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Can't speak for New Yorkers, but as a Chicagoan I can tell you that neither I nor the folks I knew cared one bit when people brought up things like this. The one I heard most often when traveling overseas was about gangsters (Al Capone and such). Always cracked me up.
Aside from the gangster thing, honestly I'd say a lot of this had to do with the fact that it is harder to have misconceptions about Chicago, New York, etc. than it is Houston. These are cities which are known quantities. People around the world may never have visited, but they have seen plenty in film, TV, pictures, etc. Depending on their area of interest, they have heard plenty - art aficionados know about the Art Institute of Chicago, the museums of New York, etc., foodies know about the famous restaurants, and so on. Still, I do find that many Houstonians are self-conscious over the views of others of Houston more so than you'll find in other major cities.
Aside from the gangster thing, honestly I'd say a lot of this had to do with the fact that it is harder to have misconceptions about Chicago, New York, etc. than it is Houston. These are cities which are known quantities. People around the world may never have visited, but they have seen plenty in film, TV, pictures, etc.
True. Hollywood has saturated those markets and hardly touched Houston. I've had foreigners ask about my horse, which is apparently the most current vision of Houston (which is really the HoustDallantoniostin vision of pretty much all of Texas). One day I imagine some brave intrepid drama writer is going to discover Houston and atleast people will be able to distinguish our stock footage from the other cities.
I'm not trying to put words in anyone's mouth. I guess I'm just experiencing culture shock. I hear the local music, and I see the locals shrug their shoulders. I suppose there isn't much anyone can do about it.
Give me some time here, and I'll be just as jaded as the rest.
I'm a native Houstonian and I am bothered by how my city has become in regard to crime. I love some things about Houston and there are other things that are changing in a bad way. Crime is more prevelant in certain areas BUT it is also more random citywide and where least expected.
I can't speak for New Yorkers, but as a Chicagoan I can tell you that neither I nor the folks I knew cared one bit when people brought up things like this.
In the post below you actually speak for the people of New York........Chicago........AND Los Angeles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MIBS98
Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA. The three cities in front of it (New York, LA, Chicago) are all known internationally in a positive way. Houston, on the other hand, doesn't have such a favorable reputation. If you are from Chicago, New York, LA you don't really care what people say about your city because you are comfortable with its place in the world and you know it to be a world class city. Houstonians have, for lack of a better term, more of an inferiority complex about their city.
Nice! That was necessary!! Thanks! (ps - the thread topic is crime in Houston)
Quote:
Originally Posted by MIBS98
If you come in and say something negative about the city, the most likely reaction (as you have seen) is going to be: "why are you being negative, all cities are like this, it is not unique to Houston." It is not an issue of acceptance, as you put it, it is an issue of not wanting to be compared unfavorably to other cities.
What city WANTS to be compared unfavorably? We all get defensive when this happens it's human nature, look at a typical reaction in the Chicago forum when it happens over there:
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSunshineKid
I understand people not liking the city or preferring it to others, but whatever weakness Chicago has it is used against it like it dominated the entire city. I could name a handful of posters that just berate it. Sometimes they succeed into making me think that Chicago doesn't deserve to be called an Alpha/world class/cosmopolitan/real city. When it comes to that point, I step away from the computer and just breath a heavy sigh.
When Chicago is whipped, it's whipped bare naked and I find that both pathetic and unfair. I mean, I can actually show you the remarks some people make about Chicago whether it be about its architecture, its universities, its "old school Chicago" neighborhoods, its art scene etc. that makes your heart sink, and people ask "Why are Chicagoans so defensive? Why are they so insecure?" I just guess the unwritten sticky on this website is that Chicago deserves all the criticism that comes their way and then some. Any genuine compliments are thrown like bread crumbs which the residents should be grateful for.
another Chicagoan's reaction to trolls:
Quote:
It doesn't help that one of the most prolific/well-known urbanists around lived here, then decided to move to NYC and devote all or most of his writing to putting down Chicago. I also think there is a lot of additional animosity towards the city due to its association with Obama. It's also possible that NYC and, to a lesser extent LA, seem unassailable leaving very few large cities left to critique if that is one's intention.
In the Houston forum we have this delightful little group of Chicagoans who constantly bring up where they feel Houston is lacking......how things in Houston aren't up to snuff with the other top 4 cities.......blah blah blah blah. Search the word 'Chicago' in the Houston forum, see how often it pops up from non-Houstonians. It's weird. I wish they'd take it to the city vs city forum!
Believe me, when I'm in other big cities there's always stuff that I grumble about in my head but I don't run to my computer & write about it on their local forums........because it's rude!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MIBS98
Still, I do find that many Houstonians are self-conscious over the views of others of Houston more so than you'll find in other major cities.
Lol, this must be an equal opportunity disorder:
Quote:
Originally Posted by FAReastcoast
Chicagoans tend to be very proud of their city but I get the sense many non-Chicagoans tend to roll their eyes at all of the "wind" spewed by people who live here. From my experience Chicago tends to see New York City as it's closest peer, where many other cities might take offense to that (SF, Bos, Was, LA, etc...). So to me it seems like people in the other top cities not named New York (at least on C-D) tend to knock Chicago down to put it in line with the other cities and not on New York's level. I have definitely noticed a little bit of an inferiority complex with New York, and I am frequently reminded how Chicago can match New York at a third of the cost and so on....
As far as I've seen, Houston's "bad" reputation comes less from the perception of its crime rate than its association with the oil industry, a relatively nefarious business when compared, for instance, with LA's cinematic claim to fame. Moreover, when I hear people talk about living here because of the low taxes, that just makes Houston seem like a place where everybody's just looking out for themselves--somewhere that's less of an organized community and more of a place where people just go to exploit the resources and keep to themselves. This may make for a desirable location for some, but not for a desirable city in the public's eye.
However, having just moved to Houston myself, I have to say, my impression of the city so far has been fantastic. I'm still not comfortable with Houston's close association with oil--or "energy" as the industry would have us believe--but overall, I have come to really love this place in a very short time. Where I thought I would meet an indignant individualism, I've met a vibrant community, where I thought I would find scary, crime-ridden streets, I've found lively neighborhoods, and where I thought I would find hot, moist smog and oil tankers everywhere, I've found clear skies and an almost tropical, warm climate. So despite its somewhat negative associations, I would have to say that Houston may be the most misunderstood city in America.
Going forward, I think the city would really benefit from a shift away from its emphasis on being the "energy" capital of America, and a move toward embracing its second-to-none diversity, friendliness and southern charm.
It's all a state of mind and how you look at life, really. You can go to the poorest & crime ridden place and find people with great attitude...it's all relative. My point is make the best of the situation and you'll enjoy life more. Yes, Houston is hot, humid & boring (to some) but don't dwell on it. Explore the positive sides and you'll be surprise at how great life can be.
I think you are misunderstanding what is being said here. Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA. The three cities in front of it (New York, LA, Chicago) are all known internationally in a positive way. Houston, on the other hand, doesn't have such a favorable reputation. While those of us who live here know it to be nice, outsiders have a more negative view of Houston largely born out of ignorance. There just isn't much info about Houston out there apart from the heat and humidity, oil, etc.
If you are from Chicago, New York, LA you don't really care what people say about your city because you are comfortable with its place in the world and you know it to be a world class city. Houstonians have, for lack of a better term, more of an inferiority complex about their city. If you come in and say something negative about the city, the most likely reaction (as you have seen) is going to be: "why are you being negative, all cities are like this, it is not unique to Houston." It is not an issue of acceptance, as you put it, it is an issue of not wanting to be compared unfavorably to other cities.
Your post is one of the most cogent and well-written that I've ever read on these boards. +1
I think you are misunderstanding what is being said here. Houston is the 4th largest city in the USA. The three cities in front of it (New York, LA, Chicago) are all known internationally in a positive way. Houston, on the other hand, doesn't have such a favorable reputation. While those of us who live here know it to be nice, outsiders have a more negative view of Houston largely born out of ignorance. There just isn't much info about Houston out there apart from the heat and humidity, oil, etc.
If you are from Chicago, New York, LA you don't really care what people say about your city because you are comfortable with its place in the world and you know it to be a world class city. Houstonians have, for lack of a better term, more of an inferiority complex about their city. If you come in and say something negative about the city, the most likely reaction (as you have seen) is going to be: "why are you being negative, all cities are like this, it is not unique to Houston." It is not an issue of acceptance, as you put it, it is an issue of not wanting to be compared unfavorably to other cities.
+1
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the perspective.
As far as I've seen, Houston's "bad" reputation comes less from the perception of its crime rate than its association with the oil industry, a relatively nefarious business when compared, for instance, with LA's cinematic claim to fame. Moreover, when I hear people talk about living here because of the low taxes, that just makes Houston seem like a place where everybody's just looking out for themselves--somewhere that's less of an organized community and more of a place where people just go to exploit the resources and keep to themselves. This may make for a desirable location for some, but not for a desirable city in the public's eye.
However, having just moved to Houston myself, I have to say, my impression of the city so far has been fantastic. I'm still not comfortable with Houston's close association with oil--or "energy" as the industry would have us believe--but overall, I have come to really love this place in a very short time. Where I thought I would meet an indignant individualism, I've met a vibrant community, where I thought I would find scary, crime-ridden streets, I've found lively neighborhoods, and where I thought I would find hot, moist smog and oil tankers everywhere, I've found clear skies and an almost tropical, warm climate. So despite its somewhat negative associations, I would have to say that Houston may be the most misunderstood city in America.
Going forward, I think the city would really benefit from a shift away from its emphasis on being the "energy" capital of America, and a move toward embracing its second-to-none diversity, friendliness and southern charm.
If it wasn't for the energy industry there would be no Houston. Think about that before you start bashing "big oil".
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