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Old 04-12-2007, 12:52 PM
 
70 posts, read 319,870 times
Reputation: 72

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Hey guys,

Let me preface this by saying that I am not trying to sound elitist in anything that comes across in this post. I can easily see why someone would want to move and stay in Las Vegas.

My question is, for people who live there now, what kind of people make up the huge influx of people that make Las Vegas such a fast growing metro? What I mean is, I was raised in Connecticut and ended up fortunate enough to end up at some pretty nice universities. I am really an academic at heart (albeit a conservative one, rare these days), and while I have no disrespect for less educated or blue-collar workers, I want to be in an environment with people that share my interests. My current field of practice is law.

So, is it hard to find the more quiet, intellectual types in Vegas? Is it more of a hedonistic location? I am quite honestly concerned that a lot of people that move there are "last chance," running from previous life/the law/bad marriage, or just people who love to gamble in general. Would you say that there is a lack of professionals in the city?

Thanks guys, and I mean no disrespect if it comes across that way- I love Vegas.
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Old 04-12-2007, 02:45 PM
 
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
222 posts, read 1,042,172 times
Reputation: 119
There is no lack of professional, intellectual types in this city. Las Vegas is a melting pot of all kinds of people, from the homeless bums, drug dealers and illegals to the doctors, lawyers and CPA's.

There are people that are running from a previous life/the law/bad marriage to well known Christian leaders in the community. Some of those that are running from some bad past end up running to God. We attend the largest Church in Nevada, Central Christian Church, and over the years we have witnessed all kinds of people with all kinds of problems come to Christ and get their lives straightened out right here in Sin City...It's amazing what can happen here!!!
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Old 04-12-2007, 03:19 PM
 
Location: Las Vegas
3,728 posts, read 9,439,412 times
Reputation: 1322
Nice post Cajun...I agree...Las Vegas is a melting pot...from the very worst to the very best that the human race can offer!

It's a "new" city, maybe that's the attraction, everything here is mostly new silvio...it's so diverse as well. We ARE Sin City, but we have an abundance of churches and religion here as well. The Mormons have quite a presence here in town. LV can be like any pleasant suburban place you can think of, or the worst that any city has to offer. We have lots of young folks here, but also major Senior retirement communities...

We have lots of sex, gambling, drinking...but you can raise kids here with absolutely no problem...there's plenty of amenities here for families with kids without the Strip influence! It and that culture is there if you want it...and is very easy to avoid if you don't want it!

I think that most people move here for a better way of life...not that what they left behind was so terrible...they just want to improve themselves and have a better quality of life. Considering our rapid growth, it seems most are successful at achieving that ...and then there are others that are not.
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Old 04-13-2007, 03:28 AM
 
Location: Cincinnati
1,749 posts, read 8,312,690 times
Reputation: 784
Many people move to Las Vegas for the same reason I did: you can get a decent job with full benefits with absolutely no education (which I got later after leaving). I loved the fact that things stayed open 24 hrs as I'm a nocturnal person. I opened 2 new casinos on the strip and had fabulous jobs. All this wasn't enough to make up for the lack of culture, extreme difficulty in finding "quiet intellectual types" (I managed to find a few but it really took some doing) and the awful weather and lack of ocean did me in. It's also a very "hard" town....you'll find lots of "last chance" cases, it's a popular destination for them. There's a running joke "If you can pass a drug test"... I still have wonderful friends there and I visit from time to time, sometimes to see shows. The town is great if you love everything brand spanking new (around the edges, which keep moving outward running from "them") and love gambling and the Vegas nightlife. I don't drink and I'm not into drugs or hookers so I spent a lot of time leaving on the weekends. Some people thrive there, I'm not one of the people who did. The ones who love it seem to have an odd habit I call the "Las Vegas Sales Pitch". Someone gave it to me and it worked, I stayed from '98 to '01. I decided it was probably wise to move back to Los Angeles since I already drove there ever weekend. I'm happy for the experience, LV isn't for me and that's it. I'm not a country fan but I sang "Bye Bye" by Jodee Messina as I watched "it" disappear in my rear view mirror.
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Old 04-13-2007, 06:33 AM
 
Location: South Strip, NV --> Philly (Fall 2009)
2,404 posts, read 10,646,553 times
Reputation: 637
I don't understand why anyone says we have no culture...Just look at all the shows, galleries, and other stuff on the Strip!
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Old 04-13-2007, 09:55 AM
 
Location: NW Las Vegas - Lone Mountain
15,756 posts, read 38,047,428 times
Reputation: 2661
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcerer68 View Post
Many people move to Las Vegas for the same reason I did: you can get a decent job with full benefits with absolutely no education (which I got later after leaving). I loved the fact that things stayed open 24 hrs as I'm a nocturnal person. I opened 2 new casinos on the strip and had fabulous jobs. All this wasn't enough to make up for the lack of culture, extreme difficulty in finding "quiet intellectual types" (I managed to find a few but it really took some doing) and the awful weather and lack of ocean did me in. It's also a very "hard" town....you'll find lots of "last chance" cases, it's a popular destination for them. There's a running joke "If you can pass a drug test"... I still have wonderful friends there and I visit from time to time, sometimes to see shows. The town is great if you love everything brand spanking new (around the edges, which keep moving outward running from "them") and love gambling and the Vegas nightlife. I don't drink and I'm not into drugs or hookers so I spent a lot of time leaving on the weekends. Some people thrive there, I'm not one of the people who did. The ones who love it seem to have an odd habit I call the "Las Vegas Sales Pitch". Someone gave it to me and it worked, I stayed from '98 to '01. I decided it was probably wise to move back to Los Angeles since I already drove there ever weekend. I'm happy for the experience, LV isn't for me and that's it. I'm not a country fan but I sang "Bye Bye" by Jodee Messina as I watched "it" disappear in my rear view mirror.

An interesting piece.

Can one be an "intellectual" with "absolutely no education"? How would you know if you were one?

How can you be the pop culture capital of the world and lack culture? Maybe you mean it did not have that brand of "culture" that appealed to you?

Awful weather? 300 plus sunny days? Awful? You mean you find the heat intolearable? I will give you the ocean bit though. I do miss it.

"Running from them"? Perhaps you really think large expanses of cheap vacant land are located near the strip?

I don't know a druggie here. I did know a couple in LA. Know some whackos. But I suspect dementia rather than drugs. Perhaps you ran in a different circle of people?

I think you did well to return to LA. Your thought processes fit there.
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Old 04-13-2007, 10:50 AM
 
Location: Las Vegas
3,728 posts, read 9,439,412 times
Reputation: 1322
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sorcerer68 View Post
Many people move to Las Vegas for the same reason I did: you can get a decent job with full benefits with absolutely no education (which I got later after leaving). I loved the fact that things stayed open 24 hrs as I'm a nocturnal person. I opened 2 new casinos on the strip and had fabulous jobs. All this wasn't enough to make up for the lack of culture, extreme difficulty in finding "quiet intellectual types" (I managed to find a few but it really took some doing) and the awful weather and lack of ocean did me in. It's also a very "hard" town....you'll find lots of "last chance" cases, it's a popular destination for them. There's a running joke "If you can pass a drug test"... I still have wonderful friends there and I visit from time to time, sometimes to see shows. The town is great if you love everything brand spanking new (around the edges, which keep moving outward running from "them") and love gambling and the Vegas nightlife. I don't drink and I'm not into drugs or hookers so I spent a lot of time leaving on the weekends. Some people thrive there, I'm not one of the people who did. The ones who love it seem to have an odd habit I call the "Las Vegas Sales Pitch". Someone gave it to me and it worked, I stayed from '98 to '01. I decided it was probably wise to move back to Los Angeles since I already drove there ever weekend. I'm happy for the experience, LV isn't for me and that's it. I'm not a country fan but I sang "Bye Bye" by Jodee Messina as I watched "it" disappear in my rear view mirror.

I don't drink, I'm not into hookers, I don't gamble...and I live here just fine. Why did you move to the Mojave desert if you miss the ocean...hello?

Why move to a tourist town to find "intellectual types" and find "culture" where sex, drinking and gambling and over the top exhibits of people, places and things is what people come here for?

We pitch our town to strangers because we love it and we are successful. When you love something, Sorcerer, you want to brag about it Maybe that's the "sales pitch" you've been told...sorry it didn't suit you...

I agree with the Capt...you made a good choice in leaving..and I'm sure you'll be moving somewhere else in the near future, to find that elusive rainbow you seem to be searching for. You should try NYC...all the things you seem to be looking for are there....



Good luck and God Bless!
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Old 04-13-2007, 11:56 AM
 
Location: Las Vegas
14,229 posts, read 29,900,389 times
Reputation: 27684
You can find anything you want to find in Las Vegas. You will have to look harder to find some things than others. I know a cocktail waitress with a PHD and an escort(euphemism for hooker) who is a card carrying member of MENSA. It's an interesting mix.

People come to Vegas for all sorts of reasons. Weather, gambling, jobs, entertainment. Everybody has their reason. Some, like mine, are really simple; boredom. There's always something to do in Las Vegas. Doesn't matter if you do it or not. You know it's there.

Away from the Strip, it's regular life. People go to school, church, and even the library. They have laundry and yardwork to do on the weekends. It's not a whole lot different than other cities in the Southwest. Las Vegas does have problems with a large immigrant population and an infrastructure that can't keep up with the numbers of people relocating to the area. Most other cities have these same issues.

It will all be up to you. Maintain a healthy attitude and be accepting of others. You will be happy, make friends, and have a ball. You could find a new best friend who has a tattoo and 5 university diplomas. It's Vegas, anything can happen!
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Old 04-14-2007, 03:16 AM
 
Location: Somewhere.
10,481 posts, read 25,188,035 times
Reputation: 9115
Many people i've met are moving from towns in the east and midwest because they simply can't find work. So many places are closing down or being outsourced. So they move to Vegas, because here, there is always work.
I've met people from all walks of society here. It's just one giant bag of mixed nuts. JMO.
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Old 04-14-2007, 05:51 AM
 
1,608 posts, read 9,722,550 times
Reputation: 973
I agree with PinkString... today many people from the midwest are moving there looking for work. Places like Michigan are suffering badly and the people need a new life where they can take care of their families.

I don't think there's a particular "type" of people that the city attracts. Therea re all kinds of people that move there - retirees, California transplants, illegals, people escaping snowy weather, etc. All sorts of people...
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