# why does everyone hate new jersey? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975 "2002-04-11T04:54:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dunne\_u.wurrie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@dunne\_u.wurrie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dunne_u.wurrie)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/41 "2002-04-14T07:53:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OxyMoron \* > \*\*For three years (horror of horrors!) I _reverse commuted **to** New Jersey._ > > Oh, but jughandles…jughandles are the work of a succubus. I have long been convinced that the New Jersey highway department hires only from special-ed classes… \*\* Ha. Come live in LA awhile. You’ll long for those jughandles. Here you wait 2-4 light cycles to make a left turn, unless the guy in front of you has an accident trying to make a left turn, in which case you’ll wait a lot longer. Damn, I miss jughandles. And left-turn arrows. And street signs on every corner. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/42 "2002-04-14T15:56:36Z")
(hey, is Joisey the only state that has it’s name truncated - we don’t have York, or Hampshire… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\* > > Actually, this makes a lot of sense. You’ll notice that on all the Manhattan bridges and tunnels, you pay going INTO Manhattan, but you don’t have to pay going out. \*\* That’s only for the Jersey crossings. The East River crossings that have tolls are pay-both-ways (BBT, Queens-Midtown, Triborough). The only free rides are out to Jersey - and you get what you pay for. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\* > > I always thought Watchung sounded like the sound that a guitar string makes when it breaks–Wa-chung-g-g-g-g-g-g. > \*\* No, that’s the echo after El Kabong busts his guitar over your head… > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cagiva650 \* > \*\* > > Are there gardens in the garden state? > \*\* **GARDEN** state? I thought it was the **GARBAGE** state… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by racinchikki_ > \*\* > > I hate New Jersey because the entire length of the state is orange-for-urban on the Rand McNally atlas. I hate driving through orange-for-urban splotches on the map. > \*\* ``` Hey, there's worse than driving thru New Jersey. ``` There’s STOPPING in New Jersey… Finally, how bad is Joisey? \*\* Tripler \*\* was so desperate to leave Joisey he ran to South Dakota. When that is an upgrade… ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/43 "2002-04-14T16:42:39Z")
I stand corrected WRT the East River crossings, then. (And I have to wonder why someone from the Five Towns area–ick–would be so interested in dissing NJ. Jealousy, perhaps?) ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/44 "2002-04-14T17:29:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*I stand corrected WRT the East River crossings, then. > > (And I have to wonder why someone from the Five Towns area–ick–would be so interested in dissing NJ. Jealousy, perhaps?) \*\* Where I live is convenient to work. I grew up in Queens, and am more from there than Nassau. Yeah, some people here have their noses up in the air - but at least they aren’t holding them… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/45 "2002-04-14T19:21:16Z")
I like New Jersey, though I can see why people don’t like it. I live on the border of S. Orange and Newark. The latter is ugly in some spots, but there’s definitely some vibrancy here. As long as you don’t equate Newark residents with criminals, it’s not that bad, really. The best thing about New Jersey are all the little townships. Don’t like a certain town? Well, just drive five blocks down and you’ll be in another one. It gives a small-town feel to a heavily urbanized area. After growing up the urban sprawl called metro Atlanta, I appreciate this concept. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/46 "2002-04-14T19:57:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flippin \* > Whats wrong with NJ? I happen to have a thing for NJ men!! 😛 \*\* You don’t happan to have big hair, wear cut off jeans and hang out at DJay’s in Belmar, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Bedrosian\_Bixby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@Bedrosian\_Bixby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bedrosian_Bixby)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/47 "2002-04-14T20:22:48Z")
Yep, parts of Chasing Amy were filmed in Red Bank, NJ. I was just there a few weeks ago to see a concert. The comic store is called Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash and it’s also in J & SB Strike Back. It’s Banky’s comic shop if I’m not mistaken. Speaking of Red Bank, it’s a cute little town. I’ld live there. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/48 "2002-04-14T20:50:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*New Jersey has one thing going for it - the giant chicken of Hoboken. \*\* I loved that book! (I assume you’re talking about the Hoboken Chicken Emergency, and that there isn’t really a giant chicken in New Jersey) ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/49 "2002-04-14T23:24:00Z")
I’ve only been to New Jersey once in my young life. I drove into Trenton and the first thing I saw was a big sign (I think on a bridge?) reading “Trenton makes/The World Takes.” Bitter, bitter, bitter are we? And the train station was scary. I actually wouldn’t mind going back, though, as long as it was daylight. And I’ve been told by NJ friends that it was a bad idea to let Trenton be my first impression of Jersey, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/50 "2002-04-15T02:09:33Z")
Trenton! You know what blows my mind? That some people think that “Trenton” is a nice name for a kid. Seriously. It is a popular baby name right now. Place-names are popular in general at the moment, but you’ve gotta think of what the place is like! Why the hell would you name a kid Trenton? You might as well name him “Staten Island Landfill.” I obviously love Jersey, but Trenton ain’t exactly our best feature. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/51 "2002-04-15T02:54:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flippin \* > \*\* > Hey Baby! \*\* Hey Baby back at ya 😛 I like people from MD, my best friend and his fiance moved down there. Hows this for fliring? I don’t normaly flirt but I’ll make an exception for you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/52 "2002-04-15T03:23:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\* Why the hell would you name a kid Trenton? You might as well name him “Staten Island Landfill.” \*\* All depending on the rep you want your kid to have, naming your child **Fresh Kills** might very well make him the envy of all the other schoolyard thugs. I grew up in Philly, lived in NYC for about 11 years and now live just near the NY/NJ state line. The list is gargantuan, but you know what? The list of pretty darned nice things is respectable. Great Adventure Cape May Dover Washington’s Crossing. The unpleasant stuff?? I don’t dare kill that much bandwidth !! 😃 😃 😃 😃 Oh, and the business with the tolls? The Tappan-Zee Bridge links Rockland and Westchester Counties. It’s not an INTERSTATE bridge, it’s an Intra-State bridge. Hence, the toll. But I have news for you. There IS NO TOLL leaving Westchester for Rockland County. As is the case leaving NYC proper. Sad side note- there is serious talk of charging tolls on the 59th Street Bridge, the Williamsburgh, Brooklyn and Manhatten Bridges. God help us all, traffic will come to a stand-still…like we’ve never seen it happen before… Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/53 "2002-04-15T06:04:56Z")
Of course, the list of things to hate about New Jersey is endless. However, nobody has mentioned the one thing to like about New Jersey: Bruce Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/54 "2002-04-22T17:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*\*\* Tripler \*\* was so desperate to leave Joisey he ran to South Dakota. When that is an upgrade… \*\* Au contráire, mon Capitán . . . I was forced to leave Jersey for love. I plan to go back for the same reason soon. Hopefully. That and the beer, explosives, and other assorted fun stuff. . . I’m just pissed, that if I go back, Florio already made half of my toys illegal. Bastard. . . :mad: And if you think New Jersey is bad, I _dare_ you to endure a cold North Dakota winter. Tripler It’s a love of _country_. Take it easy, people . . . ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/55 "2002-04-22T17:51:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tripler \* > \*\* > Au contráire, mon Capitán . . . > > And if you think New Jersey is bad, I _dare_ you to endure a cold North Dakota winter. > \*\* ``` I don't do square states. They call 'em flyovers for a reason. OK, I've skiied in CO. ``` Come back to civilization and I’ll buy you a beer or eight. ---
**Author:** ![Flippin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@Flippin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flippin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/56 "2002-04-23T02:17:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msmith537 \* > \*\* > You don’t happan to have big hair, wear cut off jeans and hang out at DJay’s in Belmar, do you? \*\* No i sure dont have big hair… in fact its short… dont wear cut offs and im not even from Jersey… i live in MD. Never heard of DJays or Belmar 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975/57 "2002-04-23T04:58:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*Come back to civilization and I’ll buy you a beer or eight. \*\* I just might take you up on this, when I return to New Jersey. Regarding NoDak: Sheesh, the sacrifices I make. 😃 Tripler Hey **lurkernomore** , that was a hint. . . 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-new-jersey/102975.md?page=2)