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Speaking from someone that has resided in the Washington DC area for ten years, I've really developed a bad taste in my mouth for this area. However, it's true, the further west you go, the better it gets.
The Metro is awful. Inconsiderate and rude employers. Weekend track work for the past 40 years with no end in sight. And thousands of other problems.
I wouldn't hate the sports team as much if I'm at a game and the people next to me start stirring up a political conversation. I'm from Boston, but also respect sports fans from NYC for their passion for the game. This city has fans that are mostly dead, not everyone, but in general there is no life.
Political correctness? Boring. Go read a book.
Women are unapproachable.......unless you are articulate, educated, make over $200,000, well dressed, come from a good family, church going.....and blah blah blah......stuck up, again not everyone, but in general.
People that give you that dumb look like it's your fault, even though you're walking on the right side of the walkway and they bump into you.
The traffic isn't terrible as in most major cities, at least I don't think so, but most drivers are also very inconsiderate and selfish.
It's impossible to make friends here, most have their close circle of friends or just very family oriented. People won't go up and talk to you, everyone looks stressed to the max when I'm walking by.
It took me a while to realize, while I make a very good salary, in the long run it's just not worth it. For the most part, I've regretted every year I've lived here. First chance I get, I'm gone, outta here. No amount of money is worth my happiness.
Women want church going men? Many people in the city and close sububs dont care about religion. You must be living in the way outer reaches of NoVa where people are more like the South culturally. I am not surprised you are miserable here. The exurbs are a terribly boring place for a single person.
But really, if you can't find ANY friends in a metro area of millions and millions of people, consider the likelihood that the problem is with YOU, not the area.
Women want church going men? Many people in the city and close sububs dont care about religion. You must be living in the way outer reaches of NoVa where people are more like the South culturally. I am not surprised you are miserable here. The exurbs are a terribly boring place for a single person.
But really, if you can't find ANY friends in a metro area of millions and millions of people, consider the likelihood that the problem is with YOU, not the area.
Speaking from someone that has resided in the Washington DC area for ten years, I've really developed a bad taste in my mouth for this area. However, it's true, the further west you go, the better it gets.
The Metro is awful. Inconsiderate and rude employers. Weekend track work for the past 40 years with no end in sight. And thousands of other problems.
I wouldn't hate the sports team as much if I'm at a game and the people next to me start stirring up a political conversation. I'm from Boston, but also respect sports fans from NYC for their passion for the game. This city has fans that are mostly dead, not everyone, but in general there is no life.
Political correctness? Boring. Go read a book.
Women are unapproachable.......unless you are articulate, educated, make over $200,000, well dressed, come from a good family, church going.....and blah blah blah......stuck up, again not everyone, but in general.
People that give you that dumb look like it's your fault, even though you're walking on the right side of the walkway and they bump into you.
The traffic isn't terrible as in most major cities, at least I don't think so, but most drivers are also very inconsiderate and selfish.
It's impossible to make friends here, most have their close circle of friends or just very family oriented. People won't go up and talk to you, everyone looks stressed to the max when I'm walking by.
It took me a while to realize, while I make a very good salary, in the long run it's just not worth it. For the most part, I've regretted every year I've lived here. First chance I get, I'm gone, outta here. No amount of money is worth my happiness.
Some of the points you make I can see where you are coming from. I just moved here 4 months ago so I haven't fully gotten a hold of what the city really is like. But I am on a different mission. The reason why I say I see where you are coming from is because I am a different breed. I grew up in NY/NJ, just moved from Miami, and grew up with the puerto ricans, the brash italians, loud and very out spoken/out going types of people. Now working for the government by day and being part of the nightlife industry by evening, I have my frustrations in terms of even planning.
But on the social level- I find people very friendly, and there are quite a lot of things to do here. BUT, and I mean but, it all depends on where you are in life. DC is not for everyone. If it wasn't for my job, I would not want to be here at this stage of my life. I would much rather want to be in philadelphia, california or back overseas again. DC is a bit too proper and conformed for me. You don't have the joes or the tony and his friends that brings life to the party. Maybe some parts in VA/MD but very few.
I really think that the government mentality bleeds into the city in terms of politics, sophistication, and education. Just the way people think when it comes to business, fashion, way of life. But if you grew up in similar fashion or are able to adapt to any place like me then it is easier. But a grinder from a high tempo/grinding type city that needs their go to spots would have a hard time here. Even someone from the south that is not used to living in areas like DC or Arlington would have a hard time adjusting. But there is always that 10% defender that says "I didn't have a problem"....
Not true, I have lived in the DC region my entire life and love it here, it sounds like you are the one who is unwilling to go out and make friends, because I had an easy time making friends in DC. Pretty much everything you said was just a huge generalization that isn't true to the city at all
What's true for one person, isn't true for everyone else. I'm speaking from my personal experience. If it works for you and you're happy, then who am I to judge?
In response to the others, DC isn't for everyone. I've been in Minneapolis for the past few summers and found it to be a great city and would move their tomorrow if I had a stable living environment. Good paying jobs are tough to come by there. Every city is going to have its faults, it just depends how much you're willing to put up with. It's really not a debate of right vs wrong, it's just mostly personal preference.
I think people take it personal when someone doesn't like their city, although they shouldn't, because they were generalizations and not meant to include every person.
So it doesn't appear that I'm one-sided, I will also list the positives. I think their are plenty of well paying jobs available compared to most other places. Many recreation opportunites. Most people appear to be open minded. I don't view traffic being a major problem, just stay out of Georgetown and 395 during rush hour, if you've lived in the area long enough, you can find alternative routes to avoid the traffic. For a major metropolitan area, I've never had a major problem with crime, even when in DC.
Also, when I speak of Washington DC, I'm also including the surrounding cities, not just DC alone. I wanted to make it clear that I was speaking of the metropolitan area. Other than that, I'm not sure what to tell you.
Last edited by alex24057; 09-09-2013 at 09:55 PM..
What's true for one person, isn't true for everyone else. I'm speaking from my personal experience. If it works for you and you're happy, then who am I to judge?
In response to the others, DC isn't for everyone. I've been in Minneapolis for the past few summers and found it to be a great city and would move their tomorrow if I had a stable living environment. Good paying jobs are tough to come by there. Every city is going to have its faults, it just depends how much you're willing to put up with. It's really not a debate of right vs wrong, it's just mostly personal preference.
I think people take it personal when someone doesn't like their city, although they shouldn't, because they were generalizations and not meant to include every person.
So it doesn't appear that I'm one-sided, I will also list the positives. I think their are plenty of well paying jobs available compared to most other places. Many recreation opportunites. Most people appear to be open minded. I don't view traffic being a major problem, just stay out of Georgetown and 395 during rush hour, if you've lived in the area long enough, you can find alternative routes to avoid the traffic. For a major metropolitan area, I've never had a major problem with crime, even when in DC.
Also, when I speak of Washington DC, I'm also including the surrounding cities, not just DC alone. I wanted to make it clear that I was speaking of the metropolitan area. Other than that, I'm not sure what to tell you.
If you'd rather choose to live in an isolated, mid-sized city with brutally cold winters over Washington, D.C., then I agree that this area doesn't sound like a good fit for what you're looking for.
Not true, I have lived in the DC region my entire life and love it here, it sounds like you are the one who is unwilling to go out and make friends, because I had an easy time making friends in DC. Pretty much everything you said was just a huge generalization that isn't true to the city at all
You've lived in the DC area your entire life- you really don't know any different, do you? Move away to another city across the country and you'll see for yourself. A LOT of people find DC to be a cold, aloof, politics obsessed town and it's difficult for new people to make friends.
You've lived in the DC area your entire life- you really don't know any different, do you? Move away to another city across the country and you'll see for yourself. A LOT of people find DC to be a cold, aloof, politics obsessed town and it's difficult for new people to make friends.
I'm a DC native and I could've told anyone that. You could never have traveled outside the beltway to tell that this place is "different" than your average American city, and most American cities don't deliver that much these days anyway.
I like the original poster likes DC and Seattle because those are two of my favorite cities as well. I've been in DC since March 2012 and I love it. There are a lot of people who complain about the cookie cutter people, people who only talk about where they went to school and what they do, and how unattractive everyone is. I happen to disagree with a lot of these assumptions. I love DC for the architecture, have a good group of acquaintances, and just love the city for all it has to offer. As a single guy the dating here scene is great. It's not a fashonable city so any guy who puts forth effort into his appearance will be rewarded with dating hot women in this city. The government types are pretty lame and boring in my opinion but that's probably because I'm in private industry and don't follow politics at all.
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