Would you recommend Appleton? (Milwaukee, Madison: renter, high crime, home)

[Leila]

Originally Posted by ggaetti

Cost of living is very reasonable in Appleton. It is not all that conservative...Lawrence University is here and it is one of the most liberal colleges in the nation.

Hi ggaetti,
I live in Wisconsin and have always wondered about what it would be like to live in Appleton. I've liver in a couple of small cities and for about 12 years in Madison. Now my son is considering Lawrence University. What is it that makes it one of the most liberal colleges in the nation?

Thanks.

[Tundragrama]

GreggB.....Glad you don't live here anymore...Appleton is a wonderful city. Every place has its problems, mainly because of people with such negative attitudes. A city is what you make of it. If you look for the bad, you will find it. I live about 20 miles from Appleton and was there the other night for dinner and a free show at Lawerance Memorial Chapel. Ben Stein was speaking. He said what a jewel we have in Appleton..people walking around in the moonlight holding hands, not afraid, not being killed, just enjoying the evening. Come to Appleton and judge for yourself.

[GreggB]

Couple of things---I too am GLAD that I no longer live there!! Second--my attitude is far from negative. And lastly--I could not agree with you more--telling folks to go there and than "Judge" for themselves. By all means--anyone considering Appleton--I ENCOURAGE you to go live there and experience it first hand. I'll go as far as saying the positives outweigh the negatives in Appleton. Just don't go there thinking you'll find diversity and liberalism--You Won't!!! If you live in Appleton and you don't just blindly plod along with the herd, you will stand out as a "Black Sheep" and the experience there will be less than pleasant. It's the way it is there. Conservatism at it's finest!!

[Drover]

Guess what, dude: herd mentality is an ideologically neutral phenomenon. Take it from a convservative living in liberal Chicago attending a liberal law school. It particularly amuses me when I get called a "square" -- as if that's supposed to bother me -- by some neo-hipster with the same retro-clothes, same hair, same attitude, same piercings, same pre-packaged sociopolitical opinions and same crap on his iPod as every other neo-hipster who thinks he's more unique than God.

[GreggB]

WHATEVER--I have never personally adhered to a "Herd Mentality". I find it challenging to avoid "Mainstream" mentalities, on a daily basis. And as far as someone labeling me--I Could Care Less. I guess we might be on the same page on that one at least. Being an ultra liberal myself- I try and associate with the same.

[Schnidly]

My recommendation is Madison, close to Milwaukee! Although LaCrosse is great as well, avoid Appleton, I wont give all the reasons, but I lived close to there and discovered over the years that it was not the best move I made!

[vern]

....been reading a bunch of greg's appleton rants......i believe he singularly had a bad experience and it forever taints his opinion......dont know what it could have been but he's off-base a bit......having lived in madison for a couple decades and now living in appleton, I have vivid and real experiences with "liberal and conservative" towns.......i'll keep this short......certainly appleton is not as liberal as madison but it's not like it's ultra-right or ultra-conservative as greg implies .......it's a milder form of conservatism and even if your opinion differs, i've found people will kindly hear you out.....you can find liberals (myself) anywhere and applton has got it's fair share......people in appleton on a whole are some of the friendliest i've ever come across.......i know lacrosse and like you, love it as well.......i would rate them about equal overall with lacrosse perhaps being a bit more liberal as most towns tend to be when they have a centrally located University above 10,000 students.

[GreggB]

Originally Posted by Schnidly

My recommendation is Madison, close to Milwaukee! Although LaCrosse is great as well, avoid Appleton, I wont give all the reasons, but I lived close to there and discovered over the years that it was not the best move I made!

GEEZ--There is actually SOMEONE else out there that is not overly fond of Appleton. Now I don't feel so "Alone"~!LOL

[BacktoNE]

Gregg, you know I'm another one that doesn't like Appleton. The schools appear to be good and the shopping is decent (but predictable); other than that, I can't say much good about it.

[derpimpf]

My wife grew is from Appleton originally, the reason most native Appleton people are so unfriendly as it gets put, is that they can't believe what people moving here have done to the town. It's that they're protective of what was once an amazingly peaceful and safe community. Not only is it easy to spot "out of towners" on weekends clogging up the streets near the mall, I don't think it's over the line to feel sadness when an 85 Cutlass with tinted windows, subs and rims so big you could put them on a tractor barrels down the quiet street you grew up on.

This town is going down hill so fast the people here, including the police have no idea how to stop it. If people aren't careful it'll turn as run down as Green Bay or Oshkosh within 5 years.