Pittsburgh has an inferiority complex (Forest Hills: standard of living, moving to, housing)

[Pitts64]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

I'm originally from Michigan, and for some reason people in Pittsburgh think that must be a thousand miles away. It only takes me four and a half hours to drive home, but I guess not many Michigan people live here.

Ya but people in Michigan know how to drive......

[Heit]

Originally Posted by Pitts64

We know what Pittsburgh is and that's all that counts.. Why in the hell do you people have to brag all over the place? Its really ugly...
If they all find out, they will come and all more people do is ruin things.... Quit believing these no good politicians about how the population is declining, that is total BULL!!! I use to hunt were Ross Park Mall is ( I worked construction there too) and use to go to Camp Trees in Trees Dale / Cranberry from the Lawrenceville Boys Club, it was all farms then. Boy did they ruin that area!

We have a good thing here, please be quiet about it... Look at what happened to California!!!

Hey Pitts64, I grew up in Lawrenceville. The Boys Club was my home away from home. I know it was that way for many of us back then..........thank God for such a wonderful facility. I also used to go to Camp Trees, what great times/memories.

We are moving back and recently were in town looking for a place. We were shocked at the growth in N. Allegheny County. Is Camp Trees even there anymore? We have added S. Butler County and parts of Beaver County to our search as well. Even with all the growth the area is still beautiful!

[BrianTH]

I absolutely agree that we don't want a population boom here. But I do think a slow growth model, with most of the growth concentrated in the existing urbanized area, would be a good idea.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by Pitts64

I don't know what your talking about, Seattle is a beautiful city... It beats the hell out of this place....

Who said it wasn't beautiful? The people are smug. I'm guessing you're not serious.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by pman

it may also have to do with decades of decline and what that does for a psyche. in Philadelphia they're called negadelphians so I don't think it's just pittsburgh. by and large the whole state has been in decline with a few exceptions. that said, the msot negative people I've met have been buffalo expats.

That is a very good observation. One time we flew to Pgh on family business in Beaver Falls. We got to the end of the free portion of Rt. 60 in Chippewa Twp. and DH said "All right, where's the Comfort Inn? Why aren't there more motels around here"? I replied "A little 20 year recession can do that to a place." BTW, Chippewa seems to be doing very well, in contrast to the city of BF itself, so it is reasonable to expect that there might be a chain motel there (IMO).

Originally Posted by Tinare

Do you think it also may have something to do with national perceptions as well? I'm just thinking of the laughter in the White House Press Room with the G-20 announcement. There are certain go-to places for jokes like New Jersey or Cleveland or Pittsburgh. Buffalo too. The old one for Philly was something like -- "first prize, a week in Philadelphia, second prize, two weeks in Philadelphia..." Has any area ever beaten that?

I think New Jersey gets dissed more; out here it's the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska, etc that take the heat and are the butt of jokes like that.

Originally Posted by creepsinc

If it's anything like the attitude in Seattle, it's called smugness.

Don't know about Seattle smugness, but you know, they have a very positive attitude about their absolutely horrible weather. Go to Minneapolis, if you will. Lots of postive vibes there, too, even though they have one of the worst winters of any big city. Chicago has no "exciting" geographical features (don't tase me, Drover), yet lots of positive attitude. Heck, Omaha, Nebraska has more civic pride. I can't put my finger on it, but it's different.

[creepsinc]

Almost every native I've met here absolutely loves it, and all they ask me is how I came to move here. Then they say "welcome to Pittsburgh". What's cliched are the people who complain about Pittsburgh's supposed "negativity".

[LeavingFL4Seasons]

I've lived in Pittsburgh since January. I'm from Sarasota, Florida. I lived in Nashville for about 10 months. I love Pittsburgh, over-all.

Nearly every single time I tell someone that I am a Florida transplant, they look at me with shock and sometimes nearly suspicion. I literally have to talk the natives into appreciating their own city more. Often these people get annoyed that I am trying to change their outlook. I live in the Southside Flats, BTW, where there are a lot of both natives and transplants.

[curious quetzal]

It makes sense that Pittsburgh should have an inferiority complex. The city underwent an economic depression during the 80s. These kinds of problems do not disappear with the next generation.
I grew up on the North Side of Pittsburgh. I had some good times in the city, but overall the place made me feel dreary. Why else should Pittsburgh have an inferiority complex? It may be the sootiest city in the U.S., despite the efforts to clean up the area.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by curious quetzal

It makes sense that Pittsburgh should have an inferiority complex. The city underwent an economic depression during the 80s. These kinds of problems do not disappear with the next generation.
I grew up on the North Side of Pittsburgh. I had some good times in the city, but overall the place made me feel dreary. Why else should Pittsburgh have an inferiority complex? It may be the sootiest city in the U.S., despite the efforts to clean up the area.

NOT true. That report is a sham, based on one monitor near the Clairton coke works. The ALA responded to criticism by saying that "averages are inherently unfair" which is completely ridiculous.

[alleghenyangel]

Pittsburgh is still a sooty city. I used to have a white car. I had to wash it regularly because it would get a coating of this black dust after sitting outside for more than a day.