# Most loathsome city in the universe **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931 "2009-05-01T03:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/101 "2009-05-02T19:15:03Z")
Well, they can’t cap loads of places in India or Africa for _poverty_, but some of the small towns in Eastern Europe might make the list of the most depressing places to be. I guess it depends on what you consider loathsome. Take, for example, the town of Bobov Dol, Bulgaria. It’s a fucking hole. One of the two things in the town is a coal mine that everyone drops out of school to work in. Except that everyone also knows that the coal mine is going to run out of coal in the next few years and there won’t be any jobs, or any educated people, because everyone…dropped out of school to work in the coal mine. The other thing in the town is a prison. There is nothing to do in Bobov Dol. I can tell you I’d rather visit Calcutta or Dhaka any freaking day of the week than Bobov Dol. There’re a lot of places like this is post-Communist Eastern Europe. It’s incredibly depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/102 "2009-05-02T19:50:55Z")
Juarez, MX, San Antonio, the whole Central Valley of CA, Buffalo, East Spencer, NC are all pretty loathsome. And this from a guy who genuinely likes Tijuana and New Jersey. I’ve never been there but something about the look of Samarkand puts me off. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/103 "2009-05-02T19:52:33Z")
What’s Mogadishu like these days? I’d rather be dropped into Newark at 2am than Mogadishu. At least I’d get cell reception in Newark. Another city I’ve heard was horrendous was Port Moresby, New Guinea. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/104 "2009-05-02T20:09:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ve never been to Jakarta, but from what I’ve heard, it’s probably the most loathsome city on the planet. 8.5 million people, and most of them without running water… It’s hard to top that. I lived in Jakarta, early 1980s. I hope things have improved, but back then, if you lived on Jalan Thamrin (Hotel Row), it was great. Walk one block off Jalan Thamrin, however, and you would swear you could hear Rod Serling’s voice saying, “You have just crossed over…”. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/105 "2009-05-02T20:18:35Z")
The worst city I’ve been in is Niagara Falls, NY. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/106 "2009-05-02T20:43:49Z")
Well, I’ve never been to Niagra Falls so I can’t really compare, but Gaza City isn’t that nice. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/107 "2009-05-02T21:00:46Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > Another city I’ve heard was horrendous was Port Moresby, New Guinea. Anyone know? I have a friend who lived there for a while (her father was a diplomat). She’s also lived in Zimbabwe, which she vastly preferred! Her descriptions of Port Moresby make me think it could be a real winner for this. Kidnapping was a huge concern; all Westerners basically lived in an armed compound. One of the highest murder rates in the world, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/108 "2009-05-02T21:50:26Z")
[Website devoted to cataloguing the worst cities in the world.](http://www.worst-city.com/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/109 "2009-05-02T22:08:47Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > [Website devoted to cataloguing the worst cities in the world.](http://www.worst-city.com/index.htm) That site doesn’t even make sense to me. I’m pretty sure there are a lot more than 80 cities that are worse than Paris, and their supporting evidence for some cities is just pictures of hot chicks. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/110 "2009-05-02T22:50:06Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That site doesn’t even make sense to me. I’m pretty sure there are a lot more than 80 cities that are worse than Paris, and their supporting evidence for some cities is just pictures of hot chicks. Yeah, not sure why the hot chicks are there. I got to the cite by googling Port Moresby, and the entry for it confirmed what I’d heard about it. Figured I’d link to it, but maybe it’s not such a great cite after all. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/111 "2009-05-02T23:47:31Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I wouldn’t believe much else that this particular guy told you. LOL! You’ve got me there. But I’ve been to that neighborhood, and I believe this particular claim. ---
**Author:** ![incidental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@incidental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/incidental)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/112 "2009-05-03T00:42:47Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > There’s a problem of definition here. To me, if a city can offer _some_ degree of culture, intellect, arts, _something_ in some neighborhood, then it’s not completely loathsome, regardless of what else might be going on. That means that Baltimore, Calcutta, Karachi, and Baghdad can’t be on the list, because there is culture in all those places. > > So what is left? Where are the cities without any sign of the higher aspirations of the human mind? Suddenly Centralia, IL leaps forward in the running… I agree with you that a lot of cities in other countries at least have a sense of history. In so many places in the US, this isn’t the case. The poverty level may not be as bad, but they can be depressing as hell and completely lack personality or a sense of community. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/113 "2009-05-03T00:43:15Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] Come to think of it, a place like Cincinnati or Knoxville might be better qualified as loathsome, for the prevailing absence of intellectual life. Okay, even I know that Cincinnati isn’t _completely_ devoid of culture. [/QUOTE] Not to get too OT, but Cincinnati has a fine, and fairly well known, orchestra, several pretty good art museums and a major university. For a city of its size it actually has a lot of culture. Ed ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/114 "2009-05-03T01:15:09Z")
**Suranyi** , you’ll note I allowed for “some” culture in the Blue Chip City and that I proposed to move on to worse places. It is notable though that Cincinnati has a notable history of a sizable anti-cultural movement, what with Charles Keating, Simon Leis, the prosecution of Dennis Barrie, etc. So maybe Cincy loses points for that. Overall, I think Ohio becomes more cultured if you subtract Cincinnati. 😃 (I’m from Dayton, by the way.) ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/115 "2009-05-03T01:50:19Z")
Most of the non-US places I have been to have been nice. Indoor plumbing and everything. I’d have to agree with Baltimore, though. Ugh. They put a lot of emphasis on the beauty of the Inner Harbor and (back then) used to brag liberally and loudly about how much money they were pumping into the local businesses to make this a place people would like to visit. It even has a very neat aquarium. It is very nice, to their credit. However, if you want to visit the Edgar Allen Poe Museum (and the church of the mysterious birthday drink), you only have to walk uphill about 3 blocks before it turns into Crackhead Central. It’s dirty, lots of litter and drinking and drug use right on the front doors of people who (I hope) live there. (I say ‘I hope’ because I would hope \*\*not \*\*that these people are openly using on somebody else’s doorways.) It gets worse the farther away from the Inner Harbor you go, but I didn’t have to go much further before my g/f said we would be turning back. Now. And, no, I don’t go to Baltimore. Just like I normally don’t travel further south in DC than the National Mall. If I can help it. I am no longer bulletproof, but I’m not that stupid. P.S. Cisco? What’s wrong with San Antonio? Sure, the Spurs didn’t perform this year, but… really? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/116 "2009-05-03T02:00:56Z")
> [@Aquila\_Be](#): > > It’s interesting how many Americans think the universe consists solely of the USA.😕 The reason is, when we travel to other countries, we tend to go to places that are tourist-friendly. The typical American tourist doesn’t see all the international hell-holes. But when we move around domestically, we often do it for reasons other than touris, and wind up experiencing places like . . . well, Newark. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/117 "2009-05-03T02:22:06Z")
I have to defend Trenton NJ, my beloved adopted city. Sure, there are some really nasty parts but there are many gorgeous, historic areas as well. Having spent a lot of time in Tijuana when I lived in SoCal, I can say that it’s pretty awful. West Philly is also pretty scary. I had the misfortune of staying overnight in Springfield, MO a few years ago. Yeek! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/118 "2009-05-03T02:29:34Z")
Suribayu, Java, Indonesia. Hellish, absolutely hellish it was! A close second would be the first view of La Pas, Bolivia when you are arriving by bus. You come first into the barrio, OMG. I’ve visited lots of India and Nepal, much of SE Asia, and this was the first time I honestly thought to myself, “Perhaps you’ve found your limit.” Of course, once you pass through the barrio, and get into the city proper, it is awesome, truly. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/119 "2009-05-03T02:35:34Z")
I’ve been to Tampa’s airport and the air smelled like potatoes. I’ve driven past Gary at night, when the US Steel plant was working overtime pumping crap into the air, and I saw a haze of smog covering the neighborhoods inexplicably built near the highway and the plant. I visited my brother in N. Platte, Nebraska, when he worked for the railroad, and that city had nothing to offer. But if we’re looking for loathsome, I’d say Dubai has to be at the top of the list. Lagos has to be up there too. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931/120 "2009-05-03T03:15:05Z")
Dubai? Really? I thought the UAE generally put on a good face to the world. What was loathsome about it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-loathsome-city-in-the-universe/494931.md?page=7)