Im from Cleveland,and I like the city alot,but it makes me sad when I hear people say bad things about Cleveland.Why do you think so many people dislike Cleveland so much,or like to dis it all the time?The city has many good traits,it has the bad ones too,but most of the bad ones it has are ones that mostcities have.Im new to the urban ohio forum so im sorry if this was already disscused.

Hey and welcome.  :wave: :wave:

 

Without sounding rude, I would suggest you familiarize yourself with some threads.

 

Most people here don't hate there respective cities but see the flaws, the good the bad and the ugly and are dedicated to making their city better.

I know most people on urban ohio like thier respective cities,I've already noticed that on this forum that people all generally like thier cities,which I like because being an Ohio native thats likes the state alot its good to see the love for Ohio.I was talking more about out of towners.People who aren't from Cleveland always seem to think down on the city.Do you think they hear the stereotypes of Cleveland,and thats why they look down on it?

I know most people on urban ohio like thier respective cities,I've already noticed that on this forum that people all generally like thier cities,which I like because being an Ohio native thats likes the state alot its good to see the love for Ohio.I was talking more about out of towners.People who aren't from Cleveland always seem to think down on the city.Do you think they hear the stereotypes of Cleveland,and thats why they look down on it?

 

Personally, I think you have this backwards.  Most people from outside NE Ohio, have a favorable impression of Cleveland.

 

What part of Cleveland are you reppin'?

Its basically just my in my experiences that I've heard out of towners look down on Cleveland.Although,yes I hear alot of Clevelanders look down on it too.What part of Cleveland am I reppin,Im from Euclid,but the part of Euclid thats right by Cleveland,44119,around E. 185th street.

Another eastsider...yeah!  Two from Euclid in the past few days!  :clap: :clap: :clap:

Another eastsider...yeah! Two from Euclid in the past few days! :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

I take it from your response that theres more Eastsiders than Westsiders on UrbanOhio.

umm..good question.  I guess I can start a poll.  :evil:

I love Cleveland!!

 

I also agree that I hear more negative from NEO natives than from anywhere else.

I wish I had a good answer for you.  I'm not a native Clevelander and I love the city, I live downtown so am I East, West, or Central?  :-D

 

I have to say though, the media in this community (not you KJP) is more down on this city than most others I've lived in.  If you're a suburbanite who hasn't been to Cleveland since 1990, you would think Cleveland was a pretty horrible place if you got all your news from 19 Action.  I grew up near Toledo and all of the media oulets there were generally more positive, even television.

 

That's my stab at it.

 

 

"Another eastsider...yeah!"

 

People complain that this city is so divided/segregated but then we read things like "Another eastsider...yeah!". How about "Another Cleveland (area) forumer... yay!!!"? Honestly, it's such a throwback and not in a good way.

"Another eastsider...yeah!"

 

People complain that this city is so divided/segregated but then we read things like "Another eastsider...yeah!". How about "Another Cleveland (area) forumer... yay!!!"? Honestly, it's such a throwback and not in a good way.

 

Oh hush. I say that as the site is westside heavy. 

 

Not based on some old throwback eastside vs westside high school rivalry.

Don't get crabby with me because of your inability to hold your caffeine ;-)

Don't get crabby with me because of your inability to hold your caffeine ;-)

 

#$%^*! :x

Sorry to butt in on a Cleveland thread, but I think this might be a NE Ohio thing perpetuated by NE Ohio residents.

 

I grew up in Perry township between Massillon and Canton.  While we would go to Massillon regularly, we wouldn't go to Canton if we could avoid it.  Canton was "bad."  Now, I live in Youngstown, and I'm still amazed at how much the locals seem to despise this city.  On one of the Youngstown discussion boards, the city is referred to as a "cesspool" almost on a daily basis.  Now I hear the same thing happens in Cleveland. (although I really knew this already)

 

I can't understand why some people around here seem to enjoy trashing their home.

I wish I had a good answer for you.  I'm not a native Clevelander and I love the city, I live downtown so am I East, West, or Central?  :-D

 

I have to say though, the media in this community (not you KJP) is more down on this city than most others I've lived in.  If you're a suburbanite who hasn't been to Cleveland since 1990, you would think Cleveland was a pretty horrible place if you got all your news from 19 Action.  I grew up near Toledo and all of the media oulets there were generally more positive, even television.

 

That's my stab at it.

 

 

 

the difference between the toledo and cleveland media markets is that about half of the people in the toledo area live in the city limits.  cleveland has a third of of the population of cuyahoga county, but then there are all the burbs in outlying counties.  what i'm trying to say is that people of the suburban mindset are more prevalent in toledo's city limits (with the large 60s annex areas).  maybe they are less negative about toledo because they actually live in the city. 

I think you're 100% correct on that one.  Annexation stopped much earlier in Cleveland than it did in Toledo.  Thanks for the insight.

Welcome to the forum FromTHALand!

 

I personally feel that when you get out of NEO, you get a better perception of Cleveland.  Those old stereotypes will always be prevelent, but for the most part, many outsiders seem to have a positive view of the city.  It's the natives that have such a negative view of Cleveland.  I'm a life long resident of NEO (born and raised in Akron) and Cleveland was always seen as "bad" when I was growing up.  My wife (a proud Cleveland native) and I recently moved up from Akron to the Heights area and when people heard we were moving to the Cleveland area, the outpouring of concern and fear for the lives of us and our children began. 

 

I think lopsidedfrock hit it right on the nail.  So many people have fled the city for whatever reason over the past several decades that the general thought within the region is that the city is dying and the only ones who currently live in Cleveland proper are those that don't have the means to get out.  Then you have the local media which consistantly pumps up negative stories about the city and region as means of "creating awareness"; most of us are aware of Cleveland's ills.  Instead of focusing on all the negativity, we should collectively focus on the positives and ways the build upon and enhance Cleveland's already impressive foundation.  But we all now that in Cleveland, if you talk too much about the positives, you'll be accused of trying to blanket and cover up the negatives.  Sigh.... the cycle never ends :roll:

This isn't just a problem in Cleveland, you get the same thing in MOST rustbelt cities. Rustbelt isn't a good term. I shouldn't use that. Midwestern cities. There ya go.

^No doubt.

 

^^I think you guys are dead on.  We'll see which way the passage of time cuts.  Maybe people's memories of their families 1960s/1970s "escape" from the city for whatever reason will fade and the knee-jerk bad feelings will too.

"Another eastsider...yeah!"

 

People complain that this city is so divided/segregated but then we read things like "Another eastsider...yeah!". How about "Another Cleveland (area) forumer... yay!!!"? Honestly, it's such a throwback and not in a good way.

I don't think people identifying themselves as east side or west side is such a bad thing, it's not like we're tupac and biggie. By using east side in my screen name i'm just letting people know where i'm from, what perspective i'm coming from, and that I have love for the east-side, i'm not insinuating anything about the west side because I love the west side too.

Sorry, my comment wasn't directed at you - and I have no problem with people identifying with where they live. As a newbie, you're probably not aware that MyTwoSense has made some snide remarks about West siders (and the West side in general) in the past - that's what prompted my response.

Sorry, my comment wasn't directed at you - and I have no problem with people identifying with where they live. As a newbie, you're probably not aware that MyTwoSense has made some snide remarks about West siders (and the West side in general) in the past - that's what prompted my response.

Oh no, it's cool, I just thought i'd share why i included east_side in my name :-)

Sorry, my comment wasn't directed at you - and I have no problem with people identifying with where they live. As a newbie, you're probably not aware that MyTwoSense has made some snide remarks about West siders (and the West side in general) in the past - that's what prompted my response.

 

Snide...what did I say that was snide other than "Parma"!  Ha!

I think the idea that people in the region are our "worst enemies" is accurate.  Although I usually hear positive comments about Cleveland when outside the region, I still hear many negative comments.  I think much of this stems from the fact that when someone from a Cleveland suburb (which is most people in the greater Cleveland area) visits someone in another city, they probably relay exaggerated negative information about Cleveland to those people.  I get a lot of this when I am in Seattle.  How can you criticize the people in Seattle about negative stereotypes when they are only repeating what they heard from "Clevelanders".  On the other hand, when people from other cities visit Cleveland, they are almost shocked at how great it is!  Mike Hargrove said it best when he said, "The Cleveland stereotype will probably never change in my lifetime, but I do not care, I love living in Cleveland!"

Right on TMH!!  :clap:

heh, when I saw the name TMH, I immediately thought of Trumbull Memorial Hospital. I doubt that's wear it came from though.

 

Random, I know

thm you said it so well. right on target with how i see it (although in my long experience w/ seattle no one there really has any opinion or even thinks about cle and ohio at all...and vice versa).

 

I grew up in Lakewood, college grad, and am one of about half my group of friends who like Cleveland or at least are staying put for now. The biggest reasons why the half who say it sucks here is mainly due to the weather, u'd think after 25 years in Cleveland they would be used to it but I guess only the strong survive. That, along with the syndrome commonly called the "grass is always greener on the other side". But rest assured, in lieu of the police and fire flight from Westpark, alot of my friends who all have degrees in accounting, business, nursing, alot of them having masters, are luckily all buying up the very Westpark houses that the cops and firemen are leaving behind, so Cheers to the Cleve.

^ so true, and thx for the well-timed bit of good news that you see og, that perked me up!

Because it's not Chicago.

Here are my gripes:

 

Insular populace

Resistance to new ideas

Socialized bitching

Depressed wages

Slow/no economic and job growth

 

I think Cleveland is a great place to live. I think there are improvements to be made, however, and these will come from increased growth -- economically and population-wise. I was at an event for work with people from Phoenix, and they just love it, love it, love it. None of them actually grew up in Phoenix. The common thread I observed was that they loved Phoenix because they were not from Phoenix (how else could you love Satan's version of an easy-bake oven with sand and asphalt?). I think if Cleveland were to enjoy the economic growth of Phoenix, we'd get all these new people and their good vibrations, and it'd be top gear here.

 

 

 

^ So true... I've noticed when looking at forums for other cities across the country, you always have natives who are down on the city for whatever reason, even in the sunbelt cities.  When you have a fresh populace coming into the region, they usually have a more open mind and fresh outlook on their new home; thus, they're likely to have a better perception of the city than those that have lived there all their lives and seen all of it's ills.  We don't currently have a fresh populace moving into the region; therefore, the stagnant stench of negativity continually presides over Greater Cleveland.

Few people are lucky enough to be born into the right place for them.

I agree with most of these points.

 

I've also noticed that people from Cleveland who have moved away speak highly of Cleveland, as if they miss it, whereas those still living here speak lowly of it.

 

After 6+ years living in Dallas, I moved back to Cleveland because I missed it.  Upon returning and telling people I just moved back, 9 times out of 10 I would get "why?"  I think for people that have lived here their whole lives if something bad should happen say economically for them (laid off perhaps), they say "it's Cleveland's fault.  This city sucks."  If that same person were to move to another city and get laid off, they would be able to see the more macro economic picture and blame it on the industry rather than the city being depressed.

shs96,

 

do you live in the oc and are working towards a dual degree?

 

I would have to say that most of the people that gripe about Cleveland are in the age group of 55 to 95 and rightfully so.  These are the people that grew up/raised familys in neighborhoods like Union/Miles, Lee/Harvard, Big Italy(Woodland) along Woodhill etc.  These were tight knit neighborhoods with major retail that surrounded a tight knit downtown with even more retail.  There were several transportation options, the mills were blowing full steam etc etc etc.  Now, they look at these neighborhoods and could cry.  They wonder where all the department stores downtown went (even though they know where they went).  Imagine taking Westlake or Strongsville (I know, curse words on UO but trying to make a point) 30 years from now and making it look like Woodhill or E93rd.  That would be disgusting, and you would probably be ashamed of your town also. 

 

My point is, the younger population is not used to going dt shopping with the family in your Sunday best on the rapid.  All the new things going on in Cleveland right now are, well, new to the younger population.  The younger people see this as progress while the older people look at it and say it still is nothing like it used to be.  They remember and will never forget.  They are the people that were around when Cleveland was selected to host an Olympics and Wrolds Fair.  In their lifetime, they will probably never see Cleveland as vibrant as it was in 1950. 

^^ Interesting analysis.  It's always tough when I talk to the older generations in Little Italy and they tell me I'm crazy when I want to help this city or that there is progress being made.  I agree with what you're saying.

Tell them they've got three choices:  love it, improve it or shut the hell up.

KJP, did you ever try telling an 85 year old man to change their ways...Get my point.

 

Another point I had and forgot to post, if you ever hear younger crowds complaining about Cleveland, it's ussually because they want to be near the Rockies out west or in the warmth of Florida or the Southwest.  That's fine, to each their own.  But I rarely hear a young person gripe like the older people. 

I don't ask old people to change their ways. I ask them what they saw and experienced when they were young so I can learn from them how not to repeat their mistakes. I try to share what I've learned via the written word. But I don't ask them what they would do in present-day circumstances if they have a can't do attitude -- that attitude tells me they've already died. And I don't care what dead people think.

shs96,

 

do you live in the oc and are working towards a dual degree?

 

 

Orange County?  No, I live downtown although I am working on an MBA.

Ok, you're not the Clevelander who moved to Dallas and back that I was thinking of..

 

 

OC=Ohio City

shs96,

 

do you live in the oc and are working towards a dual degree?

 

 

Orange County?  No, I live downtown although I am working on an MBA.

 

OC-Ohio City...sheesh!  Get with your neighborhood acronyms!   :wink:

 

OC-Ohio City...sheesh!  Get with your neighborhood acronyms!   :wink:

 

Particularly sad since I go there all the time.

 

While in Dallas, I was friends with lots of transplants from Ohio so I am not at all surprised you know someone with a similar past.  I guess it goes back to my point...of all of those people I was friends with, most of them hoped to move back to Cleveland/Ohio some day and had great things to say about their hometown.

KJP, did you ever try telling an 85 year old man to change their ways...Get my point.

 

Another point I had and forgot to post, if you ever hear younger crowds complaining about Cleveland, it's ussually because they want to be near the Rockies out west or in the warmth of Florida or the Southwest.  That's fine, to each their own.  But I rarely hear a young person gripe like the older people. 

 

gotribe very well said. very insightful and i totally agree. but being in the middle of that age-wise, that is between those older people and the young crew, i would just add that they are the ones who abandoned ship and left, not us. i got tired real quick of my parents and grandparents reminicising about downtown shopping and stuff like that when i was a kid --- it always came up when we were at a freakin mall!

 

kjp is right tho, its much more productive to just ask what they liked about it and build on that than to scold them for abandoning the nabes.

 

^You are exactly right mrnyc.  They are the ones that ruined the city by jumping ship aka Dick Faegler.  Let's complain about the city that we ruined and make evereyone believe that the people running City Hall are morons and are totally to blame. 

My 2c - I moved here about 9 years ago. I followed my then girlfriend, now wife, from upstate NY where we both went to school. I love her, but she's an awful ambassador to the city, and has the same....perception...that many of her friends growing up in Shaker had: which was that 'Cleveland' wasn't really edgy or interesting enough. A lot of the putdowns of Cleveland, from my perspective, are in an effort to appear more sophisticated. By saying to themselves to others that NYC, or Chicago, or San Fran, etc. are more exciting, upscale, vibrant etc. than Cleveland, I think they are trying to cover up their own insecurities about their hometown, due to perceptions that have been hammered into them since they were kids I'm guessing by their parents and the PD. Case in point: When I first moved here I floated the idea of getting a place downtown, which was met with incredulity on her part. I caved on that, and have regretted that decision since. 

 

My own perspective, having lived in NYC as a kid, and having played in the same as a younger adult, is the same as all of you. Cleveland has more positives than negatives and, is a fabulous place to live raise a family, now that I have one. You would have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming to get me to leave now that I'm here.

 

The funny thing I'm noticing, recently, is that many of her friends who fled to the fabulous cities of NYC, Chicago, San Fran, etc. are suddenly coming back as they get married and start having kids. Go figure.

interesting story aj thx.

 

i was raised to work in us steel/amship/ford and likely would have ended up there, but when the time came after hs in the early 80's the rug was pulled out from under my feet on that and there were no jobs. it was thee peak height of the rust belt blues! i remember lining up to apply for the usual summer jobs at us steel and there was a line down the block and we all knew they werent hiring anybody andthey didnt, in fact just the opposite, layoffs went back decades on hiring dates. i went to mcdonalds to apply and they stuck the app in a four-drawer file cabinet stuffed with applications -- i'll never forget that image! what was i supposed to do? after a bit i went to bgsu, never really came back except to visit and the rest was history.

Im not currently living In Cleveland,I've been gone for 2 years since 2005,but I didn't have a choice if I wanted to stay,I was only 13.If it was my choice I would have stayed and kept living in Cleveland.I loved everything about the city and Greater Cleveland area.Fortunatly for me,most of my family lives in Cleveland,and I got my parents to agree to letting me move back to Cleveland next year.I'll be 16,and Im planning on finishing High School,and going to college,and living up the good life in Cleveland.Im a Clevelander for life,I think its a great place,and I can't wait to be back in my hometown next year.Cleveland Rocks!