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.
It's easy to bash Detroit, or Baltimore, or Philly for that matter. But most major cities have well-defined images which stem from basic, defining characteristics. That's what I'm looking for. So far, in vain...
I'd say Philly's history defines it more than anything else, but of course there are other defining characteristics from food to music to immigrants to architecture.
No one said it should be 'one thing' ... but there should be some thing... Nothing you've said couldn't be said about two dozen other cities. No other city has Boston architecture, New Orleans music, New York history, Charleston character, etc etc. But what distinguishes Philly in particular? Apparently very little, unless perhaps we're talking 200 years ago. So be it.
It's easy to bash Detroit, or Baltimore, or Philly for that matter. But most major cities have well-defined images which stem from basic, defining characteristics. That's what I'm looking for. So far, in vain...
What are you going on about? Philadelphia was the largest and most important city in the country for many decades after it's inception. Philly was the "workshop of the World" when our county actually produced things and created the largest Middle Class the World has ever seen and is only one of two cities that have been the 5 most populous for the entirety of our nation's history.
So, yes it declined tremendously after deindustrialization but has been recovering for quite some time now. It also never needed a niche industry as it has always been among the most diversified economies in the country. Philadelphians are fiercely proud of their city, food, history, music, architecture, neighborhoods, sports, brotherly love and sisterly affection.
Much better than being known as the cesspool of corruption and collusion, war and bureaucracy. Yikes! LOL
It definitely has history... I was thinking of something from the last 100 years or so.
Most major cities have a major purpose or industry or two. I mean even Detroit still has a lot of the auto industry around it. Even Baltimore is still a major port. And those cities are wrecks!
LOL! Hi, we're Philadelphia, you can like live here 'n stuff.
Philadelphia is one of the largest healthcare/medical, pharmaceutical, biopharm, law, education, finance cities. The major company known as Comcast/NBC/Universal is based in Philadelphia. It is also a major city for hospitality/tourism. It has one of the largest ports in the country, easily 2nd largest on the east coast, and has a major manufacturing/industrial industry. Philadelphia's economy is very very diverse and that's why it never really crashed during the economic downturn. It kept chugging along just fine.
Also there is a ton of history and great food in Philadelphia
No one said it should be 'one thing' ... but there should be some thing... Nothing you've said couldn't be said about two dozen other cities. No other city has Boston architecture, New Orleans music, New York history, Charleston character, etc etc. But what distinguishes Philly in particular? Apparently very little, unless perhaps we're talking 200 years ago. So be it.
It's easy to bash Detroit, or Baltimore, or Philly for that matter. But most major cities have well-defined images which stem from basic, defining characteristics. That's what I'm looking for. So far, in vain...
The liberty bell? The Rocky Steps/Art Museum? Independence Hall? City Hall? LOVE Park? The Eagles? The Phillies? The Flyers? History? Cheesesteaks?
What exactly are you looking for? Are you looking for objects and symbols that define Philadelphia specifically?
Maybe what's most defining about our city is we don't put up with arrogance. That's probably why you never got our city
^ LOL! Please don't tell me that Vinnie freakin Paz was chose as a spokesperson for Philly. Only Philly would do that. The Philly city council: Consisting of Vinnie Paz, Beanie Sigel, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Jill Scott. Ok, the last two would actually be pretty cool.
No one said it should be 'one thing' ... but there should be some thing... Nothing you've said couldn't be said about two dozen other cities. No other city has Boston architecture, New Orleans music, New York history, Charleston character, etc etc. But what distinguishes Phillyin particular? Apparently very little, unless perhaps we're talking 200 years ago. Ss:
Not that this thread is about cultural attributes, but if you have to ask that question, clearly you don't know much about the city. A basic Google search would reveal how Philadelphia is distinctive in every attribute you've just mentioned (history, architecture, music, etc.).
I admit that Philly's distinctiveness isn't always as well-known as other cities, but it's definitely still there -- waiting to be discovered.
^ LOL! Please don't tell me that Vinnie freakin Paz was chose as a spokesperson for Philly. Only Philly would do that. The Philly city council: Consisting of Vinnie Paz, Beanie Sigel, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Jill Scott. Ok, the last two would actually be pretty cool.
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.
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.
