10 things I hate about Pittsburgh! (Progress, Wilson: crime rate, cost of, title)

[doo dah]

I guess I am too cynical about reporters. Also, everybody should do yoga, it is good for the body. I should start doing it again.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by doo dah

I guess I am too cynical about reporters. Also, everybody should do yoga, it is good for the body. I should start doing it again.

Believing everything a politician has to tell you isn't the best way to go...unless you don't mind contributing to their vice's and portfolio.

[steindle]

While I think it's kind of silly to make pronouncements on the collective politeness of 2.3 million people, I suppose it is true that there are attitudinal distinctions between regions. In that sense, I would describe Pittsburgh's average temperament in the same way I would my paternal grandparents': "grudgingly helpful." In general, there might be a little huffing and puffing before a tourist gets directions, but they are going to get directions, if not a ride to their destination. (This is distinct from, e.g., my experiences in Boston, where people would pretend like I hadn't even asked them a question.)

That said, I don't know that this nebulous concept of "friendliness" is some great asset on par with entrepreneurship or educational opportunity. To some extent, it's a matter of personal preference: For example, I found Nashville's "friendliness" overwhelming and exhausting to the point of being unpleasant. I thank people who hold the door, I tip very well, etc., but I don't think I should be expected to wave and smile at every person who arbitrarily jogs past me. I'm not always in the mood -- I may be sad or deep in thought, and I don't think I should be obligated to feign Southern-y / Midwestern-y niceties under those circumstances. Pittsburgh is a good fit for me in that sense.

[sicksburgh]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I moved here due to all of the "hype". "Pittsburgh is sooooo cheap! Pittsburgh is sooooo friendly! Pittsburgh is sooooo hip and happenin'." I've found much of the hype to be untrue. Pittsburgh is cheap if you're affluent and/or moved here from an area/city considered affluent by national norms. I've watched median rents for a 1-BR spike here consistently year after year since moving here while salaries have remained flat whereas we're now more expensive than may of our peer cities.

You actually had to move here to figure this out? Pittsburgh's an alright city, but you can pretty much get a proper feel for the place within a couple of days. It is what it is, and isn't what it isn't. The latter is something that some people will just never accept. Do you ever get so sick and tired of people constantly comparing Pittsburgh to difference cities, both domestic and foreign? "Pittsburgh is the _____of______", "Pittsburgh is the new ________". How about "Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh"? Constantly branding, re-branding, packaging and re-packaging the city and region to sell it to people from elsewhere makes us look like we're insecure.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Believing everything a politician has to tell you isn't the best way to go...unless you don't mind contributing to their vice's and portfolio.

Who said anything about politicians?

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by doo dah

Who said anything about politicians?

The talk was about the media asking Peduto about a project and investigating and reporting info about what he and others in public office do. Peduto is a politician.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by UKyank

Because 'the press' historically has been considered the 'Forth Estate' to exist as a check on those in public office & provide a protection from excesses of power through open reporting. It a big reason for the freedom of the press protection offered by the 1st amendment.

This.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by erieguy

The talk was about the media asking Peduto about a project and investigating and reporting info about what he and others in public office do. Peduto is a politician.

and I said "I guess I am too cynical about reporters. Also, everybody should do yoga, it is good for the body. I should start doing it again."

because UKYank said: "Investigative journalism of anything local just doesn't exist."

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by doo dah

and I said "I guess I am too cynical about reporters. Also, everybody should do yoga, it is good for the body. I should start doing it again."

because UKYank said: "Investigative journalism of anything local just doesn't exist."

Yoga is good.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Yoga is good.

There is never a need to get smug about it however.

Traditionally Pittsburghers could care less what exotic activities you engage in, just as long as you don't think you are better than they are because of it.