When is it Bashing Long Island and When is it Objectivity about LI? (Brookhaven: home, neighborhoods)

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

Not trying to start something, and I troll here because I lived there for 40 odd years and have some opinions and experience.

It seems though that anything "anti" Island is not appreciated even if there is some truth mixed in. Obviously Long Island is very messed up in a lot of ways. Too many to mention.

I know people love Long Island and I did for many years, but the data people give seems to be tailored to people seeking to hide in a "nice" enclave (myth number one) and does not seem to spread across broad economic and cultural interests. Just an observation maybe I am wrong.

I don't really care too much and I am not going to dispute anyones opinion of happiness, so just wondering.



Thanks

[I_Love_LI_but]

How about the thread entitled, "Why is Suffolk Co. so crappy?"

Here is what the OP writes:

There is not much to do, it's so expensive and everything seems rundown, am I missing something?..

I personally prefer Nassau, but I would never bash Suffolk totally and completely like that! There are so many nice things to do in Suffolk and so many nice areas. By making a sweeping generalization like that, the OP of the thread is not saying anything useful, s/he is just busting chops IMO. People get tired of threads like that or the "Hahahah I moved to NC and it's so much better ..." gloat fests. Maybe to someone who posts a thread like that it is better. To some of us NC would not be an option and we prefer to stay on LI.

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by BovinaCowHateWindTurbines

Not trying to start something, and I troll here because I lived there for 40 odd years and have some opinions and experience.

It seems though that anything "anti" Island is not appreciated even if there is some truth mixed in. Obviously Long Island is very messed up in a lot of ways. Too many to mention.

I know people love Long Island and I did for many years, but the data people give seems to be tailored to people seeking to hide in a "nice" enclave (myth number one) and does not seem to spread across broad economic and cultural interests. Just an observation maybe I am wrong.

I don't really care too much and I am not going to dispute anyones opinion of happiness, so just wondering.



Thanks

How about "Suggestion for Long Island from 40 year veteran."

Frankly, unless you are here to help I don't know what would motivate you to come back to gripe except either a longing or some irrational hate. Either way, I'm really tired of it.

I've seen no evidence of a desire to provide us with ANYTHING constructive.

[TeaJay]

Some people prefer to gripe and bash rather than acknowledge that LI just might not be right for them. And what one person finds appealing may not be true of others and what they need/want from a hometown. No place is perfect for anyone. I live in a very nice place- pretty, quiet, and nice people, but it just does not suit me- I don't feel at home. Some people, instead of recognizing that they need something else, prefer to find fault with LI.

It's not perfect by any means, but clearly people have found things in it that are appealing. Those of us who chose to leave and want to return have some perspective. (especially those of us who are having a hard time returning for whatever reason.)

[BovinaCowHateWindTurbines]

Ok great point. And maybe you can help me with this. I am not bashing and I am not loving. I try to help. I was trying to have a dialog of where that line is, obviously I crossed it. If people are so sensitive about LI, is it that great and that there is nothing wrong with it?

Originally Posted by NYNewbie

Frankly, unless you are here to help I don't know what would motivate you to come back to gripe except either a longing or some irrational hate. Either way, I'm really tired of it.

[sean sean sean sean]

You can love it or hate it as far as I'm concerned, has no impact on me. I can't say I really enjoy sitting here reading someone's boring life story of how things got too expensive and it's unfair and blah blah blah....look, LI is really too expensive for me too, and I will not be long for it's surfaces unless I win on this Mega Millions ticket, but get over it! Cut some corners or live somewhere else. I don't even take the posts about the decreasing population of caucasians or the non-resemblance to 1964 seriously. This is one situation where I believe the old adage of "don't hate the playa hate the game" to be reversed.

Ultimately, though...I really haven't read a lot of these posts recently. When I do, I'm glad I have more resilience than a lot of these chumps. The only downside is that I think it paints an unrealistic picture of Long Island, and as our buddy Jrprofess would be quick to point out, a lot of these posts speak for one small area on a very large island.

Can anyone find me some negative posts regarding LI that were not only objective but also not based around the poster's financial woes and/or changing demographics & landscape?

[OhBeeHave]

IMHO the forums (any region, any state) are here to try and help people sort through what areas would be best for them or perhaps not meet with their expectations.

As previously pointed out; starting a thread, "Why is Suffolk Co so Crappy" is an outright bash - it contributes nothing positive, and if it were in an effort to point out something bad, it doesn't zero in. It is merely a broad, sweeping generalization not much better than saying Watervliet is an armpit (my former college room mate was from Watervliet and we loved to break her chops!)

However if someone came in and said that such and such area of BayShore is on the border of a crime-ridden area, that's not a bash it's a fact. It would be helpful for someone who is unfamiliar with that spot and wants to find a home in a 'safe' area.

If someone says, "Pizza is gross," but doesn't support why, they are pizza bashers. If they state, "I had pizza at Bobs Pizzatorium and the cheese on several occasions tasted like plastic," that's not a bash -- the person is speaking from experience. Granted there's some freak out there who likes the plastic tasting cheese from Bobs Pizzatorium, and they're bound to get their panties in a bunch.

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by BovinaCowHateWindTurbines

Ok great point. And maybe you can help me with this. I am not bashing and I am not loving. I try to help. I was trying to have a dialog of where that line is, obviously I crossed it. If people are so sensitive about LI, is it that great and that there is nothing wrong with it?

I don't know of anyone writing in this forum who has sunshine spilling forth from their colons. You almost always read qualifiers, and constant references to taxes. Many posts here ask for help in dealing with problems. I asked for help regarding a drug dealer, and people here gave me very good advice, and now the problem is fixed.

But here's what gets me. Even if I'm looking at Long Island in some Pollyanaish way, why do you care? Do you feel some obligation to save me from my rose colored glasses?

Get a hobby!

[alexei27]

This is an interesting post. It seems to me that part of it is the age old problem that everyone needs something to complain about. Unfortunately it takes a lot more effort to log on and write about something positive. That gets old. So when an experienced voice comes on with constructive criticism...it's easy to lump it in with all the other negative blabber.

It's not unique to this forum either. I just moved here from Utah....and 90% of the posts were "can I live here with all those Mormons...and so on. Trust...the illegal immigrant and drug problem in Salt Lake City was a much bigger problem than the Mormons...but when someone posted legitimate data that was not in defense of the Mormon Church..woah look out!!!

IMO..another problem is that I have noticed about this forum...is that you can't even think of straying from the exact theme of the original post..lest you get beaten upside the digital head. Like the person a few weeks ago trying to get info on how to get his son put of a speeding ticket...spent a good deal of time bashing the supposed "high and mighty" attitude of people who were upset...when it is obvious that reckless driving is a huge problem here. It's just so easy to come here and spout negativity. Sorry to that poster for singling you out...but it exemplifies the problem.

Human nature? I am not sure....but if the info is constructive and actually adds something to the conversation...keep it flowing please. It is the non-descript, generalized bashing that needs to go. I'm too busy paying my LIPA bill to deal with that :-)

[XLIGuy]

Since I discovered this forum, I constantly read it as it reminds me of my years on LI. I find it amazing the emotional reaction Long Island seems to have for those who love it or hate it. Not sure why? It's problems are no different than any other major metro suburban area. Believe me, since I left Long island, I have lived in Philly, Baltimore, Nashville, and now Austin. All of these cities have positives but are also experiencing the same problems with illegals, drugs,traffic, high prices, etc., etc. Contrary to the naysayers, I would move back to LI if I could. It cracks me up when I hear about how some specific village/hamlet is unsafe when every year, LI ranks as one of the safest metros nationwide-usually in the top 10. You want unsafe-I'll show you neighborhoods in Baltimore, Philly, and even here in Austin, that would make the hair on the back of your neck stand straight and your blood curdle! Those LI hamlets/villages that are deemed unsafe today were still that way when I lived on LI back in the 70s and 80s, so I do not think things have changed much. I still have relatives in Flushing, Oakdale, and West Babylon, and friends in Floral Park, Brookhaven (yes,Walter-the hamlet), Montauk, and East Hampton. Yes, they gripe about taxes and the traffic but they still love it. So it cannot be too bad of a place to live.

Someday I may move back, I just have to convince my wife (who is afraid of bridges and does not want to study for a different state bar exam).