The Louisiana City Superiority..... (New Orleans, Shreveport: college, to move, license plate)

[urbanexplorer2009]

Originally Posted by Innotech

its a nice growing city but I think it could be a LOT nicer actually.
It needs to be cleaned up and the infrastructure needs major improvement to clear up the traffic.

I honestly think the infrastructure will come in time. Lafayette grew too fast, and the infrastructure couldn't keep up. Very similar to what has happened to Bossier City, but I think on an even greater scale because even Bossier City has I-220. Though, admittedly, I-220 doesn't do much for Bossier since most of its traffic seems to be north-south rather than east-west.

[Bel et Intelligent]

Originally Posted by Innotech

Lafayette pretty much does its own thing. I think maybe the university is a bit upset over the whole University of Louisiana @ Lafayette moniker because it wants to be THE southwest Louisiana university but overall it has enough of a unique identity not to care what New Orleans or Baton rouge are doing. I think it helps that it is pretty much set apart from the BR/Nola area and has its own cultural subset and traditions and also the great Festivale International downtown that draws visitors. I do notice alot of animosity between LSU and the Saints and NOLA in general though.

I agree with Innotech, Lafayette has always been differnent than other cities.. From my father to grandfather they always told me something about people from lafayette whatever race they might be, dont go along with other people cultures. Lafayette population in the 60's was very low compare to now days and it still had its own idenity. Theres not to many places in the whole country you can find, that has a city thats not to big but has such a unique idenitiy about itself. Baton Rouge is just 45 mins away and its bigger especailly (after Katrina) and our cities are so differnent, the way we talk, the food everything, the catholic culuture we had it is really so diff. Im not saying one city is better its just amazing you can go 45 min down the road and see that. Texas and alot of other states dont have that. Thats what make Louisiana so unique..Lake Charles is just 1 hour away if that, very differnent type of city also. Alot of People from N.O loves to talk about there city(And they have every right to because it is one of the trully great cities of the world) and really didnt pay attention to other parts of the state until the strom. I never knew anybody from lfy to get affended by that, because we know we have something special going for us. Sure the rest of the country might not know that but here in S louisiana we know and thats good enough for us. Let me give you and idea about how people from Lafayette think. If someone from N.O or Baton Rouge was to say something negative about are area and someone got mad about that, we wouldnt be upset with person talking down on lafayette we would get upset with the person that got affended about the situation in the first place. We would say who cares? Why are letting that bother you, that done mean shi# lol thats how we are. Down to earth people

[Innotech]

I concur with you.
People who live here take pride in their city and the unique Cajun culture. It is to the point that we will point out the differences between New Orleans and Lafayette cuisine and music when outsiders mix them together (calling all Louisiana music zydeco or calling Creole food cajun for example) The two are actually pretty distinctly different and I think thats really neat. Lafayette is not NEw Orleans or a NOla clone, it is just Lafayette, and I find that awesome.

[meemy]

When I was very young I thought that there were only 5 other places in existence...I gleaned this from hearing the many older folk talking...

There was Orleans; center of the entire universe!

and

1. 'Cross da bridge. This is where you went for something important like lunch or dinner at Mosca's or Tchoupitoulas Plantation, or someone's camp down at Grand Isle.

2. Down in da Parish. Again visiting someone's camp and hearing Betsy stories and for buying huge quantities of shrimp.

3. Out in da Parish. Going to the cemetery or visiting other (live) relatives, maybe buying seafood in Bucktown. Our airport was kept out there.

4. 'Cross da lake, aka "ova by Jackson" (State Mental Asylum). For picnics and camping in Fontainebleau State Park. No one called it the North Shore then.

5. Outta Town. It didn't matter if it was Moscow, Mongolia, the Moon or Monroe...it was all simply "Outta Town".

This should help you have a much clearer perspective of Monroe and its importance (or lack thereof) in the overall scheme of things.
.

[darylwi]

Originally Posted by meemy

When I was very young I thought that there were only 5 other places in existence...I gleaned this from hearing the many older folk talking...

There was Orleans; center of the entire universe!

and

1. 'Cross da bridge. This is where you went for something important like lunch or dinner at Mosca's or Tchoupitoulas Plantation, or someone's camp down at Grand Isle.

2. Down in da Parish. Again visiting someone's camp and hearing Betsy stories and for buying huge quantities of shrimp.

3. Out in da Parish. Going to the cemetery or visiting other (live) relatives, maybe buying seafood in Bucktown. Our airport was kept out there.

4. 'Cross da lake, aka "ova by Jackson" (State Mental Asylum). For picnics and camping in Fontainebleau State Park. No one called it the North Shore then.

5. Outta Town. It didn't matter if it was Moscow, Mongolia, the Moon or Monroe...it was all simply "Outta Town".

This should help you have a much clearer perspective of Monroe and its importance (or lack thereof) in the overall scheme of things.
.

Nice! And I've known enough people over the years (even younger people in college from NOLA) to say this is 100% accurate. I love it.

[WestbankNOLA]

Originally Posted by meemy

When I was very young I thought that there were only 5 other places in existence...I gleaned this from hearing the many older folk talking...

There was Orleans; center of the entire universe!

and

1. 'Cross da bridge. This is where you went for something important like lunch or dinner at Mosca's or Tchoupitoulas Plantation, or someone's camp down at Grand Isle.

2. Down in da Parish. Again visiting someone's camp and hearing Betsy stories and for buying huge quantities of shrimp.

3. Out in da Parish. Going to the cemetery or visiting other (live) relatives, maybe buying seafood in Bucktown. Our airport was kept out there.

4. 'Cross da lake, aka "ova by Jackson" (State Mental Asylum). For picnics and camping in Fontainebleau State Park. No one called it the North Shore then.

5. Outta Town. It didn't matter if it was Moscow, Mongolia, the Moon or Monroe...it was all simply "Outta Town".

This should help you have a much clearer perspective of Monroe and its importance (or lack thereof) in the overall scheme of things.
.

Dead on!

[LOUISIANA'SLEGEND]

"Monroe...and its importance(or lack thereof)......" Well for one we have 1 of 4 Louisiana's only Fortune 500 Companies thats a reason to be important dont you think?

oh boy...where do I start. Ya kno....this is my third attempt writing my reply. So much to be said...wow.

ok....hmmm. First of all, Northern Louisiana has an identity of its on. I can promise you, with a few exceptions as the Mardi Gras, and we do share the love for food and how its seasoned, but how esle can you possibly say we get our identity from S. Louisiana. People enjoy chevy trucks, deer and racoon meat, baptist instead of catholic dominate here, we perfer the country way of living. Long driveways to homes, cotton fields, cornfields, wheat and cabbages. We are conservatives socialtives. I have seen this too in the s. louisiana and vice versa as far as what you may spot up here.

Its Louisiana either way you put it, but lets face it its different up and down but how is that bad? San Francisco is not Los Angeles, neither is Sacramento, but what is there to say about San Diego? If this thread was written in California, I bet they'll kno whats "sexy & buttery" about there respected cities.

The differences is what makes us better, and all I was trying to do was speak so sideways and untraditonal to get you guys to repond better and differently. I'll destory you guys in a battle on whose worst but thats not the case here. I only want you people as in residents, knowers of Louisiana, and highly Louisiana influence people to speak up collectively on why your individual city or town makes Louisiana. I want to know this, Louisiana natives want to know so they can come back, and newcomers want a choice outside of the obvious in which they got spooked away from after maybe some misleading "statistical facts"?

you guys are so hilarious by the way for those first couple of replies lol, I been terribly sick, but Im getting better and Ill clear thread up as my thought process gets better. Some of you guys straight up crapped on me before I can defend myself but Im back so watch it!! I am Legend!!!

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by LOUISIANA'SLEGEND

"Monroe...and its importance(or lack thereof)......" Well for one we have 1 of 4 Louisiana's only Fortune 500 Companies thats a reason to be important dont you think?

oh boy...where do I start. Ya kno....this is my third attempt writing my reply. So much to be said...wow.

ok....hmmm. First of all, Northern Louisiana has an identity of its on. I can promise you, with a few exceptions as the Mardi Gras, and we do share the love for food and how its seasoned, but how esle can you possibly say we get our identity from S. Louisiana. People enjoy chevy trucks, deer and racoon meat, baptist instead of catholic dominate here, we perfer the country way of living. Long driveways to homes, cotton fields, cornfields, wheat and cabbages. We are conservatives socialtives. I have seen this too in the s. louisiana and vice versa as far as what you may spot up here.

Its Louisiana either way you put it, but lets face it its different up and down but how is that bad? San Francisco is not Los Angeles, neither is Sacramento, but what is there to say about San Diego? If this thread was written in California, I bet they'll kno whats "sexy & buttery" about there respected cities.

The differences is what makes us better, and all I was trying to do was speak so sideways and untraditonal to get you guys to repond better and differently. I'll destory you guys in a battle on whose worst but thats not the case here. I only want you people as in residents, knowers of Louisiana, and highly Louisiana influence people to speak up collectively on why your individual city or town makes Louisiana. I want to know this, Louisiana natives want to know so they can come back, and newcomers want a choice outside of the obvious in which they got spooked away from after maybe some misleading "statistical facts"?

you guys are so hilarious by the way for those first couple of replies lol, I been terribly sick, but Im getting better and Ill clear thread up as my thought process gets better. Some of you guys straight up crapped on me before I can defend myself but Im back so watch it!! I am Legend!!!

Oh my goodness

You did not just relate Monroe to San Diego...I gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume I misread.

As far as CentruyTel (#753)...good for Monroe...but Louisiana has 6 on the Fortune 1000...Shaw (#357) and Albemarle (#788) are in Baton Rouge. Entergy and Superior Energy Services are out of New Orleans, and Covington has Pool.

You still have not told us what makes Monroe so "superior". The presence of CenturyTel does not quite do it for me.

If you are so smart, please enlighten us as to what is "sexy and buttery" about Monroe.

I'm seriously not trying to rag on the place, but really??? sexy and buttery??

[urbanexplorer2009]

This thread is beyond ridiculous.

North Louisiana has its place, I doubt anyone here would deny that. But Louisiana is clearly defined by New Orleans, the fleur-de-lis, cajun and creole people, swamps, LSU, the Saints, etc. Shreveport is defined these days by casinos, which are definitely not exclusive to this area or to Louisiana.

I have always been asked "how far do you live from New Orleans?" To which I would reply, "I am 6 hours from New Orleans and only 3 hours from Dallas." People always seemed confused by that. But it goes to show that Louisiana is defined by the southern part of the state. When I tell people I am from Shreveport, they either say "where's that?", "oh I've heard of it", "been through there a time or two", or "oh yeah, casinos!" I've even been asked before, "isn't that in Texas?" But if I say "Shreveport, Louisiana", I get the other questions like "how far is that from New Orleans?" or "do you live in the swamp?"

This is how people perceive Louisiana. They do not think about Shreveport, Monroe, or even Alexandria to be honest. They automatically think of south Louisiana. That's just the way it is, and I honestly don't ever see it changing, regardless of how much Shreveport or Monroe were to grow. This is the exact reason Shreveport-Bossier's tourism bureau came up with the slogan "Louisiana's Other Side" (vomit), because it's obvious people do not think of Shreveport first when they think of Louisiana.

[LOUISIANA'SLEGEND]

Originally Posted by urbanexplorer2009

This thread is beyond ridiculous.

North Louisiana has its place, I doubt anyone here would deny that. But Louisiana is clearly defined by New Orleans, the fleur-de-lis, cajun and creole people, swamps, LSU, the Saints, etc. Shreveport is defined these days by casinos, which are definitely not exclusive to this area or to Louisiana.

I have always been asked "how far do you live from New Orleans?" To which I would reply, "I am 6 hours from New Orleans and only 3 hours from Dallas." People always seemed confused by that. But it goes to show that Louisiana is defined by the southern part of the state. When I tell people I am from Shreveport, they either say "where's that?", "oh I've heard of it", "been through there a time or two", or "oh yeah, casinos!" I've even been asked before, "isn't that in Texas?" But if I say "Shreveport, Louisiana", I get the other questions like "how far is that from New Orleans?" or "do you live in the swamp?"

This is how people perceive Louisiana. They do not think about Shreveport, Monroe, or even Alexandria to be honest. They automatically think of south Louisiana. That's just the way it is, and I honestly don't ever see it changing, regardless of how much Shreveport or Monroe were to grow. This is the exact reason Shreveport-Bossier's tourism bureau came up with the slogan "Louisiana's Other Side" (vomit), because it's obvious people do not think of Shreveport first when they think of Louisiana.

Comming from this area you should know that is absolutely not true about the the S. Louisiana identity up here. First of all, there are only a handful of saint fans up here. The proof was in that preseason game that year at Independence Stadium. It was more people with Cowboy jerseys and they seem uninterested, People love Cowboys in the SBC area. They even play the Cowboys on T.V. in of Sundays. Even as far down as Natchitoches they do the same thing, I was disappointed my freshman year at Northwestern State because I couldnt understand that a place like Natchitoches that has alot of S. Louisiana traditions doesnt favor Cowboy games over the Saints. But......thats when it hit me, we're different

When you are dealing with the southern region of the United States people are very familar with the different regions of Louisiana. I runoff to Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN all the time. They are very familar with Northeast Louisiana. They have relatives, they ask me about the Peach Festival (Ruston, LA event. Actually going right now which is a big huge draw every year), they tell me things about the great Eddie Robinson,(the most winningest coach in college football history, as well as had a high draft rate for his players, Grambling Louisiana). The same things happens when I go to Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma. They constantly ask about Shreveport. No one in Texas will claim nor call it Texas but kno it very well. Arkansas residents wish to move there, they think highly of Shreveport-Bossier in how every time they come there it seem to have something new to offer with every visit.

Louisiana Tech rivals alot of things LSU offers. Grambling supposely leads the state in Nursing besides the fact of being a very famous black college. ULM campus was beautiful built around a bayou. It leads in pharmacy.

With that said, if enrollment is ether rising or steady in all those schools why isnt people looking at this area as significant? How many cajuns or creole people even stay up here? Do we even care about french culture up here, swamps.....swamps in Shreveport? There are rolling hills in Shreveport, the land structure is so different from anywhere esle in Louisiana.

I support the all of Louisiana and love it to death, but please, please. to say that S. Louisiana give Louisiana its identity is so unbelievable. I ask I guy from St. Louis before, "what chu kno bout ol' Looz'anna?" He say, "yall racist, but the food taste good." Racist huh, I wonder what part of the state he went too, and note, I went during the time around the time Jena Six happen.

When Katrina happened when New Orleans temporarily lost its flare, all of a sudden Louisiana became whole again with the same identity, it wasnt french culture.

Trust, theres too much about Louisiana to i.d. Its is not just LSU and Mardi Gras beads