30 Phrases People From Philadelphia Would Never Be Caught Saying (hotel, casino)

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by TARS

Subway = BSL (Orange Line)
El = MFL (Blue Line)

Schuylkill. Not 76.

Only been here a year and a half and those things really have been drilled into me.

As someone who spent his entire childhood in the region, rest assured that plenty of natives use 76 and "the Schuylkill" interchangeably.

Neither line was on my radar as a child, so it's harder to say. I never had the occasion to use it until I moved into the City for grad school, where there were tons of transplants. I feel like a decent number of Philadelphians will switch between subway and el for Market Frankford depending on surface level, but I'm not as confident on that one.

Regardless, it's interesting to see the way people's anecdotal/subjective experiences differ when it comes to nomenclature--transplants, especially. All it takes is one native to convince you his way is the "only" way, when, in fact, there can be several terminologies.

[TARS]

Originally Posted by ElijahAstin

As someone who spent his entire childhood in the region, rest assured that plenty of natives use 76 and "the Schuylkill" interchangeably.

Neither line was on my radar as a child, so it's harder to say. I never had the occasion to use it until I moved into the City for grad school, where there were tons of transplants. I feel like a decent number of Philadelphians will switch between subway and el for Market Frankford depending on surface level, but I'm not as confident on that one.

Regardless, it's interesting to see the way people's anecdotal/subjective experiences differ when it comes to nomenclature--transplants, especially. All it takes is one native to convince you his way is he "only" way, when, in fact, there can be several terminologies.

Yes! One thing that I have enjoyed is how people from Philly are very confident that their way is the right way. "It's this, and anything you hear elsewhere is wrong!". It is a sort of genuine passion for their city that makes it so charming. I'm slowly adopting this city as my own.

[CarbonCountyLiving]

My boyfriend refers to any place in PA that isn't Philly as "Upstate." Lol.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by ITinCC

Do native actually call the highways by the numbers? I'm a transplant, so I do it, but I've always heard they are mentioned by the names:

I76 = Schuylkill
I676 = Vine
I276 = Turnpike
I476 = Northeast Extension (I do hear I476 for the non-toll portion)

I76 = the Schuylkill &, if you lived through the Schuylkill reconstruction, the Sure-kill.

[phillies2011]

All of these lists are so dumb. As though the entirety of Philadelphia is a hive mind that thinks alike.

I normally call the MFL the el, but I've heard it called the subway plenty of times or the blue line. I feel like I normally hear BSL with spoken letters most often our other main subway line, but also simply the subway and the orange line, though I must say I have NEVER heard anyone call it the el.

76 or Schuylkill seems like a 50 - 50 split and 676 or vine is another split that I feel leans more strongly to Vine.

And I hear plenty of people say they're going downtown or "in town" especially if they're headed to a part of Center City that isn't the central business district.

My point is any hard and fast rule that attempts to explain how all Philadelphians think is pointless. Even ones that you think you can take for granted. Plenty of kids I grew up with in philly were cowboys fans. Does that mean they're aholes? Probably. But you can't tell me they're not Philadelphians none the less.

I also hold a number of views that are probably considered very against the common Philadelphian mind set but good luck convincing me I'm not a Philadelphian. Most egregious are probably the following:

- Don't mind the PPA: Sorry everyone, never got a ticket. Granted, I didn't get my license until I was in my mid 20s and I've only had a car in my household for the past few years, but I've still yet to receive a single ticket. PPA in my mind brings money to our city by ticketing people who can't be bothered to park legally and for whom I have no sympathy.

- The mummers are dumb - The list mentions not "getting" the mummers. I "get" them alright. An excuse for old white people to get drunk and be racist. I'm not on board. Sorry fellow Philadelphians.

-The wing bowl is a total embarrassment - This one is timely. I really hate the wing bowl and I will be overjoyed when this event dies a merciful death.

[CarbonCountyLiving]

That's a great point about the Mummers. I forgot about that post. I've spent plenty of New Year's in Philly but this year was the first that I wasn't too hung over to go to the parade in person. I guess I never noticed the inherent racism involved, and I was pretty struck by it. There's a reason a lot of people want to do away with it, and now I get it.

The guy dressed up as a robotic cat with a Cylon face and a fake silver butt, though--that I did NOT get.

[Better Than You]

Originally Posted by phillies2011

Don't mind the PPA: Sorry everyone, never got a ticket. Granted, I didn't get my license until I was in my mid 20s and I've only had a car in my household for the past few years, but I've still yet to receive a single ticket. PPA in my mind brings money to our city by ticketing people who can't be bothered to park legally and for whom I have no sympathy.

- The mummers are dumb - The list mentions not "getting" the mummers. I "get" them alright. An excuse for old white people to get drunk and be racist. I'm not on board. Sorry fellow Philadelphians.

-The wing bowl is a total embarrassment - This one is timely. I really hate the wing bowl and I will be overjoyed when this event dies a merciful death.

I agree with you about the PPA - Read the signs, pay attention and don't park like you're entitled and you won't have a problem.

I disagree with you about the Mummers. I've been to two of the last three parades and there was nothing "racist" about it. There were also plenty of young people participating and people of all races in the crowd. You seem to love labeling people and events "racist," (newsflash: That word has lost steam from being overused and most white people no longer care when the accusation flies) ... Give us an example of the Mummers parade being "racist."

I'm happy to tell you, but the Wing Bowl isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Have you seen the size of the crowd it draws? It's just people having fun with nobody getting hurt, it's good for the city and I believe profits go to charity. Be envious.

[Better Than You]

Originally Posted by CarbonCountyLiving

That's a great point about the Mummers. I forgot about that post. I've spent plenty of New Year's in Philly but this year was the first that I wasn't too hung over to go to the parade in person. I guess I never noticed the inherent racism involved, and I was pretty struck by it. There's a reason a lot of people want to do away with it, and now I get it.

The guy dressed up as a robotic cat with a Cylon face and a fake silver butt, though--that I did NOT get.

What about it is "racist"?

[jazzy jeff]

I have never seen anything racist about the Mummers. There is only a certain segment of the parade where you may find some marchers intoxicated. It is big production now-a days.
The city raises more money in tax revenue from the hotels, restaurants and other businesses on NYD that exceeds the cost of the parade but yet tells the Mummers get sponsorship or pay for your own parade. You can thank Congressmen Bob Brady and Sugarhouse Casino for that sponsorship, otherwise the parade would be limited and a financial loss for the city.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Sammy215267

Cold Case def was shooting on location at times....and they did get places names right. I did enjoy Cold Case...they pretty much shot Philly before AND after the skyline changed (Comcast Center)

The creator of Cold Case went to Penn. She's also an exec producer/writer on Homeland but, heck, I'm blanking on her name.