Louisville perception (lawyers, to live, plantation)

[basinstblues]

Maybe this is faulty logic, but I would guess that San Francisco's "dismal job growth" may come from already being maxed. Anyone know better? This is, though, getting away from the topic of Louisville perceptions.
Annie Sprinkle, by the way, is a...uh...well..."countercultural figure" who was brought into town last year by the 21C. She's not really shocking anymore, although some thought so. I mentioned her merely for the sake that it's safe to say the "don't adore Louisville, then go away" crowd would not really care for her.

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

It's easy to meet witches. I would wait until midnite, then put a lighted candle on a real skull, burn the magic potion (a mixture of dried rats' ears, cockroaches, and spider eyeballs). That will flame up, produce a thick cloud of smoke. Once the smoke clears a witch will appear.
I'll agree that it isn't easy to meet people in Chicago. It's even tougher for those over 35. Many don't even return a greeting to a stranger. For a while I was involved with the artists of Wicker Park, but, as the relationships could have been intensified, I departed and came to your town! (Maybe invaded is a better term). At first I was happy about the move because everything was different. One of the first people I met was a local student, who later moved to Frisco to study for a law degree. During one of our conversations he remarked that "Louisville is a cultural cesspool". I didn't reply because I had not yet checked out the cultural scene in Louisville. I made some connections, especially to the Artswatch Gallery on Frankfort Avenue, but they had to close.
Meeting people in Louisville is not difficult, but seldom does anything go beyond the superficial. I can patiently listen to comments about the weather or sports, but not all the time.
As for being hard on Louisville. Am I that hard? I really don't want to change other people to suit me. But rather, I would like to see enhancement. For example, I don't care for the programming on WFPK. It's not my desire to change it. I would like to see that the U of L could have an FM station with a range of 10-15 miles for those who appreciate indie rock and experimental music. As an e-mail I sent this suggestion for a story to LEO. No reply.
So, if you're happy with WFPK, that's fine. A college station would merely provide an alternative for those who have an interest in something different.
There are things I like about Louisville. The preservation of Old Louisville, the beautiful (although sinfully expensive) homes around Cherokee Park, and I hope that the interesting facades on Main Street, east of Second, are preserved instead of wrecked. Louisville is within a two hour drive of some very fascinating nature areas. I appreciate the rivers, forests, and hills of Kentucky for camping and relaxing. Otherwise I go for daily walk in Iroqois Park, a refreshing area.
It might be noteworthy to state that I don't drink lattes, I drive a 10 year old economy car, and all the jobs I've had in Louisville were low paying (my first one started me at $6.50 per hour in 2002). Last year, 2007, at another job, I had moved up to a whopping $8.50 per hour! I could maybe buy the stereo sysem of a BMW, but not the entire car. I'm aware that Louisville has fine retaurants, but most are beyond my budget.
One of these days I plan to attend a concert of the Louisville Symphony and a Bats game.
Currently, I have a job at the medical center which involves public contact. I like the job, the people, and do not sneer and snarl, nor voice any negatives about Louisville.
This is lengthy, but I feel it's necessary to clear up misconceptions about me.

you make some good points, and alot of it I agree with. But you are right, in Louisville you have to make an effort to do new things, but it is all here I promise (ok minus super upscale shopping and pro sports).

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by basinstblues

A good way to think of Louisville is of a sizable "small town", though one in which most people seem to prefer living in the suburbs to downtown. Also, for years, the best and brightest left for Chicago, etc. The result...the people generally are not the smartest, most attractive, or most interesting. I'm referring to the regular folk, not the redneck kaintock 50-cent-wannabe crowd, which are a whole 'nother story. Louisville people are B's and C's at best; these are not A quality people. You can tell the difference between the people when you walk through downtown Louisville and contrast that to the people you see when walking through downtown Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, etc. That said, like in a small town, people are fairly friendly, reasonable, reliable, and honest. Louisvillians don't rock the boat or make a scene. So, you basically have a middle-of-the-road mentality, with nothing too exciting or too frustrating. I'm stunned that anyone really loves to live here. It's not a city that has that kind of distinct character. Life is okay here. There are enough cultural things to do, parks are good, real estate slowly appreciates, and people from around the country/world are beginning to move here. A more diverse populace and one that has actually lived elsewhere ought to improve Louisville. Anyone moving here now would be foolish to buy a house more than 5 miles away from downtown. That's where the movement locally/nationally is going with real estate. In another 10 years, downtown is going to be transformed and suburban sprawlville is going to be increasingly undesirable.

How wrong your self-centered attitudes are. I am a real estate broker, may I have one of my agents call on you so you can move to someplace you would rather be? We, the people of this area, just happen to like living here and for those who don't, well, my business is designed to help you out of your misery.

[pmkeating]

Originally Posted by basinstblues

Maybe this is faulty logic, but I would guess that San Francisco's "dismal job growth" may come from already being maxed. Anyone know better? This is, though, getting away from the topic of Louisville perceptions.
Annie Sprinkle, by the way, is a...uh...well..."countercultural figure" who was brought into town last year by the 21C. She's not really shocking anymore, although some thought so. I mentioned her merely for the sake that it's safe to say the "don't adore Louisville, then go away" crowd would not really care for her.

Yes, that's faulty logic. Atlanta's job growth started before San Fran's and is still growing. And yes, you did hijack the thread.

[basinstblues]

What's the point of a thread about perceptions of Louisville if the prevailing attitude is only accepting of a chamber of commerce-real estate agent- rose-colored glasses-love it or leave it-mutual backslap society-shiny happy love-fest? All opinions/experiences are anecdotal and mine is no less valid. Anyone, since this thread has started, who has said anything less than praise-worthy about Louisville has been lambasted whether their tone was polite or blunt.
I've been following this forum for the last year and a half since moving to Louisville and just now decided to post, under the assumption that people were adult enough to hear out a perspective that they might disagree with. I was hoping for a response of how and why I was wrong, at least about some aspects, but instead it's mostly "well then, move away."
Again as previously mentioned, I moved here for the potential I see in Louisville but see issues and people holding that up. I was hoping for a more life and vibrancy. How in the world is that such a big deal?

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by basinstblues

What's the point of a thread about perceptions of Louisville if the prevailing attitude is only accepting of a chamber of commerce-real estate agent- rose-colored glasses-love it or leave it-mutual backslap society-shiny happy love-fest? All opinions/experiences are anecdotal and mine is no less valid. Anyone, since this thread has started, who has said anything less than praise-worthy about Louisville has been lambasted whether their tone was polite or blunt.
I've been following this forum for the last year and a half since moving to Louisville and just now decided to post, under the assumption that people were adult enough to hear out a perspective that they might disagree with. I was hoping for a response of how and why I was wrong, at least about some aspects, but instead it's mostly "well then, move away."
Again as previously mentioned, I moved here for the potential I see in Louisville but see issues and people holding that up. I was hoping for a more life and vibrancy. How in the world is that such a big deal?

I am totally in agreement of you making comments about Louisville, you can even talk about my house, but when you start knocking the fine people of the area, that is when you need to move on.

[basinstblues]

Well, now that you mention it, Tom-O. You haven't yet cut your grass and your house could use a paint job. Why is the elderly woman with the long white hair always in the attic window warning the children from coming too close to the house? Anyway, the Romney 2008 sign on the door and the gnomes scattered around the yard are quite charming. For now.
Seriously, though, the only reason people were "knocked", was because...The initial posting was about how people in the rest of the state feel about Louisville (sounds like largely negative, which is pretty ungrateful being that our tax money is their cash cow, not to mention that Louisville is a place for them to move to and get jobs). My perspective was/is that it should be turned around as to why those outside and inside Louisville are holding the city back. I'm more bothered by those who live in Louisville that don't want things to improve and change and just want the city to stay a larger version of Mayberry. Go back and read what I said about the Mayor. Is the fact that he's trying to bring people here from Chicago and better educate some of those already here...is that a bad thing? Is that "knocking" people? He and the city council and Greater Louisville Inc. obviously feel no different than I do in that they want to bring certain kinds of people here and improve some of those already here, but I went about expressing it a whole lot differently than they do in public.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by tomocox

I am totally in agreement of you making comments about Louisville, you can even talk about my house, but when you start knocking the fine people of the area, that is when you need to move on.

There isn't a city or town in this nation that is all fine people or all less than fine people. It's a matter of perspective.
Not to forget that by applying the "love it or leave it" you could be discouraging potential businesses from establishing an operation in the area. Who would want to spend time, money and effort to establish anything in a place which acquires a reputation as hostile to those who think differently?
Or would you say,yes we want your business, the jobs it will create, the tax base it will provide, but we don't want your opinions about anything?

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by basinstblues

Well, now that you mention it, Tom-O. You haven't yet cut your grass and your house could use a paint job. Why is the elderly woman with the long white hair always in the attic window warning the children from coming too close to the house? Anyway, the Romney 2008 sign on the door and the gnomes scattered around the yard are quite charming. For now.
Seriously, though, the only reason people were "knocked", was because...The initial posting was about how people in the rest of the state feel about Louisville (sounds like largely negative, which is pretty ungrateful being that our tax money is their cash cow, not to mention that Louisville is a place for them to move to and get jobs). My perspective was/is that it should be turned around as to why those outside and inside Louisville are holding the city back. I'm more bothered by those who live in Louisville that don't want things to improve and change and just want the city to stay a larger version of Mayberry. Go back and read what I said about the Mayor. Is the fact that he's trying to bring people here from Chicago and better educate some of those already here...is that a bad thing? Is that "knocking" people? He and the city council and Greater Louisville Inc. obviously feel no different than I do in that they want to bring certain kinds of people here and improve some of those already here, but I went about expressing it a whole lot differently than they do in public.

The problem with most "civic improvement" is that it typically leads to people being worse off, crime being up, and children becoming tokens.

I have never seen "improved" or "diverse" societies better than what was. I say this as I look back at history's "improved" mistakes. Shall we remember how much better Germany was after the Hitler improvement, or what about the ideal societies of America such as New Harmony Indiana, or even Jonesville with its wonderful Kool Aide recipe.

This doesn't mean that we shouldn't want to improve, but the greatest mistake I see is the "let me be me" generation's lack of self-discipline.

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by tomocox

I am totally in agreement of you making comments about Louisville, you can even talk about my house, but when you start knocking the fine people of the area, that is when you need to move on.

***applause***