What do you think is the Best Area/Suburb (Independence: crime, homes)

[luzianne]

My opinion only - best suburb of Kansas City is Johnson County. I live here on purpose.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

I'm sorry, but there is absolutely a difference in quality of life or schools between JoCo and MO suburbs.

You may find you like MO better. Many people do. I like JoCo better. Many people do. But there is most certainly a difference.

Difference, yes, but the emphasis was on quality. Precisely the same quality of life can be found on both sides, albeit with a slightly different look and feel.
From an outsiders point of view, there really is no huge difference. Certainly not enough to warrant these never-ending discussions.
The differences are extraordinarily trumped up by locals.

[muman]

Best Areas: The Plaza and Brookside
Best Suburbs: Mission Hills, Fairway, Parkville (although a little far from the city compared with the first two)

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by northbound74

Precisely the same quality of life can be found on both sides,

And I simply disagree with this.

Not in an attempt to say that JoCo has THE BEST quality of life for EVERYONE and THE BEST public schools for EVERY CHILD - this is not what I'm saying.

I'm saying that lifestyles and schools are quite different even between comparable looking areas of Lee's Summit and Overland Park. We chose what was best for us and our kids, and I encourage everyone to do the same. If you see no difference, then that's fine, but it would be nice if you actually had some information at least second-hand with which to make a direct comparison. Just because the houses and streets look similar, doesn't mean lifestyles are "exactly" the same. If you have never set foot in a SM or BV school classroom or at least have taken a reasonable amount of information from someone who has kids there or teaches there, you really don't have a basis with which to say that the schools are "exactly" the same. But yet there is a clamoring to insist that they are.

They simply aren't. They are very different. I have friends with kids several suburban areas of the metro and who teach in schools in the Northland. I have been to these schools to watch games or performances and I have talked to lots of other parents. This is not an attempt to compare schools on my part. I'm not grilling them for information. I'm just having conversations.

But the information from those events and conversations does accumulate and has led me to conclude that there are noticeable differences between suburban areas of the metro in terms of lifestyle and schools. There are plusses and minuses all over. That's again why I encourage people to explore on their own. My preferences and dealbreakers may not be your preferences and dealbreakers.

But this is why I say the things I say. Not out of defensiveness for the area I happen to prefer.

If asked by someone coming into the area for information, I try to give it and I admit to my bias toward the area I call "home".

I have no idea why this type of discussion always has to generate such defensiveness and controversy.

[kcmo]

wow samantha...

You try very hard not to be the type of person that most people are talking about here, but the more you post...

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by kcmo

wow samantha...

You try very hard not to be the type of person that most people are talking about here, but the more you post...

I don't "try very hard" to be anything other than who I am.

I have never said anything disparaging about the people in general of any area of KS or MO.

There are some very beautiful areas on both sides. There are some not-so-great areas on both sides.

There are snobs on both sides and there are rednecks on both sides. MOST people on BOTH sides are very nice.

Again, the concept of "different" <> "better" is really a tough one for some people to grasp. The tendency to be defensive and feel insulted or "looked down upon" simply because someone notices differences from one area to another is rampant around here. There's not much I can do about that.

FWIW, I bought something on Craigslist the other day and I drove to a guy's house a few miles away in KCMO to pick it up. His property was in a small neighborhood that was situated up on a little bluff over the Little Blue River and surrounded by trees. Blocks from the city, but once you were there, you would never know it! It was gorgeous! The MO side offers way more options like this than the KS side does. That's a fact. And I can see where something like this could be way more appealing than a small manicured lawn in JoCo. It's DIFFERENT in that regard.

Notice I didn't say which was BETTER. See that depends on a plethora of factors and which factors weigh more heavily for you.

Different <> Better. Can we all say that together?

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

And I simply disagree with this.

Not in an attempt to say that JoCo has THE BEST quality of life for EVERYONE and THE BEST public schools for EVERY CHILD - this is not what I'm saying.

I'm saying that lifestyles and schools are quite different even between comparable looking areas of Lee's Summit and Overland Park. We chose what was best for us and our kids, and I encourage everyone to do the same. If you see no difference, then that's fine, but it would be nice if you actually had some information at least second-hand with which to make a direct comparison. Just because the houses and streets look similar, doesn't mean lifestyles are "exactly" the same. If you have never set foot in a SM or BV school classroom or at least have taken a reasonable amount of information from someone who has kids there or teaches there, you really don't have a basis with which to say that the schools are "exactly" the same. But yet there is a clamoring to insist that they are.

They simply aren't. They are very different. I have friends with kids several suburban areas of the metro and who teach in schools in the Northland. I have been to these schools to watch games or performances and I have talked to lots of other parents. This is not an attempt to compare schools on my part. I'm not grilling them for information. I'm just having conversations.

But the information from those events and conversations does accumulate and has led me to conclude that there are noticeable differences between suburban areas of the metro in terms of lifestyle and schools. There are plusses and minuses all over. That's again why I encourage people to explore on their own. My preferences and dealbreakers may not be your preferences and dealbreakers.

But this is why I say the things I say. Not out of defensiveness for the area I happen to prefer.

If asked by someone coming into the area for information, I try to give it and I admit to my bias toward the area I call "home".

I have no idea why this type of discussion always has to generate such defensiveness and controversy.

You've lost me. You say you disagree, then go on to pretty much say the exact same thing I said, but in more words. Maybe we're defining the word 'quality' differently.

[TabulaRasa]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

I'm sorry, but there is absolutely a difference in quality of life or schools between JoCo and MO suburbs.

Isn't this really just a matter of opinion, though, and not an absolute? "Quality of life" is pretty subjective and individual.

It's bizarre that there seems to be such a lack of recognition that what defines a "quality" community varies person to person. People have different tastes and value different things. Sheesh.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

Isn't this really just a matter of opinion, though, and not an absolute? "Quality of life" is pretty subjective and individual.

Yes, you're right. If the things that are different don't matter to you, then "quality of life" could be the same.

But most people can tell differences between areas and even between suburbs. That's pretty much why this forum exists - so that people can ask questions and talk about that very subject.

It's bizarre that there seems to be such a lack of recognition that what defines a "quality" community varies person to person. People have different tastes and value different things. Sheesh.

Agreed. That's been my point all along!

[OneKC]

Originally Posted by Samantha S

And I simply disagree with this.


I have no idea why this type of discussion always has to generate such defensiveness and controversy.

The only person seeming to generate defensiveness and controversy is you. A lot of other people, including myself, think there is very little difference in quality. You think there is. We disagree. Leave it at that. I don't see why you need to keep defending your point. When talking about "quality" its pretty subjective so there is really no argument you can make to support your point other than "I think Overland Park is better", which you have already said over and over again.