Considering Lynchburg (office, cities, liberal)

[Mr_Jonas]

Originally Posted by ConceivedinKY51

Would a middle-aged, Christian conservative Caucasian be happy here?

Oh, yes!

[Calapooya]

Lynchburg. Lived there for a year back in '83, and it was easily the worst year of my life. I was a recent college grad, and the only job I could find was mowing lawns. When winter moved in and the grass died, I finally caught a lucky break with steady work at the Quicki-Mart. My next-door neighbor had two dogs that barked 24/7, and barked even more whenever I stepped outside of my house. The police were buddies with my neighbor. So when I called in to complain, they sent over a cop who spent ten minutes laughing and joking with the guy on his front porch, in the middle of the night, which did nothing to stop the racket. Of course this was after I first phoned twelve times to ask the guy to silence his animals. He claimed he needed them for protection, and I could see why. Then there was my psychotic landlord. Found out I didn't like the dogs barking at me, so he comes over one day with a bush ax and hacks down all the small trees and shrubs around the house. That way the dogs could get a better view of me and bark all the more. If you recall the Lil' Abner comic strip from years ago, it always seemed to me that the town was peopled with characters straight outa' there. Plus Boss Hog, but no Dukes, and few Daisy Maes. A hellhole of a hicktown, hands down!

[sregorat3]

Originally Posted by Calapooya

Lynchburg. Lived there for a year back in '83.....

I'm surprised that your memories of 25 YEARS AGO are so vivid! Of course, back in '83, the economy nationwide was somewhat poor and jobs weren't plentiful. As a matter of fact, in '83, Greensboro, Roanoke, Charlottesville... they were pretty much hicktown hellholes, too. By the way, wasn't Atari a hot item back in '83?

[Mr_Jonas]

Originally Posted by Calapooya

Lynchburg. Lived there for a year back in '83, and it was easily the worst year of my life. I was a recent college grad, and the only job I could find was mowing lawns. When winter moved in and the grass died, I finally caught a lucky break with steady work at the Quicki-Mart. My next-door neighbor had two dogs that barked 24/7, and barked even more whenever I stepped outside of my house. The police were buddies with my neighbor. So when I called in to complain, they sent over a cop who spent ten minutes laughing and joking with the guy on his front porch, in the middle of the night, which did nothing to stop the racket. Of course this was after I first phoned twelve times to ask the guy to silence his animals. He claimed he needed them for protection, and I could see why. Then there was my psychotic landlord. Found out I didn't like the dogs barking at me, so he comes over one day with a bush ax and hacks down all the small trees and shrubs around the house. That way the dogs could get a better view of me and bark all the more. If you recall the Lil' Abner comic strip from years ago, it always seemed to me that the town was peopled with characters straight outa' there. Plus Boss Hog, but no Dukes, and few Daisy Maes. A hellhole of a hicktown, hands down!

Things really are not THAT different today

[sregorat3]

Sorry Jonas, but unless you lived here then, I wouldn't consider you qualified to make a judgment. As embittered as you seem to be regarding your circumstances, I highly doubt that you would ever believe something positive about the area. Why do you continue to stay?

[Mr_Jonas]

The first time I was in Lynchburg was 1994. OK, not twenty years ago, but it is not like I stumbled upon this town yesterday, right?

You may be right about my qualifications, whoever “Calapooya’s” post reminded me a lot about conversations I have had with past and current coworkers. When I say that I do not mean I had problems with them, at all, just that the tales they would tell what happened “last week” or such. This is especially relevant when I worked at a group home around 2002 – 2004. I do understand that there is more then a slight chance that my co-workers at the time exadurated things to make a better story, still Calapooya’s tale and my former co-workers stories sounded quite similar.
I do think that there are positive things in Lynchburg, juts not enough. Today I had lunch with my wife at Magnolia foods (Me in Boonsboro two times in two weeks, doesn’t happen that often) and I thought about how nice the place was and so extremely “un-Lynchburg like”. I know that the last bit is me trying to sneak in something ironic and negative in, but eating a humus wrap without anyone making comments feels very much “un-Lynchburg like”.

Last week when I got some ones “pro-life” views stuffed down my throat because I mentioned how horrible the holocaust was. (Abortion doctors = Nazi consentration camps in this persons views)…that is what I have come to expect from living and working here…but I must admit I was taken by surprise. Sorry, guys I am not really prepared for such discussions when I work, especially not when it involves people I have to work with on an everyday basis. I do not shove my opinion down other people’s throats, why do people here enjoy doing that to others?? I just don’t get it.

So, more hummus wraps and less right wing speeches…and I would warm up more to Lynchburg :-)
Yep, if was all up to me, yes, I would leave.

[sregorat3]

Originally Posted by Mr_Jonas

So, more hummus wraps and less right wing speeches…and I would warm up more to Lynchburg :-)
Yep, if was all up to me, yes, I would leave.

Well, 14 years is a good amount of time. In your field, maybe things haven't changed so much, but in many others, they have. Heck, I wasn't middle-aged 14 years ago!

If I felt miserable where I was, I wouldn't just talk about leaving. Don't you think that the grass you want is greener elsewhere? That being said, finding a job in your field some other place might just leave you feeling as bad as you do here. My suggestion is that you visit Magnolia 2-3 times per week, be happy that you have a job, and start looking harder for the good here. If you only look at the bad (which is what your posts suggest), you will miss out on some really good things.

[ConceivedinKY51]

Originally Posted by Mr_Jonas

The first time I was in Lynchburg was 1994. OK, not twenty years ago, but it is not like I stumbled upon this town yesterday, right?

You may be right about my qualifications, whoever “Calapooya’s” post reminded me a lot about conversations I have had with past and current coworkers. When I say that I do not mean I had problems with them, at all, just that the tales they would tell what happened “last week” or such. This is especially relevant when I worked at a group home around 2002 – 2004. I do understand that there is more then a slight chance that my co-workers at the time exadurated things to make a better story, still Calapooya’s tale and my former co-workers stories sounded quite similar.
I do think that there are positive things in Lynchburg, juts not enough. Today I had lunch with my wife at Magnolia foods (Me in Boonsboro two times in two weeks, doesn’t happen that often) and I thought about how nice the place was and so extremely “un-Lynchburg like”. I know that the last bit is me trying to sneak in something ironic and negative in, but eating a humus wrap without anyone making comments feels very much “un-Lynchburg like”.

Last week when I got some ones “pro-life” views stuffed down my throat because I mentioned how horrible the holocaust was. (Abortion doctors = Nazi consentration camps in this persons views)…that is what I have come to expect from living and working here…but I must admit I was taken by surprise. Sorry, guys I am not really prepared for such discussions when I work, especially not when it involves people I have to work with on an everyday basis. I do not shove my opinion down other people’s throats, why do people here enjoy doing that to others?? I just don’t get it.

So, more hummus wraps and less right wing speeches…and I would warm up more to Lynchburg :-)
Yep, if was all up to me, yes, I would leave.

I'm pro-life and although I don't believe in views being "stuffed down" anyone's throats I think people standing up for the innocent unborn is more important than hummus wraps.

And I agree that if you're not happy in a place look into moving somewhere else. I'm currently living in the Boston, MA area and have been utterly miserable here. I'm looking to move back to the south. Maybe a place like Boston, MA would work for you?

[Mr_Jonas]

Yes, grass has a tendency to be greener else were :-)

I would not say that I feel bad. I feel tired…if that makes sense.

I do agree with you, one always has to make the best out of ones situation. The classic concept of “is the glass half full or half empty”. I’ll be the first to admit that I find it half empty too often.

I d think I should point out that I have not lived here since 1994. I have lived here since 2002, but being that my wife is from this area I had been in Lynchburg many, may, many times before the move.

I am…well, how should I phrase this, I guess “content” is the word.
I am content that I have a job (that pays better then when I was working at a group home.) ….but then, heck one could live in war-ravaged Congo!

[Mr_Jonas]

Originally Posted by ConceivedinKY51

I'm pro-life and although I don't believe in views being "stuffed down" anyone's throats I think people standing up for the innocent unborn is more important than hummus wraps.

And I agree that if you're not happy in a place look into moving somewhere else. I'm currently living in the Boston, MA area and have been utterly miserable here. I'm looking to move back to the south. Maybe a place like Boston, MA would work for you?

I was waiting for a post like this.

Don't you think there are better forums to discuss serious issues then at work?
..and if one still does, there definetly are apropriate tone and manners. If I was talking about how fantastic abortions are I might agree with you.

Once you are back in the south, please sign up to be a foster or adoptive parent. Virginia, especially needs such parents.