Why does Cincinnati and all of Ohio have such a bad rep?

[Misfit Toy]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

Well, it would be a good idea to start to spell Cincinnati correctly, for starters.

I've lived in my west side neighborhood--several streets where there's an active neighborhood club, etc.--for 15 years. Still, when I'm out walking with my next door neighbor, people from her parish, people whose kids went to school with her kids 55 years ago, etc. will stand and talk to her and barely acknowledge that I'm even there. They just chatter on with her about other people I don't know, or topics of mutual interest that completely exclude me. I'm reasonably polite, friendly, and I know I haven't done anything to make these people dislike me. I've finally concluded that they are just insular and HAVE NO MANNERS. I don't know that Cincinnati has a corner on such people, but they sure are around here, in plentiful supply.

@Yankeemama - Sorry, I didn't see your question until now. But Sarah Perry answered it pretty well here. When we moved to our NE side of town neighborhood, it was like we had two strikes against us from the get-go, and I have no idea why to this day. We didn't know anyone here. It's almost like people here don't know how to deal with someone who doesn't fit this precise mold, and if you don't fit the mold, you're just out of luck. Could be a coincidence (or maybe not), but 3-4 people on my end of the street are originally from the west side.

[Sarah Perry]

I've concluded that while a lot of the generalizations about the entire metropolitan Cincinnati area should be taken with a HUGE grain of salt, the east-side west-side stereotypes have a solid basis as far as my experience goes. I'm not sorry we bought our home which we love on the west side, though--it would have probably cost 40% more if it were in someplace like Montgomery or Blue Ash, AND we have the advantage of a very convenient, central location.

Anyway, for people who think the whole thing is just a joke, think again.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by Misfit Toy

@Yankeemama - Sorry, I didn't see your question until now. But Sarah Perry answered it pretty well here. When we moved to our NE side of town neighborhood, it was like we had two strikes against us from the get-go, and I have no idea why to this day. We didn't know anyone here. It's almost like people here don't know how to deal with someone who doesn't fit this precise mold, and if you don't fit the mold, you're just out of luck. Could be a coincidence (or maybe not), but 3-4 people on my end of the street are originally from the west side.

This is because Cincinnati has lacked in migration for decades. Especially the west side of Cincinnati...it can be very much either you are this or that family or went to this or that parochial school or you are considered irrelevant.

On my recent visits to Cincinnati, I think it has become a bit less insular, but probably the most provincial large city I have ever been to or lived in.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

This is because Cincinnati has lacked in migration for decades. Especially the west side of Cincinnati...it can be very much either you are this or that family or went to this or that parochial school or you are considered irrelevant.

On my recent visits to Cincinnati, I think it has become a bit less insular, but probably the most provincial large city I have ever been to or lived in.

If that means I won't have people bugging me or harassing me like I do in Indianapolis then I will take it. Would much rather be in a city where people don't stick their nose into your business unless asked vs. one where they make your personal life their business.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

If that means I won't have people bugging me or harassing me like I do in Indianapolis then I will take it. Would much rather be in a city where people don't stick their nose into your business unless asked vs. one where they make your personal life their business.

I hear you. People are the most nosy in the south though. I lived for a time in GA near ATL and in FL. Those people are so nosy!

I also lived in Indy for a bit. It is well known that I do not care for that city at all. It is very bland and boring but long time Indiana natives think it is like Chicago or something (so far from it!). I never had anyone in my business there, but I was not even there a year.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

I hear you. People are the most nosy in the south though. I lived for a time in GA near ATL and in FL. Those people are so nosy!

I also lived in Indy for a bit. It is well known that I do not care for that city at all. It is very bland and boring but long time Indiana natives think it is like Chicago or something (so far from it!). I never had anyone in my business there, but I was not even there a year.

Never lived in the South. Had a number of friends from the South when I lived in Connecticut especially during my school years. Their parents moved to the Hartford area for work and then we met in school. None struck me as being nosey. I found it was mostly people from areas of the Midwest that behaved like that, especially the lower Midwest area.

My brother is in Indy and wants out too. They've been rail roading him through his ex in the divorce court. They've tried it with me but have failed. The place is the bottom of the barrel and I recognize what kind of people they are and I won't have anything to do with their ilk. In other words my experiences with the people here have been terrible and I have no further use for it.

Yes, the people are Indy are delusional. Only someone that does not possess his or her mental faculties could remotely find a way to compare Chicago to Indy. Talk about a serious inferiority complex.

Lived in Minnesota for a while and for the most part, they didn't try to insinuate their way into my life.

So far I don't have a lot to complain about with the Cincinnati area. I hope that will be the case in the future as well.