It is hard not to be condescending here (Phoenix, Scottsdale: house prices, landscaping)

[Artliquide]

[quote=movin'on;3544587]

I think by and large people are not real smart here. My opinion. That IS what this thread is about. Please let me have MY opinion.

As opposed to fake smart? Sorry, but I guess we're being technical and judgmental, so that's my $0.02. You are certainly as entitled to your opinion as the rest of us. No one is arguing that. But a simple life lesson: only dish it out if you can eat it.

[markinscottsdale]

I've got an MD, and two masters' degrees. Not exactly a dumb guy by most standards. I'm also gay and live here with my parter of 21 years. We've lived in NYC, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Amsterdam, and Paris. We came here to visit our daughter (yeah, gay men do have kids sometimes!) who's a student at ASU. Went for a drive in the desert and bought a house that was 4500 sq feet and last year was selling for 2.2m and we paid well under 1m for it. Now decorating, landscaping, pool building, etc.

People here have been great to work with, deal with, etc. At first they were a little shocked by a male couple. Most had never met gay men before - at least not those who were open about it. We've been out for so long we don't know how to be otherwise. Once our republican neighbors found that we care for our home, fight with the yard man, pay our bills on time (mostly) and don't have orgies that they can see out in the back yard (nor do we have them in the house for that matter) people warmed up and welcomed us with open arms. Oh, they don't know what to refer to us as. We've become "the guys" in the big house... but they've been for the most part really super. We get invited to parties in the area, a local horse ranch owner offered to teach Don (my partner) how to ride a horse and then did so! While we're not exactly "Ozzie and Harriett" they've been more than accepting. We did a dinner party for about six couples a few weeks ago. The word got out that we could entertain and since then other friends have been "hinting" broadly for invitations to the next party! We thought they'd be all republican rednecked homophobes. Quite to our amazement we were totally wrong. We feel as at home here as we did in San Francisco and that's saying quite a lot! Because we're on acreage out in the desert, I decided to buy a gun or two and keep them in the house. Never did that before. One of my "straight" neighbors volunteered to take me to the gun shops, help me pick out the right stuff, and then taught me how to shoot. He also took me to a police sponsored course in gun safety and went through it with me! (He's been a gun owner all his life and certainly didn't need to take the course - hell, he could have easily taught it!)

So before you judge everyone in the valley by some rude rednecks that you may have encountered along the way - be a little more accepting of people and you may be amazed that they'll do the same for you. It sure worked for us.

There is far more to any man or woman than the degree they may hold, or the profession they're in. Or their bank balance. If you give people a chance you may find there are kind decent folk all over the world. Even with us being a bit "different" than most - they were a little scared of "gay folk" at first. Then they learned that we fight like any other married couple of 21 years duration. We have far more in common with them than we do differences. A couple of them even ventured to ask me about the mechanics of homosexual sex. No one had ever talked to them about it before! When I told them that our sex like was about like any other couples after 21 years together (that it mainly consisted of once in a while when we were both home, in the mood, and not too tired or sleepy to bother) - they all laughed knowing that we shared that, too! Being a doc, of course they asked me about AIDS, and what that was really like. I got a chance to tell them. I also introduced them to a friend of ours who's lived with HIV for 22 years and is perfectly healthy and happy and productive. He's also a producer for one of the hottest shows on TV this season! When he brought a couple of his cast members with him to spend the weekend in the desert, the neighbors were amazed to see real life celebs running around the area. I won't tell you who, but they're major "A" list celebs and my neighbors were over asking for autographs in about ten minutes after they got out of the car!

Nope, Don't judge it too quickly.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by markinscottsdale

So before you judge everyone in the valley by some rude rednecks that you may have encountered along the way - be a little more accepting of people and you may be amazed that they'll do the same for you. It sure worked for us.

Exactly what I thought. When people don't judge others by inconsenquential labels (bank account, political affiliation, education, clothes, sexual identity, etc), most open minded people end up having their biases challenged (ie: most people will surprise you if you give them a chance). Everyone fits into one group or another, but on a basic level, we're all human, individuals, and we all deserve a chance to prove our worth outside of societal norms (what degree you have, or don't have, how much money you make, etc).

To me, I'd rather be around a diverse group of people anyway. How boring is it to stick to people who are just like you? Right?

[aj661]

Originally Posted by markinscottsdale

I've got an MD, and two masters' degrees. Not exactly a dumb guy by most standards....Nope, Don't judge it too quickly.

Ok, so U wint to skool. But ar U rily smaart or jest edgukated? jk


Seriously Mark, great post.

The troll who started this hasn't been back since he/she started the thread. I can't believe we're still commenting on it.

[Huckleberry3911948]

lots of statements about your education & credentials. lots of statements about the inferiority of the posters. your profile is a complete blank. can you let us in on where you are coming from?

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by aj661

Ok, so U wint to skool. But ar U rily smaart or jest edgukated? jk


Seriously Mark, great post.

The troll who started this hasn't been back since he/she started the thread. I can't believe we're still commenting on it.

Oh well, at least there's good conversation. If he were really interested in trolling, he probably would have been back to flame some more anyway.

[Plin]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

You know, I've moved a lot, and some of those moves have been overseas. I am surprised that you only had 3 suitcases, but that shows that you appreciate simple living, rather than relying on many objects to do what you have to do in life.

Nah, I just took advantage of the move to do some, shall we say, extreme decluttering. Heh.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by Plin

Nah, I just took advantage of the move to do some, shall we say, extreme decluttering. Heh.

I wish I could do that. I have too many books, too many cds, and creative materials and equipment that I could never part with.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

As opposed to fake smart? Sorry, but I guess we're being technical and judgmental, so that's my $0.02. You are certainly as entitled to your opinion as the rest of us. No one is arguing that. But a simple life lesson: only dish it out if you can eat it.

Oh, I quite assure you I can "take it." In fact, I find all of this humorous.

I have NO idea why people get all bent out of shape over a post in the "I Hate Phoenix" thread (when I AM posting in the correct thread!) or this thread, for that matter. My, my, just proves my point. Sigh.

And I REALLY think it's stupid to go on and on about how "wonderful" Phoenix is and to encourage MORE people to move to a DESERT (read limited water!) with packed freeways and not exactly great air.

Just what does this say for the intelligence level of the people who live here? Case closed!

BTW, where on earth does "eat it" come from? The saying has always been "He can dish it out (or they, or whomever), but he (or they or whomever) cannot not "take it!"

[azriverfan]

It depends where you are coming from. If you lived in Northern California or Boston, then Phoenix is going to feel like it's populated with a bunch of nimrods. If you move here from Colorado or Georgia, it's going to feel like you are walking among intellectuals. It's all relative. I agree there are not many great universities in Phoenix but a lot of really well educated people move to Phoenix because it offers a great lifestyle to those who can afford it. I'm well educated and earn a salary almost touching 7 figures. I bought a home on Camelback mountain and I wouldn't trade my lifestyle for that of my friends' who live in San Diego and San Francisco. I know several physicians, lawyers and retired Fortune 500 executives who move to Phoenix for the weather and lifestyle. There are many well educated professionals in Phoenix. My wife attended Harvard and there is a huge Harvard alumni organization in Phoenix. I really don't know who the OP is but if he can't find intelligent people then I'm assuming he attends ASU.