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1) They are too poor to enjoy the great things NYC offers (great dinning, fashion, culture etc) while have to suffer the problems (congestion, high price, small space etc). Not NYC's fault
2) They simply do not like large cities in general and prefer small towns or even rural areas.
Sort of - definitely #1 is right but many prefer other large U.S. cities that aren't as large, expensive, busy, and quite frankly, disgusting as NYC. NYC isn't for everyone, just like Denver isn't for everyone.
NYC used to have a lot of apologists on this forum around 5 years ago but has greatly diminished in recent times.
The only city I can see that has potential to be the "future" of this country is Atlanta. Houston? Too oil dependent. Dallas? A better bet than Houston, but its no NYC. Austin is decent, but doesn't have much variety in the way of jobs (too tech dependent). Miami? Never. Jacksonville? Never. Charlotte has potential, but is eons away from even being a Seattle, IMO. Places like NYC and CHI are still monster powerhouses and far, far, far more influential than any Sunbelt city, and will continue to be so in the forseeable future.
Yeah, Chicago and NYC might be more populous (and of course, number two is sunbelt city LA), but DFW and Houston have productivity levels equivalent to Chicago-Chicago's strength is its size not that it is notably productive.
It would be interesting to know how many people voted for a hated city that they've never even been to. So much of what floats around in the modern American psyche is based on assumptions, rumors, gut-feelings, picked up biases, misinformation, etc. etc.
Memphis is a city in a metro of over 1 million, but can't even win polls against places like Jackson, Little Rock, or El Paso.
Dallas also gets bashed a lot or just straight up ignored, for a city in a huge, rapidly growing, extremely diverse metro of almost 7 million people that has a BOOMING and diversified economy, gets pretty much every major concert and show, has pro teams in every major sport, great shopping, and has pretty much every other amenity that you would expect a city that anchors a top 10 metro (MSA) to have. Yet all you ever hear about it is how it's "not near a beach or mountains."
I know why Memphis has the horrible reputation it does these days, but Dallas should definitely get more respect these days than it does.
I don't think Dallas or most of these cities come anywhere close to "most hated". I know homers are always thinking their city doesn't get enough love. Even Detroit has seen an uptick in positive press and impression on here.
In my opinion the most hated cities are as follows:
1. Indianapolis: High growth, higher income, decent built environment. However it loses every poll it's in no matter the city. Sun Belters and coastal elitists alike are consistently negative when commenting on it. Almost without fail if Indy is mentioned in any context it will be portrayed negatively.
2. Memphis - It doesn't have the growth and income as Indy, and it has higher crime. It has virtually no homers, and the people that are familiar with it don't have much positive to say about it, and ususually people aren't even hoping it improves. (Whereas traditionally when people would beat on Detroit, they would at least express hope of it's revival.)
3. Oklahoma City - Not spoken of as often (save for one homer who seems to be on a mission to brand their impression as reality). However universally most people on this website have a negative impression of it, also loses polls one would assume it should win.
At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what cities are hated and/or hated most. If people flock to them, they obviously have value. You could even make the case that the largest cities are the most valuable; the laws of supply and demand, etc. People can throw their fury at a city all they want, but it's futile, and won't lessen their value any. You're better off steering your energies at respecting the differences and similarities. Hatred and anger will get you nowhere, unless you're one of those foaming-at-the-mouth types.
It would be interesting to know how many people voted for a hated city that they've never even been to. So much of what floats around in the modern American psyche is based on assumptions, rumors, gut-feelings, picked up biases, misinformation, etc. etc.
I agree with you 100% most people who bashed or hate certain cities have never been to the cities they talk so negatively about. They go by hearsay, the media, social media or as you said picked up biases and misinformation.
Memphis - It doesn't have the growth and income as Indy, and it has higher crime. It has virtually no homers, and the people that are familiar with it don't have much positive to say about it, and ususually people aren't even hoping it improves. (Whereas traditionally when people would beat on Detroit, they would at least express hope of it's revival.)
Oh, trust me, PLENTY of people HOPE Memphis will improve. It's just that they don't really EXPECT it to improve, since Memphis city leaders have been so resistant to change for so long, and so reluctant to grow and progress the city; "hope" and "expect" are two entirely different things.
Dallas also gets bashed a lot or just straight up ignored, for a city in a huge, rapidly growing, extremely diverse metro of almost 7 million people that has a BOOMING and diversified economy, gets pretty much every major concert and show, has pro teams in every major sport, great shopping, and has pretty much every other amenity that you would expect a city that anchors a top 10 metro (MSA) to have. Yet all you ever hear about it is how it's "not near a beach or mountains."
I'm pretty sure you've said in the past that Dallas has no identity, no character, no soul, lacks southern friendliness, and its only advantage is its relatively low COL.
I personally don't think it gets bashed as much as other places. But sometimes it is unfairly bashed for sunbelt characteristics while certain other cities are given a free pass while having those same characteristics.
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