I wonder how many, if any, companies have relocated to Cleveland as a result of Team NEO's efforts (I mean, these specific efforts inviting site selection people to come and tour the city).

welcome aboard uo henry gomez!

 

i certainly recognize your name and beckenridge's too.

 

yeah that was a good, straightforward article. meaning no negative out of place apologizing lead, laundry list of woes or damning with faint praise type remarks. it's just the story. more of that please.

 

This should elicit some interesting opinions...

 

I think it's hilarious, actually. I laughed my ass off. Very Andy Samberg-ish.

 

Obviously, it's not meant to be taken seriously. But .. unfortunately, a lot of people really see it that way, and that's the part that makes me sad.

I think it's hilarious, actually. I laughed my ass off. Very Andy Samberg-ish.

 

Obviously, it's not meant to be taken seriously. But .. unfortunately, a lot of people really see it that way, and that's the part that makes me sad.

 

I agree and I find it funny as well.  It just would not surprise me if some people didn't like it.  If we can't laugh at ourselves then who can we laugh at?

I don't see anything?

yeah i saw this earlier today, thought it was hilarious. esp the part about the payphones and trains taking jobs out of cleveland.

"Come and look at both of our buildings."

 

Hahahaha.

The artist formaly known as BP is MAD

 

Have you guys seen this?  What are your thoughts?

 

http://www.clevelandideas.com/

Have you guys seen this? What are your thoughts?

 

http://www.clevelandideas.com/

 

Cool .. but what happens if they take your idea? What if it becomes profitable?

Cool .. but what happens if they take your idea? What if it becomes profitable?

 

I wondered the same thing.  This to me is like when cleveland.com started soliciting free restaurant reviews from its readers after they fired the restaurant reviewer. 

I thought about doing something similar a while back, though I was going to require more than a one line blurb- more like a small proposal w/graphics if applicable.  I didn't figure out how to handle intellectual rights matters, among other things.

Cleveland Ideas is an open forum to help the city.  Any ideas posted are being put into the public domain and they can be used by anyone interested.  We hope you'll share your ideas freely.

 

 

Cleveland Ideas is an open forum to help the city.  Any ideas posted are being put into the public domain and they can be used by anyone interested.  We hope you'll share your ideas freely.

 

 

 

Welcome, hope to see more posts from you.  :wave:

We need to fly our flag everywhere!  98% in this city don't even know we have a flag!  Chicago flies their flag as much as the American flag...Have some pride people! :clap:

We need to fly our flag everywhere!  98% in this city don't even know we have a flag! Chicago flies their flag as much as the American flag...Have some pride people! :clap:

 

Sorry, but that comment deserves a  ::)  ::)  ::)

Well, the Hastily Made Tourism Video 2 hit youtube about a week ago. I know it's supposed to be funny, however, a couple of my friends from out-of-state emailed it to me and told me maybe they shouldn't visit this summer. I thought they were joking, but they were serious. My one friend said downtown looked terrible. I explained to my one friend anyone could do this same type of video in every city. C'mon Clevelanders...we need to step up and have more pride. Some of the comments on youtube were ridiculous, and a lot of them were from people who live here.

I hate to say this, but these particular friends don't seem to have well-developed senses of humor.  Then again, maybe I don't either, inasmuch as I would have responded: "well, maybe you shouldn't visit."

^^I've gotten similar reaction from a couple poeple too...like "I didn't know it was that bad...." or "why don't you come to me."

 

However at least Positively Cleveland is trying.

 

youtube response video contest - http://www.positivelycleveland.com/hastilymade

 

AND youtube series on a Cleveland "Amazing Race" with a chance to win a free condo downtown for a year -  http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1242203460199160.xml&coll=2

 

Maybe UO should enter a team and win us a true hangout pad for a year!! haha

I'm glad Positively Cleveland is trying. What bothers me is the need by Clevelanders to perpetuate this idea about the city. Yes, it's funny, but it's getting old and it does more harm than good. These kids don't understand that all the Cleveland jokes came from Clevelanders. It seems like everyweek I'm defending the city. Last week, it was the Forbes article. The week before that it was the first "Hastily Made" video.

I too am occasionally bothered by the stupid sterotypes, but I oftentimes feel like we're swimming upstream.  But, I am tired of playing defense (which I think that the PosCle contest might be doing, as laudable an effort as it is).  I'd rather play offense by initiating Good Damn Stuff, including marketing the city, rather than respond to every two-bit snub.

 

That said, if I ever meet Mike Polk (not that I or many others would recognize him), I'd seriously consider punching him in the junk (not really).

these things happen.  Nobody talks worse about living in NYC than my friends who live there.  Over the years when I've seriously contemplated living there and talked to them about it, they're all like OMG NO, do not come here to live, it's awful, there's X, Y and Z.  But they all left Cleveland area and have plenty of rotten things to say about that, and in those discussions will say they couldn't live anywhere else but NYC.  It's just now people are.

these things happen.  Nobody talks worse about living in NYC than my friends who live there.  Over the years when I've seriously contemplated living there and talked to them about it, they're all like OMG NO, do not come here to live, it's awful, there's X, Y and Z.  But they all left Cleveland area and have plenty of rotten things to say about that, and in those discussions will say they couldn't live anywhere else but NYC.  It's just now people are.

 

Maybe they just didnt want you there.  :lol:

LOL!!

A counterattack on Mike Polk's Cleveland 'tourism' videos: Regina Brett

by Regina Brett/Plain Dealer Columnist

Tuesday May 12, 2009, 8:17 PM

 

There's an old saying: Dying is easy, comedy is hard.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/brett/blog/index.ssf/2009/05/_a_counterattack_on_mike.html

Domestic violence abusers often use the tactic of beating the shite out of their spouse and then coming back and saying "I love you."  Way to support the tactic Ragina. 

Other than that I don't think the video even deserves a response.

I honestly thought the video was funny when I first saw it. But .. given the massive response it's gotten, I'm really ashamed of this guy.

 

I mean, I know Cleveland's a great town. But it's just so sad that it perpetuates misconceptions about the city that have been there for years.

 

But whatever gives a guy his 15 minutes of fame, right?

this sh*t isn't funny. period.

But the "tourism" videos just didn't strike her as funny. It didn't help that the Boston Red Sox linked to one video on their Web site before they played the Indians. Or that a Chicago TV station posted one.

 

That's really disgusting.  :x

It may be funny; however, I've had three friends tell me they may rethink their trip to Cleveland. Obviously, they missed the humor. This guy knew a video about Cleveland what ignite like wildfire because of the years of old Cleveland jokes.  If the video was about Milwaukee would it be as funny? Maybe, but with the history of jokes, it just perpetuates all the stereotypes. Some people say we should stop being oversensitive. Well, how come we're not getting this type of humor from other cities? This has been going on for thrity-plus years. It's getting really old.

The video irritates me.  I kind of know the guy so I am not sure if that has anything to do with it, but as a Clevelander who has lived out of state and had to defend my hometown all too often (especially working in the mortgage industry) I don't like seeing that from fellow home town people.  Also, living downtown, I get sick of having to defend downtown to suburbanites who have these horrible perceptions of downtown, partially fueled by videos like this.

 

The video in and of itself could be funny and it's not that I don't have a sense of humor.  It's just there are certain things that could be or are funny but only in certain contexts. 

 

For example, consider something like a dunk tank.  Putting your boss into a dunk tunk and allowing people to throw balls at the target to dunk him in would be funny.  Finding the employee who just got laid off and making them go in the dunk tank is not funny. 

 

Inherently its the same thing - someone getting dropped in the dunk tank - but who is getting dunked is what makes it funny, not as much as the action itself.  Maybe not the best example, but it was the first thing that came to mind and hopefully, you get the point.

Well, it's definitely "kick 'em when they're down" humor, that's for sure.

Well, it's definitely "kick 'em when they're down" humor, that's for sure.

 

Well then, Cleveland's been down for a loooooooong time.

To be honest, I'm really upset about this. I have a sense of humor and I'm all for laughing about yourself, but this stuff really hurts the region. We're already behind the eight ball. Perception is everyting. If this comedian truly "loved" the city, he would have understood this video plays into every joke made about the city over the last thirty years.

To be honest, I'm really upset about this. I have a sense of humor and I'm all for laughing about yourself, but this stuff really hurts the region. We're already behind the eight ball. Perception is everything. If this comedian truly "loved" the city, he would have understood this video plays into every joke made about the city over the last thirty years.

 

Exactly.  Perception is everything on many levels.  This idiot did more harm to this city in a few minutes, than anyone from the outside could have ever possibly done.  And the clevelander's who think this crap is "funny" and have been forwarding it on, should truly be ashamed of themselves.

Someone should make a fake news channel 5 investigation about him or his mother getting sodomized (sp) at a local Burger King or something.  Put it on youtube and claim it's a legitimate story.  See how funny it is to cross the line on things people find important.  Nothing should be off limits with this dope.

And really, what an unoriginal reaction by +Cleveland.  Like anybody is going to give a crap about anything they put out in response to this.

You don't take this sitting down, you hand out some punishment in this situation, or don't react at all and be above this sort of thing.  They have allowed a group of nobody comedians get a weak reaction out of them.

I just don't think people should be getting overly sensitive about this. I mean, I don't like all the attention this is getting, either .. but he's allowed to be an assh*le and a dipsh*t if he wants. Let him say what he wants. This is just another example of people blowing this whole thing out of proportion and getting defensive again, which I personally think is just as damaging.

This is my personal opinion, but Positively Cleveland is a joke.

 

The reason why I say that is that this town needs a good PR campaign, one that can put an end to all of the recycled misconceptions which the nation hears and read and hear about through our local (Plain Dealer), and national news media.  I am amazed that this guy is getting this much attention off of the same bullsh!t negative news which has been perpetuated through this town for years.  That is why I say that even stupid little Forbes stories that put this city in a negative light hold weight (even if they are false), because you rarely see this city in a positive light in news.  Rarely is a positive story on this area printed in national, or even local news.  Perception, to someone who doesn't know an area- is worth everything.  We've had DECADES of negative press.

 

Hell, the only thing, till this day that I hear outsiders talk about who don't know the city... is The Flats.  "What happened to The Flats?"  How many times have we heard that from out-of-towners?  Then we explain to them what happened, and how entertainment is more spread out through downtown.  The PERCEPTION of Cleveland through the 90s remains, but is buried by negative press which perpetuates time and time again both locally and nationally.  I can't think of another city which would let it's nationally-known party district die... but that's another story (and another topic/thread).

 

Think about how many times we've heard stories about someone who moves to Cleveland from out of state- the first question always asked, form LOCALS, is "why".  Think about how many Clevelanders have moved away to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, etc. because of the "perception" that these cities have.  Think about how many times we have had to defend this city- to both suburbanites and outsiders alike.   

 

Perception = $, and in my unscientific, unproven opinion, Perception = Tourism.  What is Positively Cleveland doing in regards to the negative perception of the city?  Or is the perception of our city a lost cause?  The best perception that is given out is from US, when we have friends come from out of town and we show them that Cleveland IS a great city.  I just don't see a concerted effort from any organization to change it.

 

 

 

 

I honestly don't think the city should do ANYTHING in response to people like this, aside from what it normally does to promote the city. Why should anyone get threatened by this guy?? He'll get his 15 minutes of fame, then he'll go back to waiting tables or sitting around on his ass or whatever he normally does to make a living. Who gives a sh!t??

 

I think that if Cleveland is constantly putting messages out there in defense of things like this video, etc, it will be perceived as a city that's insecure and that always has to defend itself. WHO CARES WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CLEVELAND? I understand tourism can be affected, but if the perceptions in the video aren't true, then there's nothing to worry about, and any efforts to defend Cleveland in light of this video will just make Cleveland look like an insecure city, which, I think, is even worse.

 

I think the best thing to do is just brush it off and not worry so much about it. I'm sick and tired of people getting so immediately defensive about this stuff. I know Cleveland's been the center of a lot of jokes over the years, but who cares?? Just take it on the chin and move on.

jpop -

How many punches can the city take until its reputation is so tarnished it can't recover? I think perception may be one of the most important factors attracting new residents. Portland doesn't have a robust job market, but a lot of young people flock there because it's considered a cool city. I think our current culture really plays into what is cool or lame. Everyday there is a new poll or article talking about cool places to live or visit. Most of these articles are written by people who live in these "cool places." It's a vicious cycle. Finally, Clevelanders should be ashamed. We are the ones that perpetuate this sh*t. Our own paper plays into this crap. I'm not going to name the city, but I went to college in a city not too far from here. In my opinion, this city has escaped ridicule because the residents defend their city, even as thousands leave the area every year. Even people who have left the region looking for jobs talk about how great this place is. Clevelanders on the other hand, take every opportunity to dump on their hometown. Sorry for the rant.

I just think everyone is giving this person too much credit and too much attention.  Just because it's being forwarded everywhere does not mean it is causing the doom of Cleveland to come rushing down like a foot squashing a bug.  If everyone quit talking about it, this person's 15 minutes would end sooner.  It's not like in other cities the residents go around shooting video that's just the opposite of this, amateur postive tourism type videos and posting those on the internet.  We are who we are and if we are the butt of jokes and poking fun, so be it.  Many others see very positive things about our city.  I've read tons of positive press about Cleveland in the wake of the rock hall inductions from people in that industry.  We've had incredible, incredible positive press because of the current successes of the Cavs and LeBron's recent awards.  When the grand prix comes here every year, they are always very positive about the city and say great things about it on national TV.  There are plenty of positive mentions balancing out the negatives, stop giving this guy so much credit.

I think one of the bigger problems is that too many of the suburbanites do trash the city.  It leads to them telling their friends how bad it is and therefore creates the negative feedback cycle.  I think there needs to be a paradigm shift in the people around this city to love it,  and not just the sports teams but the actual city warts and all.  Until that happens to a larger extent, i understand you can't make everyone happy all the time, I think the nationally negative image will hold weight as it is what people are perpetuating.

^My point is that the reason why he's getting the attention, is that this perception is one that is accepted by outsiders regarding the city, false or not.  I think we have the right to get offensive with negative press.  Lord knows we've had years of it.  Time to hit back.

I think we have the right to get offensive with negative press.  Lord knows we've had years of it.  Time to hit back.

 

Sure. But I have two questions about that: 1. Would it be done well? Because if it's something that looks like a piece of dated, 1990's crap, it'll be just as effective as the hastily made video .. in the negative direction. 2. Would it be effective? I don't know. My bigger question is, why is Cleveland so self-deprecating?? Because it's gotten made fun of in the past, and it's started to believe those things .. rather than RISE ABOVE IT, take it on the chin, and not get so stressed or insecure about those things. I personally think we should just laugh it off and move on, but obviously, that's just my take on it.

One area of improvement for the city could be to stop raising unoriginal comedians.

while i agree that weak responses from positively cleveland, or the pd do absolutely nothing except increase exposure and attention to this guy... and people just need to let it go.  You SHOULD be upset about this.  And if you are a Clevelander and you think this is "funny" you should be ashamed of yourself.  Some day someone is going to have to explain to me what is so funny about some idiot tearing your hometown to absolute shreds and showing it off in the worst light humanly possible and then sending it out for the world to see.  If you are a Clevelander and you sent this on to people, because it's so "funny"... you are a large part of the problem.

I certainly don't think it's funny, I haven't even WATCHED the whole thing, and I don't send videos to anyone about anything.  I've seen clips of it on the news and read what it's about, that's sufficient. I am not upset about it.  You can't control other people's behavior and it's not like he's the only person in Cleveland or in the country who thinks something negative about our town.  We have a lot of problems here and it would be foolhardy to deny it.  We also have a lot of positive things going for us that unfortunately not as many people across the country know about, but they are learning little by little, with things like getting an Iron Chef, getting LeBron, going to the playoffs, getting the rock hall induction ceremony, etc.  There are plenty of positive things going on and plenty of people finding out about it from other places to balance out the negatives.

 

Frankly, I thought positively cleveland's response was a pretty good one and I liked their idea about having the amateur video contest to make a "response" video.  If I had a camera and the energy, I would have totally gone out and done that in response to the video.  I don't know why everyone is so hard on them, I'm sure they are doing the best they can with probably not much budget, why is that a bad idea?  What would you have them do, sue the idiot who made the video?

 

 

Frankly, I thought positively cleveland's response was a pretty good one and I liked their idea about having the amateur video contest to make a "response" video. If I had a camera and the energy, I would have totally gone out and done that in response to the video. I don't know why everyone is so hard on them, I'm sure they are doing the best they can with probably not much budget, why is that a bad idea? What would you have them do, sue the idiot who made the video?

 

I agree. It would be really cool if someone came up with a great idea that just really showcases inventiveness and a positive love for the city. I'll be interested to see what comes of it.