tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post7170496880072996344..comments2024-02-14T18:48:29.276+00:00Comments on The Anti DC: reverse haterism: defined, revealed, refutedMarissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11700026735495447094noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-23372168374795944042011-06-24T19:44:00.634+01:002011-06-24T19:44:00.634+01:00I'm famous!I'm famous!hemanzerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10391285088757453476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-23790961323157816342011-06-24T16:07:04.097+01:002011-06-24T16:07:04.097+01:00Jeremy,
I appreciate your comments and thank you ...Jeremy,<br /><br />I appreciate your comments and thank you for reading, but I think we may forever disagree...<br /><br />As far as "tribalism" goes, I think that can easily go both ways. I've encountered, heard and read several comments from people -- some even on TBD when it comes to DC! -- who incessantly complain about cities (too polluted, too noisy, too dangerous, the schools are bad, "I can't raise a family there," too expensive) and absolutely hate urban areas. People who believe that will maybe go to a city on vacation, or, in your words, go there for a "pull" (i.e. the opera, a museum, something the *can't* get in their town), but they certainly wouldn't go there to simply "hang out." How is that different than your view of city people now going to the 'burbs for no specific reason?<br /><br />Here's my theory: From the information I've been able to gather as one who's lived in towns ranging from 9,000 to cities with over 14 million people and as one who's studied "tribalism" from an academic, international relations perspective, it doesn't only spring up in densely populated, more expensive areas. In fact, I think it's probably not based on location and economics really at all, but instead on a person's personality type -- someone's either curious to explore "the other" or they're not. Whether that other is Manhattan or Flushing or Dupont Circle or Leesburg is completely dependent on someone's specific personal preferences. You and I, perhaps, are of the curious breed, as I'll go wherever if I think I'll have the best time there.<br /><br />However, here's the other aspect of things. People like convenience. Now, whether that means that they're close to things within driving distance or walking distance is also a personal choice. I prefer to walk or bike, so for me it's a no-brainer to live close to my job, a grocery store, restaurants, movies, music venues and all the other things I could possibly want on a daily basis. That just so happens to be in a centrally located NW neighborhood in the District. Likewise, while in New York, I chose the live in Manhattan because it was the most convenient. Could I afford a place bigger than a jail cell? No. But for me personally having a room big enough to put both a bed and a dresser in wasn't important (incidentally, I sacrificed the dresser). I wanted to be close to the things I used most on a daily basis. Is that a self-selecting bias? Of course! But for those who would rather have less local conveniences (or maybe just valued different local conveniences) and more space would self-select to live somewhere else, no? In this mobile day and age, bias exists no matter how city or country you are.<br /><br />On to my lawyer friends, they're both corporate so their cases come to them, in Manhattan. Again, though, I'm not sure how that affects their "real New Yorker" status. Let me ask you this, another friend who has the same job (i.e. works in Manhattan as a corporate lawyer) but lives in Brooklyn, is she more New York in your opinion than the Greenwich Village couple?<br /><br />Lastly, as briefly mentioned, I don't see how your socioeconomic argument necessarily plays into the idea of a person being more or less authentic in regards to self-identification. Are you saying poor people are more "real" than the rich? If so, and sticking with the NYC example, how then would you classify a homeless guy in Harlem? Is he "real" New York because he's poor, but then not New York because he lives in Manhattan? Or what about a rich person in Brooklyn Heights? Not real due to white-collar status, or real do to Brooklyn status? It just gets into can-of-worms territory, I think.<br /><br />Anyway, this is getting a little unwieldy, so I'll stop for now. But please do feel free to respond. I love a good debate.Marissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11700026735495447094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-73059246692216580202011-06-24T16:06:37.481+01:002011-06-24T16:06:37.481+01:00Alex,
I suppose if that's FUME's bagel of...Alex,<br /><br />I suppose if that's FUME's bagel of choice, then we shall always probably disagree over that. I love CW and their deli sandwiches are cheap and delicious, but their trucked in bagels? Meh.<br /><br />Black Dress,<br /><br />I'm curious what years you lived here. I've definitely sensed a change in things since 2007. I think maybe Twitter and the rise of social media actually loosened this place up a little. People seem happier even. Can't quite put my finger on it... COME BACK!Marissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11700026735495447094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-21984706797745010312011-06-24T00:22:29.080+01:002011-06-24T00:22:29.080+01:00I liked your post, but allow me to make a quick po...I liked your post, but allow me to make a quick point.<br /><br />Living in any central area -- and the District is not immune to this -- there's an inherent tribalism. <br /><br />Now, there are exceptions to the rule, but in general, one can say that there is a distinct lack of outward motion. I myself live in Arlington, and know few District residents that make the trek across the Potomac -- even to the bar- and shopping-heavy Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Quite simply, the idea is that there needs to be a "pull" factor; something needs to pull the central resident outward. They tend not to go out there on their own. <br /><br />Your post even admits this; whether it's a tailor (only chosen because (s)he is cheaper than the Manhattan alternate) or a party, there needs to be a reason to leave the borough. When you were a Manhattan resident, were you more likely to go to Elmhurst, or was your friend more likely to come into the city? My friends in the District rarely, if ever, visit Arlington. I also wonder how often your Manhattan lawyer friends take court cases in Jamaica, as opposed to sticking to Centre Street. <br /><br />Of course, there's another part to my argument that wasn't addressed, but I do want to touch upon. There's a self-selective bias in your living choice. Manhattanites are willing to pay quite a bit more to live in the central area. They want to make sure they get the most for their money, and would be less-than eager to venture far away to find whatever it is they're looking for. <br /><br />Yes, it is partly a white- versus blue-collar argument (your blue collar will be in the outer boroughs, while your white will be in Manhattan), and I will admit that. But I find it hard to believe that any of the FUME members are blue collar.<br /><br />Again, thanks for the commentary, and thanks for giving me the chance to response.Jeremy Binckeshttp://www.tbd.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-69791003800437333682011-06-23T19:49:39.548+01:002011-06-23T19:49:39.548+01:00I loved DC dearly when I lived there... but could ...I loved DC dearly when I lived there... but could not stand 98% of my "peer" group. Now that I'm back in NY, I grapple with the decision I'd made to leave DC, but I was worn so thin. Maybe I was in the wrong crowd (?), but it was just an emotional handful. So sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-2173139272106080352011-06-23T19:29:19.112+01:002011-06-23T19:29:19.112+01:00Well, CW trucks in the much-hyped "H&H Ba...Well, CW trucks in the much-hyped "H&H Bagels" fresh every day, so now you've got another fight to pick with FUME and their much-loved Manhattan bagels. <br /><br />Arlington is horrible in a general sense, but I'm really just talking about Clarendon and Ballston. Landrum-owned establishments get a pass. I can't speak to the bagel place.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-70391187448019681972011-06-23T19:06:53.786+01:002011-06-23T19:06:53.786+01:00Yeah... I used to work up in Van Ness, so I'm ...Yeah... I used to work up in Van Ness, so I'm familiar with Calvert-Woodley. Love the employees, but don't really love the bagels or the deli sandwiches...I'm a weirdo who likes veggies on her sandwiches. <br /><br />The Rockville joint, I will have to check out when I get the chance. <br /><br />And re: "Arlington is horrible," are you talking about the whole neighborhood or just the bagel shop I speak of, Brooklyn Bagel? Because BB is delicious. I would gladly get fat if I lived nearer to it.Marissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11700026735495447094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000991705349014246.post-83485734788500638662011-06-23T18:46:13.929+01:002011-06-23T18:46:13.929+01:00Bagel City, in Rockville, has excellent bagels.
C...Bagel City, in Rockville, has excellent bagels.<br /><br />Calvert-Woodley, the excellent liquor store, imports H&H Bagels every day. <br /><br />Arlington is horrible.Alexnoreply@blogger.com