# I pit people who think living outside a big city is 'torture' **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757 "2010-12-29T22:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/141 "2010-12-31T16:56:51Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > \ I visit several big cities a year, because I need that kind of energy in my system.\ This shows how different city and country folk are. My property backs up to the White River National Forest. If I want rejuvenation and energy, that’s where I go. Nearly 3 million acres of the most beautiful scenery and quite that you will ever find. With luck, I will not see a single person. The ‘city’ on the other hand, just sucks me dry. I can’t wait to leave it. I hate cities. :shrug: So people are different. This is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/142 "2010-12-31T17:39:55Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > Just so’s ya know, [Rochester](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester,_New_York) has a population of about 207,294, with a Metro Area of 1,098,201. [Monroe County](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_New_York) has a population of 735,343. The Rochester MSA is considered to go all the way to the Pennsylvania border, which really renders a little useless for anything but census purposes. You’re right about the population, but wrong about the borders. The Rochester MSA only includes four of the five counties that borders Monroe. And none of them come within sniffing distance of PA. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/143 "2010-12-31T17:56:54Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > I’ve been in Saskatoon, and it ain’t got no 300k population. 257,000, according to online sources. Close enough. That’s a reasonably large city; it’s not quite pro-sports-team big, but it’s has-a-real-airport big, let’s say. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/144 "2010-12-31T18:02:04Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > You’re right about the population, but wrong about the borders. The Rochester MSA only includes four of the five counties that borders Monroe. And none of them come within sniffing distance of PA. Well, it looks like Steuben County is not included. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/145 "2010-12-31T18:32:01Z")
> [@BlackKnight](#): > > according to [this other Wikipedia list](https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Table_of_United_States_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas), there are only about 150 such “Metropolitan Statistical Areas” in the US with population greater than 300,000. ‘Only’? Dude, that’s a _lot_ of cities. Not to mention, if I did my quick counting right, about 220 million people, about 70% of the freakin’ _country_, live in those ~150 metro areas with \>300K people. Hell, about half the country lives in the 39 metro areas with \> 1.5 million people. It’s hard to have a lot of big cities because a lot of people live in each one. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/146 "2010-12-31T18:34:20Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Suddenly living in the Dakotas is some sort of horrible thing no one in their right mind would do. I’ve also seen a similar attitude when people refer to the Midwest as the flyover states - no one wants to actually be there, they are just in the way of the East and West Coasts. Well, as a matter of fact, a lot of people _don’t_ want to be there. They grow up there and move to a big city. Demographically, the Plains states in particular have been emptying out just about forever. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/147 "2010-12-31T19:18:12Z")
“Saskatchewan: A Good Place to Be From.” ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/148 "2010-12-31T22:22:05Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > ‘Only’? > Dude, that’s a _lot_ of cities. No it’s not - not compared to the total number of cities. A city that is large enough to be in the top tiny% of cities is, ipso facto, a large city. QEmfD. ---
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/149 "2010-12-31T22:44:07Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > This shows how different city and country folk are. My property backs up to the White River National Forest. If I want rejuvenation and energy, that’s where I go. Nearly 3 million acres of the most beautiful scenery and quite that you will ever find. With luck, I will not see a single person. The ‘city’ on the other hand, just sucks me dry. I can’t wait to leave it. I hate cities. > > :shrug: So people are different. This is a good thing. Amen. I have a cartoon that shows two people sitting on the edge of a cliff, looking out over a forest, with the sun setting in the background. One of them says " I guess that’s the differance between us, you come here because you love nature, and I come here because I hate people" Cities are loud, crowded, expensive, hell holes. YMMV This message brought to you from a century old farmhouse on 5 acres surrounded by crop fields. Tonights meal will be blackened orange roughy, split lobster tail, pan seared scallops, crab stuffed shrimp, with alfredo noodles. $40 for two. Who needs a restaurant? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/150 "2010-12-31T23:38:56Z")
> [@FE3O4ENAIL](#): > > Who needs a restaurant? Someone who wants a highly skilled staff to prepare it? Someone who doesn’t want to sit at home alone, but actually be near other people? Someone who thinks saving $60 isn’t worth the hassle? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/151 "2010-12-31T23:42:30Z")
> [@FE3O4ENAIL](#): > > Tonights meal will be blackened orange roughy, split lobster tail, pan seared scallops, crab stuffed shrimp, with alfredo noodles. $40 for two. > Who needs a restaurant? People who can’t or don’t have time to cook spring readily to mind, along with people who like going to restaurants for a sense of occasion or just something different. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/152 "2010-12-31T23:51:19Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Oh, honey, I hope you’re not talking about the South Carolina Philharmonic, are you? Bless your heart, but calling them world class can only be done by someone whose definition of world is pretty limited. They’re a nice little orchestra, and I’ve heard worse, but Savannah, Charleston, and Charlotte are far superior, and Atlanta’s not 4 hours away if you want a real world class orchestra. Have you been since the new director came? I think they’re quite good. And I went to college in Atlanta and was never that wowed by the ASO. I mean, they were good, but they weren’t _that_ great. ---
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/153 "2011-01-01T00:03:30Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Someone who wants a highly skilled staff to prepare it? > Someone who doesn’t want to sit at home alone, but actually be near other people? > Someone who thinks saving $60 isn’t worth the hassle? OK, it was a semi retorical question. No mad skilz needed. Lobster-boil water. Shrimp- butterfly, saute some red pepper and green onion, mix in beaten egg, bread crumbs, mayo, crab, seasonings. Stuff shrimp, grate on parmesian cheese, sprinkle on paprika, bake for 10 minutes. Fish- season and pan fry. Scallops- well I have found there is a learning curve to finding how to get a nice browning. I will be dining with my lovely wife, enjoying a quiet meal. You don’t mind the noise of a resturant, I understand that. You say hassle, I say satisfaction of a job well done. You have more money than me I guess, if 60 bucks doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/154 "2011-01-01T00:07:03Z")
Tonight’s meal will be a quarter of a Red Baron’s frozen pepperoni pizza with a glass of fresh municipality-provided tap water and a Kroger-brand vanilla pudding cup for dessert. All for about $2. The pleasures of inner city life! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/155 "2011-01-01T00:58:17Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Someone who wants a highly skilled staff to prepare it? > Someone who doesn’t want to sit at home alone, but actually be near other people? > Someone who thinks saving $60 isn’t worth the hassle? You are very welcome to it. I prefer to cook at home. ---
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/156 "2011-01-01T01:27:06Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > You are very welcome to it. I prefer to cook at home. I have to go out and plow my drive. It was 44 degrees today and the nice snow base I had over the gravel is now slush. It will be in the 20s tomorrow. Lucky city folk don’t even have to own and maintain a plow truck. So, enipla, do you enjoy having to do all the extra work city folk do not have to do? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/157 "2011-01-01T03:31:10Z")
It’s pretty much the small town people who are being judgmental. Our cities are 'hellholes. ---
**Author:** ![FE3O4ENAIL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba9def/32.png) [@FE3O4ENAIL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FE3O4ENAIL)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/158 "2011-01-01T04:01:59Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > It’s pretty much the small town people who are being judgmental. Our cities are 'hellholes. Wow, I exagerated in the pit. Please allow me to refine my message. Hellholes was a complete and utter misrepresentation. I believe cities contain the best of the human condition. And some not so nice bits. They must be great or they would not be so popular. So, you live where you want to, and I will live where I want. I enjoyed the owl hooting in the fog tonight as I walked back into the house after plowing. I could not see him so I don’t know which kind he is. Maybe I will see him another day. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/159 "2011-01-01T04:28:41Z")
It just proves my point, small town people feel free to say any nasty thing they want about cities, but cant take it when it’s their turn. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757/160 "2011-01-01T04:32:28Z")
> [@FE3O4ENAIL](#): > > I have to go out and plow my drive. It was 44 degrees today and the nice snow base I had over the gravel is now slush. It will be in the 20s tomorrow. > Lucky city folk don’t even have to own and maintain a plow truck. > > So, enipla, do you enjoy having to do all the extra work city folk do not have to do? When my parents were younger, they loved it. Mom liked mowing the lawn, it was her peace and quiet time. 😉 By riding lawn mower it took about 4-5 hours, so she’d stretch it out over two or three evenings. Dad would get out on the tractor to plow the yard. Man, most kids would have been soooooo jealous of the snowbanks I had all to myself. I suspect **enipla** is one of those people who are energized by these types of chores - they almost aren’t chores. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-think-living-outside-a-big-city-is-torture/565757.md?page=9)