Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I must be reading and watching something different because I don't remember NY mainstream media calling part of their own customer base, "Dirty Jersey". Nor do I think that the NY media makes fun of Italian Americans as either Guidos or the Mafia. Do you?
Perhaps its not all really New York's fault? Just sayin.
Absolutely right. NJ is just as much to blame for it's image as anyone else.
The state tourism department should be sparing no expense in promoting the virtues of our state.
Huh? Tourism has been one of NJ's top economies for a long time. That has very little to do with what I'm talking about.
General perception is what I'm getting at. Is the powerful NJ media putting these stereotypes out there? Who branded us the "guido state"?
NJ is one of the most diverse, wealthy, educated states in the nation & this is all we are known for. Did we do it? Who is pushing these images? Madison Ave or Bloomfield Ave?
This is what I'm talking about. Who cares about the small stretch on the turnpike with industry. EVERY state has industry. If that's how you judge NJ, it's obvious you don't know the state at all.
Ask someone from where ever USA, who's never been on the NJ turnpike & ask them if them they believe NJ to be a state of intellect & see what they say. The results would be shocking. That has nothing to do with the cluster of industry on exit 13.
I'm absolutely shocked that people think NJ dictates its national image. How could it? Just look at C-D. How many times do people from NJ have to say the same thing over & over & over & over again to ignorant types who have some conjured up, preconceived notion of a place they have little or no knowledge of. Is that coincidence? Where did they get that preconceived notion?
If you don't think provincialism on the part of our neighbors plays a big part.............. well, I have bridge to sell you. And it's not in NJ.
As small as it is NJ is one of the richest and most powerful states in the country. The state tourism department should be sparing no expense in promoting the virtues of our state.
I remember growing up seeing commercials for Florida on NYC TV. Surely if they can extend their advertising hands this far north we can certainly do the same, especially with the internet as a marketing tool.
Good point.
Tourism is actually a strong point for NJ considering its size- I believe it ranked #7 in statewide tourism. The shore gets more visitors per square mile than any other state coast in the nation (in summer)- NJ, NY, PA, Quebec/Ontario tourist is a big chunk of population the Jersey Shore is centralized for.
I think they should promote Jersey City more than they do, it still lacks a thriving nightlife scene- They should just annex Hoboken, that would boost Jersey City's image in a heartbeat, being denser than SF and officially have one of the most extensive PT systems in the nation (along with the thriving nightlife scene Hoboken is known for)- It would do NJ a whole lot of good as far as its image goes.
NJ's biggest downfall was unnecessarily creating so many geographically tiny municipalities- NJ has a lot of urban amenities, but it's all just spread out town by town by town- an outsider would be clueless. I mean think about it, Jersey City is only 15 square miles, and the county its in is only 47 square miles... It's much easier to promote a city when you have a larger area to work with. (IE, Houston, ATL, Dallas, LA, etc)
Tourism is actually a strong point for NJ considering its size- I believe it ranked #7 in statewide tourism. The shore gets more visitors per square mile than any other state coast in the nation (in summer)- NJ, NY, PA, Quebec/Ontario tourist is a big chunk of population the Jersey Shore is centralized for.
I think they should promote Jersey City more than they do, it still lacks a thriving nightlife scene- They should just annex Hoboken, that would boost Jersey City's image in a heartbeat, being denser than SF and officially have one of the most extensive PT systems in the nation (along with the thriving nightlife scene Hoboken is known for)- It would do NJ a whole lot of good as far as its image goes.
NJ's biggest downfall was unnecessarily creating so many geographically tiny municipalities- NJ has a lot of urban amenities, but it's all just spread out town by town by town- an outsider would be clueless. I mean think about it, Jersey City is only 15 square miles, and the county its in is only 47 square miles... It's much easier to promote a city when you have a larger area to work with. (IE, Houston, ATL, Dallas, LA, etc)
None of that has anything to do with the ultimate question at hand.
In pop-culture media, NJ gets it worse, with all the guido stereotyping. It's propped up as a black hole of all that is cool in the world, while California is portrayed as the shangri-la of style (which may or may not be true).
In new media, CA gets it worse. You listen to Fox News or conservative talk radio, and you'd be convinced that the whole state is comprised of anti-American illegal gay Mexican pot-smoking millionaire welfare-recipients who want to ban guns, but shoot eachother.
None of that has anything to do with the ultimate question at hand.
Yes it does. NJ lacks an identity. NJ is almost always clumped with NYC by outsiders. All of NJ's media has ties with NY, but why try and ruin NY's reputation when there's good for nothing Jersey to make fun of instead? There's nothing big and affluent enough in NJ to promote and open peoples eyes. its clearly the most dynamic state for such a size, but without a major independent city of its own, no one will take notice. NJ ha the potential to have cities 600K+ (the NJ gold coast for example) and it would still be on the small size as far as land mass goes- This is the kind of positive image people would actually take notice- the NJ gold coast is full of diversity and beauty, and it would definitely be among densest, most affluent, and safest cities in the nation at that- but that doesn't matter.
I've repeated this kver and over- NJ is always taking turns year by year for being the wealthiest state, it's among the top 5 best educated states, it has the lowest rape rate, the lowest suicide rapes, it's among the top 5 greenest states, its the most accessible state, its the most urbanized state being the crossroads of finance- I mean it has a very high col, a dirty bit if highway, and a corrupt government- but it's one of the most advanced, most misunderstood states in the nation.
Yes it does. NJ lacks an identity. NJ is almost always clumped with NYC by outsiders. All of NJ's media has ties with NY, but why try and ruin NY's reputation when there's good for nothing Jersey to make fun of instead? There's nothing big and affluent enough in NJ to promote and open peoples eyes. its clearly the most dynamic state for such a size, but without a major independent city of its own, no one will take notice. NJ ha the potential to have cities 600K+ (the NJ gold coast for example) and it would still be on the small size as far as land mass goes- This is the kind of positive image people would actually take notice- the NJ gold coast is full of diversity and beauty, and it would definitely be among densest, most affluent, and safest cities in the nation at that- but that doesn't matter.
I've repeated this kver and over- NJ is always taking turns year by year for being the wealthiest state, it's among the top 5 best educated states, it has the lowest rape rate, the lowest suicide rapes, it's among the top 5 greenest states, its the most accessible state, its the most urbanized state being the crossroads of finance- I mean it has a very high col, a dirty bit if highway, and a corrupt government- but it's one of the most advanced, most misunderstood states in the nation.
A larger city in NJ without a media outlet is just a larger city in NJ. That won't change anything. There is no "opening peoples eyes". That's what you don't seem to understand. None of that matters.
You seem to think the fate of our reputation is in our hands. All of the meaningful positives you listed about NJ are real & actual. And you know what; It doesn't mean anything as far as perception is concerned. What does that tell you? It's a useless exercise as long as the most powerful tasemaker in the nation makes it a point to shape the perception of the state a certain way.
I'm not trying to make excuses for NJ's negatives or place the blame for our shortcomings on someone else , but tell me I'm lying in this instance?
Nothing matters as far as perception is concerned except those with the loudest voice. And unfortunately, we don't have the loudest voice. Period.
I must be reading and watching something different because I don't remember NY mainstream media calling part of their own customer base, "Dirty Jersey". Nor do I think that the NY media makes fun of Italian Americans as either Guidos or the Mafia. Do you?
Perhaps its not all really New York's fault? Just sayin.
ALL media.
Are there SOME people in NJ that fit the stereotype? There are some. But not even close to as many as are in NY. And the NY-based media would never have you believe that.
Yes it does. NJ lacks an identity. NJ is almost always clumped with NYC by outsiders. All of NJ's media has ties with NY, but why try and ruin NY's reputation when there's good for nothing Jersey to make fun of instead? There's nothing big and affluent enough in NJ to promote and open peoples eyes. its clearly the most dynamic state for such a size, but without a major independent city of its own, no one will take notice. NJ ha the potential to have cities 600K+ (the NJ gold coast for example) and it would still be on the small size as far as land mass goes- This is the kind of positive image people would actually take notice- the NJ gold coast is full of diversity and beauty, and it would definitely be among densest, most affluent, and safest cities in the nation at that- but that doesn't matter.
I've repeated this kver and over- NJ is always taking turns year by year for being the wealthiest state, it's among the top 5 best educated states, it has the lowest rape rate, the lowest suicide rapes, it's among the top 5 greenest states, its the most accessible state, its the most urbanized state being the crossroads of finance- I mean it has a very high col, a dirty bit if highway, and a corrupt government- but it's one of the most advanced, most misunderstood states in the nation.
New jersey needs to stop clinging on to nyc and invest in their own cities and than they wont have to worry about nyc shaping their reputation
Investing billions just to get back and forth to nyc instead of putting that money into your own cities makes no sense to me
Allowing the jets and Giants to keep the new york" in their name is stupid and weak. What other state would stand for that?
Stop being nycs step over state. It annoys people that dont come from step over states/cities
New jersey needs to stop clinging on to nyc and invest in their own cities and than they wont have to worry about nyc shaping their reputation
Investing billions just to get back and forth to nyc instead of putting that money into your own cities makes no sense to me
Allowing the jets and Giants to keep the new york" in their name is stupid and weak. What other state would stand for that?
Stop being nycs step over state. It annoys people that dont come from step over states/cities
*Slurp*
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.