pros/cons of living in Columbia (Charleston, Greenville: low crime, neighborhoods, cost of)

[Columbiadata]

Another pro to living in Columbia is that, like Charleston and Greenville, but unlike Charlotte, Atlanta and Birmingham, it was not included in Yahoo.com's list this morning of the nation's 15 cities with the worst air pollution.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by gaflsc

...snap

Perhaps you and GSUpstate should check the laws in Greenville and Greenville County - you will find a homophobic anti-gay missive issued by Greenville County Council, which has never been revoked and you will find zero laws on the books in Greenville or Greenville County that include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination ordinances like you will in Columbia and Charleston. If you check more closely you will find that the murderer of a gay teen received an 18 month sentence by a judge in Greenville County.

Snap that, Ga.

[ChasT]

Pros
cost of living
weather

Cons
lack of diversity
opportunity
shopping
culture (not just sc culture but others aswell)

[lagoon7]

Whenever I see "lack of diversity," I wonder what "diversity" could be applied that it would appease people? Diversity in what? Race? Religion? Dining choices? Does it really matter? Columbia has a fair amount of diversity for an old southern town.

[btard]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Perhaps you and GSUpstate should check the laws in Greenville and Greenville County - you will find a homophobic anti-gay missive issued by Greenville County Council, which has never been revoked and you will find zero laws on the books in Greenville or Greenville County that include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination ordinances like you will in Columbia and Charleston. If you check more closely you will find that the murderer of a gay teen received an 18 month sentence by a judge in Greenville County.

Snap that, Ga.

Greenville sounds great!

[Skyliner]

Not to defend the guilty party (I'd rather he were publicly flogged to send a message), but that case was ruled involuntary manslaughter (not murder) because it was completely unintentional. One kid punched another kid outside a bar, the victim fell to the ground, hit his head on the pavement, and died 20 hours later. At the time, the state of South Carolina did not have legislation allowing the designation of a hate crime. You can read more here.

So, one of the cons of living in Columbia: it is part of South Carolina

Greenville really is a great city, but it is also subject to the laws and leaders governing this state.

[btard]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

At the time, the state of South Carolina did not have legislation allowing the designation of a hate crime.

A crime is a crime is a crime. Holding one kind of crime above another is sheer lunacy.

[Skyliner]

I agree to a certain extent. In my opinion, anyone angry enough with another person to physically cause harm is guilty of a hate crime because it takes pure hatred to carry out that harmful action against the other person. Since of course such an idea is unlikely to ever become a universal law in this nation, presumably we will continue amending current laws to appease the growing variety of offended special interest groups.

I disagree on the other hand, because it is difficult to see how a misdemeanor could be punished equally to a seriously violent crime such as rape or murder.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by btard

Greenville sounds great!

Please don't move to Columbia.

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Not to defend the guilty party (I'd rather he were publicly flogged to send a message)...

Publicly flogged? Why don't we just bring back stocks and pillories?