Season's greetings. (Boston, Springfield: new home, neighborhood, pros and cons)

[ogre]

(Note to CasyB/mods: I posted this by mistake in the Boston sub-forum, and discovered the error after it was too late to edit. If there is a problem with having this posted in both forums, could you please set things so this thread is located in the general MA forum. Thanks.)

I've been a member here at City Data for two years and a few months. In that time I've observed that people here at the MA forum sometimes disagree. Of course some disagreement is a given when the discussion involves political issues. Occasionally there will be some back and forth about how well a particular town or neighborhood fits the OP's criteria. Then, every so often, there will be residents of Springfield on here who will offer a different view of their city than the picture most of us have.

So, there are disagreements here and there, but I've noticed that for the most part the members at the MA forum manage to keep disagreements civil, without a lot of the personal sniping that happens at some forums, and to get together on defending Mass. and Boston against incorrect information, whether this is based on stereotypes or misconceptions, or is presented as just plain bashing. Fortunately the need to counter these kinds of posts happens infrequently, and I've observed that with the more usual situation of people simply asking questions about MA and Boston, many users at this forum are very generous in taking the time and effort to give good, detailed info on the pros and cons of this area, and on narrowing down the locations that best fit each OP's criteria. So all in all, it's enjoyable to check out this forum frequently. Thanks to you all for making this so.

To all the good folks here at the MA forum, merry Christmas, happy holidays, season's greetings, best wishes, whatever greeting works for you. Wishing you all a warm, joyful, maybe if you're lucky even relaxing time at the holidays. Now I'm outta here. Time for a little hot chocolate!

All the best,
The Ogre

[lrfox]

Happy Holidays to you as well, Ogre. I always enjoy reading your posts as you're chalk full of information. You provide invaluable advice on a constant basis and are one of the most helpful members I've seen on the forum. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Tried to "rep" you but need to spread it.

Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays to all of you out there.

-lrfox

[western mass and love it]

this just in...Santa Claus shot in Springfield trying to deliver presents........j/k
Merry Christmas everyone.

[tceffo]

Originally Posted by western mass and love it

this just in...Santa Claus shot in Springfield trying to deliver presents........j/k
Merry Christmas everyone.

He wouldnt have made it through Jersey anyway- -Happy Holidays
ceffo

[LeavingMA]

Great post and Merry Christmas to all. The one great thing about this site is the wealth of information and that it is done in a civil and educated fashion. It is great to have both agreeing and discerning opinions and respecting each other.

[Beachcomber4]

Merry X-Mas to all. Ogre, great post and could not agree with you more. I think that's why those of us who used this forum to find a new home come back and try to help others who are going through the same process.

[ogre]

Thanks to those who posted here. I must have spread a lot of rep just before making this thread, because, surprisingly enough, I was able to give you all some thanks-for-posting rep without being told I had to spread some first. I would have expected to have to wait a while before repping some of you. Casey, thanks for fixing this after I managed to split the thread between the two forums.

Anyway, yeah, it is nice to see the well-informed and civil way people interact here. Hope everyone has been having a good holiday season. Hope Santa, after surviving Jersey (somehow) and Springfield was good to you all. Now, best wishes for a happy New Year. Take care.