Warrior74 said:
I went to NYC for 2 months for training and was so ready to come back to the south I thought I hated. All I could think about was this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_sink
Now we have our problems down here with racism and class in the south, but I rather deal with that than deal with the masses of people in the NYC. I'm a small town guy at heart I guess. I like feeling like I can have a civil conversation and take time to get to know people and to do things well. All that rushing for what? I can be cynical here and still enjoy a better quality of life.
Don't know where you are but I've lived in several parts of the south my whole life (and spent a lot of time in nearly every corner of the region) aside from the time I was in nyc and I dont know any real racists. Years ago, yes, but now it is rare amongst anyone under 45 or 50, in my experience and, if you spend enough time there, you will be just as likely to find them up north. But then, I'm from a city. If you're from BFE, your milage will vary. And i hate to sound contrary, but "The South" does not equal "small town." There are small towns and everything that goes with it in every region of the country. If you find yourself in nyc missing the small town experience, you can always drive a few hours in most directions and have no problems finding small town America.
Again, not trying to jump on you but it annoys me to no end when people who aren't from here generalize about us and, most especially, when people from here say that the retarded bull**** that goes on in their ****hole town is what goes on everywhere down here....and that it's normal and everywhere else is just crazy. Actually there are a couple of entire states where people seem to constantly want to do this.
That said, I'm a true southerner, proud of where I'm from and proud of our history, but I loved the years I spent in nyc because it offered perspective I never would have gotten otherwise. I simultaneously came to love New York and renewed my love for the south. Most people in ny are not rude. They are in a hurry. And, in general, once you are friends with someone they are true friends. You quickly know how you stand with most everyone. Down here show me 10 people you know and I'll show you 8 people who are talking about you behind your back. In times of emergency, new yorkers pull together like anyone else. On 9/11 hundreds of police officers and fire fighters died because they ran into buildings that ultimately collapsed. In the days that followed the generwl public was asked to stop inquiring about volunteer opportunities because it was overwelming all concerned to the point that it was interfering with their missions. Compare that to New Orleans after katrina...A significant portion of the new orleans police went awol and some of them even engaged in looting. Hollywood celebrities made a big show of volunteering. When the blackout happened in nyc bars and restaraunts gave away free beer and food since it was going to go bad otherwise. In the years I've been back down here I can count on one hand the number of times I've gotten free anything under any circumstance from eating and drinking establishments I've spent thousands in.
There are good people everywhere, it's just different, is all, really.