Portland #1 in depression (fit in, transplants, 2009)

[meltinjohn]

Please people, tell me how the hell all these other cities are better that come after Portland? This has to be clear propaganda from the govt or anti Portland people that are conservative. How are you ever gonna get the things in Portland all combined in these other cities ntm these other cities have almost the cloudy days even if not as many. The list baffled me.


BusinessWeek ranks Portland at top of "unhappiest cities" list - OregonLive.com

[Minervah]

Maybe some of it is because people often come here with such high expectations and then find out it wasn't what they were expecting at all. How many would-be transplants have said on this forum that getting a job would be no problem for them because they were smart, personable, good-looking, experienced, hsnsome and charming with umpteen degrees. More than likely it's those types who thought they were unique but discovered that here they were a dime a dozen.
I find it hard to believe it could be because of the weather. But then the weather is one of the things I like about Portland (although I could do with just a tad less dampness).
Maybe Portlanders are sick of potential transplants "challenging" them demanding to be shown why Portland would be a great town for them so the citizens of Portland begin spreading rumours of what a bad place this is.
Who knows? Anyone who lives his or her life according to polls is an idiot and deserves to be unhappy.

[Hans64]

All of these City Lists posted with authority in Business Week and Forbes are absurd. Their purpose is to create buzz and sell magazines. A year from now Portland will be on Business Week's MOST LIVEABLE CITIES list. Absurd.

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Maybe some of it is because people often come here with such high expectations and then find out it wasn't what they were expecting at all. How many would-be transplants have said on this forum that getting a job would be no problem for them because they were smart, personable, good-looking, experienced, hsnsome and charming with umpteen degrees. More than likely it's those types who thought they were unique but discovered that here they were a dime a dozen.
I find it hard to believe it could be because of the weather. But then the weather is one of the things I like about Portland (although I could do with just a tad less dampness).
Maybe Portlanders are sick of potential transplants "challenging" them demanding to be shown why Portland would be a great town for them so the citizens of Portland begin spreading rumours of what a bad place this is.
Who knows? Anyone who lives his or her life according to polls is an idiot and deserves to be unhappy.

Ok, Ill start off by saying that I dont think Portland is gonna be a utopia, but I do feel I shouldnt have a problem getting somewhere although Im not using my years experience in a job as high relevancy or education as I do not have a college degree. Where do I stand opposed to these new people coming in who are college educated and have a good job history?
I got the looks like some of these people who might only these other 2 things arent polished.
As far as those who found out they were a dime a dozen, I dunno if that would be the case with me since I just wanna go where I belong and not looking to outweird anyone like a competition event and I just dont like to be around tons of people non accepting to differences or places filled with non acceptance with nobody who really stands out, but I like to find out the truth and find out more in places like here since there are informed people, so I dont end up making a mistake. Im confident I wont but I just wanna make sure.
And on a side note, you do think that original residents of Portland spread a bad word about their city to get the transplants away?

[jaykimball]

Originally Posted by meltinjohn

Please people, tell me how the hell all these other cities are better that come after Portland? This has to be clear propaganda from the govt or anti Portland people that are conservative. How are you ever gonna get the things in Portland all combined in these other cities ntm these other cities have almost the cloudy days even if not as many. The list baffled me.


BusinessWeek ranks Portland at top of "unhappiest cities" list - OregonLive.com

You need to understand where they are getting this "data" from. For example, Portland is ranked 1 in depression based on their "data". Now if you look at their fine print, this is based on the amount of people being treated for depression. The fact that Portland has the most people being treated for depression doesn't tell me it's the most depressed, it tells me that people are taking care of it and would probably cause it to be less depressed. This is a very skewed piece of data.

Another skewed stat; Portland is 4 in divorce rate. Yes, Portland is 4 in divorce rate...however, since Oregon isn't an extremely religious state, this means that less people are staying in loveless and unhappy marriages.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by meltinjohn

Ok, Ill start off by saying that I dont think Portland is gonna be a utopia, but I do feel I shouldnt have a problem getting somewhere although Im not using my years experience in a job as high relevancy or education as I do not have a college degree. Where do I stand opposed to these new people coming in who are college educated and have a good job history?
I got the looks like some of these people who might only these other 2 things arent polished.
As far as those who found out they were a dime a dozen, I dunno if that would be the case with me since I just wanna go where I belong and not looking to outweird anyone like a competition event and I just dont like to be around tons of people non accepting to differences or places filled with non acceptance with nobody who really stands out, but I like to find out the truth and find out more in places like here since there are informed people, so I dont end up making a mistake. Im confident I wont but I just wanna make sure.
And on a side note, you do think that original residents of Portland spread a bad word about their city to get the transplants away?

Meltin' I think you are being very cautious and testing the waters to determine if Portland is right for you. That's a good thing. Since you asked me to elaborate on my post, I have to say that in my opinion, you will be facing the same hurdles and problems as anyone else moving to this town and trying to find a job. I don't know you and just exactly what your talents are but it doesn't seem to matter whether or not one has either a degree or experience; jobs are difficult to come by for everyone.

But Portland has always had its problems in those areas. I have posted before about how when I moved here 30 years ago as a transfer with my company, people in my new Portland office were hostile and mean. I was told I had taken away a job from a real Oregonian and I should go back to Chicago where I come from. I was literally threatened with a beating at one point.

Ok, I don't think those things are happening today but to answer your very last question, I believe it is very possible. You will have to decide if you want to take the risk of finding work and fitting in. That's true anywhere. No one can give you any guarantees; you just have to take the plunge. If you do decide to come here, just be certain you have a backup plan so if you have to you can go back home or to a city that will be better suited for you.

[brubaker]

Originally Posted by jaykimball

You need to understand where they are getting this "data" from. For example, Portland is ranked 1 in depression based on their "data". Now if you look at their fine print, this is based on the amount of people being treated for depression. The fact that Portland has the most people being treated for depression doesn't tell me it's the most depressed, it tells me that people are taking care of it and would probably cause it to be less depressed. This is a very skewed piece of data.

Another skewed stat; Portland is 4 in divorce rate. Yes, Portland is 4 in divorce rate...however, since Oregon isn't an extremely religious state, this means that less people are staying in loveless and unhappy marriages.

Exactly...also they say that there's been a 'huge jump in the number of calls to crisis lines'.........all that means is that Portland actually has a system set up that people are using. Some cities don't...or it's poorly staffed.

Don't get me wrong, I think Portland in particular and Oregon in general get the castaways from all the other states also. I forget the snappy title they gave that activity but basically cities are forcing homeless and troubled people to leave their cities by enacting strict vagrancy laws and then they move to the only place with a humane 1/2 answer: Portland.

Problem solved for 'inhumane city'...more problems for the one doing the right thing. Same with minimum wage, smart growth, enivronmental regulation etc.
All those things reflect back on Oregon badly (economically & crime wise) if other states don't follow suit.

It's a strange little paradox....how to make 'doing the right thing' profitable.

[John Shaft]

Originally Posted by brubaker

Exactly...also they say that there's been a 'huge jump in the number of calls to crisis lines'.........all that means is that Portland actually has a system set up that people are using. Some cities don't...or it's poorly staffed.

Don't get me wrong, I think Portland in particular and Oregon in general get the castaways from all the other states also. I forget the snappy title they gave that activity but basically cities are forcing homeless and troubled people to leave their cities by enacting strict vagrancy laws and then they move to the only place with a humane 1/2 answer: Portland.

Problem solved for 'inhumane city'...more problems for the one doing the right thing. Same with minimum wage, smart growth, enivronmental regulation etc.
All those things reflect back on Oregon badly (economically & crime wise) if other states don't follow suit.

It's a strange little paradox....how to make 'doing the right thing' profitable.

I love the "our shortcomings are actually well-concealed strengths" doublespeak I have experienced in the Portland area.

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by jaykimball

You need to understand where they are getting this "data" from. For example, Portland is ranked 1 in depression based on their "data". Now if you look at their fine print, this is based on the amount of people being treated for depression. The fact that Portland has the most people being treated for depression doesn't tell me it's the most depressed, it tells me that people are taking care of it and would probably cause it to be less depressed. This is a very skewed piece of data.

Another skewed stat; Portland is 4 in divorce rate. Yes, Portland is 4 in divorce rate...however, since Oregon isn't an extremely religious state, this means that less people are staying in loveless and unhappy marriages.

Might be possible more people see shrinks there than anyone else or use the city services quite frequently. For instance, I know theres aspergers groups there and somewhat a thing there where many go to support groups to talk about what they have.
On the divorce rate, I could see it making sense and while I was there typically if I saw any couples together, they were usually happy together on the whole. Also myself, I only envision myself in a happy relationship for the long haul and not being one of these oh were in a happy marriage even tho were happy together 3-4 times a week and the other 3-4 days, were fretting over our problems kinds of people

Originally Posted by Minervah

Meltin' I think you are being very cautious and testing the waters to determine if Portland is right for you. That's a good thing. Since you asked me to elaborate on my post, I have to say that in my opinion, you will be facing the same hurdles and problems as anyone else moving to this town and trying to find a job. I don't know you and just exactly what your talents are but it doesn't seem to matter whether or not one has either a degree or experience; jobs are difficult to come by for everyone.

But Portland has always had its problems in those areas. I have posted before about how when I moved here 30 years ago as a transfer with my company, people in my new Portland office were hostile and mean. I was told I had taken away a job from a real Oregonian and I should go back to Chicago where I come from. I was literally threatened with a beating at one point.

Ok, I don't think those things are happening today but to answer your very last question, I believe it is very possible. You will have to decide if you want to take the risk of finding work and fitting in. That's true anywhere. No one can give you any guarantees; you just have to take the plunge. If you do decide to come here, just be certain you have a backup plan so if you have to you can go back home or to a city that will be better suited for you.

Well I think what helped was that I saw a possible scenario where I would be living there when I stayed past my vacation time and was even looking for a few jobs there + looked for social things to fit into and went to an aspergers movie night at Hollywood Theatre and saw a gathering. I was almost thrown on the street but managed to pay for 1 more hotel night to regroup and then leave the next day to go back home. I know one thing, it be impossible to be put on the street with 2 bags to carry full of **** + my computer in one of em. It was what I liked to call a real life vacation where I had real falls and it taught me to learn even more patience. Some people go on vacation, they dont take falls, they dont go to the bad areas of town just to see the 2 sides your gonna be getting and all they do is get a hotel in a real nice part of town and go to restaurants like Outback in a sense like the disney world kinda vacation.
See, when you first moved here from Chicago, it seemed like it was pretty hostile at that time for you. They treated you like a Californian too huh. If I did learn one thing, its to not underestimate Portlands people since there are that portion that can give you **** and not as polite as everyone makes it seem. I had a guy call me a ****ing poser in Hollywood area one time lol.
Anyways about finding a backup city to Portland, Id say that could have a chance being Brooklyn or I might visit Chicago sometime in the future.
NTM I been trying to find a Chi style pizza place in FL since many do move from Chicago but couldnt find one lol. When I look for cities, I usually look at location but Chicago be the city I pick if Im gonna look way far from the ocean. Omaha looks ok but location area doesnt. Minneapolis, too cold and too north or else Id consider it. I'll take a cold city if its got a ton like Chicago does. Minny doesnt nearly have enough to make me wanna be in that dead cold much of the yr.
As far as jobwise, I plan to make the plunge with or without a job lined up and gonna come with a good bundle of money + drive it cross country seeing not taking a car there can still spell disaster despite the transportation system being good. At least to cut hotel costs, you can sleep in your car some nights and also a car there is good not only just to head to the coast with or the mountains but say you look for jobs where the max wont run or where taking transportation to is a real pain like Vancouver WA or Lake O or a deep part of Portland kinda out of the wayward or something.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by brubaker

Exactly...also they say that there's been a 'huge jump in the number of calls to crisis lines'.........all that means is that Portland actually has a system set up that people are using. Some cities don't...or it's poorly staffed.

Don't get me wrong, I think Portland in particular and Oregon in general get the castaways from all the other states also. I forget the snappy title they gave that activity but basically cities are forcing homeless and troubled people to leave their cities by enacting strict vagrancy laws and then they move to the only place with a humane 1/2 answer: Portland.

Problem solved for 'inhumane city'...more problems for the one doing the right thing. Same with minimum wage, smart growth, enivronmental regulation etc.
All those things reflect back on Oregon badly (economically & crime wise) if other states don't follow suit.

It's a strange little paradox....how to make 'doing the right thing' profitable.

Great post.