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It seems as though people really don't pay much attention to Chicago, and I don't understand why. It seems that there is a bi-coastal focus (prejudice?) on NYC and LA, and Chicago is left out of the loop as the "other" city of the major three Alphas. I also frequently find that people from both Los Angeles and New York speak rather poorly about Chicago and its overall status, or they are indifferent to the city. I love my city but I don't understand why Chicago is not regarded in the same way as New York and Los Angeles. Is it because Chicago lacks an identity?
I love my city but I don't understand why Chicago is not regarded in the same way as New York and Los Angeles. Is it because Chicago lacks an identity?
Chicago is half the size of NYC and LA. Doesn't that basically answer your question?
After all, do you think Atlanta, Houston and Dallas match up with Chicago?
Keep in mind that these cities are MUCH closer in size to Chicago than Chicago is to New York and LA.
So basically, the problem isn't that Chicago isn't compared with NYC and LA; the problem is that some folks are delusional re. Chicago's relative size.
What would you think if someone came here and said "Gee, why isn't Seattle compared with Chicago?". That's basically what you're doing. Asking why a city can't be compared to one twice as large.
And if you compare other aspects, such as economy, Chicago falls further. Chicago has an economy comparable to DC or SF. It can't be compared with the Big Two.
It seems as though people really don't pay much attention to Chicago, and I don't understand why. It seems that there is a bi-coastal focus (prejudice?) on NYC and LA, and Chicago is left out of the loop as the "other" city of the major three Alphas. I also frequently find that people from both Los Angeles and New York speak rather poorly about Chicago and its overall status, or they are indifferent to the city. I love my city but I don't understand why Chicago is not regarded in the same way as New York and Los Angeles. Is it because Chicago lacks an identity?
I think you're nuts.
People do pay attention to Chicago; however, it isn't at the scale (population-wise) that NY and LA are, but comes in third (where it should). Be happy you don't live in Phoenix or you would never be happy. Our city gets spit on constantly here at CD.
As far as people from both LA and NY speaking rather poorly about Chicago, there are QUITE A FEW people from Chicago who talk the same trash about LA and NY (among other cities including Phoenix).
Chicago is half the size of NYC and LA. Doesn't that basically answer your question?
After all, do you think Atlanta, Houston and Dallas match up with Chicago?
Keep in mind that these cities are MUCH closer in size to Chicago than Chicago is to New York and LA.
So basically, the problem isn't that Chicago isn't compared with NYC and LA; the problem is that some folks are delusional re. Chicago's relative size.
What would you think if someone came here and said "Gee, why isn't Seattle compared with Chicago?". That's basically what you're doing. Asking why a city can't be compared to one twice as large.
And if you compare other aspects, such as economy, Chicago falls further. Chicago has an economy comparable to DC or SF. It can't be compared with the Big Two.
All I'm saying is that Chicago is an Alpha world city, but it doesn't seem to matter. I know Chicago is small compared to NYC and LA, but that doesn't mean its insignificant. And you can't really make a comparison like "Seattle vs. Chicago" because they are different tiers of cities. NYC, LA, and Chicago are all in the same tier.
Location: Cleveland, OH USA / formerly Chicago for 20 years
4,069 posts, read 7,320,406 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio248
Chicago is half the size of NYC and LA. Doesn't that basically answer your question?
After all, do you think Atlanta, Houston and Dallas match up with Chicago?
Keep in mind that these cities are MUCH closer in size to Chicago than Chicago is to New York and LA.
So basically, the problem isn't that Chicago isn't compared with NYC and LA; the problem is that some folks are delusional re. Chicago's relative size.
What would you think if someone came here and said "Gee, why isn't Seattle compared with Chicago?". That's basically what you're doing. Asking why a city can't be compared to one twice as large.
And if you compare other aspects, such as economy, Chicago falls further. Chicago has an economy comparable to DC or SF. It can't be compared with the Big Two.
Half the size of NYC, yes, but how do you figure Chicago is half the size of LA?
And as far as Chicago's economy goes, the GaWC ranks Chicago as an "Alpha World City". Places like DC, SF, and Seattle are ranked as lesser cities than Chicago in terms of global economic influence.
You might also be interested to note that in another ranking, the Global Cities Index 2010, Chicago ranked 6th, behind only NYC, London, Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong, and one ranking ahead of LA. SF and DC are further down the list:
People do pay attention to Chicago; however, it isn't at the scale (population-wise) that NY and LA are, but comes in third (where it should). Be happy you don't live in Phoenix or you would never be happy. Our city gets spit on constantly here at CD.
As far as people from both LA and NY speaking rather poorly about Chicago, there are QUITE A FEW people from Chicago who talk the same trash about LA and NY (among other cities including Phoenix).
I see trash-talking more often than not from NY and LA people toward Chicago. I've seen it referred to as the red-headed stepchild, the jealous little brother (of NYC and LA), etc.
Chicago is not insignificant economically to NY and LA. Chicago is the nation's #1 manufacturing center. It is the 2nd largest financial market. I think pop culture pays less attention to Chicago. CD tends to play big on pop culture.
I see trash-talking more often than not from NY and LA people toward Chicago. I've seen it referred to as the red-headed stepchild, the jealous little brother (of NYC and LA), etc.
Then you must be reading different posts than I do. In addition, I'm under the impression that you are only speaking about CD members since I imagine that much of America is quite informed as to how important Chicago is.
Who cares if people sleep on Chicago. Its a great city for those who are aware of it and have spent any significant amount of time there. Sure its not as heavily focused in the media since its not on the coasts, but thats part of the citys charm.
Anyway, as shown in the post above, Chicago is constantly ranked among the worlds greatest. Overall, its a top ten world city, without question. So the people who are actually in the know, and study things like economic influence and global connectivity etc, place its importance appropriately. Unlike the ultimate troll hater OhioSomeNumber who doesnt know diddly squat about such things and instead finds obscure items like a downtown McDonalds parking lot, and Crate and Barrel and Apple Store locations, to nitpick about.
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