People who hate Pa and think EVERYONE is rude... (Pittsburgh: transfer, luxury)

[Gankaku]

Hello everyone! I just moved to Harrisburg from Va to escape the price of housing there. We've lived there for 20 years but since 2001 prices have increasingly rised to where we finally couldn't justify the cost of housing there.

Anyway I just wanted to say that so far, from my experience, people here in PA are chatty and friendly! People in Va are far far less chatty and if you try to chat with them they just look at you. It's a rare find running into someone to chat with down there. I missed it a lot. Here, I've chatted with so many people in the two weeks we've been here...mostly at the stores, but I really see people here as friendly and helpful.

[Summering]

Gankaku,So glad your here. Please keep posting your happy stories.
Thats what we keep trying to tell people. We're one big happy bunch

[sindey]

Originally Posted by mossomo

Ummmm, what city are you living in brother.

LOL - SEPTA, come on. Have you ever tried to get change from one of those SEPTA attendants, the ones who do not give change, their job is to simply sit there. You're lucky you get a syllable response. You're lucky if they even acknowledge you.

And again on SEPTA, riding SEPTA - how many times have I had to listen to someone go on & on & on on their cell phone, retelling the entire evening to her friend and the train. As soon as you ask them to lower their voices, they either ignore you and talk louder or you get a, "OH NO YOU DIDNT...". And then you have to back pedal to keep a fight from occurring.

Veterans stadium had a magistrate under it and holding cells. They'd lock you up right at the game; a magistrate would set your bail. A jail at a football stadium wasnt because we're a nice bunch here philly, I think that in itself, speaks volumes of our city.

Speaking of games, when was the last time you been to an Eagles or Phillies game? San Fransico Giants came through the other night and philly fans boo'd Bonds well into the 8th inning, all night. That's very rude, there's no sportsmanship here. There is no professional courtesy. Wear a Dallas jersey to an Eagles game and see how nice the philly kids are. Christ, philly fans boo'd poor ol'McNabb when the boy broke his ankle.

I'll pull the fearless leader of philadelphia in, mayor street. I was in attendance of a charter school graduation and mayor street was listed as a guest speaker. He was late, arriving at the end of ceremony, the ceremony continued and the kids were getting their diplomas, they had worked their way down to the "R"s and street arrives. All the kids had to return to their seats, just a big mess. Tacky too. Not to mention, rude. And he's supposed to be the role model for these kids.

On the surface, Philly is just like every other city. But right under the surface, there's an undertow of stress, angyst, class struggle, edginess which I believe manufests itself in many ways, rudeness being one. Philadelphia indeed has its own culture.

It sounds like you have had some bad expierences in Pa.
I was born & raised in Pa (philly) & now live in Phoenix,Az.
If I had a choice(hubbys work) I'd move home in a Philadelphia minute.
Moving away from Pa has made me realize that "yes" we are a passionate crew
& although we may sometimes appear rude,we really mean no harm
aren't even aware most times that we are coming across as rude.
My husband (from CA) describes me as a passionate,opinionated,person
with a heart of gold. I find this to be true of most people from Pa.
We are our own breed you might say but, at least we are not cut
from the same cookie cutter mold that I have seen in other places
Sorry that some things have made you bitter on Pa

[vivienne08]

Lancaster, Pa., is "like most every small town", everyone seems to know everyone, or else they think that they do, and of course, they know everything that you are doing, have done, and are going to do! It is just that way, although growing up here in the 50's was great, it has changed a lot, like many other places.
Outsiders seem to feel unwelcome, and even though I spent my formative years here plus my parents were natives of Lancaster, I can understand their feelings: it is a very clicky town-let's face it, it's where you live, what your profession is, or are you "old money" or "newly wealthy" that is important here! Old money always reigns!
Quess that I am somewhat disappointed that it got like this, but maybe it always was, but I was walking through the world in the 50's with "rose colored glasses", but believe me, coming back here has opened my eyes..

[Katiana]

I am from Pittsburgh. I never heard of "old money" vs "new money" until I went to college and met a lot of kids from Philadelphia. That may be b/c most people from Pittsburgh have "no money".

[generic brand]

I think PA as a whole is a friendly state. I will admit that there are some less than desirable areas with not so desirable people, but that's more of an exception than the rule.

[CaptainObvious]

STILL the thread that won't die.

[MovingSouthGal]

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

Ok, how many of us are fed up with a new poster showing up here and complaining about how rude everyone in Pa. is?? Not only Pa., but these people sometimes have a long list of other states that they have lived in and they were all rude too.
Why do people post here if they hate Pa.?
Would anyone listen to someone who hated an entire state?
Do they think for one minute that MAYBE IT's ME????
Most people come to this forum looking for help about a new area they are moving to, I honestly hope they don't listen to a word of these 'I hate Pa' people.
These people have bad neighbors, bad bosses, bad jobs, bad lives..and never stop to think that they are the cause of all their misery.

Southern hospitality lives but not so much in cities...lesser degree w/ the west...ne usa is the most unfriendly ive lived in...cant wait 2 go south ...lived in alamogordo, mn, san antonio, denver suburb, atlanta suburb, ft dix, nj area, gettysburg/chambersburg area but spent the most time in philly and suburbs...cant wait 2 go south!

[MovingSouthGal]

Originally Posted by Oldiebutgoodie26

LOL Having lived in other areas, Philly fans have the reputation for being the worst in sports. Does not mean everyone is horrible in the area- they a quite a passionate group, though!

2 PA advocates: if the northern cities want 2 b known as friendly/w/good community, etc they have 2 b more like charleston, the deserved "friendliest city in america" ....hmmm -- charleston --good size city yet rated friendliest ...and ...... in the SOUTH.

[hepburngal]

Okay, as an "out-of-stater" who just moved to PA about 8 months ago and is currently about to have a nervous breakdown because of the treatment I have received during my time here, I had to respond.

There are many things that you can debate, such as people's personal opinions, ideas, etc. However, fact is fact. And the fact is, the only things I have experienced in PA are rude, impolite, unmannered citizens. Everyone has chips on their shoulders and I have NEVER seen so much bitterness in my life. Really? Get over yourselves. And I can back THESE things up with fact.

My license plate was not changed for several months after moving. On more occasions than I can count, I had people refer to me as "the foreigner," all while pointing at my license plate, and accused of trying to "take over" the great state of PA.

I hold two college degrees but have had a HORRIBLE time finding a job. When I called two places back regarding secretarial positions, I was met with nothing but attitude and the response that "We hire REAL people who have kids to feed, not spoiled brats who had the luxury of going to college and just need spending money." Other employers have told me that they "only hire local students, not out-of-towners who can get jobs anywhere" or that their cousin, in-law, or high school football buddy has been promised the job. I finally registered with two employment agencies, one of which told me to get a welding degree and the other said "your degrees don't matter here."

I worked as a temp at a call center for a local non-profit recruiting donors, and one customer heard my non-PA accent, asked where I was from, and said, "We don't do that charity crap here in Pennsylvania" and hung up. When I tried to transfer my voter registration, I was told to "think about it some more" because they don't like "people who haven't lived here at least 25 years voting for their offices."

I have been ridiculed, pointed at, ignored, and I've about had it up to here. No one says "hello," "Please," or "Thank you," let alone any other basic niceties. This is by far the rudest place I have ever lived (and I have lived in almost half of the states in the country plus two other countries!). They are all in a bubble and when all this is pointed out, they just turn it around and get defensive instead of seeing the problem.

And one more thing? Just because my accent is different than yours DOES NOT mean that I'm some puppet for you to play with. If ONE MORE PERSON asks me to "Say something, it sounds so cute!" I swear to God I'm going to explode. I'm NOT a circus act!!!