Cleveland tops another list (to live, cities, build)

[canudigit]

These lists are somewhat subjective, don't you think? And the titles always have to sound sensationalistic. Instead of calling it something like "Cities With a Few More Challenges", or something like that, they have to inject the term "miserable", as if everyone living in these carefully selected cities is walking around crying into their coffee and praying to leave before their therapy expense drives them into bankruptcy. Sheesh. I lived in the Phoenix, AZ area for much of last year. Sure, Phoenix has some nice features (same as here and everywhere else), but there are many things about Phoenix that would qualify it for a list of "Most Miserable": exceptionally high crime, dust storms, excessively high utility prices, excessively high cost of car insurance (secondary to excessively high car theft), excessively high cost of automobile registration and plates, excessively high incidents of skin cancer, traffic that would make you slap your mother, horrific job market at the moment, and foreclosures on almost every corner. However, the person or people who compiled this list decided that these other cities are more miserable, based on the factors that they have chosen as indicators of misery. See my point? Subjective. All places are a mix of good and bad, or there would be entire cities completely empty of life, because the "misery" would have driven everyone away.

"Forbes". LOL.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

You can't say that today, Minervah, it was too beautiful outside.

But yes, Portland is overrated in some ways while Cleveland is most certainly underrated.

Ah but you see I can say that because I don't base my misery index on the weather. I didn't say Portland was a miserable place to live; I am just miserable living there.

Actually I am not really miserable here. I was just making reference to the title of the Forbes study. I am just no longer getting what I want or need from Portland. Despite the bad press, Cleveland appears to have what I am looking for.

One thing I have learned by reading posts on CD is that opinions of any place differ widely. I like to hear what people say about a location but take it with a grain of salt. What works for some won't work for others but each person is convinced they have the right bead on the place according to their own perspective.

For example, some people will tell you Portland is terrible because it rains a lot. For me that is a plus. I don't like the sun and it doesn't like me. I like winters and snow having grown up in Chicago so the winters in Cleveland may be a deterrent to some would not be to me. Some people in Portland will tell you we have be best bus service in the country but they most likely have cars and don't depend on public transportation on weekends when service is cut drastically or need to go anyplace other than downtown during the rush hours.

There are of course other pluses and minuses about Portland and Cleveland. On my list of criteria for a suitable city, Cleveland is on the plus side. So I am not really influenced by a negative list published by a magazine I never read to begin with.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Ah but you see I can say that because I don't base my misery index on the weather. I didn't say Portland was a miserable place to live; I am just miserable living there.

Actually I am not really miserable here. I was just making reference to the title of the Forbes study. I am just no longer getting what I want or need from Portland. Despite the bad press, Cleveland appears to have what I am looking for.

One thing I have learned by reading posts on CD is that opinions of any place differ widely. I like to hear what people say about a location but take it with a grain of salt. What works for some won't work for others but each person is convinced they have the right bead on the place according to their own perspective.

For example, some people will tell you Portland is terrible because it rains a lot. For me that is a plus. I don't like the sun and it doesn't like me. I like winters and snow having grown up in Chicago so the winters in Cleveland may be a deterrent to some would not be to me. Some people in Portland will tell you we have be best bus service in the country but they most likely have cars and don't depend on public transportation on weekends when service is cut drastically or need to go anyplace other than downtown during the rush hours.

There are of course other pluses and minuses about Portland and Cleveland. On my list of criteria for a suitable city, Cleveland is on the plus side. So I am not really influenced by a negative list published by a magazine I never read to begin with.

It's really about personal preference, isn't it? It just doesn't make sense that Forbes can make lists like these with the implication or assumption that the same things work for everyone. Some people, like myself, can't stand the oppressive heat and humidity that people in the South/Southeast have to put up with for four or five months a year. Therefore, if I were creating a list of objective criteria for a place where I'd like to live, cities in that region would rate lower for me than what Forbes might otherwise assume works for everyone. Just as an example.

[costello_musicman]

Hey, another new study...Cleveland is the #25 best city to find LOVE!
Best (And Worst) Cities to Find Love - The Daily Beast

[SoCalClevelander]

Okay this is totally subjective too! I live in the NUMBER ONE PLACE TO FIND LUUUUUUVVV and uh, I havent found any! I am also a psychotherapist and believe me, there is plenty of emotional dysfunction here!

#1, Long Beach, CA
Singles B
Social life: B
Emotional health: A+
Marriage: B
Divorce: B

I do like Long Beach very much, but this just proves that everyone's experience is different. We do have great bars and clubs and fabulous weather though!

[AJW427]

Too...many...California...cities...on...that...lis t...

[phoenixscorpiogirl]

I don't think clebveland or northeast OH was the worst place to live-but it is pretty miserable up there. I left Ashtabula when i was 17 and have been living in AZ since then. A lot definatelt has to do with the weather.

[no1brownsfan]

Obviously someone from Forbes had a bad experience in our city. I mean, I'm no fan of the winter weather here by any means, and our sports teams have found numerous ways to disappoint us, but not everything is bad here. This region has a lot of potential, and resources (we have the water), and with the right leadership, it can be turned around.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by phoenixscorpiogirl

I don't think clebveland or northeast OH was the worst place to live-but it is pretty miserable up there. I left Ashtabula when i was 17 and have been living in AZ since then. A lot definatelt has to do with the weather.

Phoenix can be pretty miserable.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

Phoenix is pretty miserable.

fixed