovated place, or even a newly constructed place if old houses bug you so much. you sound like someone who would find something to fault about every locale, even Maui ("wah, it's too hot!" "wah, there's so much freaking pineapple and coconut here! where are the apple trees!" "wah, wah, wah"). your issues aren't unique to Chicago. I ask again, why bother w/ this thread? Chicago is not for everyone, which people get, but why waste time ranting about it here and coming off as a fool?
I agree with eevee - grow a pair and improve your life! You reap from life what you put into it. If you don't like the climate and the old buildings, MOVE! I suspect, however, that wherever you move to, you will be equally miserable - it is your negative attitude that is keeping you down.
If you don't like it - do something about it. Don't sit here and cry about your obviously personal issues and opinions and expect people to lend you a shoulder. It's like walking into someone's house and going off for an hour about why you hate it and it's just horrible. Completely counter-productive.
Clearly a majority of people would immediately disagree with some or almost all of what you're saying. It's not like we all live in your house, which apparently has bugs, a poor heating system and is an unkept older building. Sucks.
Who do we think this is? Dementor, the dick guy Or perhaps jesse69's drag identity?
No mention of bikes, so I doubt it is Jesse69. Most likely Dementor, although he forgot to throw in some references to "diversity".
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