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I am curious. I was just in Philly and have been many times. I find it to be a great American city. Yet anytime I talk to someone and tell them I am going to Philly the responses are always the same. "I'm sorry," "why," Filthadelphia?
I don't think it warrants it. Certain cities do. I live in the Chicago area and the stereotype of Chicago in the winter(outside of this past winter)is pretty spot on. I always tell people, don't come Dec- March if on pleasure, unless during Christmas time, its pretty well decorated and beautiful if into that .
Not sure if it has the worst, but it does have a bit of a perception/image/marketing problem. I live in the DC area (previously lived in south Jersey for a year) and when people talk about regional excursions around here, it's about heading to NYC or the beaches. You might hear about Philly in terms of a concert or special event, but not just to hang out--which is too bad because it really does have a lot to offer.
Didn't seem any dirtier than NYC to me. I lived in the Philly suburbs briefly when I moved out of NY. Just like any city it can have good and bad parts.
Detroit, Oklahoma City, Birmingham have pretty bad perception problems. Jacksonville and Phoenix also suffer from this but not quite to the same extent as Detroit, OKC, and Birmingham.
Philly, Chicago, and Los Angeles get a lot of hate but they also get a lot of love as well. The worst cities for perception problems are those that get mostly detractors with few if any defenders.
Detroit, Oklahoma City, Birmingham have pretty bad perception problems. Jacksonville and Phoenix also suffer from this but not quite to the same extent as Detroit, OKC, and Birmingham.
Philly, Chicago, and Los Angeles get a lot of hate but they also get a lot of love as well. The worst cities for perception problems are those that get mostly detractors with few if any defenders.
I do think Philly has a perception problem even though it is gentrifying nicely, maybe because of the surrounding area ( Camden, Trenton, Chester ) and maybe because of outdated perceptions from the past such as the joke that WC Fields had that in a contest where second prize was two trips to Philadelphia and, first prize was one trip. Every Philadelphian I have met are extremely proud of their town, and don't understand the perception at all.
I've never heard anyone have anything negative to say about Philly. I also never hear anyone raving about wanting to go there. It doesn't have the flashy perceptions like NYC, Las Vegas, Miami, and Los Angeles. It also doesn't have the perceived great natural beauty like Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, and Salt Lake City. Philly seems like a city to go to if your really into old American history.
Philly is like what Fort Worth is to Texas. Having to compete with nearby cities with much flashier perceptions.
Serious question. What is the big draw to bring people to Philly beyond old American history? Please don't bash me for asking that question. I really want to know what people not interested in history would get out of going to that city instead of going to NYC, Boston, Washington D.C.
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