How Do Out-Of-Towners React When You Tell Them You're From Cleveland? (Baltimore: hotel, live)

[QCongress83216]

I was wondering when you visit other cities how do the locals react when you tell them you're from Cleveland? The last few times I've been out of town in Chicago and Baltimore I told someone that I'm from Cleveland, they reacted and said "OHIO?!" I said "Yeah." They acted like I told them I'm from a planet far, far away. Do they react the same way? Make fun? Or, it doesn't matter to them?

[Peregrine]

In my experience, CLE is actually still respected. No one "makes fun". Ever.
Usually I get"my *distant relative\friend* was from the CLE area.
Only once ever had the Burning River comment.
And I swear anytime I see an Eastern European, they frequently say something like "My Uncle Georgi lives, in Cleveland. Do you know him?" I swear this has happened so many times it's funny. Like they think CLE is this town where we all know each other.

[Cleverfield]

I've never heard it disrespected on the East Coast. The only place I've found disrespect is in Chicago and Minnesota.

[bjimmy24]

Most people are compeltely indifferent. I've gotten a few comments about Lebron James.

[SquareBetterThanAll]

Usually get comments about the weather but I think that is due to where I travel. The only time I've really heard anyone be crappy is generally in regard to the Midwest overall and that was from either NY or LA folks.

[QCongress83216]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

I've never heard it disrespected on the East Coast. The only place I've found disrespect is in Chicago and Minnesota.

What did they say to you in those cities about Cleveland?

[QCongress83216]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Most people are compeltely indifferent. I've gotten a few comments about Lebron James.

I got a couple LeBron comments too. Like, in Chicago, I checked into the hotel and I told the guy at the front desk I was from Cleveland. He said, "It's wrong how LeBron did you guys. I hope he never wins anything." He was a die-hard Bulls fan, and didn't like how LeBron handled it with "The Decision."

[Cleverfield]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

What did they say to you in those cities about Cleveland?

Burning river jokes, making fun of how depressed/depressing it is. Here's one example from a few years ago:


Joakim Noah: 'Cleveland Really Sucks' - YouTube

[QCongress83216]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

Burning river jokes, making fun of how depressed/depressing it is. Here's one example from a few years ago:


Joakim Noah: 'Cleveland Really Sucks' - YouTube

What was your response(s) to them?

[kallinan]

The worst depiction of Cleveland is from Clevelanders themselves. By a long shot. The local inferiority complex is astounding.

My family is from Buffalo, so they view Cleveland with slight awe as a shiny, better Buffalo. It might have a slight down-on-its-luck image in the wider US, but nothing remotely like Detroit. I think that's partly perpetuated by the Browns, Indians, and the departure of LeBron, too. I'm sure my family in Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Phoenix would slightly turn their noses up at it, but not too much. Remember, it's the city proper that will be talked about nationally... never the wider metro area.