I am tired of hearing how great Pittsburgh is! (Butler: transfer, high school)

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I would say 'yes' it does offer more. Mostly because Pittsburgh was built to be a much bigger city, and has significantly better 'bones' to it.

Indianpolis is way too spread out...it's flat and surrounded by cornfields.

Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville...differnent mindset of people. Southern is just culturally different. If a person shares that thinking and political bent, than it's fine.

Cincinnati seems to have many characteristics, as a city, that I like Pittsburgh. But, Cincinnati has some socially conservative politics that I don't like either, and apparently some ugly racial tensions.

Everywhere is just a little different, and Pittsburgh has some nice 'northern' and 'northeastern' qualities that I personally like. But, it sounds like you might need to experience something different, so anywhere is fine really, for your situation.

IIRC, you've never even been to Pittsburgh. While much of what you say may be true, reserve judgement until you go to Pgh and "smell the roses".

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville...differnent mindset of people. Southern is just culturally different. If a person shares that thinking and political bent, than it's fine.

What are you are saying about Charlotte and Nashville may be true, but it is not even close to the case in Raleigh. Every time that I have visited Raleigh I have met more northern transplants than southerners and the culture is very different than that of a traditional southern city. In fact I have met several former Pittsburghers in Raleigh and many of them are already Yinzin the place up

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Katiana

IIRC, you've never even been to Pittsburgh. While much of what you say may be true, reserve judgement until you go to Pgh and "smell the roses".

IIRC = if you recall correctly?

My first visit to Pittsburgh was as a young adult in 1988, and been there other times as well, as recently as 2012. I have at least a dozen photos in the Pittsburgh photo thread as more proof. So, in short, no, I guess you didn't recall correctly.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

IIRC = if you recall correctly?

My first visit to Pittsburgh was as a young adult in 1988, and been there other times as well, as recently as 2012. I have at least a dozen photos in the Pittsburgh photo thread as more proof. So, in short, no, I guess you didn't recall correctly.

Sorry! I stand corrected. I believe when you first started posting on this forum, you hadn't been to Pgh in a long time, anyway. But, given my track record, I could be wrong about that too.

In any event, I agree with track2514 about Raleigh. There is some thread about liberal cities in conservative states, and Raleigh is on that list. I have a cousin from Beaver Falls, CMU grad, who has lived there for years. In fact, I know a number of people from various places who either live now in Raleigh or lived there and love it!

[Tiger Beer]

I also notice a Pittsburgh-Raleigh connection theme as well.

Actually, I notice many people move from the Northern climate southward, and Raleigh seems to be on that list of 'better weather' alternative destinations for people from colder areas who value exactly that. I've had two of my own Michigan cousins live in Raleigh as well for awhile. Neither of which are there now though. One returned north, and the other went further south to Florida.

I think every city has it's plusses and negatives. I think what attracts people to Pittsburgh, aren't things that the OP finds attractive. For me personally, a city like Raleigh is too car-centric, and too spread out.

But, based on the fact that the mass majority of Americans don't seem to mind that at all, than those types of negatives would be largely irrelevant to most other people.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by ex-burgher

I hate hot weather so much that I prefer cloudy weather in summer. Also the sun bothers my eyes - since I wear glasses, sunglasses don't work. Yes I know I can get prescription sunglasses but it's expensive. I know however that I am in the minority on this issue.

e-clips. This are not your Daddy's clip on sunglasses.

You pick your new frames, they make the glasses, send them to e-clips, they make exactly matching sunglasses in matching metals and problem is solved. At first they are very clumsy to put on and take off, but then you get good at it.

For about 40 bucks.

Can't beat it.

[PinkFlowerGarden]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville...differnent mindset of people. Southern is just culturally different. If a person shares that thinking and political bent, than it's fine.

NC stopped being "southern" almost 20 years ago. Charlotte and Raleigh are full of transplants. There used to be a joke about NC being a suburb of Ohio. The politics have radically changed too. Both cities are run by Democrats.

[Katarina Witt]

^^This. At least 20 years ago. My cousin, who I referenced above, has been in Raleigh ~ 40 years. He originally went there from Pittsburgh for his then-wife to go to med school. They divorced, but he liked it so much, he stayed, despite having NO family there. Back in the 80s and 90s, when I saw him more (long story) he was all the time talking about the "quality of life" down there. Many agree, apparently. I've been there. It's nice, relatively near the mountains and ocean, has several universities. Research Triangle Park has been a high-tech center for a long time.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by PinkFlowerGarden

NC stopped being "southern" almost 20 years ago. Charlotte and Raleigh are full of transplants. There used to be a joke about NC being a suburb of Ohio. The politics have radically changed too. Both cities are run by Democrats.

There's sort of a Charlotte-Greensboro-Raleigh crescent forming in NC. Rapid but spread out growth. Like Atlanta, being filled in with subdivisions, strip shopping centers, and malls. Very much lacking in character and identity as franchises and corporations place their imprints there.

It would be good for Pittsburgh to identify what its characteristics are and direct any growth to follow those guidelines.

[PinkFlowerGarden]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

There's sort of a Charlotte-Greensboro-Raleigh crescent forming in NC. Rapid but spread out growth. Like Atlanta, being filled in with subdivisions, strip shopping centers, and malls. Very much lacking in character and identity as franchises and corporations place their imprints there.

It would be good for Pittsburgh to identify what its characteristics are and direct any growth to follow those guidelines.

I would say NOT to follow those growth guidelines of NC (Cranberry Township? Yuck). I remember when there were trailers around Lake Norman, the bottom edge of the city stopped at 51, the sky was a crystal blue, and Mint Hill was country.

I can't even stand to go back to NC. It is far too overdeveloped with cookie cutter subdivisions and shopping complexes for my taste. Pittsburgh should keep the communities small and character alive. That is the problem with most "new" Southern cities. They all look and feel the same. Again, look at SW Butler County for an example of how Pittsburgh should NOT to follow Southern Cities.