Prediction: City of Pittsburgh to lose much more population in the next 5 years. (Philadelphia: credit, unemployed)

[szug-bot]

i dont understand any embarrassment about "Appalachia". As a native of Pittsburgher, who used to be very defensive about this town because of critical family members elsewhere (canada, cleveland, snooty europe, NYC), i have no qualms about 'appalachia'.

first, pgh was a jazz hotspot at one time and a very important industry and population center as the US was growing in the early to mid-20th century. More rural Appalachia is a continuation of the scottish/irish culture of centuries past - its even been discussed on this board that 'pittsburghese' (which is dying out) stems from the irish colloquialism of english.

besides that, as you get older, you realize people in the suburbs, then further out in the country also have lives of value, and life experiences of value. i grew up a city person, thinking "this is IT". sure, city life is great in many ways, but suburban/rural people can be happy, too.

i am not ashamed of "Appalachia". I dont think Pgh is THAT great anymore, but nowhere is.

[PghSportsGuy420]

Pittsburgh isn't Appalachia as understood by ethnologists and never was. Last I checked, Allegheny County had the highest percentage of Slovak-descended people of any county in the United States, for instance. I don't think the traditional definition of Appalachia involves much Eastern European or even German culture.

[wood_lake]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

i dont understand any embarrassment about "Appalachia". As a native of Pittsburgher, who used to be very defensive about this town because of critical family members elsewhere (canada, cleveland, snooty europe, NYC), i have no qualms about 'appalachia'.

first, pgh was a jazz hotspot at one time and a very important industry and population center as the US was growing in the early to mid-20th century. More rural Appalachia is a continuation of the scottish/irish culture of centuries past - its even been discussed on this board that 'pittsburghese' (which is dying out) stems from the irish colloquialism of english.

besides that, as you get older, you realize people in the suburbs, then further out in the country also have lives of value, and life experiences of value. i grew up a city person, thinking "this is IT". sure, city life is great in many ways, but suburban/rural people can be happy, too.

i am not ashamed of "Appalachia". I dont think Pgh is THAT great anymore, but nowhere is.

Agreed. Appalachia is a stunningly beautiful region of the nation filled with hard working and friendly people. It has its own unique culture and traditions that don't exist anywhere else in the world. Not to mention a rich and interesting history. It's not Northern, Southern, Eastern, or Western, but something else entirely. I would think being called one of the top cities in such a vast region would be a point of pride but shockingly many Pittsburghers want to distance themselves entirely from the region despite being in the middle of it. Pittsburgh is unique because Appalachia is unique, and that's OK.

[PghSportsGuy420]

Originally Posted by wood_lake

shockingly many Pittsburghers want to distance themselves entirely from the region despite being in the middle of it. Pittsburgh is unique because Appalachia is unique, and that's OK.

A great number of Appalachians call themselves "Pittsburghers" but insult the city constantly and avoid it like the plague except for a Steelers game or Kenny Chesney concert once or twice a year. Only fair for us to return the favor.

The built environment and the people who populate it change drastically once you get ten miles out of town. Lots of confederate flags. Makes you think.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by PghSportsGuy420

A great number of Appalachians call themselves "Pittsburghers" but insult the city constantly and avoid it like the plague except for a Steelers game or Kenny Chesney concert once or twice a year. Only fair for us to return the favor.

The built environment and the people who populate it change drastically once you get ten miles out of town. Lots of confederate flags. Makes you think.

To quote my favorite regular poster "Bingo".

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by PghSportsGuy420

A great number of Appalachians call themselves "Pittsburghers" but insult the city constantly and avoid it like the plague except for a Steelers game or Kenny Chesney concert once or twice a year. Only fair for us to return the favor.

The built environment and the people who populate it change drastically once you get ten miles out of town. Lots of confederate flags. Makes you think.

but that is a common thing in metro areas in a lot of places. friends from Philadelphia I had known over the years were from norristown, bucks county, mont.county - anywhere EXCEPT the city proper. they were aghast and disgusted when one of them moved to Center City following his divorce. He loved it for a few years, but has since departed Center City after paying for several smashed windshields and dealing with lunatics.

North Hillians are definitely like that here. I had to convince an older guy from a northern county (Clearfield?) that "no, the crime is not out on control", as he stated it was (some random conversation, maybe at a Pirates game a few years back). I don't blame him - he is no different than everyone else. He makes his narrative, his truth, from what he is exposed to, and for him, that is likely what he sees on the Pgh news.

"only fair for us to return the favor".

What? I don't go out far anymore and haven't in years, but at one time i used to love 3 day weekends at Kinzua or other rural places in western PA and western NY. the small towns in western NY especially, including Cooperstown. How can anyone JUST be a city guy? and / or JUST a suburban guy? there is life enrichment with exploring other places that we dont see every day.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by PghSportsGuy420

The built environment and the people who populate it change drastically once you get ten miles out of town. Lots of confederate flags. Makes you think.

And a lot of unmasked people as well.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by PghSportsGuy420

The built environment and the people who populate it change drastically once you get ten miles out of town. Lots of confederate flags. Makes you think.

That's not true at all. One would think that you see hundreds of Confederate flags. One here or there does not make "lots". Just not true. Come on.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

That's not true at all. One would think that you see hundreds of Confederate flags. One here or there does not make "lots". Just not true. Come on.

you noob....there are fields of stars and bars out there. the entire south hills is racist. peduto is totally inept, and our bus transit system is the pits.

do you actually pay attention in these threads????

[PghSportsGuy420]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

That's not true at all. One would think that you see hundreds of Confederate flags. One here or there does not make "lots". Just not true. Come on.

Even if there were as few as you claim (and there are plenty, check out the area around McDonald), even one is too many. No idea why people from the historic Union would identify so much with the symbol of a traitorous bunch of losers who committed treason so they could continue to own other human beings. Curious.