Where are from and what do you love and hate most about your hometown?

My hometown is Detroit Michigan USA.

I love Detroit because of its music legacy. It is the bedrock of many forms of music (from techno to gospel, and everything in between.

If I had to pick one thing that I hate about my hometown is the racial segregation that exists. Metro Detroit is one of the most diverse regions in America, but most of us live with our own race and dont communicate with each other unless we have to. Detroit is one of the most racially polarized cities in America.

too many damn old people


























jk... I love you grandma....you rock! (like she's readin' this)

Being serious....I love the fact that it's offically the most haunted place in the U.S. and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil filmed here. But I honestly wouldn't wanna live here for the rest of my life...it's too far away from big cities. My hometown is Savannah,GA.

absent-minded edit
[This message was edited Thu Jul 1 16:30:47 2004 by Desdemona]

Desdemona said:

What is your hometown? I didnt see "Midnight..."

dreamfactory313 said:

Savannah,GA. I edited my post

i'm from des moines, iowa...

plus: although it's a fairly large midwestern city (it ain't no chicago or minneapolis, but it's still big) it has sort of a small town-type charm to it: everyone knows everyone, and if you don't know somebody chances are that they know someone who knows you. that, and folks are nice. genuinely nice, not like here in mpls--mind you, i have met lotsa nice folks here and have made tons of friends since i've moved here, but overall some folks here tend to be somewhat on the snooty side at times, and it shouldn't be so--although it's bigger, mpls is in the same boat as des moines is.

minus: there's absolutely nothin to do for people my age--in fact, a lotta folks have left des moines in pretty large numbers in the past few years because of that. they're building some stupid stuff there now (though i haven't been back to des moines in 3 years, i call my dad every week and he keeps me up to date on what's bein built and what's gone), like loft apartments n'shit like that. they even built a fuckin starbucks in a spot where this old florist's shop used to be downtown. th' fuck does des moines need a starbucks for, it ain't like folks go there for touristy shit, save for the iowa state fair...

chicago is wonderful because it has all the amenities of a major metropolitan city - good public transportation, lots of culture, a "city that never sleeps" attitude (i can grocery shop at 4am if i really wanna) - but the pace is far less frenzied than what i experienced when i lived in new york city. don't get me wrong - i love and miss NYC, but living in chicago has been so much healthier for me. it's cheaper, it's far less stressful, it's cleaner and life in general feels less fiercely competitive.

the biggest problem i have with chicago is that socially, it's not as easy to connect with new people as it was in my experience as a new yorker. i chalk this up to the fact that individuals move to NYC from all over the world on their lonesomes, and you have a lot of people separated from their families bouncing around meeting other people who arrived on their own and are looking to meet new people. chicago isn't so much like that. chicago people either grew up in the area or are from surrounding states, and the people they grew up with are still within reach. there's not as much urgency to connect with new people here, so folks aren't as open to "extending the circle" in their social groups. i always get a very cliquish vibe whenever i go out in chicago, which has never really been "me" - i either like to hang out with just one or two friends or else i like to go whole-hog and meet tons of new people. i'm not much of a pack-dog, and i think chicago is a city of packs. it's made moving here and meeting new people a little difficult, but i'm finally starting to settle in and make some good friendships over the past year or so.

I'M FROM DETROIT AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT US IS THAT WE KEEP IT REAL!

AND WHAT I HATE ABOUT US IS THAT WE KEEP IT TOO REAL!
MEANING THAT WHEN WE GET MAD ABOUT SOMETHING, WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO COOL DOWN, WE ALWAYS GOT TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. (IF YOUR FROM DETROIT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN FROM THE FIREWORKS TIL PRESENT)

Corpus Christi, Texas...

...which is pretty much the nutsack of Texas...(I would say a**hole,but I guess Brownsville covers that )

After this , Hell should be easy....(it's fricken HOT down here!!!)

MrTation said:

oh good grief

Hate - everything
Love - the road leading out

debbiedean2 said:

Yeah, that was so not cool

Joe Jackson

Home Town


Of all the stupid things I could have thought
This was the worst
I started to believe
That I was born at seventeen
And all the stupid things
The letters and the broken verse
Stayed hidden at the bottom of the drawer
They'd always been
And now I plough through piles
Of bills, receipts and credit cards
And tickets and the Daily News
And sometimes I just . . .
Wanna go back to my home town
Though I know it'll never be the same
Back to my home town
'Cause it's been so long
And I'm wondering if it's still there
We think we're pretty smart
Us city slickers get around
And when the going's rough
We kill the pain and relocate
We're never married
Never faithful not to any town
But we never leave the past behind
We just accumulate
So sometimes when the music stops
I seem to hear a distant sound
Of waves and seagulls
Football crowds and church bells
And I . . .
Wanna go back to my home town
Though I know it'll never be the same
Back to my home town
'Cause it's been so long
And I'm wondering if it's still there
Back to my home town
Though I know it'll never be the same
Back to my home town
'Cause it's been so long
And I'm wondering if it's still there

dreamfactory313 said:

Define "hometown." It's hard for me to say where I'm "from" because I was born in Boston and spent my early childhood in that area, moved and spent sixteen years (including high school and college) in Bloomington, Indiana (with a brief return to Boston for a few months toward the end), moved to Indianapolis and spent five years there, and then moved to Seattle about a month ago.

To further complicate things, I've always stayed connected to my New England heritage by way of a summer home in Maine. I've been there at least once during every year of my life, except 1986, 1996, and 2000.

Oh, jeez here it comes... Mirror's long ass story...

My hometown is Ashland, PA (Schuylkill County). To some people, it may as well not exist. To others, it's infamous... White trash redneck hick county in northeast PA. Home of the infamous "Shit Creek".

Used to be a very important place. The whole county is filled with old coal mines, train stations and historical memories. The Molly Maguires were hanged there in Pottsville. There was an Ashland Brigade in the Civil War that actually did some important things. The Mother's Memorial, only one like it in the country I think, sits right at the entrance to my hometown. And the laidback way everyone lives, drinking beer on the porch, barely enough money to eat but they have long fulfilling lives anyway, practically cut off from the world and its luxuries, but a world within itself, it's just something to admire. And the pride everyone feels for their hometown there, it's amazing.

But it has its bad points. People do tend to be kind of dirty, quick to fight and not too smart... The individual towns have so much pride within themselves that they'll often be prejudiced against the other towns in the county and some interesting fights erupt... And there aren't many jobs available. The place most of the people work is a factory that's polluting the whole county and slowly killing everyone in it. It's a tragic end the place is coming to... And being so cut off from the world gets annoying sometimes. A lot of people, including me, don't even have a car, so people do a lot of walking. It's considered normal to walk 2 hours or so between towns to visit people. People sure get their exercise there, but most people are overweight anyway. Every worthwhile shopping location is about 30-40 minutes drive in various directions from the center of the county, which pretty much is my hometown.

Lots of violence, lots of loser kids on the corners making trouble, but drugwise and murderwise, not nearly as bad as the cities. It used to be full of old people, but as they died off, the cities started "convincing" the unwelcome members of their societies to move to the county, and it's becoming populated with people who make it an unpleasant place to live. The city people and the more priviliged people hate the people who live there, and all the people in the county are thought of as dirty stupid hicks. Tell ya what, the people in the county don't think much of the "priviliged" people either... Thankfully I've moved away from that and I'm currently living in a pleasant inbetween kind of place, but I'll always have a love for the place I grew up that I know most people don't share...

I'm in Washington, DC so let's see...

On the plus side: Ben's Chili Bowl. It's a carry out that's been around since the late 50's or early 60's. The best chiliburger subs I've ever had. But mostly I like the people here. Not the politicians (that's the negative side). I mean the people who are born and raised in DC. They're down to earth and friendly.

The negative side are the politicians and their ilk. I cannot tell you guys how much Bullshit flows from the Capitol and 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The politicians and their aides, interns, groupies or whatever walk around like they're above everyone else and it's pathetic to see people kiss their ass. I guess it's the way they move up the status chain. Bastards.

I still live in my hometown. I have moved away quite a few times but I always seem to drift back here.

Dover, Ohio
the good things about this place is that we still have corner markets and people that actually still make a living off of farming. Our town is definetly a 'community' everyone knows everyone, or someone that knows you. We have one of the best school districts in the state and everyone has a yard. I still to this day can tfigure out how people live with out having a yard to relax in. I really do like this place even thought I am about to move away again I know I will be back in time for my child to go to school in the area

Bad things, EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR BUSINESS. I am not looked highly on because I am not 'cut' from the regular mold around here. I am a single mother, which around here is still not kosher and seem to dressa little differently, everyone that seems to think they know me tell me I am destined for a bigger city I beg to differ I like my small town atmoshphere.

What I love about Sydney:
Large city but not overcrowded
Multicultral
Great place for everything, really.

Nothing I really dislike about theb Sydney what I don't really like about Australia is that it's too far away from everywhere America, Europe, Asia, Canada etc.

dreamfactory313 said:

I was born in Detroit,but unfortunately,my family moved out here to California when I was three years old.So i never really got to grow up there,which I regret.I always have a great time when I go back there to visit and i know I would've really enjoyed living there.But you're right about the racial segregation thing.In some areas,you can drive for miles and miles and not see a single person of a different race.

Monterey Peninsula-
I'm hating the fact that I can barely afford to live there as an adult. I hate that the place is run by hospitality/tourism and golf, therefore making a living there tough if you're not in those industries.
I love everything else. The beach, the peace, and everything that Atlanta is not.

San Jose,California...


Good things---the weather is beautiful all year round.California probably has the best weather of any state.You can wear shorts in the wintertime...lol...I also love the fact that San Jose is the "heart of Silicon Valley".If you're looking to work at one those high-tech computer companies,this is the place to be.Every other person you meet here works in that field...lol...San Jose is also rich in Latino culture,which I love.Lots of cool salsa bars/clubs and Mexican restaurants.


Bad Things---the nightlife scene totally sucks! If you like to go out and party,this is not the place to be.Most folks drive to San Francisco instead.Also,our downtown area is a joke.They spend millions on stores and malls that people never even shop at...lol...what a waste! Drive through here on a Friday night around Midnight and the place is like a ghost town.


In the next few years,I plan to move out of California.

matt said:

Well in my opinion, a hometown is either where you where born or spent your formative years or whatever town you best consider your hometown. You've been around the block a bit, so I guess you can pick the first one that comes to mind when you think of home.

This thread is so interesting.

dreamfactory313 said:

GREAT THREAD!

I'm also from the D and while I agree with you on the musicical heritage I have a couple of other things.

The first thing is the no bullshit attitude that's bread into us, some say it's all of the midwest but I don't believe it. Ask someone from Detroit what they think and they won't sugar coat it, it's not in them.

The next thing is DIVERSITY
Arabic, Asian, African American and more than I can list. I love learning about cultures and the food the comes with them

What I don't like is that drugs and the criminals/mob that run them are killing people everyday and have been for 20 years.

Denver, Colorado

I absolutely love the Colorado Rocky Mountains.. Lots of places to camp, and just enjoy nature.

Cons.

All venues have to close at 11:00 pm. Malls close at 10:00 pm.

Sundays are just dead around here.

I certainly agree with you Slave2daGroove.

Detroit is such a tell it like it is, tough as nails, I'm not taking any bull$hit type of town. That is something else that I am proud of. Detroit is the exact opposite of LosAngeles and all of that Hollywood mentality. We have a real whatcha see is what you get attitude.Detroit epitomizes the term blue collar and anyone that doesnt keep it real is considered a poser.

sag10 said:

I LOVE Colorado!I visited once and my chin never left the ground.

I'm from Brooklyn, NYC.
This text that I found and saved pretty much says it all...

I am a New Yorker

I am a New Yorker.
I do not live in the five boroughs or on the Island of Upstate.
I may live hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Or I may live just over the GW (George Washington) bridge.
But I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker.
Whatever took me out of New York;
Business, family or hating the cold did not take New York out of me.
My accent may have faded and my pace may have slowed
But I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker.
I was raised on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Rockefeller Plaza,
The Yankees or the Mets (Giants or Dodgers),
Jones Beach or Rye Beach or one of the beaches on the Sound (Orchard Beach).
I know that “THE END” means Montauk
Because I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker.
When I go on vacation, I never look up.
Skyscrapers are something I take for granted,
The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are part of me.
Taxis and noise and subways and “get outta heah” don’t rattle me
Because I am a New Yorker.

I am a New Yorker.
I was raised on cultural diversity before it was politically correct.
I eat Greek food and Italian food, Jewish and Middle Eastern food and Chinese food because they are all American food to me.
I don’t get mad when people speak other languages in my presence because by relatives got to this country via Ellis Island and chose to stay.
They were New Yorkers.

I am a New Yorker.
People who have never been to New York have misunderstood me.
My friends and family work in the industries, professions and businesses that benefit all Americans.
My firefighters died trying to save New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers.
They died trying to save Americans and non-Americans
Because they were New Yorkers.


I am a New Yorker.
I feel the pain of my fellow New Yorkers.
I mourn the loss of my beautiful city.
I feel and dread that New York will never be the same.
But then I remember:
I am a New Yorker.

And New Yorkers have:
Tenacity, strength and courage way above the norm
Compassion and caring for our fellow citizens
Love and pride in our city, in our state, in our country.
Intelligence, experience and education par excellence
Ability, dedication and energy above and beyond
Faith – no matter what religion we practice.

Terrorists hit America in its heart.
But America’s heart still beats strong;
Demolished the steel in our buildings, but didn’t touch the steel in our souls;
Hit us in the pocketbook, but we’ll parlay what we have left into a fortune;
Ended innocent lives, leaving widows and orphans, but we’ll take care of them
Because they are New Yorkers.

Wherever we live, whatever we do, whoever we are.
There are New Yorkers in every state and every city of this nation.
We will not abandon our city.
We will not abandon our brothers and sisters.
We will not abandon the beauty, creativity and diversity that New York represents
Because we are New Yorkers.
And we are proud to be New Yorkers.

- anonymous


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


They will never remove my memories.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

More more more!

Fairmont, MN

The good - Mom still lives there.

The bad - The five lakes in the city build up so much algae in the summer that you can smell it anywhere you go and in the city water as well.

Phoenix, Arizona

Incredible Sunsets




Amazing Monsoon and Lightening displays...


Rich with Wildlife/Plants and endless land to explore...


~~~~~



Definitely the traffic every morning/evening (driving to and from work) and way too many people...