Do I need glasses? (Pittsburgh, Scranton: how much, house, employment)

[PreservationPioneer]

I was also excited before I moved to Pittsburgh (still am, actually). There are a few things I learned about living here that I had not known before the move, for better or worse.

Negative things I learned:

1) The pessimism and negativity of many residents
2) Pittsburgh seems like a big city, but it is rather isolated and lonely at times.
3) The social and dating scene is limited, although it seems bigger at first glance.
4) People are generally friendly, but a bit detached.
5) Contrary to popular opinion, some Pittsburghers are not "down to earth" and can be quite pretentious.
6) Many of the river towns are badly neglected.
7) There is a feeling of hopelessness that I get living here sometimes, even though things are going pretty good for me.

Positive things I learned:

1) There are great day-trip towns and locations within easy proximity to Pittsburgh, such as Wheeling, WV (a wealth of history to explore), Ligonier, and Youngstown, OH.
2) Most of the neighborhoods Pittsburghers think are "sketchy" are actually reasonably safe and quiet (McKees Rocks, Braddock, Homestead, etc.).
3) $10,000 houses are not "too good to be true." Some of them are liveable and in decent areas.
4) It's not hard to find a job here.
5) The city has amazing vitality and is not a "dead rust belt city"
6) It is still fashionable to live IN the city, unlike in many major cities.
7) The suburbs are often as old and as full of character as the city itself.
8) There are a lot of gay bars

[ngadude]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I can't speak for anyone else, but I've had the habit of reading (or at least scanning) most of the forums ever since I joined city-data in 2007. I think most people read several forums in addition to the ones for their own city. Most people who read a forum for a city they don't live in only post a comment if they happen to know a specific bit of information, or to correct an inaccurate statement. After you started participating in the Pittsburgh forum you began making misleading and inaccurate statements about Nova, thus Virginians now feel a need to post a reply. If you don't want to see these replies, stop thinking you can talk about us behind our back and nobody will notice that you've said something inaccurate.

Pittsburgh is a great place. You have exciting days ahead of you, and a wonderful city to explore. So give yourself the freedom to be the explorer, to ask questions, to learn about a new place rather than trying to be the expert before you've even moved in. That was the mistake you made in Nova. You made a lot of assumptions, never really bothered to learn the real scoop on things, and as a result hurt yourself several times. It was painful to watch. This time, let someone else be the expert until you've been there a few years, and you'll have a much better time with this city.

I agree - someone tipped me off about inaccurate statements about Gainesville made in this subforum, so I had to come over here to correct them. If there hadn't been inaccurate thngs written about NOVA here, several of us would probably never have come over here.

I've seen several people tell him on here to wait before acting like an expert on Pittsburgh - hopefully he won't make the same mistake twice.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by Haligonian

I'm from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Just wanted to say we were in your beautiful city for my 40th birthday. We came aboard a Carnival Cruise ship. We also visited St Johns NB. Can't wait to get back to see both!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Just wanted to say we were in your beautiful city for my 40th birthday.

That's like saying you visited the city of Pennsylvania.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

I was also excited before I moved to Pittsburgh (still am, actually). There are a few things I learned about living here that I had not known before the move, for better or worse.

Negative things I learned:

1) The pessimism and negativity of many residents
2) Pittsburgh seems like a big city, but it is rather isolated and lonely at times.
3) The social and dating scene is limited, although it seems bigger at first glance.
4) People are generally friendly, but a bit detached.
5) Contrary to popular opinion, some Pittsburghers are not "down to earth" and can be quite pretentious.
6) Many of the river towns are badly neglected.
7) There is a feeling of hopelessness that I get living here sometimes, even though things are going pretty good for me.

Positive things I learned:

1) There are great day-trip towns and locations within easy proximity to Pittsburgh, such as Wheeling, WV (a wealth of history to explore), Ligonier, and Youngstown, OH.
2) Most of the neighborhoods Pittsburghers think are "sketchy" are actually reasonably safe and quiet (McKees Rocks, Braddock, Homestead, etc.).
3) $10,000 houses are not "too good to be true." Some of them are liveable and in decent areas.
4) It's not hard to find a job here.
5) The city has amazing vitality and is not a "dead rust belt city"
6) It is still fashionable to live IN the city, unlike in many major cities.
7) The suburbs are often as old and as full of character as the city itself.
8) There are a lot of gay bars

Good post! I notice that you didn't mention the weather. We always liked Pittsburgh but found the winters dreary and depressing, months and months of cold and gray.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by Drover

That's like saying you visited the city of Pennsylvania.

Well, in defense of Master Scott, a Haligonian is a person from Halifax, NS, so let's give him that one. However, St. John's is in Newfoundland. Saint John is the city in New Brunswick.

[Freakazoid84]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

The affordable housing prices are one of the primary motivating factors behind my impending move to Pittsburgh from uber-expensive Fairfax County, Virginia.

I absolutely fell in love with this home online so much that I went to go see it in person:

Mt Washington, Pa 15211 Home - Real Estate and Homes for Sale - MLS #835811 - Realtor.com®

Yes, it needs cosmetic updating, but it's a great deal, and it's in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Mt. Washington. Where can you find a house with this much character for $45,000 in Fairfax County? You can't even find a distressed 1-BR condo here for that.

'up and coming'????? As someone already stated, don't act like you already live here....when you don't.

yes areas of mt washington are on the rise (and some are permanently on the rise).
This area is NOT.
I had an apartment about 6 blocks down from there, when I lived there it was on the news twice for shootings, and at LEAST a couple times afterwards.

This is CERTAINLY not an area to recommend people to move to, geezus...

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid84

'up and coming'????? As someone already stated, don't act like you already live here....when you don't.

yes areas of mt washington are on the rise (and some are permanently on the rise).
This area is NOT.
I had an apartment about 6 blocks down from there, when I lived there it was on the news twice for shootings, and at LEAST a couple times afterwards.

This is CERTAINLY not an area to recommend people to move to, geezus...

I DO live in Pittsburgh, and the city as a whole IS rising---strongly.

[Denton56]

Living there for three days may not be quite long enough for an opinion on the city as as whole and its possible impending rise. It may not yet be on the cusp of ascension.

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

I DO live in Pittsburgh, and the city as a whole IS rising---strongly.

While I do admire your enthusiasm, you need to live here several years before you make such declarations of familiarity. Once you see how small this city is and how limited certain options and scenes are your positive sentiments might turn to frustration. I know that after being here for five years I'm ready to leave.