I miss GUYLOCKE (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton: unemployed, best school, college)

[Seaharbour]

Good, I look forward to in meeting him, since so many here like him! Have a great Sunday all, we are off to do some hiking this am!

[guylocke]

Yep, Guylocke is one of a kind. :-)

You guys are too much!! People are gonna think I paid you to say stuff! LOL.

Yes I will definitely message you with those other sites!!

[BVH]

Originally Posted by guylocke

You guys are too much!! People are gonna think I paid you to say stuff! LOL.

Yes I will definitely message you with those other sites!!

Speaking of which, your check bounced...

[subdivisions]

The reasons that Guylock listed for not being around much anymore pretty much sum it up for me too. The trolls and the craziness are just too depressing and too much work here. And I don't like to talk about the suburbs either.

I am kind of sorry that I missed a drama-filled meltdown, though! Was the meltdownee pro-Pittsburgh or anti-Pittsburgh?

I still would love to have a place to talk about Pittsburgh in a reasonable way. So maybe someone could post the other sites Guylocke was referring to, or PM them to me if you don't want to give them out to the icky people on City-Data Forum.

[jhprentiss]

Ooh, me too! I'd love to be able to talk to people in Pittsburgh without the weenies.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by guylocke

londonbarcelona, that is one of the cutest things I've ever had the pleasure of reading. LOL.

I periodically pop in and see what's going on, believe me. I stopped posting for several reasons, and although it wasn't fully caused by any one person, there were a few people who exacerbated the situation. Stagger Lee actually had nothing to do with it, we always got along as far as I know, in fact, I'm not sure I even know what this meltdown is you are referring to. Can someone link it to me?

I came to Pittsburgh forums to help people and to try to get people thinking positively. Despite what a certain few may think, I don't try to use lies or bad information and I also don't think I can't admit the faults of Pittsburgh, too. But things will never change if people don't have a positive outlook for the future.

Essentially, this is what happens. Outsiders come to the these forums for help for many reasons. They want to move here for personal reasons, they HAVE to move here for certain reasons, or they are being relocated here or want to be relocated here. They need help, they are confused, they could be anxious, and I am very knowledgeable about Pittsburgh.

I try to give them the best advise possible for making the best decision possible. However, there are certain people who use these forums to do nothing but thwart people from coming here. They hate it here, for whatever reason, and do everything they can to stop people from coming here. It's actually quite sad and pathetic. There are certain families in oppressed or exorbitantly expensive areas in the country that could do really well in Pittsburgh. But instead of helping these people, everyone just seems to want to argue about it.

I find myself writing more damage-control than actually helping people and that defeats my entire purpose for being here. I am a member of several other Pittsburgh forums where similar outsiders come for advice but those threads aren't anything like city-data Pittsburgh. There isn't extreme polarization like there is here. I decided to concentrate on those forums where I feel like I'm actually helping people.

It's perfectly fine to not like everything about Pittsburgh. It's more than fine to warn visitors that they should find work first and do their homework. That's obvious! But for people to essentially get on here to slander Pittsburgh is simply not acceptable.

Pittsburgh is my home. It's where I built my life. It's where my family and friends are. It's where I've loved, lost, played, constructed, and experienced almost every major event that shaped my life and of which makes me the person I am today. Sound corny? Fine. But don't get on a Pittsburgh forum and start bad mouthing Pittsburgh when many people on this forum are in the same boat as me. I was tired of being insulted.

This is our home, you know. A lot of people have their homes and lives here and many others would like to. It's not perfect, but we make the best of it, just like any city. And what's broke should tried to be fixed. But this negativity, downright insulting, and defamation of Pittsburgh and [by proxy] its people is absurd. I won't sit here and read that stuff anymore when I can go to other sites where everyone works together and genuinely helps and cares about other people.

And that my friend londonbarcelona, is why I no longer post on these forums.

I'm always lurking, though. And I miss you, too. Many of you.

Here's a better question, yet, where in heck is HOPES??????

Well, I suppose having you as a 'lurker' is better than not having you around at all. *smile*

I commend your efforts. Because you are right. If people only read the negative about a particular place than it will influence others to become negative also about the area.

I have lived all over the world, and I am choosing to stay in Pittsburgh! Imagine that! *smile* Grant it, I am originally from Buffalo, so to me, Pittsburgh has more to offer and yet, is still close enough to "home" for me to visit ocassionally. It works for me.

I too don't appreciate all the negativism (sp?) on this board. Discussing a topic is one thing, and opinions are another. But to purposefully degrade a city across the board with broad strokes seems totally unfair to me.

There are SO many cities struggling within the United States right now and believe it or not, not all of them are on the east coast or only in the rustbelt. Pittsburgh is not the only one and it seems worthy to mention that there are many areas in which it has vastly improved and continues to do so.

I also think it would be helpful if we could consider metro Pittsburgh and the suburbs when talking about Pittsburgh. Because Pittsburgh isn't just it's downtown area only, it's the entire area that makes Pittsburgh what it is. Not just the city central. MOST inner cities are crumbling, that is a fact and it is happening in some of the "newer" cities out west too. Talking strickly about only the metro area gives the illusion that it's worse off than what it truly is. Yes, this is "city" data, but nowadays, city and suburb go hand and hand in most places.

Should we project a Pollyanna attitude when someone comes looking for information? No, of course not, but seriously, is it necessary to throw statistics and graphs down our throats all the time? Facts are great and very much needed -- But how about balancing the negative with a positive?

I, for one, hate to see what is happening to the east coast and find it sad that people think that unless it's sunny and 90 everyday, it's not a place worth living in. Well I have news for you. There are plenty of places that are warm and sunny that have struggles of their own. They may be different than ours, but troubling all the same.

Moving out west now is in vogue, and eventually it will come full circle -- which I am beginning to see already.

But this doom and gloom attitude about Pittsburgh? Get a grip people, it's got to stop. YOU MAKE IT WHAT IT IS, not your words or postings online - YOU. Pick up that piece of paper you just dropped on the ground, don't empty your ashtray out your car window, and clean up your yard. Help the person next to you, hold open that door for the next person, help your eldery neighbor fix that porch. Even if you don't own it - keep it clean!
Take a little pride in your surroundings, they are much more beautiful than you think. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I speak of this from experience.

I will now step down from my soapbox.

(((((((Guylocke))))))))

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by jhprentiss

Ooh, me too! I'd love to be able to talk to people in Pittsburgh without the weenies.

Hey! I happen to LOVE weenies!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

Well, I suppose having you as a 'lurker' is better than not having you around at all. *smile*

I commend your efforts. Because you are right. If people only read the negative about a particular place than it will influence others to become negative also about the area.

I have lived all over the world, and I am choosing to stay in Pittsburgh! Imagine that! *smile* Grant it, I am originally from Buffalo, so to me, Pittsburgh has more to offer and yet, is still close enough to "home" for me to visit ocassionally. It works for me.

I too don't appreciate all the negativism (sp?) on this board. Discussing a topic is one thing, and opinions are another. But to purposefully degrade a city across the board with broad strokes seems totally unfair to me.

There are SO many cities struggling within the United States right now and believe it or not, not all of them are on the east coast or only in the rustbelt. Pittsburgh is not the only one and it seems worthy to mention that there are many areas in which it has vastly improved and continues to do so.

I also think it would be helpful if we could consider metro Pittsburgh and the suburbs when talking about Pittsburgh. Because Pittsburgh isn't just it's downtown area only, it's the entire area that makes Pittsburgh what it is. Not just the city central. MOST inner cities are crumbling, that is a fact and it is happening in some of the "newer" cities out west too. Talking strickly about only the metro area gives the illusion that it's worse off than what it truly is. Yes, this is "city" data, but nowadays, city and suburb go hand and hand in most places.

Should we project a Pollyanna attitude when someone comes looking for information? No, of course not, but seriously, is it necessary to throw statistics and graphs down our throats all the time? Facts are great and very much needed -- But how about balancing the negative with a positive?

I, for one, hate to see what is happening to the east coast and find it sad that people think that unless it's sunny and 90 everyday, it's not a place worth living in. Well I have news for you. There are plenty of places that are warm and sunny that have struggles of their own. They may be different than ours, but troubling all the same.

Moving out west now is in vogue, and eventually it will come full circle -- which I am beginning to see already.

But this doom and gloom attitude about Pittsburgh? Get a grip people, it's got to stop. YOU MAKE IT WHAT IT IS, not your words or postings online - YOU. Pick up that piece of paper you just dropped on the ground, don't empty your ashtray out your car window, and clean up your yard. Help the person next to you, hold open that door for the next person, help your eldery neighbor fix that porch. Even if you don't own it - keep it clean!
Take a little pride in your surroundings, they are much more beautiful than you think. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I speak of this from experience.

I will now step down from my soapbox.

(((((((Guylocke))))))))

I think I love you!!! You must be the female version of myself for sure. I've always said that the reason why my own hometown of Scranton has languished for so many years is because by and large the residents had a pessimistic, gloomy, "the city is sinking like the Titanic" outlook. Who would want to invest in or relocate to a city that didn't believe in itself? In the past 2-4 years or so the city has been turning around nicely, and now I'm not viewed as being crazy for picking up the pom-poms and rooting for its rebirth, especially now that a few organizations have been formed with the sole purpose of cheerleading the city. There is DEFINTELY a correlation between the level of optimism and "Can-Do" spirit in a city and its chances at recovery. It's thanks to folks finally starting to look at what can be in Pittsburgh (and Scranton) that it is finally starting to turn itself around. Yes, the population continues to decline, but I'm excited to visit the Steel City again next year to see how much it has changed since I was last there in 1997.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

I think I love you!!! You must be the female version of myself for sure. I've always said that the reason why my own hometown of Scranton has languished for so many years is because by and large the residents had a pessimistic, gloomy, "the city is sinking like the Titanic" outlook. Who would want to invest in or relocate to a city that didn't believe in itself? In the past 2-4 years or so the city has been turning around nicely, and now I'm not viewed as being crazy for picking up the pom-poms and rooting for its rebirth, especially now that a few organizations have been formed with the sole purpose of cheerleading the city. There is DEFINTELY a correlation between the level of optimism and "Can-Do" spirit in a city and its chances at recovery. It's thanks to folks finally starting to look at what can be in Pittsburgh (and Scranton) that it is finally starting to turn itself around. Yes, the population continues to decline, but I'm excited to visit the Steel City again next year to see how much it has changed since I was last there in 1997.

Hey, Thanks. I owe it all to Guylocke! *smile*

I've seen it happen in Phoenix where I am now. People were falling over each other to get to Phoenix, but when it came down to it, other than new buildings, the grass was no greener over here for many who made the trek. In fact, it was pretty dead. (heh heh)

But one reason Phoenix grew so fast was because the "word got out" about it and people flocked to the area. Unfortunately, most of the people who came were uneducated and therein remains Phoenix's problem. An uneducated workforce and worse schools. It's a vicious cycle and one that Pittsburgh is nowhere near thankfully!

Believe it or not, Pittsburgh is actually better off than Phoenix. And trust me, Phoenix's "downtown" is nothing to speak of. Now that the real estate has risen so quickly here, many people are moving OUT of Phoenix. (And moving out of other areas in the southwest.) Seems the move just wasn't worth it to many.

[guylocke]

Well, I suppose having you as a 'lurker' is better than not having you around at all. *smile*

I will post a bit. I promised myself I will take no part whatsoever in all the drama that goes on. It is SO hard for me to know something as being untrue and hold my tongue, though. But I will, for the sake of staying!

I also think it would be helpful if we could consider metro Pittsburgh and the suburbs when talking about Pittsburgh. Because Pittsburgh isn't just it's downtown area only, it's the entire area that makes Pittsburgh what it is. Not just the city central. MOST inner cities are crumbling, that is a fact and it is happening in some of the "newer" cities out west too. Talking strickly about only the metro area gives the illusion that it's worse off than what it truly is. Yes, this is "city" data, but nowadays, city and suburb go hand and hand in most places.

I tend to agree. I am perfectly happy to talk about the city or the suburbs, both make Pittsburgh what it is today.

Moving out west now is in vogue, and eventually it will come full circle -- which I am beginning to see already.

I believe I see it, too.

But this doom and gloom attitude about Pittsburgh? Get a grip people, it's got to stop. YOU MAKE IT WHAT IT IS, not your words or postings online - YOU. Pick up that piece of paper you just dropped on the ground, don't empty your ashtray out your car window, and clean up your yard. Help the person next to you, hold open that door for the next person, help your eldery neighbor fix that porch. Even if you don't own it - keep it clean!
Take a little pride in your surroundings, they are much more beautiful than you think. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I speak of this from experience.

Beautifully said. And you know what, maybe to some, the grass is INDEED greener. No city will ever please everyone. But what could possibly be the point in taking your time and energy to come to a site to do nothing but bad mouth what you SHOULD be putting behind you or trying to put behind you by moving. Like you said perfectly, get a grip. Maybe you left and are happier, or maybe you feel like it was a big mistake, or maybe you can't leave but hate it anyway! Whatever. But how dare you simply thwart people from coming and telling them that it sucks and they'll hate it when LOTS and LOTS of people actually like it quite a bit and it COULD be an excellent fit for a family in desperate need of a fit. That is downright ignorant, if you ask me. (you as in general)

Hey, Thanks. I owe it all to Guylocke! *smile*

You're too much!!!! That really makes me happy, though. It's very encouraging for me, the encourager.

I've seen it happen in Phoenix where I am now. People were falling over each other to get to Phoenix, but when it came down to it, other than new buildings, the grass was no greener over here for many who made the trek. In fact, it was pretty dead. (heh heh)

But one reason Phoenix grew so fast was because the "word got out" about it and people flocked to the area. Unfortunately, most of the people who came were uneducated and therein remains Phoenix's problem. An uneducated workforce and worse schools. It's a vicious cycle and one that Pittsburgh is nowhere near thankfully!

Believe it or not, Pittsburgh is actually better off than Phoenix. And trust me, Phoenix's "downtown" is nothing to speak of. Now that the real estate has risen so quickly here, many people are moving OUT of Phoenix. (And moving out of other areas in the southwest.) Seems the move just wasn't worth it to many.

How interesting! I hear Atlanta and some of the Texan cities are the same way. *shrug* I've only ever been to visit or haven't been at all.