In 2009...Pittsburgh has nothing to offer people aged 18-45 (Greensburg: how much, unemployment)

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by Movinonup13

I tried to go out on my own and meet new people, but I was always disappointed. Noone wanted to step out of their circle to speak, and if you even LOOKED like you might approach a group of people, you got the stank eye.

Those of you so quick to defend Pittsburgh really need to tell me--when was the last time you saw someone out who was alone and spoke to them? How about simply smiling at a stranger? That new person at work-ever invite them to go out with you and your friends?

I don't think people in any city just go up to random strangers and start conversations for no reason. That's why people say to get involved in something. Then you have an "in" and a topic of conversation, whether that be books or kayaking or whatever.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Movinonup13

Those of you so quick to defend Pittsburgh really need to tell me--when was the last time you saw someone out who was alone and spoke to them? How about simply smiling at a stranger? That new person at work-ever invite them to go out with you and your friends?

I do that stuff all the time.

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I don't think people in any city just go up to random strangers and start conversations for no reason. That's why people say to get involved in something. Then you have an "in" and a topic of conversation, whether that be books or kayaking or whatever.

Right. There needs to be some sort of connection. I talk to strangers all the time, but it's rare for me to just walk up and talk randomly, but I've been known to do that too about the weather. LOL I'll talk to people on the bus. I'll talk to people on the elevator. I'll talk to the people who serve me at businesses. I'll talk to people at the bus stop. The topic depends on what's happening around us, what they're reading, etc. I've made a lot of life-long friends through the years because of my ability to talk to strangers. But I never just walked up to a group of people out of the blue. There has to be some clue to me that there's a common interest for a conversation starter.

A few years ago, I was sitting on a park bench taking a break from work. A woman sat down next to me, talking on the phone to a boyfriend. When she got off the phone, she made a comment about her boyfriend and how she wondered if she'd ever meet a decent man. Within a few minutes, we discoverd that we had so much in common. We were night and day on the surface---from different generations and races, but significant parts of our lives were almost identical when it came to relationships. She's been one of my best friends ever since.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by Movinonup13

For those of you saying "find your own fun"-- please read my first post on this thread. Also read the post of the person who replied to me.

It's hard to have fun if you're always alone. I had a few good friends in Pittsburgh from college, but I didn't always depend on them for fun. I tried to go out on my own and meet new people, but I was always disappointed. Noone wanted to step out of their circle to speak, and if you even LOOKED like you might approach a group of people, you got the stank eye.

Those of you so quick to defend Pittsburgh really need to tell me--when was the last time you saw someone out who was alone and spoke to them? How about simply smiling at a stranger? That new person at work-ever invite them to go out with you and your friends?

The problem in Pittsburgh to me isn't the lack of things to do, or run down buildings or whatever. It's the attitudes.

Please don't reply screaming that I'm wrong and that your experience was different or whatever you want to say to contradict me. You want people to see Pittsburgh the way you see it? Posting on a forum isn't going to help. Get out there and make Pittsburgh more welcoming. Talk to and include people and for Heaven's sake, SMILE if someone smiles at you. I think its great some people on here are proud of their city. But you have to take that pride to the streets. By becoming more personable and welcoming, Pittsburgh can really thrive and become a happier place.

I don't believe you're wrong at all. This is the kind of attitude I got in the Kansas City area for years and now I am fed up with the people and place and want out.

I can't say my experiences while visiting the Pittsburgh area have been really negative and I generally found people are cordial when I do speak to them. Not overtly friendly mind you but they do speak when spoken to. New England is also like this especially my home state of Connecticut.

But there are areas of the country where complete strangers will walk up to you and start talking to you. The Denver area is one that comes immediately to mind. I can recall standing at a bus stop or waiting in line at stores and both guys and gals would start up a conversation with me asking me where I was from and how I liked the area etc. Just this weekend after I left Vandergrift and went to Connecticut, I spent a night in small town in western NY and has this kind of experience. I was walking around a house that was for sale in this town and a guy and his wife next door came over and introduced themselves and we started to talk about the town. I also had a nice chat with the owner of the motel in the Apollo area where I stayed that evening.

Could be you are just in the wrong neighborhood. Some are like that.

[dweller]

I lived in Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2001 and had some friends involved in the dance music scene which was just starting to die down at the time.
Pittsburgh is not alone in that electronic music has taken a hit everywhere. I don't think Pittsburgh is any different than any other mid sized city in this respect. Its not like there's anything much left say in Baltimore or Cleveland or any other rust belt city. Even go to the sunbelt cities like Atlanta or Dallas and you aren't going to find much.
If you still are after a good scene where you find people in their 20s and 30s (not a bunch of kids) still interested in this, you have to go to NYC, San Fran, etc. Better yet, go to Toronto- it is incredible! There were tons and tons of places to go all weekend, they have tons of local djs as well as international talent, and there are all sorts of people from 20s to 40s.
As far as the attitudes are concerned, I would say that Pittsburgh is more of a place to drink a beer or raise a family. Its not a place where you will meet a ton of progressive liberal people if that is what you are after. Again, I would suggest a big city or Denver as someone else posted.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by dweller

progressive liberal people.....Denver

This contradicts another post claiming that Denver was very conservative.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Hopes

This contradicts another post claiming that Denver was very conservative.

All I remember from the recent past was that Denver dress is more conservative. My own opinion, from almost 30 years there, is that dress is casual, with lots of jeans and T-shirts.

Politically, Denver is garden variety big-city liberal.

[pman]

I would imagine it's the case of not enough people moving to Pittsburgh. If Pitt begins attract more new people, it will be easier to meet others.

[OyCrumbler]

Use internet, find friends? Or at least events/groups/societies/places that might attract people like you.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by pman

I would imagine it's the case of not enough people moving to Pittsburgh. If Pitt begins attract more new people, it will be easier to meet others.

Pretty true. Areas that are comprised of mostly local people at least in certain areas of the country tend to be pretty parochial. Typically the local people are not all that friendly towards new comers and in some cases, discourage them from moving in and staying.

[jason1179]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I don't think people in any city just go up to random strangers and start conversations for no reason. That's why people say to get involved in something. Then you have an "in" and a topic of conversation, whether that be books or kayaking or whatever.

Im from that area I live in Charlotte, NC and I lived in Las Vegas. Trust me people in Pittsburgh are not as rude as you think. Travel a little more then see how you feel