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Actually, I don't think any city "embraces" being called a poor man's anything. That's why this thread has become pretty toxic. Philadelphia certainly does not feel that way about NYC. Not sure why you went off on a limb there.
Actually, I don't think any city "embraces" being called a poor man's anything. That's why this thread has become pretty toxic. Philadelphia certainly does not feel that way about NYC. Not sure why you went off on a limb there.
While I agree with the sentiment and am not surprised that the thread turned toxic, Worcester MA might be an example of a city that might truly embrace being called a “poor man’s Boston”.
The city is really proud of its industrial, working class heritage. One of its most famous landmarks is Mechanics Hall, which was built by a workers association rather than by a wealthy industrialist like in NYC. It was an early adopter if the triple decker as workforce housing. It gave the world the smiley face, but the artist never attempted to get rich or famous from it.
It’s almost noteworthy for being so humble and unassuming and is juxtaposed in this sense with Boston, which has always been very elitist and classist not to mention obnoxiously proud and self-satisfied.
Last edited by Boston Shudra; 10-26-2022 at 07:33 AM..
Actually, I don't think any city "embraces" being called a poor man's anything. That's why this thread has become pretty toxic. Philadelphia certainly does not feel that way about NYC. Not sure why you went off on a limb there.
I didn't go out on a limb. As it pertains to C-D, Philly touts itself as the poor man's NYC. Countless threads have posters from philly saying that, "we have the 2nd best ______ after NYC," or "we have the 2nd most or 2nd largest after NYC." I've mentioned it several times in previous threads. I do agree that the premise of this thread is very toxic.
I didn't go out on a limb. As it pertains to C-D, Philly touts itself as the poor man's NYC. Countless threads have posters from philly saying that, "we have the 2nd best ______ after NYC," or "we have the 2nd most or 2nd largest after NYC." I've mentioned it several times in previous threads. I do agree that the premise of this thread is very toxic.
"Second to NYC" isn't the same as saying "a poor man's NYC".
The one time I've ever used that phrase was to describe the main shopping street of Collingswood, N.J. as "a poor man's Haddonfield." This was in the early 1980s, when half the storefronts on Haddon Avenue were vacant and those that were occupied looked faded.
Haddon Avenue still isn't as tony as Haddonfield's Kings Highway East, but I wouldn't dare use that phrase to describe busy, lively Haddon Avenue now.
"Poor man's" carries with it a connotation of lack — of inferiority beyond what "second best" or "second most" imply. Not only do we not "tout" ourself as "a poor man's NYC," we don't use that phrase at all — and many here chafe at the use of the phrase "the sixth borough" to describe Philadelphia.
"Second to NYC" isn't the same as saying "a poor man's NYC".
The one time I've ever used that phrase was to describe the main shopping street of Collingswood, N.J. as "a poor man's Haddonfield." This was in the early 1980s, when half the storefronts on Haddon Avenue were vacant and those that were occupied looked faded.
Haddon Avenue still isn't as tony as Haddonfield's Kings Highway East, but I wouldn't dare use that phrase to describe busy, lively Haddon Avenue now.
"Poor man's" carries with it a connotation of lack — of inferiority beyond what "second best" or "second most" imply. Not only do we not "tout" ourself as "a poor man's NYC," we don't use that phrase at all — and many here chafe at the use of the phrase "the sixth borough" to describe Philadelphia.
I see it as the same. Philly is being pushed as the cheaper alternative- the Great Value NYC.
I see it as the same. Philly is being pushed as the cheaper alternative- the Great Value NYC.
I find that Walmart's store brand more often than not lives up to its name.
It's usually not inferior to the nationally advertised counterpart. (And I have bought private-label products that definitely are.)
And New Yorkers, Brooklynites especially, move here because they think they're getting Great Value by doing so as well. And those Brooklynites certainly aren't poor.
Edited to add: But we've both agreed that the term "poor man's <insert noun here>" is toxic and at least mildly insulting anyway, so maybe I should just let this drop. Still, I wouldn't use the word "tout" next to the "poor man's" construction — "a poor man's <insert noun here>" is not a boast.
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