Reflection of a Two Year Transplant (For Outsiders) (Chicago, Paris: unemployment, living)

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Culturally, I agree that Western NY (and Western PA, for that matter) are culturally more similar to the Midwest than they are to the East Coast. Good luck getting the people who live there to admit that, though.

I find it pretty telling that two people that have never lived in WNY find it to be Midwest yet they still dont heed the experience and opinion of those that actually live there.

Ignorance at its finest.


Ive been to Hawaii and Florida. They were both really hot and sunny. They must be the same climate.

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by PA Born

No, we were discussing the Great Lakes. No one claimed that Buffalo has anything to do with Fargo or Wichita.

And no one was talking about Upstate; they were talking Western NY, but whatever. Not worth arguing.

Then what does this have to do with the Great Lakes?

Originally Posted by PA Born

Did you even read my post? I said west of Utica, not east of Utica.

Obviously Utica to Albany feels very New England/East Coast. I totally agree that the Mohawk Valley feels very different from the Midwest. Syracuse might be a better dividing point than Utica, but somwhere between those two would probably be the cutoff.

My point is that Western/Central Upstate NY (and Western PA, for that matter) is culturally closer to the Midwest than to the East Coast. The accents are the same, the ethnic backgrounds are the same, the regional quirks, the religious backgrounds, etc. The economic base is also basically the same.

Once you get closer to Utica (and definitely once you're closer to Albany), the feel is completely different, and more like NYC/Boston (different ethnicities, accents, economic base, etc.). All of Eastern Upstate NY is basically New England.

Yes, there are some differences too, and some exceptions. Ithaca and the Finger Lakes feels far more Northeast/New England, for example. But overall, Buffalo feels much more like Cleveland or Detroit than like NYC or Boston, and same goes for Western PA. I mean, Buffalo is almost as close to Chicago as it is to NYC. It wouldn't make any sense for it to have an NYC/Boston feel.

You said Utica westward, which implies that youre including it.

[PA Born]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

You said Utica westward, which implies that youre including it.

Yes, and you're still missing the point, but whatever.

Western NY isn't Upstate. Midwest isn't Great Lakes.

Just because someone thinks Buffalo is more similar to Cleveland than Boston (which would be everyone except for you) doesn't mean they think White Plains is similar to Omaha, which seems to be your contention.

This is a Chicago thread. Obviously we're talking about the Great Lakes area, not Oklahoma. And when people say Western NY, they aren't talking NYC suburbs, or Hudson Valley, or even Mohawk Valley.

[Heyooooo]

Anyway, youre in every General US thread talking about this. You are infatuated with this, even if youre told countless times by people that live in Buffalo, Rochester, Cleveland, and Detroit that youre overstating the similarities.

Buffalo is more like Pittsburgh. Its transitional. Its Interior Northeast. The End. Its not Midwestern. Traits are shared, but its not.


The Great Lakes region includes Upper Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Thats three different areas IMO.


Lemme guess, you think Boston is just like Washington, huh?

[Lucky Clover]

Something tells me Heyooooo and PA Born would be just fine if they were roommates.

[Heyooooo]

I can only imagine if hes a Penguins or Flyers fan.

[PA Born]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

Anyway, youre in every General US thread talking about this. You are infatuated with this, even if youre told countless times by people that live in Buffalo, Rochester, Cleveland, and Detroit that youre overstating the similarities.

I have no idea who you have me confused with, or why you're so obsessed with distinguishing Buffalo from other Great Lakes cities, but, again, you're free to your opinion. I've barely ever been on the General US thread.

It's very clear that you're the only one with your opinion, but you sure are adamant; I'll give you that...

[trailblazer33]

This is exasperating. Back on track, please. Y'all are killing me.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

Yes I did..

TO SHOW

that Upstate NY ancestry and ethnicity were more in line with the rest of the Northeast than the Midwest.

Yet what you actually showed is that ancestry in Eastern NY is similar to the east coast, while ancestry in Western NY is similar to the Midwest, supporting what everyone but you has been saying all along. So, apparently you agree with us and are actually arguing against something that was never said, or you're not capable of reading maps very well.

Originally Posted by Heyooooo

I find it pretty telling that two people that have never lived in WNY find it to be Midwest

I find it telling that you think you know where the people behind random online screen names have or have not lived, but that's beside the point.

More imaginary arguments. Nobody said that Western NY is the Midwest. That would be factually inaccurate. What people have said is that Western NY is culturally more similar to the Midwest than it is to the East Coast. Nothing you have said disproves that, and much of what you have said supports it.

You knew this, though, didn't you? Please find an Upstate New York board on which to troll and let us discuss Chicago, mmkay?

[Heyooooo]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Yet what you actually showed is that ancestry in Eastern NY is similar to the east coast, while ancestry in Western NY is similar to the Midwest, supporting what everyone but you has been saying all along. So, apparently you agree with us and are actually arguing against something that was never said, or you're not capable of reading maps very well.



I find it telling that you think you know where the people behind random online screen names have or have not lived, but that's beside the point.

More imaginary arguments. Nobody said that Western NY is the Midwest. That would be factually inaccurate. What people have said is that Western NY is culturally more similar to the Midwest than it is to the East Coast. Nothing you have said disproves that, and much of what you have said supports it.

You knew this, though, didn't you? Please find an Upstate New York board on which to troll and let us discuss Chicago, mmkay?

"Everyone" is two people?

I thought three was a crowd!


Beside the point? Oh, so youve lived there? Okay then.

Frankly, if you did actually live there, you wouldnt be supporting such a weak argument.


Devils Advocate here. Culturally speaking, how is Buffalo different from Trenton and more similar to Chicago? An accent? Explain this to me.