Prestige and self image of Chicago vs any major east coast city (live)

[jman07]

I've never lived on the east coast, but I get the feeling that there is a collective mentality so to speak that even though cities like DC, Boston, etc aren't as big as Chicago, they have the fact that they are a part of the East Coast to boost their images and status. Even though Chicago is probably a better city, it is still part of the midwest and kind of in the middle of the country, so a lot of people would say that this fact alone takes away from the prestige of it. More simply put, are people from the east coast outside of NYC impressed by Chicago?

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by jman07

I've never lived on the east coast, but I get the feeling that there is a collective mentality so to speak that even though cities like DC, Boston, etc aren't as big as Chicago, they have the fact that they are a part of the East Coast to boost their images and status. Even though Chicago is probably a better city, it is still part of the midwest and kind of in the middle of the country, so a lot of people would say that this fact alone takes away from the prestige of it. More simply put, are people from the east coast outside of NYC impressed by Chicago?

In a word: we really don't care.

I don't mean that as an insult to you. There is nothing wrong with asking. It's just irrelevant.

Now Chicago is very much like New York and Boston. Not because of what others think of them (although in truth those are three cities that people from other cities tend to like for their obvious urban charms).

No, New York, Boston, and Chicago are joined not by what out-of-towners think of them but what they think of themselves.

all three are filled with people passionate about their cities. and that's the beauty of it:

Chicagoans love Chicago. And if some of those out-of-town don't like us, that's their issue, not ours.

[soulful]

Originally Posted by edsg25

In a word: we really don't care.

I don't mean that as an insult to you. There is nothing wrong with asking. It's just irrelevant.

Now Chicago is very much like New York and Boston. Not because of what others think of them (although in truth those are three cities that people from other cities tend to like for their obvious urban charms).

No, New York, Boston, and Chicago are joined not by what out-of-towners think of them but what they think of themselves.

all three are filled with people passionate about their cities. and that's the beauty of it:

Chicagoans love Chicago. And if some of those out-of-town don't like us, that's their issue, not ours.

Not all Chicagoans love Chicago. That's very much a generalization.
Some love it. Some hate it. And many are right in the middle.

[linicx]

1- Massachusetts was one of the 13 original Colonies.

2- Boston was founded in 1630.

3- Chicago was founded 151 years later.