Oklahoma to (likely Western) Massachusetts - Beginning Research (Boston, Northampton: house, unemployment rate)

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by missionhill

That's a seriously mistaken idea. GLBTQ and all oppressed groups have community almost by definition; individual members of oppressed groups have the oppression in common with one another-- that they all know it, experience it, have grieved together when someone is beaten or killed out of homophobia or racism or misogyny. They're together in the fight to expand rights and recognition and oppose legislation and judicial decisions that restrict rights. If anyone, it's the regular white heteros living in their isolated suburban houses who lack community. Despite all the rugged individualist 'I've got mine' values in this society people need community. For those who feel alone it can show up in perverse forms, like becoming an 'incel' when you can't get a date, or joining the Klan/white nationalist groups who convince themselves that white people are an oppressed group just so they too can feel part of some community. Nasty comment: Why shouldn't OP or anyone else move from one state to another-- something US people have been doing forever?

And that's a ridiculous and naive oversimplification that borders on being insulting. If you're suggesting that because people share the experience of being oppressed in some manner it means they also share a kumbaya kinship of love and cohesion, you're wrong. In many individual relationships a common experience can facilitate bonding among people or groups, but in the grand scheme she's right in my opinon, there is no one big "community" per se that's just a term used in place of "population." In some political contexts the word community is probably appropriate for lack of a better term. There are serious divisions among GLBT people just as there are with any other people, and those divisions are getting more complicated by the day. Why on earth would you think GLBT people are any different than any other people?

[PamelaIamela]

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

And that's a ridiculous and naive oversimplification that borders on being insulting. If you're suggesting that because people share the experience of being oppressed in some manner it means they also share a kumbaya kinship of love and cohesion, you're wrong. In many individual relationships a common experience can facilitate bonding among people or groups, but in the grand scheme she's right in my opinon, there is no one big "community" per se that's just a term used in place of "population." In some political contexts the word community is probably appropriate for lack of a better term. There are serious divisions among GLBT people just as there are with any other people, and those divisions are getting more complicated by the day. Why on earth would you think GLBT people are any different than any other people?

Unfortunately there's more political posturing and delusional thinking posing as 'truth' nowadays, across all spectrums of society.
Simply from a social perspective gay men and gay women interact far less often (and then mostly superficially) in normal life than one would imagine... or we care to admit.
And that's PERFECTLY OK.

P.S. My comment ending 'good luck.. you'll need it' was not insulting but honest.
The economic hurdles that face the OP alone justify it.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by missionhill

That's a seriously mistaken idea. GLBTQ and all oppressed groups have community almost by definition; individual members of oppressed groups have the oppression in common with one another-- that they all know it, experience it, have grieved together when someone is beaten or killed out of homophobia or racism or misogyny. They're together in the fight to expand rights and recognition and oppose legislation and judicial decisions that restrict rights. If anyone, it's the regular white heteros living in their isolated suburban houses who lack community. Despite all the rugged individualist 'I've got mine' values in this society people need community. For those who feel alone it can show up in perverse forms, like becoming an 'incel' when you can't get a date, or joining the Klan/white nationalist groups who convince themselves that white people are an oppressed group just so they too can feel part of some community.



Nasty comment: Why shouldn't OP or anyone else move from one state to another-- something US people have been doing forever?

Unfortunately life in the US today, particularly MA isn't exactly what it used to be. If you want to move somewhere you better be making the money to do it. MA is a very expensive state to live in and there's lots of snobbery here. If someone is living in a place like OK and isn't making much money and they are disabled do you not think they shouldn't be given honest advice? Of course everyone has the right to move where they please. But sadly rights mean nothing if you have no funds to back it up. `

I know of a family in the process of moving to MA right now for a particular sport for their kid and I am just chuckling to myself over it. They aren't a wealthy family, they think their 8 yr old is NHL bound and want better hockey programs for him, the husband is a huge Trump supporter and hates liberals. They are giving up a beautiful home and what appears to be a nice lifestyle in a southern state because they think their 8 year old is the next Bobby Orr. Maybe it works out for them?

[missionhill]

[quote=bostongymjunkie;63417390...borders on being insulting...[/QUOTE] Pot calling the kettle black.

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

...a common experience can facilitate bonding among people or groups, but ... there is no one big "community" per se ... in some political contexts the word community is probably appropriate for lack of a better term. There are serious divisions among GLBT people just as there are with any other people...

This all makes sense: bonding over common experience(s) fosters/sustains community (why do we need a better term?). Divisions in community? Of course; it's still a community.

Originally Posted by bostongymjunkie

Why...would you think GLBT people are any different than any other people?

GLBT people share those common bonding experiences--i.e., they have community in the face of oppression.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Pot calling the kettle black.



This all makes sense: bonding over common experience(s) fosters/sustains community (why do we need a better term?). Divisions in community? Of course; it's still a community.



GLBT people share those common bonding experiences--i.e., they have community in the face of oppression.

Well, two gay people just told you or implied that they don't agree with your characterization. I would also suggest that the notion of "community" that you may imagine (along with perhaps some GLBT people) are in may ways decidedly different than many others who don't see ourselves as falling within this "sustained" community you've described and who know a much different experience than the one you're pushing. There's lots of GLBT people out there that don't fit into your picture of community and they all have different and, more recently, competing interests in some cases. It's not kumbaya and everyone loves each other based on shared experiences, so no different than society at large in many ways. Long conversation and very complex topic. Definitely not a conversation for those who like to pigeonhole minorities for political expediency or personal gratification.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Unfortunately life in the US today, particularly MA isn't exactly what it used to be...MA is a very expensive state to live in and there's lots of snobbery here.

To that I'd say OK boomer but as a boomer myself I'll hold my tongue. There's more money in Massachusetts than we remember from the old days and with money comes snobbery; so what? Snobs aren't the OP's concern. There are plenty of livable, relatively low cost places to live in Massachusetts and OP's income prospects will improve considerably living in a state with higher pay grades and more opportunities.

[msRB311]

At 43 I'm hardly a boomer at all and maybe that says a lot about my opinion on this. For people who are not highly educated making 200k+ this is NOT the best state to be in.

I don't get the impression the OP is snobby, but she is being fairly particular about where in MA she lives. That said, why does she even really want to live in MA? She's been given more affordable alternatives but is set on a certain area.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by missionhill

To that I'd say OK boomer but as a boomer myself I'll hold my tongue. There's more money in Massachusetts than we remember from the old days and with money comes snobbery; so what? Snobs aren't the OP's concern. There are plenty of livable, relatively low cost places to live in Massachusetts and OP's income prospects will improve considerably living in a state with higher pay grades and more opportunities.

How will her income prospects improve (considerably) in Springfield?

[WestieWhitie]

Originally Posted by missionhill

To that I'd say OK boomer but as a boomer myself I'll hold my tongue. There's more money in Massachusetts than we remember from the old days and with money comes snobbery; so what? Snobs aren't the OP's concern. There are plenty of livable, relatively low cost places to live in Massachusetts and OP's income prospects will improve considerably living in a state with higher pay grades and more opportunities.

Unfortunately that is not the case in MA - you don’t get to have livable and low-cost, you can only get one or the other assuming livable means safe and with well-developed public transportation and good employment opportunities. Cheap towns affordable to those making not far above minimum wage are either isolated way out in the boonies and completely unlivable without a car or are unsafe and crime-infested, or sometimes both of the above. Even Worcester is no longer affordable in parts where you don’t have to worry about getting mugged every time you step outside.

[msRB311]

I still think it’s funny that I was called a boomer. Im a young gen x just missed being a millennial by like a year lol.