Things You Like About NJ (Newark, Passaic: house, find a job, public school)

[EB2]

Originally Posted by NewHomeHappy

this is just c r a z y
geez... what was the question again? Oh yes, What Do You Like About New Jersey?

I like(d) the old city-data NJ forum. That's sort of related .

This is going to get locked, unfortunately. Seems to be happening a lot, lately.

Last summer was a good time for the forum.

[NJ07035]

Agreed that this thread will get locked down because of these two snapping at each other's ankles.

I posted in this thread about what I like about Jersey. I love my hometown, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

But guess what? There are things that I actually DON'T like about my state too, and I have the right to vent about those things as well, along with the frustration they bring.

But, to BCJ, I would then be a whiner and should pick up my stuff and move out of state; even though I overwhelmingly like New Jersey and all it has to offer.

It is possible to like something a great deal, but STILL find faults with it - be it a car, a home state, a spouse, or a haircut. But just because I might complain about that which I don't like, following your logic I should ride a bike, move, get a divorce or shave my head. A little excessive, but that seems to be your only solution - along with making a point to rip any other location outside the confines of this state.

The newspapers for a hundred years have had a section called the op/ed pages, where people write in about things that move them - positively and negatively. People are allowed to have opinions. What you view as 'the greatest breakfast ever' may repulse someone else; likewise, their choice may not appeal to you either.

DJC said that "my reason for living here far outweighs my disdain for NJ" so he remains in New Jersey. Is he not permitted to find faults (in his mind) with the state or his neighborhood? If he complains about corrupt politics in-state, is he alone? Read any state newspaper. If he dislikes the high taxes, or the traffic - guess what, we DO have high taxes, and we DO have some of the worst traffic nationwide. It is part of the price we pay for living here, but it doesn't mean we have to jump for joy about it.

If he were to talk about how muggy it is here in the summer, and the swarm of mosquitos that relentlessly attack - is he incorrect? Do you walk around, arms and legs exposed, looking to be a buffet for the mosquito population because, 'dammit, these are JERSEY mosquitos, and if you wear bug spray, then move!'?

You hjacked a thread that was allowing a discussion about what we like most about this state and turned it into a flame war between two posters who probably agree more than each realizes, but are now too set in their discussion to see it.

Let us talk about what we like.

Go argue in your own thread.
Please.

[luckyshoes]

I actually started this thread because I wanted to hear about specific things people really liked about NJ (ideas for stuff to do, places to eat, places to go see, etc.) Also, since I love living here, I wanted to hear other people's reasons why they love living here too.

Of course there are always negatives. Such is life.

As far as DCJ's complaints, I think in the end he actually gave us some huge positives. He has a girl here that he loves so much that he is willing to put up with a state he dislikes for her. And she has a great job that she loves. I chalk those up as huge positives for the state.

There's been lots of good stuff on this thread so keep it coming, I hope it doesn't get locked!

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by DowntownJerseyCity

Who said I was whining? I said my reason for living here far outweighs my disdain for NJ, so I deal with it. You question me like you are some sort of superior being and where NJ is the juggernaut.

When you move out of Mom's basement and find the love of your life at the next Star Trek convention you will realize that people stay places for various reasons. I never said I am stuck here BOO HOO WOE IS ME. Get a grip, chief. I support my GF in whatever she wants to do, wherever she wants to do it.

I really don't understand your long winded diatribe because I never trashed NJ on my original post in this thread, but just like the typical "chip on the shoulder" mentality of a lot of Jersey residents, you and tahiti get extremely defensive when people find fault with an area.
Gotta love it, BergenCountyJenny. I see City-Data is now overrun with internet tough guys. Awesome.

hang on...i'm not getting defensive...i was wondering why you want to move to 4 other cities with the same degree of problems as NJ.....WTF? don't drag me into your little arguments.

[PalmBch]

Things I like with NJ:

- Close to New York/CT/PA etc.
- Lots of shopping/malls/restaurants/diners
- Weather (Perfect temperatures, four seasons etc.)
- School/Education system
- Nice houses
- Full gas service (Only NJ and OR has it!)

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by EB2

What does Michigan have to do with THIS?

That was a silly and immature blow.

I don't know if he was saying that tongue in cheek, but I too have to stick up for the state of Michigan, at least when I visited there, in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area. Probably some of the most friendly people in the country. I've never been to the UP, but have seen pictures, and would love to travel up in that direction some day.

[NJ07035]

Originally Posted by mike0421

I don't know if he was saying that tongue in cheek, but I too have to stick up for the state of Michigan, at least when I visited there, in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area. Probably some of the most friendly people in the country. I've never been to the OP, but have seen pictures, and would love to travel up in that direction some day.

The UP is very nice; My wife and I rented a Grand Caravan about 12 years ago and drove from Jersey to the UP and camped while sleeping in the back of the van (no kids then!). We slept in a campsite facing Lake Huron, about 50 feet from the water. There was a huge summer lightning storm the one night, and the flashes on the water were amazing. Nice people, lots of quaint shops and places to eat.

Drove from there to Detroit (stayed at her aunt's) to see a game at Tiger Stadium; on the way back camped at Cedar Point in Ohio (literally next to a roller coaster) then on to Pittsburgh (where I was born) and Kennywood Park. Did about 15 roller coasters over the two days; didn't walk straight for a week. But it was worth it...

[EB2]

Originally Posted by mike0421

I don't know if he was saying that tongue in cheek, but I too have to stick up for the state of Michigan, at least when I visited there, in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area. Probably some of the most friendly people in the country. I've never been to the OP, but have seen pictures, and would love to travel up in that direction some day.

Most of the people there are friendly. They remind me a lot of the people I hang out with in NJ (another thing that draws me to NJ). Away from Detroit, you can find lots of nice suburbs, country-landscapes, etc. Some of the cities aren't bad, either...I personally love Ann Arbor, and would love to go back if I ever got the chance (I used to spend every weekend there).

I've been to the Upper Peninsula once. It's breathtaking. I really think you'd love it.

[EB2]

Originally Posted by NJ07035

The UP is very nice; My wife and I rented a Grand Caravan about 12 years ago and drove from Jersey to the UP and camped while sleeping in the back of the van (no kids then!). We slept in a campsite facing Lake Huron, about 50 feet from the water. There was a huge summer lightning storm the one night, and the flashes on the water were amazing. Nice people, lots of quaint shops and places to eat.

Drove from there to Detroit (stayed at her aunt's) to see a game at Tiger Stadium; on the way back camped at Cedar Point in Ohio (literally next to a roller coaster) then on to Pittsburgh (where I was born) and Kennywood Park. Did about 15 roller coasters over the two days; didn't walk straight for a week. But it was worth it...

Sounds really nice !

and I miss Cedar Point. Busch Gardens has NOTHING on that place.

[tommyc_37]

Originally Posted by openheads

Don't do that.......................... Jersey takes an absorbent amount of unwarranted crap.
Your assertion is equivalent to me continually beating someone up & then blaming them for constantly flinching.
You know damn well why NJ has a righteous chip on its collective shoulder.
You can like or not like NJ. That's up to you. However, you knew exactly what was going to happen when you came in a "what do you like about NJ" thread & decided to spew negativity. Don't try & play the high road. You wanted this fight & you wanted the exact reaction you received.
Passive aggressive are the words that come to mind.

Openheads is right. A big part of the reason why *some* (not all) NJ people have a chip on their shoulder is that everywhere they go, they get greeted with "Oh...NJ" comments and jokes. It's very, very insulting, and people generally do not know what they are talking about when they insult the great state of NJ.

That being said, on a Brooklyn forum, or NYC in general forum, if you insulted NYC, you would be greeted with the same "chip on the shoulder" responses. It is not just NJ, it is the whole NY Metro area. Please don't just pin it on NJ.

Going on a tangent here, but....many people do not realize that NJ is a lot of different things. A lot of different landscapes and "attitudes". I think if you had some conversations with some people out near Belvidere in Warren County, NJ...you wouldn't find that they have a chip on their shoulder. People there are NJ people too. Too often NJ people get criticized...but NJ people generally really do not differ from Long island people or Westchester people or NYC people. Everybody likes to target NJ, because it is an easy target. Sad.