Just something I noticed about Detroit last night (Grand Rapids, Flint: credit, unemployment)

[Indentured Servant]

Originally Posted by Tekkie

Oh, the irony. Just a few months back I was saying the exact same thing on this forum. I think a lot of the threads/posts ended up getting deleted because it ended up being a mud-slinging competition, so I couldn't immediately find one to quote. Arthur Digby Sellers and I used to go back and forth, just ask him.

I do not have to ask him. I have read enough things that you have said to form my own opinion.

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by Indentured Servant

I do not have to ask him. I have read enough things that you have said to form my own opinion.

Well, not sure what that means overall. But hopefully you've noticed the positive things I've mentioned about the area so that you can make an informed opinion.

[Bimmerfanboy]

Lmao this thread has been over-run by race-baiters and Detroit-apologists.

Face it, Coleman Young was a crook.
Many Detroit residents have an "entitlement" mentality.
Socialist ideas have failed Detroit.

Have fun living in denial.

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by Tekkie

There's a lot of anger and vitriol in the tone of this post. I don't agree that "discussing the problems" is just code for "bashing". If there are evident problems that the city needs to improve, why shouldn't it be discussed? As long as there are proposed (realistic) solutions involved in the discussion, then I don't really consider it to be bashing.

Detroit sucks! = Bashing

Detroit should provide better city services to areas of high pedestrian/automobile volume to attract more people into the city = constructive criticism

Anger and vitriol? Funny that you prefer to see it here instead of from the bashers who happen to see it your way.
It's also strange how you take it personally when I speak against bashing. I have little problem with the OP. Unless it's blatant, one post doesn't make a basher, but a track record does.
Yep, I despise trolls and bashers - so much for "vitriol".

Originally Posted by Seatown1

Lmao this thread has been over-run by race-baiters and Detroit-apologists.

Face it, Coleman Young was a crook.
Many Detroit residents have an "entitlement" mentality.
Socialist ideas have failed Detroit.

Have fun living in denial.

Case in point. No anger or vitriol here of course. Just another fine "fair and balanced" contribution, constructive criticism - yet curiously, each sentence a vacuous worn-out platitude and some sort of inexplicable hissy fit.
Y'all can't help yourselves?
Okay Rush, opinion noted.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by Seatown1

Have fun living in denial.

Same to you!!!

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by detwahDJ

Anger and vitriol? Funny that you prefer to see it here instead of from the bashers who happen to see it your way.
It's also strange how you take it personally when I speak against bashing. I have little problem with the OP.
Yep, I despise trolls and bashers - so much for "vitriol".

Case in point. No anger or vitriol here of course. Just another fine "fair and balanced" contribution, constructive criticism - yet curiously, each sentence a vacuous worn-out platitude and some sort of inexplicable hissy fit.
Y'all can't help yourselves?
Okay Rush, opinion noted.

To be fair, I didn't see that post until just now.

May I ask why you have such strong feelings about Detroit? Don't you live in Grand Rapids? Don't you think it's a little disingenuous to feel so strongly about something that you do not have to personally experience on a daily basis? If you feel like Detroit has so much to offer, why don't you do what I did and move to this region? I wonder how you'd feel about it if you tried to make a go at it like some of us have.

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it ironic that some of the biggest Detroit advocates on here don't even live in Detroit or Metro Detroit?

And I'm sorry that I've shared some of my negative experiences about Detroit on this forum. Shame on me for having the desire to give others the perspective I didn't get before I moved back. When I asked about job prospects in Detroit on this very forum prior to my relocation, all I got was a bunch of hoopla about how things were on the upswing. Guess what? I spent a solid six months applying for jobs in the region. Most of the jobs that were posted sucked, the job offers I did receive sucked. And for all of those jobs, there were just as many or more that didn't even respond to me. OTOH, I just received a nearly $20k pay increase to move back to Denver. So yeah, I'm going to go where my career has the best opportunity to grow and be successful.

I'm sorry that I've shared some of my dismal experiences about the Detroit social scene for young professionals. I just figured people who are considering coming here ought to know what the culture's like. If you want a vibrant, upbeat social scene where people are open to meeting new people and getting together, I don't think Detroit is a great place for that at this time.

And for as many "negative" posts I've made about Detroit, I've posted just as many or more about the positive aspects of Detroit. I've posted about my bike rides through the city. I've posted about some of my favorite spots in the city. Why don't any of those posts get credit? Why do all of those positive contributions become moot immediately after I critique some aspect of Detroit?

I believe it's only right that people get a fair assessment of this place prior to relocating here. They need to understand the reality of the situation. Artificially inflating the image of the region serves them no purpose, just as relentless self-serving bashing serves no purpose to the resurrection of the region's image.

[fmax]

Detwah,

"Not sure you're using it correctly here."

Agreed. Not sure how else to describe it in light of the pensioners getting screwed.

Detroit street light system - Kwame took it.

Belle Isle - Ferguson took it.

And who can't remember Detroit police chief Hart?

This is where a part of the pension fund went.

The Argus-Press - Google News Archive Search

[fmax]

"Lmao this thread has been over-run by race-baiters and Detroit-apologists."

Agreed. Over 50% of the Detroit threads here on CT prove it, and end the same way...

" Face it, Coleman Young was a crook."

Multiculturalism doesn't work.

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by Tekkie

To be fair, I didn't see that post until just now.

May I ask why you have such strong feelings about Detroit? Don't you live in Grand Rapids? Don't you think it's a little disingenuous to feel so strongly about something that you do not have to personally experience on a daily basis? If you feel like Detroit has so much to offer, why don't you do what I did and move to this region? I wonder how you'd feel about it if you tried to make a go at it like some of us have.

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it ironic that some of the biggest Detroit advocates on here don't even live in Detroit or Metro Detroit?

Born and raised at Mack/Moross, grew up near Balduck Park, grade school: Marquette Elementary, high school: Edwin Denby. Lived there, Vernor-Springwells area, Telegraph/McNichols area, Hamtramck, Lafayette Park. Attended night classes at Henry Ford CC in Dearborn.
Worked in the public and private arenas, union and non-union shops. Prowled downtown during the Coleman Young era, and both sides of it. In and out of the USAF, Berlin and Pakistan then back to Detroit. Explored about every recreation area and park in the tri-county area. Had gigs in Detroit's inner city, north Woodward, and Ann Arbor. Retired to west Michigan only 15 years ago for the art and outdoor recreation scenes, now finding it was not necessary - "progress" has changed outstate Michigan. Would like to get back at some point, working to make a difference and networking the contemporary art and music scene which has become more vibrant, but a heavy lift right now.
Maybe I've said too much, but I ain't the newbie here.
You complain that many advocates don't live there. Haven't you noticed where the bashers come from?

[Tekkie]

Originally Posted by detwahDJ

Born and raised at Mack/Moross, grew up near Balduck Park, grade school: Marquette Elementary, high school: Edwin Denby. Lived there, Vernor-Springwells area, Telegraph/McNichols area, Hamtramck, Lafayette Park. Attended night classes at Henry Ford CC in Dearborn.
Worked in the public and private arenas, union and non-union shops. Prowled downtown during the Coleman Young era, and both sides of it. In and out of the USAF, Berlin and Pakistan then back to Detroit. Explored about every recreation area and park in the tri-county area. Retired to west Michigan only 15 years ago for the art and outdoor recreation scenes, now finding it was not necessary - "progress" has changed outstate Michigan. Would like to get back at some point, working to make a difference and networking the contemporary art and music scene, but a heavy lift right now.
Disingenuous - no. Experience - yes. I ain't the newbie here.
You complain that many advocates don't live there? Haven't you noticed where the bashers come from?

So your experience with the city, at best, is 15 years old. Not exactly what I'd consider relevant, particularly not from my standpoint. I'm posting strictly from the standpoint of an active 20-something white collar professional. I am posting about the topics that are typically relevant to people in my demographic. If what I post about isn't relevant to your lifestyle, that is completely understandable. However, if you have a disagreement about something I post and have a counter-argument to validate your objection, then I am open to having that discussion as well.