The Truths of Greenville, SC From Someone Born and Raised Here (Greer: environment, travel)

[vwsam]

I moved down here from the Asheville NC area last year. One of the things that I like about Greenville is the lower amount of homeless downtown. You can't get a block in Asheville without being hit up for money by homeless.

[sojones]

Why would people even argue with me? ? Guess you will deny that Mauldin is one of the best areas in Greenville, SC... probably the best police int he city and they still deal with:

MAULDIN, S.C. -- Mauldin police said that the arrest of seven high school students is evidence of gang activity at the school.

The students were arrested on Wednesday, accused of taking part in a gang initiation inside a bathroom at Mauldin High School.

Police said that several weeks ago, the students assaulted a student who asked to be initiated into the Bloods gang.

All seven students are charged with lynching, distrurbing school and violations of the criminal gang act.

Five of the students were taken to the Greenville County Detention Center and the other two are being held as juveniles.

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by sojones

Why would people even argue with me? ? Guess you will deny that Mauldin is one of the best areas in Greenville, SC... probably the best police int he city and they still deal with:

MAULDIN, S.C. -- Mauldin police said that the arrest of seven high school students is evidence of gang activity at the school.

The students were arrested on Wednesday, accused of taking part in a gang initiation inside a bathroom at Mauldin High School.

Police said that several weeks ago, the students assaulted a student who asked to be initiated into the Bloods gang.

All seven students are charged with lynching, distrurbing school and violations of the criminal gang act.

Five of the students were taken to the Greenville County Detention Center and the other two are being held as juveniles.

Now I could of sworn EVERY city the size of Greenville and bigger had gangs. Must of been my imagination. Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston, etc. don't have gangs? Since when?

[captainrm]

aaaahhhhh...the ignorance I remember; Greenville really does come off as this perfect place to live, but I can guarantee you it is not! And for those of you who are too caught up defending it to actually listen to reality, don't bother replying!

I have lived in 8 different states in the last 8 years. And just to clarify, they have not been all large cities. The states I've lived in: IA, NE, IN, CO, CT, NY, SC, PA. I was born and raised in the midwest. Not much diversity. Nobody had anything good to say about other races, and you'd hear a few under the table bad comments about other races. In Durango, CO, the only real diversity came from the college and the indian reservations. However, culture was embraced in this predominantly white town (was a tourist attraction in the mountains). But Greenville has brought my experience of racism (bad experience) to a whole new level and one of the biggest reasons why: whites always feel like they're right and superior in Greenville. That's it...bottom line. By the way, I'm white. And it literally disgusted me to see how whites treat people of different cultures and races. And for all of you ignorant people who don't want to open your eyes, keep living in fairytale land. It just makes everyone around you, from states that do embrace culture, look down on you and your state.

Sure, I've heard Greenville is pretty gay friendly. So please, don't bring that up. We are talking about people with different cultures and from a different race. And don't bring up that you may live on one street that has diversity, because I know the majority do not. I lived there, I seen it for myself. And just because your neighbors don't use slurs to your face doesn't mean they don't do so behind your back. Why does everyone try so hard to be fake in Greenville? I could see right through most families...they try to paint a picture perfect family with their fake smiles, etc. but you could tell that when the front door closes, those families are completely different. And the sad part is, they live an unhappy life, maybe not evening knowing they are unhappy, because everyone else around them is doing the same thing. I happen to be very happy w/ my life because I like to keep it real and kick it with people who do the same.

Lastly, I was born and raised in the midwest. Traveled to the western region, eastern, southern, and northern. I by far feel like people from the Northeast are the most honest and real people out there in the U.S. Maybe that is why people from the South don't really like people from the Northeast...because people who live in the Northeast are realists! They say how they feel, they act how they want. No, this doesn't automatically mean there is more crime and people live a lower than standard life. It just means you are able to view life with an open mind, instead of walking around with your blinders on.

Sure, Greenville is growing. But primarily with retirees and people receiving transfers from their jobs. You all defend Greenville so much; but tell me, why is NYC known as the "land of opportunity" for so many? I've never heard of Greenville being called anything similiar to that.

[Skyliner]

Explain this then; Why is Greenville being flooded with people from the Northeast (mostly from NY) and why do they love it here? By the way, they are actually warmly accepted in this community, in case you failed to see it. I have been saying for awhile now that there seems to be more transplants from the North in Greenville than there are native southerners remaining in the city. I didn't make that comment lightly because it is amazing how many transplants have come and are making a tremendous difference in the city. I encourage you to talk with some of the many international immigrants also living in Greenville and see if they view this place as a "land of opportunity." You would be surprised by their response. Perhaps they would be willing to explain to you why their communities are growing here and why their festivals are growing in reputation and attendance.

I live in Greenville today and am completely aware of reality. I say how I feel and act how I want to act, which you say is a Northeasterner's trait, yet people around here do accept me and even like me. When did you experience the city? Yes, it has drastically changed for the best within the past couple of decades. How do you explain the many diverse cultures from around the nation and the globe together happily thriving here today? If this is all just a fake happiness, then everyone would be clamoring to leave instead of deciding to stay to raise their families and make a living here.

I don't doubt that you may have had a bad experience in Greenville - no place is perfect, as we've been saying over and over - but just take a look at the city today and the many wonderful changes happening and planned. If what you said is true, this place is surely on its way out of Hell.

[sojones]

^ well I think there's a pretty high representation of people who moved in on this board in statements they've made themself

you can deny those people if you like but they are telling you their own opinions

where are you from Skyliner? where have you LIVED for a year or more (and no college years included)?

I'm aware there's a lot of people that move here from other cities but I think the rate at which they choose to leave, unless just retiring, is pretty great.

And the rate at which sophisticated/college-grad/business minded minorities choose to leave is even greater.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by sojones

^ well I think there's a pretty high representation of people who moved in on this board in statements they've made themself

you can deny those people if you like but they are telling you their own opinions

Could you clarify what you are trying to say? I don't follow...

Originally Posted by sojones

where are you from Skyliner? where have you LIVED for a year or more (and no college years included)?

I could tell you, but it is completely irrelevant to this discussion.

Originally Posted by sojones

I'm aware there's a lot of people that move here from other cities but I think the rate at which they choose to leave, unless just retiring, is pretty great.

You need to show evidence to back this claim. Anyone can say something like this but where is the proof that it is true? If the population were shrinking I would be inclined to agree with you, but the contrary is happening at a steady pace.

Originally Posted by sojones

And the rate at which sophisticated/college-grad/business minded minorities choose to leave is even greater.

I can neither confirm nor deny this, but no one has made them leave Greenville. Many minorities have businesses in Greenville and I see new ones open up around town quite regularly.

[captainrm]

Sojones, were you really born and raised in Greenville? It seems, so, refreshing to hear somebody speak their mind as an individual!

Anyway, I'm not here to put anybody down, I just think we should all open our eyes a little wider and try to understand why there are so many different opinions. And that is why when somebody says Greenville looks like a picture perfect place to live in, I don't disagree. It is when you look beyond that...you know, dig a little deeper.

And I totally agree that people from the Northeast move in, but a good portion also move out because there is too much unnecessary descrimination going on! Keep in mind, I'm not speaking up for the retirees; that is a completely different discussion.

Skyliner, it's about time somebody burst your bubble! Just try to look at things from a different light and you may understand some of these comments. Afterall, how fun is life living in a bubble?

[Skyliner]

So you are out to bash me then instead of Greenville? That's okay, I can take it. "Dig a little deeper" you say, yet you and sojones are unwilling to open the actual documents showing what is going on "a little deeper" in Greenville. The funny thing is, I don't know many retired Northeastern transplants, but none of my many professional Northeastern transplants feel discriminated against here. Perhaps the ones moving away because of "too much unnecessary discrimination" should "open their eyes a little wider?" I am willing to look at your viewpoint, but please provide better evidence to help me see more clearly.

[captainrm]

No, I am not here to bash you (I believe I already said that). I just state my opinion, take it or leave it. That's all it is. Here's a little reading material for you, something that shows how Greenville is trying to update with the times (obviously they have done something wrong...why would they have to prove equality if it has already been established? Because I don't believe it has!):

Bob Jones University, the fundamentalist Christian college that banned interracial dating until two years ago, is recruiting minorities in an effort to shed its racist image. More than 40 minority students have applied for aid through two new funds sponsored by private donations, and nine have won scholarships, a school spokesman said. The school said it had few blacks but no precise figures on its racial makeup.

National Briefing | South: South Carolina: College Recruits Minorities - New York Times

We're a Caucasian couple with two young daughters adopted from China.

My husband ran into an old friend (whose wife is Asian) who warned us pretty strongly about racism in G'ville and Greer where he had family. He added that he hadn't been there for almost 15 years but at that time there were issues of prejudice and even incidents of hate crimes involving the KKK. I don't have any more details than that. He was very sure that we would be unwelcome and maybe persecuted because our kids aren't white.

Mixed Race Families & Racism in Greenville?

Al Sharpton: Confederate flag must be down everywhere

Q: Is there any place for the Confederate flag, publicly or privately?

Moderator cut: do not repost copyrighted articles