Why the hatred of Chicagoans? (Milwaukee, Madison: for sale, home, high school)

[susancruzs]

Good point, Jill! Common courtesy goes very far and it doesn't take to much to relax, chill, be a little patient. My number one pet peeve is what I call an "aura of arrogance", I can't stand it.

[ImaloneJill]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

Good point, Jill! Common courtesy goes very far and it doesn't take to much to relax, chill, be a little patient. My number one pet peeve is what I call an "aura of arrogance", I can't stand it.

You know, I swear whenever I have been short with someone, or rude, it comes back to bite me in the butt in another shape and form. In other words, I truly believe what goes around.......

[chicagojoe23]

I left a sales meeting this morning after finding out that one of my new clients is a Wisconsin based company. They are now the 14th Wisconsin company that we've gone after for their business in 2 years. hmmmmm.

It made me think of this thread. Why is there a perception that upper Wisconsin "owes" Illinois something for their tourism revenue. This just adds to the "hatred" in my opinion, and it's really just a false perception. I vacation up there too. The majority of nicer homes as far as I can tell are owned by retired Wisconsinites.
Just curious then, do we (Chicago as a city) owe the rest of the midwest region for keeping us financially afloat all these years? I mean, there is a TON of Chicago business done in Wisconsin as well as Indiana and Michigan. Not to mention the little stuff, like the locals in Chicago will often skip taking expensive vacations and opt for a camping trip up north. In my business trained eyes, Wisconsin and Indiana provide unique oppotunities, and to look down our noses at you guys is just being ignorant. People from Illinois who act that way **** me off as a sales rep, because it makes it harder to sell (me being a "FIB" and all)

[TAB1452]

chicagojoe is why I don't really hate "chicago" people...same with Illinois people in general...you can tell who is from Chicago compared to those from outside of Chicago though and there is no disputing that...at least in my experieneces...going to "tiny ole" UW-Whitewater we had more then our fair share of Illinois people...when one of my Illinois friends would bring up a Chicago friend...you could for the most part tell the difference even between two Illinois people...my roommate was one of them so I know that not everyone in Illinois should be grouped the same just like not everyone in Wisconsin can be...my views of Wisconsin are 90% diifferent then someone such as Milwaukee City who dogs cities like La Crosse as "dirty" and thinks Milwaukee is a "great" city...and in my opinion it is 100% the opposite...we have different views of different things...I used to and still do call people "FIBS" but for the most part it is in a joking manner...

my only gripe with anything Illinois related is when they bring their Chicago driving up to less congested Wisconsin roads...theres no need to tailgate me when I'm in the slow lane allowing you to pass on the left...yet you decide to tailgate me when I'm already doing 9 over in the rain...that has and probably will always be my only problem with Illinois

[chicagojoe23]

Originally Posted by TAB1452

chicagojoe is why I don't really hate "chicago" people...same with Illinois people in general...you can tell who is from Chicago compared to those from outside of Chicago though and there is no disputing that...at least in my experieneces...going to "tiny ole" UW-Whitewater we had more then our fair share of Illinois people...when one of my Illinois friends would bring up a Chicago friend...you could for the most part tell the difference even between two Illinois people...my roommate was one of them so I know that not everyone in Illinois should be grouped the same just like not everyone in Wisconsin can be...my views of Wisconsin are 90% diifferent then someone such as Milwaukee City who dogs cities like La Crosse as "dirty" and thinks Milwaukee is a "great" city...and in my opinion it is 100% the opposite...we have different views of different things...I used to and still do call people "FIBS" but for the most part it is in a joking manner...

my only gripe with anything Illinois related is when they bring their Chicago driving up to less congested Wisconsin roads...theres no need to tailgate me when I'm in the slow lane allowing you to pass on the left...yet you decide to tailgate me when I'm already doing 9 over in the rain...that has and probably will always be my only problem with Illinois

People from here in Chicago area tend to drive that way, even while in Chicago too. I catch myself using a lead foot , but what some people with Illinois plates don't realize is that they should check the aggressive city driving at the border. This is another stereotype sure, but as we all know, stereotypes all have some truth to them.

I would not consider Lacrosse dirty. But I have not been in a few years. Omaha? Tell them great job on inventing the Hebrew National hotdog. Don't tell anyone, but they are soooo much better than Vienna.

[susancruzs]

When I was living in Illinois and driving to Upper Michigan to see my sister, I never paid attention to the driving habits much. My co-workers in Illinois from Wisconsin always talked about it but we all talked about driving to work, the traffic, weather, etc.!

Now I have to admit the driving habits are different. Driving through Milwaukee between say 7 and 9 a.m., I don't see the crazy, impatient lane changers you see when drive into Chicago, and overall people are more relaxed drivers.

I find it really find funny they drive through TR that way. I live off Hwy. 42, the route to Door County and they jockey for position, what is the point? Everyone knows Wisc. speed limit through towns is 25 no exceptions. I've seen things about the police targeting Illinois plates, trust me, I see them stop
locals, too! There is a cure for it, don't speed through towns!

[silverjet]

In my experience, it's hardly "jealousy" for the reason why Chicago stirs up bad feelings. Here in MN anyway, some people here believe that not only are there a lot of people from the Chicago area moving up here, but they are also bringing their problems, need for government assistance and criminal activity with them, therefore helping to degrade the quality of life here in the city. I'm not saying that I agree with that, but a lot of people have that belief.

Many cities and regions have rivalries. It's natural that Milwaukee and Chicago has one and it will probably always remain. I grew up in Milwaukee, and aside from comments regarding "Chicago drivers", and anything sports-related, most people had a generally positive or neutral attitude towards the city.

As far as my own feelings towards Chicago, I haven't ever spent much time there, but I grew up listening to Chicago AM radio and reading the Tribune or Sun-Times right along with the Milwaukee papers and our local radio. I had just as much interest in what was happening in Chicago as much as I did in my own town. While I have no interest in moving to Chicago or anywhere in IL for that matter, it's a place that I will always "care" about, I guess you could say.

[NorthsideSlumlordWatch]

I've been in Milwaukee for 10 years from the south and east coast w/ some time outside the US before that. My mom grew up in Chicago but apart from a few visits as kids, I had no real contact with it until I settled in MKE. My wife has relatives in Chicago. I had a graduate seminar at the newberry library once and for that and other things have taken the train down many times. Train + taxi + upscale areas = great experience amid the awareness of just how small that tunnel is. If you can consistently afford that life, more power to you. I have also spent some time in some of the worst ghetto areas in Chicago.

All I relate to in Wisconsinite's dislike of Chicago is the "beat the cubs" sentiment. I like the vikings less than the bears, but I don't really get into sports animosity that much. Chicago's massive size, pollution, traffic, and social disparities put me off because I am not a big city person and I have not spent enough time in one place in Chicago to get a sense of any personality or human-scale character. It would take some time in a place like that to learn to like it. So my experience of Chicago is as a big impersonal, somewhat depressing behemoth. Not really a positive view, but not a negative on of the people either.

I do see cities the size on Chicago as being tough in ways I wish Milwaukee could borrow without becoming massive and impersonal. People in MKE are so incredibly passive and soft; they think they have massive crime and poverty problems. It's true they don't have the massive scale of value and investment to blow that stuff off, but they live in too much fear and worry that's out of proportion to the reality. I think that makes problems worse--fear and apathy = inaction, lack of leadership, and increased disorder. This is probably why Milwaukee also has a reputation for hating itself, feeling inferior to Chicago, and leaking people off to the south and other big cities.

[ImaloneJill]

Funny thing. I lived in the city of chgo for almost 40 years. I can testify to all the changes it has gone thru since the 60's. The neighborhood I grew up in was Polish/Lithuanian. The Pope John Paul II came and said Mass at my parish on the south side. I may have been confirmed by him when he was a visiting Cardinal back in the 60's.. We had neighborhoods like little towns and people looked out for each other. That changed with urban sprawl. It became more transient and impersonal. But, I still see Chicago as a beautiful city when I get downtown. My husband drives there to work every day as a union carpenter who installs millwork and cabinetry in practically every bldg. in that area. He has learned to be a skillful driver. But, when we came to Wisconsin the first time, we were being passed up left and right on I90/94/53 by locals. We were fearful that the state troopers would pull over Illinois drivers, as we heard they are famous for doing just that. We were cautious. Didn't see too many cops.
When we camp anywhere, we leave the place exactly as we received it. Also, we shoot with a camera and mostly catch and release. We love nature and people who respect the land. We are excited about living with nature up north, waking up and going fishing every day, hiking, watching the stars.
A-holes come in every shape and size and live in all places.
So do good people.

[chicagojoe23]

This is probably why Milwaukee also has a reputation for hating itself, feeling inferior to Chicago, and leaking people off to the south and other big cities.

Chicago is leaking too, mostly to its suburbs (sure I am gulity)The population has been declining since the 1950s but not alot of people cry about it. That's why Chicago itself has become poverty stricken and dangerous...that and the greedy city government.

Again, not to beat the dead horse, but that whole negative Milwaukee image/reputation thing needs to die.
I know how this works, being born in Chicago, as there are plenty here in this town who feel somewhat inferior to the dominant coastal cities like NY, LA, and San Fran. Whether they can admit it or not.
There is nothing good that can come out of "hating" your home, your roots, your neighbors. If you didnt read the previous posts, I am a sales rep based of Lake County IL. I live in Palatine, currently, and drive up to Wisconsin very frequently since 30% of my client base is there. It irritates me to no end when someone from Illinois hates on Wisconsin, Indiana, or Michigan, aside from the sport rivalries which are fun. So nextime someone in Milwaukee badmouths your city for some insignificant reason, do what we do in Chicago--tell them to take a hike. Focus on the genuine problems.

Like Chicago itself, we need these outlying places and nearby cities to present a positive image, and promote themselves better. Or their economies will continue to die on the vine, and where does that leave thousands in the Chicago area, like myself, who rely on out of state business?

If you guys want to fix your city's image, and this is from a business perspective, then improve your main streets and make them more small business friendly. At the same time you need to lower your business taxes in Wisconsin to make it more corporation friendly. Now's a good time eh?