New England Stereotypes (Boston, Springfield, Revere: homes, neighborhood, high school)

[holden125]

Originally Posted by NY'er lost in MA

... somewhat one-dimensional/geographically challenged . When first coming to the area I was surprised at just how many New Englanders hadn't been abroad, to other NE states, or even traveled at all. Sort of a niche culture/society.

They said they had been to Boston once before and mostly traveled to NH to visit some cousins....and that was about it.

I don't know that this is a particularly New England thing. A lot of people just don't get around much. My uncle in Brooklyn has not left Brooklyn/Staten Island/Queens in about 15 years. At 55 years old, he has never been to Massachusetts in his life despite the fact that his sister and her family, as well as about 15 cousins, live there. I worked in NYC with a girl from the Bronx who had never been to Brooklyn or Staten Island. Somehow it came up that I had been to 45 states and she said she's been to 3. New York, a trip to Chicago, and going to Newark Airport for that trip to Chicago.

[NY'er lost in MA]

....it's just my perception of a New Englanders. The purpose of the thread was to post stereotypes which can be opinions. But glad to see people love to write in to disagree with someone's opinion.

Here's a new NE stereotype I would like to add: too sensitive!

[holden125]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Genuine New England detests flashy shows of anything, especially money.

True. I have been stuck living in NYC and tacky excess bothers me almost every day. I went out to the Hamptons once and was completely horrified. Even though a couple of the towns are very attractive in a subdued sort of way, friends dragged me out to a nightclub and it was ridiculous. I just kept trying to click my heels saying "There's no place like Oak Bluffs...there's no place like Oak Bluffs..."

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by NY'er lost in MA

Here's a new NE stereotype I would like to add: too sensitive!

Nahh, being blunt and some of us bordering on know-it-alls, maybe

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by holden125

True. I have been stuck living in NYC and tacky excess bothers me almost every day. I went out to the Hamptons once and was completely horrified. Even though a couple of the towns are very attractive in a subdued sort of way, friends dragged me out to a nightclub and it was ridiculous. I just kept trying to click my heels saying "There's no place like Oak Bluffs...there's no place like Oak Bluffs..."

Great example! To be fair, New York attracts the flashy types from all over the US/World. My buddies from Queens or Brooklyn are as down to earth as my friends from Quincy and Salem NH.

New England is just so comfy

[holden125]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Great example! To be fair, New York attracts the flashy types from all over the US/World. My buddies from Queens or Brooklyn are as down to earth as my friends from Quincy and Salem NH.

New England is just so comfy

True enough, but after years in Brooklyn I still think (speaking in gross generalizations) that there is a loud, flashy vibe completely independent of large amounts of money. I remember going to a discount furniture store on Long Island once and thinking that most of the pieces would be suitable if you were trying to furnish Versailles on the cheap. It was humorous to think of those pieces jammed into a tiny 1BR in Queens.

I think it's fun, but Dyker Heights in Brooklyn has some truly astounding Christmas lights that I couldn't imagine anywhere near Boston:

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2006 - a photoset on Flickr

There was also the guy down the block from me, a very "yo Brooklyn" kind of guy, who had the BMW with the gold rims and a license plate (an NY Yankee affinity plate, of course) that read "UR J'LOUS." My lips purse in stern Puritanical disapproval every time I see that. Tacky! I guess it could happen in Mass. but I don't see stuff like that too much. Even the BMW's are more subdued.

The best license plate on a BMW in New York was "Arrognt." At least he's honest but that can't help much if he's pulled over speeding.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by holden125

True enough, but after years in Brooklyn I still think (speaking in gross generalizations) that there is a loud, flashy vibe completely independent of large amounts of money. I remember going to a discount furniture store on Long Island once and thinking that most of the pieces would be suitable if you were trying to furnish Versailles on the cheap. It was humorous to think of those pieces jammed into a tiny 1BR in Queens.

I think it's fun, but Dyker Heights in Brooklyn has some truly astounding Christmas lights that I couldn't imagine anywhere near Boston:

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2006 - a photoset on Flickr

There was also the guy down the block from me, a very "yo Brooklyn" kind of guy, who had the BMW with the gold rims and a license plate (an NY Yankee affinity plate, of course) that read "UR J'LOUS." My lips purse in stern Puritanical disapproval every time I see that. Tacky! I guess it could happen in Mass. but I don't see stuff like that too much. Even the BMW's are more subdued.

The best license plate on a BMW in New York was "Arrognt." At least he's honest but that can't help much if he's pulled over speeding.

That was one heck of a photo set from Dyker Heights. I see what you are saying. New England is definitely far more subdued across the board. But when it comes to upper classes, the New York flash is pretty over the top.

[tamiznluv]

Oh my goodness! Guess they never heard of "less is more"?

[MovingForward]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

I know that the Hollywood chiche of New Englanders is often that of pretentious WASP snobs, but I think the reality far, far more often is one of modesty, particularly in matters of taste and aesthetics. This I think is especially so compared to Texans who are known for flamboyance and braggadocio.

Agreed. Texans--especially the rich ones--have little to no sense of propriety in the manifestation of wealth. If they've got it, they flaunt it--in the most classless ways imaginable. Speaking generally, of course. . . .

[LeavingMA]

Many think of New Englanders and people in the northeast as being elitist.