What Stereotypes Do You Hear About Cleveland? (Warren: crime, movies)

[QCongress83216]

A lot of people say that they hear stereotypes about Cleveland from anywhere and everywhere in the world. Even from the people in Cleveland themselves. So, what stereotypes do you hear about the city? It doesn't matter where it comes from, for example, did you hear it while you were on vacation, somebody from the city, the media (local or national), movies/TV shows or out-of-towners. I'm asking this because I get tired of hearing stuff about the jokes about the river catching on fire over 40 years ago, "The Decision", etc.

[steve1282]

I just heard its a real depressed area. No jobs going down the tubes. Never been there tho just what I hear on the news or read online

[funkenstein91]

-broke
-polluted
-no jobs
-boring
-crime infested

Those are the main ones I hear a lot.

[motorman]

1. Industrial Powerhouse

2. Cultural Standout

3. Browns Nation

4. Comeback Kid

5. Gritty & Urbane

[Ohiogirl81]

Why, just the other day I was treated to a rant from a co-worker about how Cleveland was a "dump" and a "joke" and "why would anyone live there" etc. etc. Of course she'd never been to Cleveland ...

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by steve1282

I just heard its a real depressed area. No jobs going down the tubes. Never been there tho just what I hear on the news or read online

Give it a visit!

Here's from a fellow Texan: //www.city-data.com/forum/cleve...land-5.html#43


IMO, I feel most people have little or no opinion. When I was in the military, I used to talk up Cleveland all the time. When I got out, many people came to visit and absolutely loved the city. I would argue the older generations have the most negative stereotypes -- who lived through the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Why, just the other day I was treated to a rant from a co-worker about how Cleveland was a "dump" and a "joke" and "why would anyone live there" etc. etc. Of course she'd never been to Cleveland ...

What makes Cleveland a great place to live?

[averysgore]

I think most people here (east coast) just think of it as industrial and polluted. Nobody here laughs at it or has a particular hatred for it or anything, it's just not an area people are interested in. It's probably how I feel about Milwaukee - I don't have any particular stereotypes against it, but it's never been high on my list of places in this country to check out.

I do remember a friend from Virginia visiting and being surprised to find a place like Coventry there. "I thought Cleveland was all smokestacks, why is it pretty here and why can you see the blue sky..." you get the idea.

I don't think non-clevelanders under 40 know about the river catching fire, or know any derisive nicknames for it. People who are into orchestras know that Cleveland's is excellent, but not your average person. Some people know the Rock Hall. Sports people know all the sports woes.

Most of us are interested in going to places with mountains, ocean, desert, or large unique cities, and since Cleveland doesn't have that, it's not exactly a destination.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by averysgore

I think most people here (east coast) just think of it as industrial and polluted. Nobody here laughs at it or has a particular hatred for it or anything, it's just not an area people are interested in. It's probably how I feel about Milwaukee - I don't have any particular stereotypes against it, but it's never been high on my list of places in this country to check out.

I do remember a friend from Virginia visiting and being surprised to find a place like Coventry there. "I thought Cleveland was all smokestacks, why is it pretty here and why can you see the blue sky..." you get the idea.

I don't think non-clevelanders under 40 know about the river catching fire, or know any derisive nicknames for it. People who are into orchestras know that Cleveland's is excellent, but not your average person. Some people know the Rock Hall. Sports people know all the sports woes.

Most of us are interested in going to places with mountains, ocean, desert, or large unique cities, and since Cleveland doesn't have that, it's not exactly a destination.

Very good insights. I think once you get well outside the Cleveland area, you find that Cleveland isn't even on most people's radar if they've never been there or have no ties to the area.

Or if they do think of Cleveland at all, they kind of imagine it just being "there" but nothing really special. Kind of the way I think of, say, Omaha.

[Townes Van Zandt]

Cleveland definitely isn't a national tourist destination. What separates it from a place like Omaha is the fact that people actually have an opinion of Cleveland(even if it's negative). When someone from NYC or Boston hears "Cleveland" they might think about factories or ****ty sports franchises. Their mental image may be negative, but it's there regardless.

OTOH, when I think Omaha I think....corn? Maybe Warren Buffett?