Is it really Hell.... Should I move to Phoenix? (Tucson: housing, rent)

[Azrider]

Originally Posted by steve22

I smell a realtor... seriously, why else would you care so much? What do you have to gain or lose by virtue of whether or not someone else chooses to move here? And why would it bother you so much that a fairly high number of people don't seem to like it here? Are you really that insecure?

Hey AZRider, I know I've mentioned this before, but this forum serves the purpose of providing those unfamiliar with an area access to multiple, objective opinions from those who've experienced an area firsthand. It's something I only wish I would've had access to before I moved here, rather than the fluffy propaganda that employers and realtors use to try to sell you on a move blindly. No one forces you to read these posts, so, if I may, stop complaining yourself about those whose opinions aren't the same as yours.

Realtor? Yeah right. If I was a realtor, I wouldnt waste my time trying to win sales on this forum and get 2 people out of 1000000 to move here, for the .0005% chance that they might actually talk to me about buying a house.

Why do I care so much? Why do YOU care so much? It just seems funny that someone who claims to be a physician would give so much of a crap to come into a forum like this and complain and moan about everything there is to complain about about phoenix. What does being a physician have to do with it? Nothing really, just the level of professionalism that comes with physicians usually doesnt land them on an internet forum like this. No offense, but it makes you look fake.

I dont have anything to gain or loose. What do you have to gain or loose by posting your hatred about this place? People that whine and complain about trivial matters is what makes me want to post, it gets on my nerves. Most, not all of the problems everyone lists on here about Phoenix are trivial--oh no its too hot, or oh theres too much sand... or -- I live in a bad neighboorhood, the crime is so high... Well, too hot, go north, to much sand, move out, bad neighboorhood, move to a different one. gimme a break. Grow up.

People that go to internet forums to get an opinion on something, no matter what, and base their entire decision on doing whatever it is, on a few peoples scattered opinions, without checking it out for themselves, are ignorant. If I were to consider moving somewhere else I have never been, I certainly wouldnt base my entire decision on what a few people say in an internet forum.

On top of that, I like it here, so I will contradict your negative opinions with my positive ones-- This is a forum for opinions on a certain part of the country-- so whats the problem. So what, its fun in a way. Makes for a heated debate. Yeah, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, this is a free country. There are 3 million people in Phoenix. There are 10 here that seem to not like it-- thats not a fairly high number as far as im concerned, when there are 3 million others. Dont get me wrong, im 100% positive that there are many many more out there that do and dont like the Valley. They just seem to ruin it for everyone else here-- because so many people will read something like this and automatically think Phoenix, or wherever they are reading about, is a hell hole, without ever visiting it for themselves. Anyone who falls for fluffly propaganda from realtors or employers about somewhere are ignorant as well. Check it out yourself.

In the end, I really could care less who likes and doesnt like this town, or who moves here or doesnt. I like it. You dont. Your going to post your opinions, and I will post mine. Simple as that. Theres both sides of the story for the "opinion seeking" visitors of this forum.

[Lehi]

Originally Posted by Azrider

because so many people will read something like this and automatically think Phoenix, or wherever they are reading about, is a hell hole, without ever visiting it for themselves.

Good. If people are that stupid we don't want them anyway. We don't need any more dummies here.

[steve22]

Realtors post all over this forum. Look around on other threads, they're not shy about identifying themselves. They're also usually the ones posting such glowing reviews of less-than-stellar locales that they begin to sound like commercials.

Yeah, I'm fake all right. Go outside during the next monsoon storm and inhale those cocci spores. Find out just how fake I am. Being a physician doesn't exclude a person in any way I could see from joining a discussion. Basically, I landed on this site looking for info on the place I'm moving to (mercifully) in a year, and landed on this forum. Someone wanted an opinion on Phoenix, so I wrote mine. I enjoy debates, so I've been writing ever since. It's very type-A like not to want someone else to have the last word in a discussion- basically, that's me, and that's why I keep coming back to rebuke you. Mine's an opinion, and it's a negative one. Is that complaining? Gee, I don't know. Is it complaining when you read a book review and someone points out the reasons they didn't like it? Or a movie? Not to me. I've had lots of positive things to say about a lot of places; just not here. Like I said, just offering some advice to those based on my own experiences, in particular individuals who seem to have the same priorities I do.

By the way, if you're into statistics, there are probably 20 or so regular posters on this site. Maybe half of them, including yourself, seem to like it; the other half don't. reflecting those stats on the general population of the area gets you pretty close to the 40% of the population that would move, if it were possible, the AZ Republic got when it conducted a poll about a year ago. So I'd say it's a pretty representative split we have here. I very much doubt that it's an isolated "10 people out of a million" who don't like it. And, as I've said before, look up the current crime trends. See how great Phoenix looks. Look up a review of America's Best Places on Men's Journal, or Sperling's, or Newsweek, or Forbes. Try to find Phoenix. There aren't many people I can find right now who write reviews of cities that have much good to say about it. I'm not the only one, and I feel pretty secure that I'm not some disgruntled crazy person because I feel that way.

Anyway, I'm done. You're right, this is a waste of time- that's the first intelligent point you've made. I'm through debating this unwinnable and pointless topic with someone who can't syntactically construct a sentence properly, punctuate, or distinguish between the proper grammatical uses of "to" vs. "too", or "your vs. "you're". Seriously. Done.

[Lehi]

Originally Posted by steve22

Go outside during the next monsoon storm and inhale those cocci spores.

I read an article that said in Arizona the largest outbreaks are usually from May through June and October through December. Oddly enough not during the monsoon. Maybe the little bit of rain we get keeps those nasty little spores from floating around so much.

[bythesea]

Wow! I just found this forum today when I was checking on cities in NM for possible retirement relocation. This is really interesting! I happen to agree with you Steve22. I have family in Arizona and visit often. I prefer Tucson, always have. Phoenix used to be great but its another San Jose or LA now; that includes the bad air and traffic. What no one tells you about the desert is how big the bugs are. Hate that part! Lots of beauty in Arizona... just not in Phoenix.

[Azrider]

Originally Posted by steve22

Anyway, I'm done. You're right, this is a waste of time- that's the first intelligent point you've made. I'm through debating this unwinnable and pointless topic with someone who can't syntactically construct a sentence properly, punctuate, or distinguish between the proper grammatical uses of "to" vs. "too", or "your vs. "you're". Seriously. Done.

Oh, excuse my grammar, im so sorry that it wasnt perfect for you. You're (or was that your, so sorry) too (to?) perfect.

Yes, this is a waste. Completely. No point, unwinnable by either side. I dont care anymore. I have better things to do. Hope you have a nice weekend too. (or is that "to") Done. Bye now.

[Lehi]

You also said "loose" instead of "lose" and for that you shall be hanged by the neck until dead.

Methinks the moderator is going to be busy this morning.

[Lehi]

I've been reading a little more about Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever). As an Arizona native I never gave it much thought because people throw about the term as if it's on par with catching a cold. Apparently some people can have very severe effects from it though.

[steve22]

Originally Posted by Lehi

I've been reading a little more about Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever). As an Arizona native I never gave it much thought because people throw about the term as if it's on par with catching a cold. Apparently some people can have very severe effects from it though.

OK... you've drawn me back in . Valley Fever, as it's widely known in these parts, is caused by "cocci", or coccidioidomycosis. It's indigenous to the desert Southwest, and in fact about 90% of documented cases each year occur in visitors to and residents of Phoenix or Tucson. But keep in mind that for every case that's documented, there are probably 5 that aren't, because people with mild symptoms are likely to pass it off as a cold and not seek medical attention. It's not really known why some people have such a severe course of infection, while others don't; although in general, those who are Arizona natives or have been here the longest definitely have lower incidences & milder courses of infection than those who move here from elsewhere or tourists (there actually have been rare cases documented in people who contracted the fungus during short layovers in Sky Harbor, with no other exposure to the area. Ouch!).

For some reason, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians seem more commonly prone to developing serious forms of the disease. The elderly and immunocompromised also have a high rate of morbidity from it; it's a fairly common cause of life-threatening disseminated disease in people with AIDS in this area, and in retired folks out in Sun City whose immune systems don't work quite so well anymore. But in many cases, completely healthy, young individuals can have severe, even life-threatening fulminant cases of it for no apparent reason. The spores are known to be highly infectious, and microbiology labs that culture it treat it with extreme caution so as not to aerosolize them.

As a fungus, it's similar to tuberculosis in how it works: basically, it's a delayed-type of hyper-sensitivity reaction. Once it gets inside you, it walls itself off and forms a "granuloma"- basically, a cavity composed of necrotic tissue and dead inflammatory cells. Like TB, it takes awhile to become clinically apparent, if it does at all- this is the reason why, as the poster above pointed out, the highest incidence of people presenting with disease isn't during the monsoon or the winter rainy season, but rather in the months following.

Make no mistake about it, it's not something to mess with. A person's clinical course of disease progression is just luck of the draw, in many cases, as to how protracted & serious it becomes. It can range from something as mild as a simple cold, to life-threatening in the worst-case scenario if it disseminates to peripheral tissues. I've seen people lose limbs due to spread of the organism into bone and skeletal muscle; I've seen people die from meningitis and severe pneumonia caused by it, or crippled as a result of it spreading to the spinal column. And once it's inside you, there isn't any cure; it can stay with you for years, only to become clinically apparent again much later. It's interesting to point out, on that note, that I read something recently about a possible cure that researchers down at the U of A were coming close to getting FDA approval for; but it's not available yet.

There's not really much you can do to avoid it, since it is so infectious and it's basically ubiquitous in the soil around here. But as a precaution, it's probably a good idea to stay away from construction zones or anywhere else people are digging around in the soil during windy conditions. Other than that, not sure what else to say... it's just one of those things (like scorpions, rattlesnakes, chronic dehydration, etc.) that's a natural hazard of living here, that we all need to be aware of, and hopefully never have to deal with personally.

[steve22]

Originally Posted by Lehi

I've been reading a little more about Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever). As an Arizona native I never gave it much thought because people throw about the term as if it's on par with catching a cold. Apparently some people can have very severe effects from it though.

OK... you've drawn me back in . Valley Fever, as it's widely known in these parts, is caused by "cocci", or coccidioidomycosis. It's indigenous to the desert Southwest, and in fact about 90% of documented cases each year occur in visitors to and residents of Phoenix or Tucson. But keep in mind that for every case that's documented, there are probably 5 that aren't, because people with mild symptoms are likely to pass it off as a cold and not seek medical attention. It's not really known why some people have such a severe course of infection, while others don't; although in general, those who are Arizona natives or have been here the longest definitely have lower incidences & milder courses of infection than those who move here from elsewhere or tourists (there actually have been rare cases documented in people who contracted the fungus during short layovers in Sky Harbor, with no other exposure to the area. Ouch!).

For some reason, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians seem more commonly prone to developing serious forms of the disease. The elderly and immunocompromised also have a high rate of morbidity from it;it's a fairly common cause of life-threatening disseminated disease in people with AIDS in this area, and in retired folks out in Sun City whose immune systems don't work quite so well anymore. But in many cases, completely healthy, young individuals can have severe, even life-threatening fulminant cases of it for no apparent reason. The spores are known to be highly infectious, and microbiology labs that culture it treat it with extreme caution so as not to aerosolize them.

As a fungus, it's similar to tuberculosis in how it works: basically, it's a delayed-type of hy*****nsitivity reaction. Once it gets inside you, it will wall itself off and form a "granuloma"- basically, a cavity composed of necrotic tissue and dead inflammatory cells. Like TB, it takes awhile to become clinically apparent, if it does at all- this is the reason why, as the poster above pointed out, the highest incidence of people presenting with disease isn't during the monsoon or the winter rainy season, but rather in the months following.

Make no mistake about it, it's not something to mess with. A person's clinical course of disease progression is just luck of the draw, in many cases, as to how protracted & serious it becomes. It can range from something as mild as a simple cold, to life-threatening in the worst-case scenario if it becomes widely-dissemininated in peripheral tissues. I've seen people lose limbs due to spread of the organism into bone and skeletal muscle; I've seen people die from meningitis and severe pneumonia caused by it, or crippled as a result of it spreading to the spinal column. And once it's inside you, there isn't any cure; it can stay with you for years, only to become clinically apparent again much later.

There's not really much you can do to avoid it, since it is so infectious and it's basically ubiquitous in the soil around here. But as a precaution, it's probably a good idea to stay away from construction zones or anywhere else people are digging around in the soil during windy conditions. Other than that, not sure what else to say... it's just one of those things (like scorpions, rattlesnakes, chronic dehydration, etc.) that's a natural hazard of living here, that we all need to be aware of, and hopefully never have to deal with personally.