Is a 212 area code really a big deal?? (New York, York: 2009, to live)

[regina george]

Originally Posted by Biskit

212 is definitely a big deal. I don't take anyone with a 646 or 347 area code seriously, they're mostly just Midwest transplants. 917 gets a bit more respect. Don't even mention 201, 516 or 631 unless you're calling a roofing company. I have a 213 area code because I got my phone in LA. It causes so much confusion when I dial dominoes locally. I love it.

Funny because in LA, 213 is considered "ghetto".

[Fred314X]

Let's put it this way: I'm a native born Brooklynite. That whole Manhattan "mystique" is lost on me. So the idea that a 212 area code is somehow special--or even, heaven forbid, better--than any other, is just plain nonsense.

Incidentally, imposing different area codes on different parts of New York City isn't the first time the telephone company has interfered with local geography. The name of the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn is due to the phone company. Bedford was an old community dating back to the early 18th century, and Stuyvesant Heights was a pretty tony district bordering Queens. But in 1930, the phone company began lumping the two neighborhood names together as Bedford-Stuyvesant, because there weren't many homes with telephones in those days, and it was more convenient for their listings.

As we say in this corner of the land, go figure!

[anders]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

the idea that a 212 area code is somehow special--or even, heaven forbid, better--than any other, is just plain nonsense.

You bet. I don't even know anyone who even _cares_ about this -- and I, my entire extended family, and the vast majority of my friends/associates are lifelong NYCers (including a large number of indigenous Manhattanites).

NYC area and ZIP codes are assigned and changed by The Powers That Be for efficiency's sake. They've been in flux for decades, and bear increasingly little resemblance to "old" geog. reality.
If our self-validation depends on these potluck-generated digits -- instead of on Being and Doing -- or if we actually _worry_ about this, it means we're not busy enough.

[K.O.N.Y]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

Let's put it this way: I'm a native born Brooklynite. That whole Manhattan "mystique" is lost on me. So the idea that a 212 area code is somehow special--or even, heaven forbid, better--than any other, is just plain nonsense.

Incidentally, imposing different area codes on different parts of New York City isn't the first time the telephone company has interfered with local geography. The name of the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn is due to the phone company. Bedford was an old community dating back to the early 18th century, and Stuyvesant Heights was a pretty tony district bordering Queens. But in 1930, the phone company began lumping the two neighborhood names together as Bedford-Stuyvesant, because there weren't many homes with telephones in those days, and it was more convenient for their listings.



As we say in this corner of the land, go figure!

Now lets be serious Fred. Manhattan is superior to brooklyn in every possible way, just like it is to the other boroughs. Thats the heart of this city. So of course a 212 area code will be looked at in that way. Just keeping it real

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by YBF

I remember this!!!! I hated this too...everybody know 516 but then 631 came and it was like seperating the Island...."oh you live in suffolk county?" LOL but most of my cells have been 516 because I was borderline Nassau most of that time...now my number is 347 and I refuse to change it to and Atlanta area code!!!! I guess its just a silly thing but I just cant let it go

My parents are the same way. They moved to Florida (not by choice, because of my dad's job) and have had their 631 area code for the last few years, since my dad moved down there. My dad made me get my own plan because he planned on changing his area code to the one in south Florida, almost a year ago...never happened yet, lol. I don't think they want to get rid of their NY area codes.

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by K.O.N.Y

Now lets be serious Fred. Manhattan is superior to brooklyn in every possible way, just like it is to the other boroughs. Thats the heart of this city. So of course a 212 area code will be looked at in that way. Just keeping it real

If you say so.

[Blackbeauty212]

I find this so incredibly laughable -

Because NO-One Cares about area codes anymore, unless its outside the US....I have about 15 people in my contacts that live in NYC and have cell phone area codes from places that are not even in NYC's orbit.

212 - 917- 347- 718- 646 - 914- 516 - 201- 973 - 631 - 203 who the hell cares!!!!!!

With Cellphones, I'm shocked people can even remember people's phone numbers anymore....I can only remember my own and the 7 people on my account with me. Everyone else I dont have clue, because i just scroll to the name and hit "Talk"..Once you 1st add a phone number to your contacts, is probably the last time you come in contact with the number....

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I find this so incredibly laughable -

Because NO-One Cares about area codes anymore, unless its outside the US....I have about 15 people in my contacts that live in NYC and have cell phone area codes from places that are not even in NYC's orbit.

Not entirely true. There is a sub-species of homo sapiens sapiens, sometimes referred to as Pretentious Man. You can spot Pretentious Man fairly easily: they're the ones who believe that Manhattan is the center of the known universe, and any of the other boroughs making up New York City might as well be located on Mars--they're not going to live there. In fact, they won't even set foot there. (They couldn't even tell you which subway lines go to any of the other boroughs!)

As a direct result of this behavior, Pretentious Man does, in fact, care very much about area codes; to both the male and female of the species, only area code 212 is acceptable.

[anders]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

You can spot Pretentious Man fairly easily: they're the ones who believe that Manhattan is the center of the known universe, and any of the other boroughs making up New York City might as well be located on Mars--they're not going to live there. In fact, they won't even set foot there. (They couldn't even tell you which subway lines go to any of the other boroughs!)

As a direct result of this behavior, Pretentious Man does, in fact, care very much about area codes; to both the male and female of the species, only area code 212 is acceptable.

Among folks I know, the overwhelming majority of "Pretentious" types arrived in NYC from elsewhere in the U.S. -- Westchester, LI, NJ, Calif., Kansas, wherever. It's as if they need a 212 area code to validate their identity as Genuine New Yorkers.

Among the remainder: Many started out in Queens or Brooklyn. It's as if they're (inexplicably) self-conscious re: their boroughs-y past, and hope to obscure it by trumpeting the virtues of 212.

[iGlenn]

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Top Stories | City May Need Sixth Area Code

Looks like NYC will be needing ANOTHER area code.