Do you WANT Detroit to fail? (Burt: living, military, vs.)

[jeffncandace]

It seems that so many people are gleeful at any bad news concerning Detroit--of which there is usually plenty, unfortunately.

Yet sometimes there is positive news...which is immediately held in scorn and disdain by the same people so gleeful at all the bad news.

I realize there are many reasons for this attitude, some are somewhat valid, others definately not.

But my question is...why are you so gleeful upon hearing of more problems in Detroit? Shouldn't we all desire for this town to turn around? Even if you find it impossible to believe that it will, why be so happy upon hearing confirmation that it is not?

And please, no diatribes about why Detroit sucks. Answer the OP, or don't answer at all.

[and the]

Overreacting to so-called positive news distracts from and masks the real faults that need addressing. It also rationalizes a waste of resources. I'd rather see the newspapers document blight, murder and mayhem for a week than gush over the new sidewalk along the river for the same amount of time. Maybe that would motivate the city's leaders to actually do something about the pig in the living room other than trying to squeeze it into a silk dress that's 6 sizes too small.

[mikeopto85]

Im working hard to help improve the city and its image. I dont even live in the city...yet. I love hearing goods news about the city and I hope that one day we will be world class

[and the]

I love seeing realistic news about the city because the only way Detroit is going to make significant improvements is by putting what is really wrong with the city right in the faces of those who really have no clue as to how bad things are.

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by and the

I love seeing realistic news about the city because the only way Detroit is going to make significant improvements is by putting what is really wrong with the city right in the faces of those who really have no clue as to how bad things are.

Completely understandable. I have in my favorites alot of sites that I have discovered since I moved here, like The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit and lots of others, some highlighting the blight, some all about the different problems the city faces. The negative, as things stand now, outway the positive by alot, IMO.

But, I think it's important for everyone to remember that to have this "Screw Detroit" attitude, while understandable at times, is ultimately self-defeating. It is impossible for Detroit to become a complete pit of despair without it affecting the affluent suburbs. The same people who condescend and laugh at Detroit's problems get angry at the encroachment of Detroit's issues upon the suburbs. Do we not see that the betterment of Detroit benefits us all? You may not like it, but what happens to Detroit happens to it's suburbs.

[BurtsBees]

I do want it to turn around. I really do. For Michigan to get better, Detroit needs to first. Once Detroit picks up, maybe we wont be seeing the blight coming for the suburbs anymore.

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by BurtsBees

I do want it to turn around. I really do. For Michigan to get better, Detroit needs to first. Once Detroit picks up, maybe we wont be seeing the blight coming for the suburbs anymore.

Which is my point. Hopefully people will understand that the underlying attitude of "us vs. them" is just not going to work.

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by jeffncandace

It seems that so many people are gleeful at any bad news concerning Detroit--of which there is usually plenty, unfortunately.

Yet sometimes there is positive news...which is immediately held in scorn and disdain by the same people so gleeful at all the bad news.

I realize there are many reasons for this attitude, some are somewhat valid, others definately not.

But my question is...why are you so gleeful upon hearing of more problems in Detroit? Shouldn't we all desire for this town to turn around? Even if you find it impossible to believe that it will, why be so happy upon hearing confirmation that it is not?

And please, no diatribes about why Detroit sucks. Answer the OP, or don't answer at all.

I grew up on the East Side and I love Detroit; even the scary parts are home. I have to admit I chortle when I hear about some crooked politician in the city getting hung out to dry, but by then it's usually too late -- thousands of people have been affected by the chicanery. Honestly, I think Detroit AS WE KNOW IT needs to be nuked. But we can SURELY do better than this. All we need is a new industry, preferably two or three, to give people jobs and reasons to live productive lives there.

I say we keep King's Bookstore, the zoo, Pewabic Pottery, and a few other key places. Tear all the empty factories and other junk down to the foundations and start over with something new.

Has anyone but me noticed that in every previous war, the USA has benefited because its manufacturing plants have been turned to making munitions and fighter planes and stuff? If we were supplying the military Detroit would be back on its feet, long since.

[zakian]

Originally Posted by jeffncandace

It seems that so many people are gleeful at any bad news concerning Detroit--of which there is usually plenty, unfortunately.

Yet sometimes there is positive news...which is immediately held in scorn and disdain by the same people so gleeful at all the bad news.

I realize there are many reasons for this attitude, some are somewhat valid, others definately not.

But my question is...why are you so gleeful upon hearing of more problems in Detroit? Shouldn't we all desire for this town to turn around? Even if you find it impossible to believe that it will, why be so happy upon hearing confirmation that it is not?

And please, no diatribes about why Detroit sucks. Answer the OP, or don't answer at all.

Why would anyone want to hear a city they live in is dead?? You seem to be ignorant of the facts.

[TheProf]

As a Clevelander, no way I WANT DETROIT TO FAIL. I pull for Detroit, in fact (except when it comes to the Pistons or Tigers, of course). If Detroit fails, in many ways, Cleveland and the entire 'Rust Belt' (I hate that term, but...) fails along with it... Sadly, I do find a lot of Michganders, particularly those outside Detroit, even in Detroit suburbs (maybe ESPECIALLY those in Detroit suburbs) that seem to take some sort of perverted glee in Detroit's struggles... and tend to downplay the many positive signs that, indeed, are happening in the city.