Welcome to Pittsburgh..... I guess ??? (Reading, Beaver Falls: elementary school, university, subdivisions)

[lifepgh2op]

Originally Posted by dugdogmaster

But Julie, the type of ignorance you say you've encountered at work is everywhere. And really, I think they're just kidding with you, trying to get a feel for you, so to say.

In her defense, though...she's proud of Oregon and Portland just like we're proud of Pittsburgh. If I moved somewhere new and people were irritating me about PA or Pittsburgh, I'd be annoyed and want to correct them on their ignorance. But I guess that is the best thing to do...as frustrating as it is, teach people who don't know where you come from. That's the only way they'll learn.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

In her defense, though...she's proud of Oregon and Portland just like we're proud of Pittsburgh. If I moved somewhere new and people were irritating me about PA or Pittsburgh, I'd be annoyed and want to correct them on their ignorance. But I guess that is the best thing to do...as frustrating as it is, teach people who don't know where you come from. That's the only way they'll learn.

Agreed, but you also have to learn to have fun with it. As I did when I have lived away from this area and was joshed with all the time.

[juliempdx]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

In her defense, though...she's proud of Oregon and Portland just like we're proud of Pittsburgh. If I moved somewhere new and people were irritating me about PA or Pittsburgh, I'd be annoyed and want to correct them on their ignorance. But I guess that is the best thing to do...as frustrating as it is, teach people who don't know where you come from. That's the only way they'll learn.

Exactly! I really good give a rats ### if people make fun of Oregon because it's their loss that they have never been there and experienced what a beautiful place it is. I would rather just be welcomed to my new place of work and not be stereotyped because I'm not from Pittsburgh. Everybody is always whining about why nobody wants to move here and your population is declining so if they want people with educations and job experience to move here why don't they give them a warm welcome. One of my co-workers calls me Portland instead of by my first name, it was funny the first 10 times not funny anymore. Anyway I am no longer listening to the bull s****.

[lukeduke711]

i love Pittsburgh, but would never live there


DIRTY, CRIME, NOISE, TOO MANY PEOPLE, 14 DEGREES HOTTER FROM ALL THE CONCRETE

thats why im settled in Sarver, Butler County where there is nothing to bother you


move to sarver and enjoy PA

[goodgirl49]

Originally Posted by dugdogmaster

The most arrogant, ignorant and self centered people I have ever met in my life have been from California. Not to say they all are though, I met a couple decent folks from there.

But Julie, the type of ignorance you say you've encountered at work is everywhere. And really, I think they're just kidding with you, trying to get a feel for you, so to say.

Hopefully, you'd put me in the latter category. I still consider myself a Pittsburgher though even though I haven't lived there since 1974 and I don't forget my roots. I'm glad I grew up in PA instead of Los Angeles. Anytime I come back to visit, I don't really want to leave. Maybe not in January, though!

[Katiana]

I have met arrogant, ignorant, and self-centered people in every state where I have lived. This includes several communities in Pennsylvania, NY and Colorado; plus Delaware, MD, Cali, and Ill.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I have met arrogant, ignorant, and self-centered people in every state where I have lived. This includes several communities in Pennsylvania, NY and Colorado; plus Delaware, MD, Cali, and Ill.

The greatest ignorance I've ever encountered was in Northern CA. Try telling some of those people you grew up in the South.

[likepgh]

I'm starting to think that juliempdx just works with some jerks.

I've encountered the "why did you move here" question in Pittsburgh and when we lived in Philadelphia. Once I explained why and that I like (liked) it here (there), the questions stopped. I think it's just part of the inferiority complex of those two cities.

We do find that most of our friends are other transplants (sometimes a couple where one is a transplant and one a native).

Just a point of clarification: the city of Omaha (400,000ish) is bigger than the city of Pittsburgh (350,000ish) but the Pittsburgh metro area is a lot bigger than the Omaha area (2.2 million-ish to 850,000-ish). So yes, Pittsburghers would tend to think of Omaha as smaller.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by juliempdx

Everybody is always whining about why nobody wants to move here and your population is declining so if they want people with educations and job experience to move here why don't they give them a warm welcome.

I agree these people aren't helping to make Pittsburgh a welcoming place, but I also think there is little to be done about the fact that a nontrivial number of people in this world are ignorant and rude--Pittsburgh being no exception, but also, in my experience, being no worse.

But to be clear, I'm not trying to tell you that you shouldn't view this behavior negatively, and judge the relevant individuals accordingly. I just don't think the presence of some such individuals in Pittsburgh has any greater implications.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by likepgh

Just a point of clarification: the city of Omaha (400,000ish) is bigger than the city of Pittsburgh (350,000ish) but the Pittsburgh metro area is a lot bigger than the Omaha area (2.2 million-ish to 850,000-ish). So yes, Pittsburghers would tend to think of Omaha as smaller.

Pittsburgh's Census-defined Urbanized Area (which I find does a bit better job of capturing the common idea of a city's greater boundaries than Metro Areas) is also considerably larger than Omaha's: 1,753,136 for Pittsburgh as of 2000, to Omaha's 626,623.