[la_mode]

If there's one thing that can unite rich/poor, republican/democrat, athiest/religious, intelligent/dumb, gay/straight, fat/in shape, SJW/non-SJW...it's regionalism.

Example, tell the southside toughguy heavy beer-drinking construction worker from Chicago that his town is boring. Expect instant anger and possibly a fight.

Tell the yuppie-SWPL living in Lincoln Park who only drinks organic-certified chai tea that Chicago isn't as interesting as NYC or LA, and the same rules will apply, minus the possibility of a fight - but they may get even more angry.

In this day & age of strict division between all different kinds of groups, it's interesting how some things can still unify most everyone.

Regionalism and excessive pride in one's city to the point of insufferability is something that is so strong - yet unnoticed for the most part. In most cities in the US that qualify as being mid-sized cities (besides some rundown small rustbelt cities), most residents truly believe they live in the "Greatest City in the world". Basically, the US is a nation of civic cheerleaders.

Is it like this in the rest of the world?

[scotian]

Its like that everywhere man, a lot worse in other countries, its human nature.

[Royale]

I find that "municipal tribalism" is generally common amongst humans who don't really travel. Look at sports rivalries as an example. You think the guy constantly traveling to the EE cares about the results of the Cowboys/Redskins game? Not likely.

[scotian]

One of the interesting things about spending a lot of time abroad in a foreign country is hearing about the regional differences that, as an outsider, you wouldn't really think of and it can be quite funny. I'll never forget the time a Paisa (Medellin) taxi driver described his countrymen on the Atlantic coast as "fast talking donkey fuckers" and then went on to claim his city was the best in the country, despite the fact that he admitted to never leaving it.

[Seamus]

(10-09-2014 10:21 PM)scotian Wrote:  

One of the interesting things about spending a lot of time abroad in a foreign country is hearing about the regional differences that, as an outsider, you wouldn't really think of and it can be quite funny. I'll never forget the time a Paisa (Medellin) taxi driver described his countrymen on the Atlantic coast as "fast talking donkey fuckers" and then went on to claim his city was the best in the country, despite the fact that he admitted to never leaving it.

To be fair, he was right on both counts

[Sherman]

(10-09-2014 10:21 PM)scotian Wrote:  

One of the interesting things about spending a lot of time abroad in a foreign country is hearing about the regional differences that, as an outsider, you wouldn't really think of and it can be quite funny. I'll never forget the time a Paisa (Medellin) taxi driver described his countrymen on the Atlantic coast as "fast talking donkey fuckers" and then went on to claim his city was the best in the country, despite the fact that he admitted to never leaving it.

There was a Colombian telenovela sometime back where a man from Bogota (?) was romantically pursuing a costena from Santa Marta. It was something like a Colombian odd couple theme because you had a man from the mountain culture living with a woman from the coast culture.

[freeuser]

(10-09-2014 09:09 PM)la_mode Wrote:  

If there's one thing that can unite rich/poor, republican/democrat, athiest/religious, intelligent/dumb, gay/straight, fat/in shape, SJW/non-SJW...it's regionalism.

Example, tell the southside toughguy heavy beer-drinking construction worker from Chicago that his town is boring. Expect instant anger and possibly a fight.

Tell the yuppie-SWPL living in Lincoln Park who only drinks organic-certified chai tea that Chicago isn't as interesting as NYC or LA, and the same rules will apply, minus the possibility of a fight - but they may get even more angry.

In this day & age of strict division between all different kinds of groups, it's interesting how some things can still unify most everyone.

Regionalism and excessive pride in one's city to the point of insufferability is something that is so strong - yet unnoticed for the most part. In most cities in the US that qualify as being mid-sized cities (besides some rundown small rustbelt cities), most residents truly believe they live in the "Greatest City in the world". Basically, the US is a nation of civic cheerleaders.

Is it like this in the rest of the world?

Dude, regionalism is everywhere. Specially in a lot of European nations. I assume it´s even much stronger here across the pond because there are some strong, over the centurys engrained, differences between different regions (Bretagne, Bavaria, Basque Country, Corsica etc.). Sometimes cultural and sometimes even linguistic.

I have a hard time imagining that there is a big cultural difference between for example Denver and Baltimore? But then again, I have never been in your country so I might be wrong. I know that there are political differences between red and blue states, but that happens in every country.

[la_mode]

I'm not denying regionalism is everywhere, that is a given.

It's definitely much stronger in certain cities than others (Boston compared to LA for instance).

In the US at least, it can literally bring together opposing groups in ways nothing else can.

[Baldwin81]

la_mode,

I noticed the neighborhoods / areas you referenced. Obviously it's not exclusive to the Windy City, but civic pride is off the fucking charts in Chicago... moreso than most places in the US. It's a big city, in a region with no other big cities, but deep down knows that it'll never have the pull of a NY or LA. Gets a little old sometimes, but not the end of the world.

Definitely fun to troll...

"Man, Chicago would get eaten alive on the east coast. Put this town in between Boston and NY, NY and Philly, Philly and DC, shiiit put it in between DC and Atlanta and Chicago wouldn't know what hit it."

[blacknwhitespade]

(10-10-2014 09:24 AM)Baldwin81 Wrote:  

la_mode,

I noticed the neighborhoods / areas you referenced. Obviously it's not exclusive to the Windy City, but civic pride is off the fucking charts in Chicago... moreso than most places in the US. It's a big city, in a region with no other big cities, but deep down knows that it'll never have the pull of a NY or LA. Gets a little old sometimes, but not the end of the world.

Definitely fun to troll...

"Man, Chicago would get eaten alive on the east coast. Put this town in between Boston and NY, NY and Philly, Philly and DC, shiiit put it in between DC and Atlanta and Chicago wouldn't know what hit it."

I don't mean to sound like a provincialist, but your hate is making you completely irrational. Chicago would fit in nicely next to NY and Boston, it gets compared to them all the time for a reason. And as far as cities go, Chicago blows Los Angeles out of the water. Trust me, I've lived in both places for several years. CA is a great state, and LA has some neat areas, but overall its a trash heap. At least the homeless street people in Chicago play the saxophone for you.

[Sp5]

Like the saying, my family before my tribe, my tribe before my country. It's easier to feel close to people you live with.

Regional pride and differences make life interesting. In the USA, the strongest "tribes" are in New England, Louisiana, and Texas, makes those places special. New York City is up there, too.

In Europe, the EU promotes regionalism, probably to drag down nationalism. So you see all these EU materials and events promoting the food and culture of, for example, Bavaria, Tuscany and Andalucia. That might backfire on them.

[la_mode]

This has nothing to do with Chicago vs LA. Some will prefer Chicago, some will prefer LA.

I've lived in both, apples/oranges comparison. Different vibes, weather, culture, architecture. No similarities besides being big cities in the US.

There's a civic pride factor in some cities that really does trump everything else. That's the only point I was making.