What's it like living in Roanoke? (Franklin, Rocky Mount: rental, college, vs.)

[roanokers]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

You're talking to a staunch Democrat here.

I think you are finding ways to make yourself unhappy.

I am a very happy person, thank you. Just because my viewpoints are not popular, doesn't mean that I am not happy, but thank you for caring.

[headnsouth]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

I think you are finding ways to make yourself unhappy.

Indeed.

It's called confirmation bias, perceiving what you see in a way that reinforces your preconceptions.

[roanokers]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

You're talking to a staunch Democrat here.

I think you are finding ways to make yourself unhappy.

Kind of off topic, but are you a HRC Democrate or BHO democrat (If you've been anywhere near a T.V. set for the last year you know what I mean)? There is a difference. I might put this on a new thread as well, would make for interesting discussion.

[roanokers]

Originally Posted by headnsouth

Indeed.

It's called confirmation bias, perceiving what you see in a way that reinforces your preconceptions.

Indeed....your "analysis" is..."analytical"....brilliant. (Think of the Geico Commercial).

Look, I call it as I see it. One thing you might be forgetting is the fact that every person has different "mental models" that are shaped by our life experiences, rearing, etc. These mental models in turn help to form the lens that we see our world through. So in essence two people experiencing the exact same environment (Roanoke) would actually have different perceptions of their experience in that environment (Roanoke). Imagine that?

[headnsouth]

Originally Posted by roanokers

Indeed....your "analysis" is..."analytical"....brilliant. (Think of the Geico Commercial).

Look, I call it as I see it. One thing you might be forgetting is the fact that every person has different "mental models" that are shaped by our life experiences, rearing, etc. These mental models in turn help to form the lens that we see our world through. So in essence two people experiencing the exact same environment (Roanoke) would actually have different perceptions of their experience in that environment (Roanoke). Imagine that?

You've just described confirmation bias. If you (generic) can recognize how your life experiences color your perception then you might be able to step back a bit and see things (Roanoke, restaurant workers, restaurant work, republicans, etc.) in a less negative light. The great thing about it is that every day we have dozens of opportunities to choose how to perceive our experiences, which means dozens of opportunities to choose how to respond (which in turn affects those around us).

Thich Nhat Hanh says "We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize." I love that statement, it doesn't group anyone together, instead it has so much respect for each person. I try to see the world that way as well -- it's easy to put people in boxes and then attach value judgments to those boxes (Democrat, Republican, right, wrong, progressive, backward). To me that's not very different from the boxes other people use (black, asian, immigrant, rich, poor, white, have, have-not). But each person is complex, and each person deserves to be viewed as an individual.

Anyway as I said in another post a day or two ago, I wish you well in your search for the perfect community. Clearly this is not the place for you -- I know what it's like to be in a place that feels wrong, I spent the past 5 years in a place that fit that description for me. It sucks. I hope the next place you move to suits you better.

[roanokers]

Originally Posted by headnsouth

... step back a bit and see things (Roanoke, restaurant workers, restaurant work, republicans, etc.) in a less negative light .

Again I must restate, I am a generally happy person. I do not see things in a negative light. I see it the way I see it.

On how you see the world and putting people into boxes and such, I agree with you totally. If every one had the same attitude as you, the world would be completely wonderful. There are many people in Roanoke (and all around the world) who hold biases but they keep them hidden. That is what p's me off, more than anything.

Case in point. I waited on these 4 very nice (so I thought) white people, once. They smiled and were very cordial throughout the whole meal. When the meal concluded and they left, I found in my book a very nice "tip". A booklet from a church in Lynchburg, that said all throughtout how black is evil, dirty, and ungodly, etc, and how white is godly, good, becoming, etc. Granted it didn't say "black people" were evil, but what am I supposed to think when the words black, darkness, despair, evil, dirty, etc. is in boldtyped throughout the booklet? I know this isn't representative of all people in Roanoke, but it is there. Many people hold these feelings, but it isn't p.c. to say it.

So my point is: Many of the people who are on this forum would never know that these things happen, if I didn't inform them. I am merely pointing out what happens in the world that non-white people live in.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by roanokers

are you a HRC Democrate or BHO democrat...There is a difference.

To keep this ON topic, in reference to your experiences in the Roanoke Valley, how are HRC Dems different from BHO Dems?

[roanokers]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

To keep this ON topic, in reference to your experiences in the Roanoke Valley, how are HRC Dems different from BHO Dems?

HRC dems are really Republicans, will vote with black people but not for a black person. Although it shouldn't be about race, you know it is, and that is why Mac will probably win.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by roanokers

HRC dems are really Republicans, will vote with black people but not for a black person.

That has not been my experience. If anything, Clinton supporters are unhappy with Obama not because he is black, but because they believe Hillary is the better candidate, and was denied opportunities by the DNC.

(I support Obama and think Hillary just flat lost the contest.)

I don't think that being a Republican or a Democrat has anything to do with how people perceive Roanoke, or with their behavior.

(Roanoke is a "blue" city, dear readers. Not even an organized Republican party in town. Now, the county, that's a different matter!)

[roanokers]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

That has not been my experience. If anything, Clinton supporters are unhappy with Obama not because he is black, but because they believe Hillary is the better candidate, and was denied opportunities by the DNC.

(I support Obama and think Hillary just flat lost the contest.)

I don't think that being a Republican or a Democrat has anything to do with how people perceive Roanoke, or with their behavior.

(Roanoke is a "blue" city, dear readers. Not even an organized Republican party in town. Now, the county, that's a different matter!)

Touchee. or however you spell it. Good point. The county is quite "red"- for republican...