Big city people luuuvv traffic and crime (mild)

The BBQ Pit
1

Okay, I’m not exactly seething over this or anything, but I AM getting to the “this is getting tiresome” stage regarding my rant/complaint.

It’s ridiculous how many people, when they find out I’m moving to “the states” (especially, God forbid, the den of iniquity that is Dallas) start going on about how heinous the traffic is.

Excuse me??!! I don’t have a cite or anything, but I’ve lived here almost 34 years, and I HAVE driven “outside” even if I haven’t lived and worked there. And I’d wager that Anchorage drivers are the worst, and stupidist in the US. (making "come on, prove me wrong gestures with my fingers :D).

And as far as crime goes, according to the “Anchorage Indicators (a publication based on the census)” that is put out every 4 years or so, our state is generally in the top 5 (and has reached number one MANY times) for; alcoholism, drug abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, and so on. Ummm, per capita that is, obviously we only have 600k population and can’t compete with locations like NYC for sheer volume. (PS, we’re also the leading per capita Ice cream consumers last time I looked :D).

Anyway…

PEOPLE!! LOOK. I’m NOT moving to the slums of DC, murder central USA. Sheesh, give it UP willya? For crying out loud, half the people who tell me this haven’t even been here a full two years (that’s the trouble with this state, it’s like the “Pod People” that last frontier mentality just sucks them in, ggrrrr), and they LIVED in some of the places they’re “warning” me about.

If you lived there, and lived through it, and made it just fine down there the first 30 or 40 years of your life, don’t keep going on as if you’re suddenly Grizzly Adams afraid of the “big bad city”.

Arrrggggghh!!!

(so, it’s not really that bad, Is it??? :))

2

You’re moving to Dallas? From Anchorage? I’d be more worried about the summer heat than the crime or traffic.

3

Naaah, I’m “Chilly Willy,” the little penguin who is always freezing.

Besides, Anchorage has a very mild climate. Most northern states (minn, NY etc) get much colder weather than do Anchoragites.

4

Take it from a person who lived in those slums of DC, and has the gun-barrel impression in her back to prove it: Dallas is MAYBERRY for Pete’s sake.

You’ll LOVE Dallas. My cousin lives there and it’s suprisingly quiet and docile. FUN place. Enjoy!

5

I love traffic and crime, but only when they’re combined.

Think I’ll go play some more Grand Theft Auto: Vice City…

6

Our police chief was fired yesterday…why? Well, in part, because we have the HIGHEST CRIME RATE IN THE U.S. (out of cities with over 1 million inhabitants). Don’t get me started about the traffic. Please.

But, I imagine there’s worse places to live. Oh, CanvasShoes, I’ve been meaning to tell you – in another thread you said you didn’t know where Plano is. It’s a large suburb north of Dallas. Most folks live in the suburbs 'round these parts; the housing is much more expensive in Dallas proper.

7

Anchorage drivers are the worse? I laugh at you. Hearty and merrily. Come on the 285 some day at rush hour. I dare you. Even better, try and drive on the 285 when it’s raining or, god forbid, snowing.

Atlanta is the worst, no one’s convincing me otherwise.

8

Reminds me of the students from the New York/Downstate area, when they would come up to Buffalo for college. Along with the usual complaints Noo Yawkers have about anyplace outside of NYC (bagels aren’ quite right, no Zabar’s, pizza isn’t served cold with congealed cheese, etc), you would hear rants like this a lot

“I can’t stand Buffalo … the subway is too clean, there’s no bums, there’s no grafitti, there’s no crime, everybody is too nice and friendly … it’s not a real city!”

Apparently, Buffalo wasn’t gritty and mean enough for New Yorkers.

9

Reminds me of the students from the New York/Downstate area, when they would come up to Buffalo for college. Along with the usual complaints Noo Yawkers have about anyplace outside of NYC (bagels aren’t quite right, no Zabar’s, pizza isn’t served cold with congealed cheese, etc), you would hear rants like this a lot

“I can’t stand Buffalo … the subway is too clean, there’s no bums, there’s no grafitti, there’s no crime, everybody is too nice and friendly … it’s not a real city!”

Apparently, Buffalo wasn’t gritty and mean enough for New Yorkers.

10

HEY!!! :D, I SaaaIIID I didn’t have a cite or anything! hehe.

Actually, I was stunned at how nice the drivers were when I went to San Francisco this January.

Except this one person my mom, sis, daughter and I watched trying to parallel park.

She backed okay, but there was NO room, even for her tiny car. So, in straightening out, she smashes into the bumper of the car behind her, and then the car in FRONT Of her, and then the one behind again!!

We just sat there (waiting for the light), with our collective jaws on the floor! Then she got out and went in to whereever she was going without a backward glance!!

But as to bad drivers? I’ve seen some pretty strange things up here. A jeep, on the highway, travelling SIDEWAYS, and passing cars! We were going the other way on the highway, so I don’t know if he ever gained control, or ended up just another SUV in the ditch.

I don’t know about other states, but we call SUVs “most likely to end up upside down in the ditch,” or the more colorful “tundra traveller”.

Anyway, thanks Blonde, for all the helpful info. I’ve just figured out that I’ve got a little over three months before my intended departure date.

I’m mostly happy and excited, but then, I become nervous and unsure. And my fellow Anchoragites don’t help with their constant “You’re moving WHERE???” (and then in tones of utmost gloom) “ohhhhh, boy, the traffic and crime is REAAAALLLY bad there”.

Yeah, but at least there’s more to do than get drunk and fish/hunt/snowmachine!!!

I think it’s going to be a good trade off.

11

Looking forward to seeing you here, cowgirl! If you’re moving into an apartment/condo, go to outlying suburbs (North, as in Plano, Richardson, etc. DO NOT go South, trust me on this.)

Oh, and - watch out for the traffic. :smiley:

12

Bah, Dallas is BOOOOORING! How could they possibly be afraid of it? I lived there for a year and a half, and discovered that there are only two ways to meet people in that city: 1)go to church, or 2)go to bars.

Incidentally, Fellowship Church just north of DFW airport (right near Grapevine Mills) is excellent!

But seriously, the driving is nothing. Okay, there are SOME traffic jams, but I’m from LA… Dallas’ traffic is positively amateurish compared to what I deal with now that I’m back “home”.

Enjoy paying through the nose for your airfare though! If you made the 4-hour drive to OKC it would cut the cost of your tickets in HALF.

13

Well, I’m hoping to drive places once I get down here. I’ve had enough flying to last me a lifetime!!