Is Taylor Swift the most famous person to ever come from the Philly area? (Philadelphia: live, metro area)

[thedirtypirate]

If you grow up eating hoagies, watching 6ABC action news, rooting for the Phils, and taking school trips to the Franklin Institute, where else would you say you were from?

Her being “from Philly” isn’t exactly a new thing. She sang the national anthem before the Phillies World Series game 15 years ago. I can’t believe 2008 is that long ago ha.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by jaxrivers

So you're disagreeing with something that wasn't said?



Originally Posted by cpomp View Post
We can pick apart the interpretation of "famous", but without a doubt Taylor Swift is among the most famous (or well known) people on the planet. But agree, Reading is not the Philadelphia area, and I don't think the general populous associates her with Philadelphia, but rather Pennsylvania.

Another famous person from the actual area is Pink, she grew up in Doylestown.


They didn't say "EVER" and it's not even in the ORIGINAL question.

Umm... yes, the OP did say this. See below for direct quote. It literally says the most famous person to ever come from Philly. Were you reading a different thread?

My question to all of you is Taylor Swift the most famous person to ever come from the greater Philadelphia region?

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

If you grow up eating hoagies, watching 6ABC action news, rooting for the Phils, and taking school trips to the Franklin Institute, where else would you say you were from?

What's wrong with answering 'Just outside Philly' or 'The Philadelphia suburbs' if you're actually from just outside Philly? Or 'Reading, PA' if you're from Reading, Pa? Or 'Grew up in Philly, now live in South Jersey ' ?Taylor Swift is from Reading, PA and has nothing to do with Philadelphia, PA. It's not that complicated. Personally, I believe a lot of guys from the suburbs will say they're from whatever big city they grew up near so that people will think they're 'tough.' We big city people may be 'tough' regarding certain things, but we're not all bad asses.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by NewtownBucks

That literally IS the question, which says "the most famous person to ever come from Philly".

This!

How can someone be the most famous person ever from Philly, if they are NOT even from Philly or any of its suburbs?

When I think of TSwift and where she is actually from (born and lived), I immediately think of Reading.

[AshbyQuin]

My answer is No, I mean, technically she is because the MSA for some reason extends all the way to Reading...

In terms of people with tangible ties to the city and who actually had an impact on Philly, Will Smith and Kobe Bryant are the clear answers without a doubt. Like, in this regard she isn't even the most popular woman; that would go to Jill Biden or Grace Kelly.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by Hermit12

What's wrong with answering 'Just outside Philly' or 'The Philadelphia suburbs' if you're actually from just outside Philly? Or 'Reading, PA' if you're from Reading, Pa? Or 'Grew up in Philly, now live in South Jersey ' ?Taylor Swift is from Reading, PA and has nothing to do with Philadelphia, PA. It's not that complicated. Personally, I believe a lot of guys from the suburbs will say they're from whatever big city they grew up near so that people will think they're 'tough.' We big city people may be 'tough' regarding certain things, but we're not all bad asses.

Well to your point that “Reading has nothing to do with Philly” is kind of funny for multiple reasons:
1. The reading railroad was obviously a very big part of both cities histories and their shared identity
2. Enough people commute from reading into the other counties or city to make Berks a part of the Philadelphia MSA

The part I bolded just makes it sound like you don’t talk to many people unfamiliar with our area. I work with people all around the world and if I tell them I grew up in Bucks, it’s meaningless. Philadelphia is the cultural and relevant center point of the region and the reason why the suburbs developed in the first place.

[Maddie104]

Whether Taylor Swift is legitimately from the "Philly area" aside, I would consider Ben Franklin the most famous due to posterity in history books and education in school. But, it is an interesting question since I wonder among the younger demographic how famous he is vs.Taylor Swift.

[AshbyQuin]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Well to your point that “Reading has nothing to do with Philly” is kind of funny for multiple reasons:
1. The reading railroad was obviously a very big part of both cities histories and their shared identity
2. Enough people commute from reading into the other counties or city to make Berks a part of the Philadelphia MSA

The part I bolded just makes it sound like you don’t talk to many people unfamiliar with our area. I work with people all around the world and if I tell them I grew up in Bucks, it’s meaningless. Philadelphia is the cultural and relevant center point of the region and the reason why the suburbs developed in the first place.

That's a slippery slope though.

Using Acme, Wawa, Rita's, Channel 6, and Eagles games as the standard for Philly and its suburbs isn't really appropriate in 2023.

Elkton MD has all of these things, and I'd hardly call it a representation of the area. Meanwhile, Trenton isn't included in the MSA despite having a similar build, an actual line connecting to the city, and all the other aforementioned things.

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

If you grow up eating hoagies, watching 6ABC action news, rooting for the Phils, and taking school trips to the Franklin Institute, where else would you say you were from?

Her being “from Philly” isn’t exactly a new thing. She sang the national anthem before the Phillies World Series game 15 years ago. I can’t believe 2008 is that long ago ha.

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Well to your point that “Reading has nothing to do with Philly” is kind of funny for multiple reasons:
1. The reading railroad was obviously a very big part of both cities histories and their shared identity
2. Enough people commute from reading into the other counties or city to make Berks a part of the Philadelphia MSA

The part I bolded just makes it sound like you don’t talk to many people unfamiliar with our area. I work with people all around the world and if I tell them I grew up in Bucks, it’s meaningless. Philadelphia is the cultural and relevant center point of the region and the reason why the suburbs developed in the first place.

Lol ... Nobody today associates Reading with Philly. Why don't you just tell people you grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs? They'll understand.

[Hermit12]

Originally Posted by AshbyQuin

That's a slippery slope though.

Using Acme, Wawa, Rita's, Channel 6, and Eagles games as the standard for Philly and its suburbs isn't really appropriate in 2023.

Elkton MD has all of these things, and I'd hardly call it a representation of the area. Meanwhile, Trenton isn't included in the MSA despite having a similar build, an actual line connecting to the city, and all the other aforementioned things.

We occasionally go to Elkton for the Waffle House. I wish there was one on 130 or Street Road.