St. Louis ranked 5th out of 100 most Sad Places to live..

[GunnerTHB]

Originally Posted by 3240Redo

But of course we're a sad people - what is the arch but a big old frown? What is the Mississippi but a gush of great muddy tears? What are our Cardinals hats but the crimson flush of disappointment and broken dreams?

But seriously, if people are looking for the saddest place on earth, I recommend southeast Missouri. I've been gone for 21 years and it's still not enough time to be philosophical about the place. Other people love it, though.

I love it here. Some folks won't. I don't need statistics to tell me what I already believe.

I'm one of the people who happen to enjoy Southeast Missouri (I'm from there). It just isn't for everyone.

As for St. Louis being a sad place to live, this study and all studies like it are based on factors that have little to do with actual happiness. I highly doubt St. Louis is a sad place to live, but I guess I wouldn't know because I've only been in St. Louis City 3 or 4 times in my life.

[jskirwin]

Born and raised in St. Louis, I've lived in many cities in the US and around the world. Each is different with different appeal. Any big city is exciting if you are young or rich, but if you want to raise a family and have a nice work-family balance, then you could do much worse than the St. Louis area.

STL is getting some bad press these days, and I'm not sure why. It's improved since I left there in 1988 and gets better every year I visit. It's not dying like Detroit, and outsiders don't understand the whole county-city divide. Yes the city has lost 1/2 its population since 1970 and is a fiscal wreck, but the County is doing fine as are JeffCo and STC County. You've got to take the area as a whole and ignore political boundaries - and that's too much thought for recent j-school graduates these days.

If you are recruiting young, single people, STL might be a hard sell (might - I'm too old to know much about that) but if you are recruiting family types - especially those in the medical field (the hospitals in the CWE are some of the country's best) - then the area is a smorgasbord of excellent schools and great places to live.

If "credible sources" don't understand that, that's their problem.

[1greatcity]

Yes, St. Louis is a SAD city: Sexy, Amazing and Dynamic... SAD!

[JeepVeteran]

This doesn't surprise me one bit. Most people from around here are so rude and mean, no wonder we rank high on the sad list. I think alot of folks are just sad deep down!

[aragx6]

I find St. Louisans quite friendly.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I find St. Louisans quite friendly.

As do I, arag. I've said to family and friends, this is about most civil bunch I've ever been around.

[JeepVeteran]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I find St. Louisans quite friendly.

Yes, I have lived in alot of places besides here. That's why I said what I said because I gave a real valid opinion based on my experiences in many other cities across the U.S.

[Smtchll]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I find St. Louisans quite friendly.

Me too. And I've traveled all over the South, where people are supposedly very friendly. Yeah, Southerners are more talkative, but St. Louisans have been just as friendly in my experience.

[ingsoc75]

Are you talking about the city of St. Louis itself or the metropolitan area?

I was born and raised in Ballwin and haven't lived there since 2001 but whenever anybody asks me where I am from I say St. Louis. The city itself is but a small portion of the overall area.

Overall, I like STL and the area. It's my hometown and it's where my roots are.

One of my only gripes is that I was unable to make a career in my field in STL.

Oh and how I miss IMOs pizza!

[Dawn10am]

Originally Posted by JeepVeteran

This doesn't surprise me one bit. Most people from around here are so rude and mean, no wonder we rank high on the sad list. I think alot of folks are just sad deep down!

While I don't agree with this blanket statement, I can see how people might think that St. Louisans can be rude. I've definitely experienced the cold shoulder from natives when I tell them I'm not from here, but it's not like everybody does that. It is noticeable, however. But I've met quite a few more natives who are genuinely friendly and happy to have transplants here who like it so much.