West Plano: Where exactly is it? What makes it so great? (Dallas: apartment, incomes)

[tycobb2522]

Originally Posted by jstar08

Plano is great if you think your rich and better then everyone else and you ...

Or if you like living in an area where the education level gives residents slightly better command of the English language than you have....

By the way, do you have any stats to back up your bold assertions?

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by tycobb2522

Here, let me try your syrupy- sweet sarcasm on for size: Oh, dear obsidian, there was no offense taken; my goodness, I gave you positive reputation dear obsidian...

Then let me ask you a question: if someone makes a quarter of a million or a half million, or 5 million dollars a year, why do some people expect them to live in a hovel and drive a 1969 Fairlane? Why is it labeled 'conspicuous consumption' when the percentage of their income they are spending is far less than most people, and the percentage they save is far greater?

I'd say that if you make 50 grand a year and are driving a new car; any kind of new car and have a mortgage; any kind of mortgage, then it is you who are guilty of conspicuous consumption.

Man, you must see dead people too. I'm not being sarcastic, so if it seems syrupy sweet, then you're reading that into the post. I'm not putting it there.

I don't expect people to live in a hovel or drive a 1969 fairline. I DON'T CARE what people do with their money. I have no magical number or percentage in mind.

Perhaps there's a better way to put it across, but there's definitely a difference in the attitude of folks living in areas like West Plano than other places. I happen to think it's because they like to spend money and show off what they have to others. Perhaps I'm wrong, but the marketing in the area strongly suggests I'm right.

If it's not conspicuous consumption (consumerism for consumerism's sake) then show me where I am wrong. What else is there to West Plano that I'm leaving out?

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by tycobb2522

Or if you like living in an area where the education level gives residents slightly better command of the English language than you have....

By the way, do you have any stats to back up your bold assertions?

Wow, then there are a lot of places better than West Plano, by the stats...

Plano West isn't even listed in the top 100 high schools in America:

Gold Medal Schools - US News and World Report

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by Macbeth2003

In the phrasing. Look West Plano isn't for me, as everyone here knows, but I would say:
West Plano is an area made up of large new construction homes, with great high end shopping, and access to many chain and upscale restaurants. It is an expensive area to live in, but very family friendly. It lacks some of the economic and racial diversity of other areas, and is quite a ways from the major Museums and Cultural centers of Dallas. The homes can look similar and lack old growth trees, etc.

That is a perfectly fair summing up of What West Plano is and should allow someone to see if they would like it.

Saying West Plano is all about conspicuous consumption isn't. It is like when people from Plano attack East Dallas and South Dallas. I don't like it when they do it to us, don't like it when others do it to them either.

Fair enough. I think you're leaving out the cultural aspect though. If you're not playing the game many others in that area are playing (i.e. keeping up with the Jones' or whatever else you would like to call it) you might find it a bit uncomfortable. Because West Plano has a much higher than average income for the general area around it, it's more intense there than it is elsewhere.

[tycobb2522]

Apparently, you still don't get it. Regardless of how much each of us earn annually, if I spend the equivalent of one year of my salary on my home, and you spend the equivalent of one year of your salary on a home, which one of us is the conspicuous consumer?

Believe it or not, some people actually do make more money than others. Yes, it's a fact. I don't know where you live or what you drive, but there are people that think you flaunt your wealth.

[Grainraiser]

Why all the hate for West Plano. Folks with similar economic status tend to want to live among each other. I see nothing wrong with that. West Plano is a nice place to live. It's not the best or only place to reside but that's all personal preference. There is no perfect place to live in DFW. The hatred really needs to stop.

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by tycobb2522

Believe it or not, some people actually do make more money than others. Yes, it's a fact. I don't know where you live or what you drive, but there are people that think you flaunt your wealth.

..and don't think they're better than others for having it.

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

Why all the hate for West Plano. Folks with similar economic status tend to want to live among each other. I see nothing wrong with that. West Plano is a nice place to live. It's not the best or only place to reside but that's all personal preference. There is no perfect place to live in DFW. The hatred really needs to stop.

Let me cut to the chase... I have similar economic status. I could afford to live in University Park if I wanted to. It's not that I hate West Plano. I just don't see people doing much there beyond buying stuff, showing off what they bought, talking about things they'd like to buy, and if you're not part of that, then well, have a nice day...

It's the attitude that you're a superior human being because you shop at X instead of Y.

I moved from Dallas to Seattle this year after living in and around Plano for 11 years. There are neighborhoods in Seattle where people think they're superior human beings because they recycle, or drive a hybrid, or have a tattoo, or, yes, shop at X instead of Y (check out Medina or parts of Bellevue).

I'm not targeting West Plano, and it's definitely not 100% of the population there, but it's a high percentage of folks who buy into that.

It is a part of the way the area works socially.

[unexpected]

obsidian, the root of the problem is this assertion:

"people in West Plano think they're better than everyone else."

sorry, this is not true. we're humans, just like everyone else. Maybe you project these traits onto us. I have experienced more drivel from people like you, jstor, etc. than I ever have in 24 years in living in Plano- and I'm a minority, grew up on the East side, went to the 'ghetto' Plano East.

I will go so far to say that I know more about Plano than anyone else on this board, and your assertions that "people in plano think they are better than everyone else" is plain stupid. It's not backed up by any fact, it's just smacks of subjectivity, and has no basis in logic and reason.

If you want to debate the merits of plano, then do so logically. We can argue that we have a terrible arts district (it's non-existent), and we have a lack of old buildings (who can blame us? most of growth was after 1990), but you can't expect anyone to take you seriously if go off blathering subjective opinions.

and jstor, honestly no one cares what you think. if you're going to frame your argument without any logical premise or thought, then why should we? If I am glad you don't live in West Plano. How could I listen to opinions like that all the time? I would move away.

[tycobb2522]

Originally Posted by obsidian97

Wow, then there are a lot of places better than West Plano, by the stats...

Plano West isn't even listed in the top 100 high schools in America:

Gold Medal Schools - US News and World Report

I'm sorry; I didn't realize we were on the high school forum... I thought we were in a Dallas/Texas forum. Oh well, my bad.

Well looky there... number 16 in the state. Not good enough for me, but not bad either: http://teep.tamu.edu/CompleteRankings.pdf

But more important than where the high school ranks nationally, and the point that you missed, was that I prefer my neighbor to not be Jed Clampett. Well, looky here again: top 3% in college educated adults, compared to similar sized places nationwide, Plano, Texas Facts, Schools, Colleges, Weather, Zip Code, and More

So yeah, there may be places better, but West Plano is just fine...

[tycobb2522]

Originally Posted by obsidian97

..and don't think they're better than others for having it.



Let me cut to the chase... I have similar economic status. I could afford to live in University Park if I wanted to. It's not that I hate West Plano. I just don't see people doing much there beyond buying stuff, showing off what they bought, talking about things they'd like to buy, and if you're not part of that, then well, have a nice day...

It's the attitude that you're a superior human being because you shop at X instead of Y.

I moved from Dallas to Seattle this year after living in and around Plano for 11 years. There are neighborhoods in Seattle where people think they're superior human beings because they recycle, or drive a hybrid, or have a tattoo, or, yes, shop at X instead of Y (check out Medina or parts of Bellevue).

I'm not targeting West Plano, and it's definitely not 100% of the population there, but it's a high percentage of folks who buy into that.

It is a part of the way the area works socially.

You keep arguing subjective points; "think they're better", "more intense", "superior human being". You seem somewhat intelligent, surely you realize how foolish it is to accuse an entire region of "acting like they're better than anyone else". That's a losing argument every time. Of course this series of bold accusations following your passionate denial of your earlier sarcastic and thinly veiled criticisms, doesn't win you any credibility points in the first place...

Of course, you made SURE to tell us that you can "afford to live in University Park if I wanted to"... Careful with that superior attitude.

Look, I'm sorry that you are so bitter about West Plano, or maybe you're just bitter period. Sometimes it's painful to see the success of others, and wish we had that same sucess, I really know it is. At any rate, the fact that someone works hard for their money and wants a nice house and car is just fine. Like I said, somewhere, there is someone who thinks YOU flaunt your wealth, and wish they could be just as successful as you.