What don't you like about Pittsburgh? (Bellevue, Denver: showing, condos, travel)

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I hear what you're saying, but as guylocke and others have said, "yinz" seems to be dying out, so perhaps it isn't worth getting *too* worked up about.

I think it's because language is fluid and ever changing. Yinz was popular and everyone used it, but now it's not and people have stopped. I grew up in Cranberry (1964-1983) and no one in my crowd used Yinz except as .... making a point, a joke, a reference. Sorry can't think of the words. It wasn't used in regular conversation.

(it's late, I'm at the tail end of a few really bad weeks (Mom in law left us a few weeks ago, after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's) and I'm tired. I count myself very blessed that I adored my mother in law, and she adored me.)

However -- in my household, we said German things -- and we haven't been near Germany since ... well -- 1749! My mother always said Gott im Himmel, and vas ist das and other things (that "Pennsylvanian Dutch" influence!) and just the other day I was walking with a friend when a bird swooped out of nowhere at me, and I yelled --- Gott im Himmel!

Say what you will about our funny Pittsburgh dialect, but it's a darn shame to lose it. Homogenizing everything isn't necessarily the best thing. Being able to use yinz properly does tell the world where you're from.

And Guylocke -- more and more people are dropping TO BE -- so we're winning the genericization wars on that front.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

And Guylocke -- more and more people are dropping TO BE -- so we're winning the genericization wars on that front.

I caught myself doing this the other day, almost had a heart attack, then started thinking how it was really more efficient anyway ... oh no! I've been seduced!

[Smily Gladshanks]

You know what I really hate, looking around pittsburgh? The little torn up, cement-ruined, rust-laden corners of alleys and sidewalks and spaces around bridges where the weeds grow. Just those little things like that, spread out over a city, make it look awful.

[summergal]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I hear what you're saying, but as guylocke and others have said, "yinz" seems to be dying out, so perhaps it isn't worth getting *too* worked up about.

I'm not so sure it's dying... I've heard it quite a few times down here in Florida and always perks up my ears (being from up-air) LOL. Dead giveaway of Pitt area kinfolk... oh yeah that and all the black & yellow cars/trucks with "Steeler Nation" adornments!

Just as a side note, EVERYONE said "younz" in my area growing up All of our friends living there still say it and have the accent. It's really no different from "youz" on the east coast or "y'all" down here. Just part of the dialect. BTW, I say "y'all" now, after being in the south over 20 years. LOL I dont think it's worth getting worked up over regardless. Most areas have their particular sayings. Back in the 1700's the written word was spelled phonetically and even family surnames often had multiple spellings (even within the same family!). "Proper" english is simply a standarization of the language and spelling for clearity's sake... not that any particular "way" of spelling or saying something was right or wrong.

This was a fun thread to read

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

I think it's because language is fluid and ever changing. Yinz was popular and everyone used it, but now it's not and people have stopped. I grew up in Cranberry (1964-1983) and no one in my crowd used Yinz except as .... making a point, a joke, a reference. Sorry can't think of the words. It wasn't used in regular conversation.

(it's late, I'm at the tail end of a few really bad weeks (Mom in law left us a few weeks ago, after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's) and I'm tired. I count myself very blessed that I adored my mother in law, and she adored me.)

However -- in my household, we said German things -- and we haven't been near Germany since ... well -- 1749! My mother always said Gott im Himmel, and vas ist das and other things (that "Pennsylvanian Dutch" influence!) and just the other day I was walking with a friend when a bird swooped out of nowhere at me, and I yelled --- Gott im Himmel!

Say what you will about our funny Pittsburgh dialect, but it's a darn shame to lose it. Homogenizing everything isn't necessarily the best thing. Being able to use yinz properly does tell the world where you're from.

And Guylocke -- more and more people are dropping TO BE -- so we're winning the genericization wars on that front.

I"m sorry for your loss, Tallysmom.

My mom was from a German-American family in Wisconsin. She said a lot of those things, too. She tried to teach my brother and I German but we were not interested. However, I know a lot of German words, and when we went to Germany last spring with another couple, I was the one who could interface with those who don't speak English, which is a surprising number despite what you hear about "everyone" speaking English in Europe.

BTW, in my part of Beaver County, it was "youns", as well. And kids who used it would be reprimanded at school. But that was a different era.

[tishpit]

I went to Pitt due to cost (PA resident and lived with parents to save on living costs) and pressure from family. Wanted to go to UCLA, but that was not an option. By the way... my wonderful BA I received from Pitt is now worthless. I am fighting for menial jobs for piddly-nothing pay with high school drop-outs. Today... a college degree means nothing unless it's in a very specific field (PT, OT, Dr.,etc.). Best bet is to put the $ in the bank and go to a good tech school to learn a trade that is in demand. You know what they say about hind-sight!

[summergal]

Originally Posted by tishpit

I went to Pitt due to cost (PA resident and lived with parents to save on living costs) and pressure from family. Wanted to go to UCLA, but that was not an option. By the way... my wonderful BA I received from Pitt is now worthless. I am fighting for menial jobs for piddly-nothing pay with high school drop-outs. Today... a college degree means nothing unless it's in a very specific field (PT, OT, Dr.,etc.). Best bet is to put the $ in the bank and go to a good tech school to learn a trade that is in demand. You know what they say about hind-sight!

Don't blame Pitt. A degree from any Univ. is no guarantee of anything. It's just a piece of paper. It's up to you to make your success happen. If Pittsburgh doesn't have a market for your talents, you need to move to were your market is

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by tishpit

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and so I have very deep-rooted opinions of this city and the surrounding area. From the time I was a kid, I always looked forward to summer vacation to hopefully go to the Jersey Shore... or anywhere away from Pittsburgh. I like the Steelers and still am a devoted fan. Otherwise, I cannot tell you anything I find positive about the place.

It is gray with clouds most of the time. Winter is cold, damp, and very depressing. Mucky slush is everywhere and driving up and down the hills can turn your knuckles and hair white in one typical snowfall. The people, I have found, are generally die-hard Pittsburghers who are not friendly to "outsiders" unlike other cities I have lived in and visited. The city, in my experiences, is indeed dirty and smelly. Especially downtown where the sidewalks were always smeared with wads of spit or goo and the smell of bus fumes was enough to elicit asthmatic breathing in the healthiest person. The economy is a consistent downward spiral. Even the rivers are brown and filthy looking. The terrain is so darn hilly, to find level land is a treasure, except for downtown that is level as it is lower in elevation and therefore often floods during snow melts/rains in spring.

I graduated the University of Pittsburgh and have nothing positive to say of that school either. After the graduation ceremony, I went to the placement office to get help finding employment and was told to come back when I get my Master's. My uncle, who is also a Pitt graduate, was given a similar brush off when he needed job assistance.

I have not lived in the Pittsburgh area since 1994 and never regretted leaving. I have traveled throughout the country and resided in the west and south and would never consider living in Pittsburgh again. While my family in Pittsburgh is shoveling snow in wind chills of minus 20, I am working on my tan at the beach or planting gardenias. No comparison.

I agree. But people who haven't actually lived in the west or south just don't get it. You're wasting you're breath. Glad to hear you moved, sounds like you're really enjoying your location. Me too.

[juliegt]

Originally Posted by tishpit

I went to Pitt due to cost (PA resident and lived with parents to save on living costs) and pressure from family. Wanted to go to UCLA, but that was not an option. By the way... my wonderful BA I received from Pitt is now worthless. I am fighting for menial jobs for piddly-nothing pay with high school drop-outs. Today... a college degree means nothing unless it's in a very specific field (PT, OT, Dr.,etc.). Best bet is to put the $ in the bank and go to a good tech school to learn a trade that is in demand. You know what they say about hind-sight!

It's usually hard to find a good job when you're first starting out, especially if your degree is in something that isn't in demand.

However as a veteran of the corporate world you should know that companies usually start people with BAs at a higher pay scale than someone with only a high school diploma. For example, I worked at a major bank for 13 years. If you were taking an entry level job as a teller the starting pay would be based on your degree in this order: high school, some college, associates, BA in unrelated field, BA in related field (business, finance, etc), MBA... By the way, people in the bank's management training programs (usually MBAs) were required to start as tellers to learn the business from the ground up.

Keep looking. I strongly recommend that you try to get informational interviews with people in your chosen field and ask them how they got started and what they would recommend you do to break into the field. Go to meetings of professional organizations in your field. You may have to relocate to a different area. Times are tough, but creativity is key to getting a career you want.

Good luck!

[guylocke]

I see you're back London. Yay.