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cinderblock
Failed Conformist

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Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV
#23491005 - 07/30/16 12:25 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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I was considering moving to Cleveland or Akron for the cheap housing, so I just spent a couple days there.
My main mistake was probably spending too much time in Akron. One of the forum members suggested it was the superior city, so I took them up on it. While I appreciated the beautiful, affordable homes with awesome views of nature, it felt too much like Pleasantville for me.
I like the "melting pot" aspect of Los Angeles and San Diego and Seattle and maybe even Chicago. I saw none of that whatsoever in Akron, even though when I asked natives, they said there was plenty of that. I went to a hipster cafe (Mustard Seed) at Highland Square, supermarkets (Acme, Giant Eagle), Walmart, Walgreens, the largest shopping mall in the city, etc, and never once did I see a white person and a black person walking side by side like you do in Los Angeles. It was very strange... white people hung out with white people and black people hung out with black people. Strangely, black people did not at all seem angered by this... they all seemed bizarrely pleasant and kept to themselves. Saw two or three Asians my whole time (two of them from my motel), and may or may not have seen a single Latino.
I've always seen kids talk about how there's nothing to do in their respective small towns and how all they do for recreation is meet up at the local Dairy Queen, but I never quite understood what they were talking about until I came to Akron. It's 99% suburbia with gigantic supermarkets and the occasional strip mall of generic barber, dentist, nails, etc. Also, everybody has a car. LA gets a lot of flack for not having anybody walking in the streets. Clearly the people who bring up this point have never been to Akron. LA's streets are bustling, compared to the Akron's barren sidewalks.
Cleveland seemed to have more potential in terms of exhibiting some vibrancy. I went to the Southpark Mall, and then to Downtown to eat at the famed Greenhouse Tavern. The restaurants in the area were all overflowing with Clevelanders rocking Cleveland Indians garb. Even the girls were wearing Indians caps and jerseys. A lot of Cleveland Indians pride... which was kind of odd, considering it was the Cavaliers who had won the championship.
All in all, I'm not really sure whether I want to relocate to Cleveland from my short visit. There's a bar culture and a sports culture... didn't see any art culture (zero street art). I've never been to a city before where I had such difficulty putting my finger on its pulse. I just don't know how to describe it... there's something very sterile and one-dimensional about it. But then I love the affordable housing, and my current occupation allows me to work from home, so I don't know. I'd save a lot of money relocating there.
The other thing was... on my way to the airport, I got hit by the most bizarro flash rainstorm. It came on so sudden, I almost crashed my rental. I grew up in Los Angeles and San Diego, and I've never experienced anything close to that kind of clobbering from the skies. I literally thought I had driven under a waterfall.
PS: The other culture shock was "basements." In SoCal, basements are not the norm. Nobody has a basement. On the flipside, every home in Ohio seems to have a basement, most of which smell seriously hazardous. The real estate agent told me majority of the homes are not "waterproofed," and thus many homes were priced so cheap because they were all structurally rotten from moldy basements. I'm shocked the city doesn't make waterproofing basements mandatory by law.
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California
A E S T H E T I C S A T A N


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Loc: H A U N T E D H O U S E
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: cinderblock] 1
#23491055 - 07/30/16 12:47 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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From an outsiders view, all of Ohio is a complete shit hole full of morons.
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Anahata


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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: California]
#23491083 - 07/30/16 01:05 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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I live close to cleavland, one time I went into a subway restaurant for lunch, it's close to where I work and don't really have many options.. I seen this new girl behind the counter with LA tated on her neck and thought wow your far from home, wonder why you came here, what a culture shock it must be, I bet you will be gone in a day or two.
And she was.
I doubt I could last any longer than a week in LA myself.
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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut




Registered: 06/16/09
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: cinderblock] 2
#23491099 - 07/30/16 01:22 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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So you didn't see black people and white people holding hands, you got in a rainstorm, and you're upset that people drive where they're going?
God damn you sound hard to please. Here's something to ponder: All of the shit you posted about means fuckall.
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Niffla



Registered: 06/09/08
Posts: 46,494
Loc: Texas
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: California]
#23491846 - 07/30/16 08:40 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
California said: From an outsiders view, all of Ohio is a complete shit hole full of morons.
lmao
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DTCharlieB
yum yum fish.


Registered: 08/31/07
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Niffla]
#23492392 - 07/30/16 11:55 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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I like akron I find it to be a pretty nice place. That Giant Eagle was pretty neat o thought for a grocery store. I like that little bar they have in there and the beer selection is incredible. Not to mention you can buy a sampler of 4 or 5 different beers at a relatively cheap price. Plus they absolutely refuse tips, which is cool but i like to tip.
My viewpoint is almost the oppostie of yours. I thought there were a lot of black people and many blacks and whites interacting. But wherw I live I may see 5 black people a year. There is very little to no diversity here. But I do enjoy it, even though theres not a whole lot to do. But crime rate is low, people are nice, very good place to raise a family.
I see alot of that in Akron, just mich larger with more to do. If you thougjt Akron has afforsable houseing you would be blown away at affordability in my area. It has gone up a littlw over the last 5 years do to the natural gas boom but its evening back out now.
Akrons cool but if your looking for a big city vibe its probably not the place for you. You can drive by Lebron James's house though. Maybe even camp outside on the street with some peeping tom binoculars if your into that type of thing.
-------------------- I like lasagna.
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Brian Jones
Club 27



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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Niffla]
#23492432 - 07/30/16 12:16 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ohio doesn't suck. it's just not a glamour state. Remember there are only 10-12 states that mean shit in the Presedential election: NY Calf Texas (the only one tne GOP can win consistently, plus Pennsylvania, Mass, Ohio, Michigan Illinois and Florida. There's all the electoral votes right threre. There's a handful of other medium states considered polotitcally important, Arizona, virginia and you might win a couple, and you win. There's about 37 states considered irrelevant because the GOP wins them and still gets creamed.
-------------------- "The Rolling Stones will break up over Brian Jones' dead body" John Lennon I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either. The worst thing about corruption is that it works so well,
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DTCharlieB
yum yum fish.


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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Brian Jones]
#23492457 - 07/30/16 12:24 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yeah but4 ohio drivers are not very good.
Often times referred to as "FIFO's" in the vehicular world.
-------------------- I like lasagna.
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Enjoywho
Rags to Bitches



Registered: 07/06/09
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: DTCharlieB]
#23492510 - 07/30/16 12:45 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ya I'm from Alaska. Spent 3 years in Seattle. Both huge melting pots. Moved to Butte Montana and this town is white as fuck. I think it took 3 weeks until I saw my first black person here.
It's scenic and beautiful and all but within a year I'll probably head back to Seattle. I love brown girls too much.
-------------------- "I don't give nothin' to nobody, I just pay the cost to do business." - Riley "Young Reezy"-Boondocks "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "In the days of kings and queens I was a jester." "And then the great lord created bears... too many bears... shoulda really dialed back on the bears." Squidbillies "Can you start speaking words instead of your damn filthy lies!"- Louise "Bobs Burgers"
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Niffla



Registered: 06/09/08
Posts: 46,494
Loc: Texas
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Enjoywho]
#23492521 - 07/30/16 12:53 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Enjoywho said: Ya I'm from Alaska. Spent 3 years in Seattle. Both huge melting pots. Moved to Butte Montana and this town is white as fuck.
lmao did you expect different?
That whole region (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, etc.) is like 99% white.
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Enjoywho
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Niffla]
#23492533 - 07/30/16 12:58 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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I didn't really put much thought into it. Shit half the town in Washington was Mexican. 
I guess I've always been used to it so that was a culture shock for me. Just all white people. White people are boring as fuck. 
It's not a party until a black dude shows up.
-------------------- "I don't give nothin' to nobody, I just pay the cost to do business." - Riley "Young Reezy"-Boondocks "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "In the days of kings and queens I was a jester." "And then the great lord created bears... too many bears... shoulda really dialed back on the bears." Squidbillies "Can you start speaking words instead of your damn filthy lies!"- Louise "Bobs Burgers"
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Niffla



Registered: 06/09/08
Posts: 46,494
Loc: Texas
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Enjoywho]
#23492574 - 07/30/16 01:14 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Enjoywho said: I didn't really put much thought into it. Shit half the town in Washington was Mexican. 
I guess I've always been used to it so that was a culture shock for me. Just all white people.
I spent two years and change in Rock Springs, Wyoming on a work transfer a ways back.
Two years plus, and I probably saw maybe a dozen black people the entire time I was there. If that.
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cinderblock
Failed Conformist

Registered: 07/13/14
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Anahata]
#23493014 - 07/30/16 04:32 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anahata said: I live close to cleavland, one time I went into a subway restaurant for lunch, it's close to where I work and don't really have many options.. I seen this new girl behind the counter with LA tated on her neck and thought wow your far from home, wonder why you came here, what a culture shock it must be, I bet you will be gone in a day or two.
And she was.
I doubt I could last any longer than a week in LA myself.
Absolutely.
Both cities are very different.
I've been to many cities in my life, all of which I thought were pretty different from Los Angeles, but Ohio takes the cake. I really don't consider it a "city," in fact. It's more of a suburban extension of something else... what that something else is, I'm not sure.
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cinderblock
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: abltsandwich]
#23493086 - 07/30/16 05:00 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
abltsandwich said: So you didn't see black people and white people holding hands, you got in a rainstorm, and you're upset that people drive where they're going?
God damn you sound hard to please. Here's something to ponder: All of the shit you posted about means fuckall.
If you're from Ohio, that's something you're probably very used to, so I understand your bafflement.
I didn't receive any empathy from Ohio natives. None of whom I spoke to had been outside of the North East.
When I spoke about the lack of diversity, the best they could do was nod.
When my real estate agent took me to Highland Square and said it's the art capital of Akron, I saw nothing to delineate it from the rest of the town, with the exception of a small theater.
When Ohioans spoke about the supposed diversity, it was clear their reference point was very different from mine. The only thing I found myself asking was, "Have you been to Los Angeles?" to which they'd predictably say, "No."
But I totally understand. Every city I go to, I'll point out differences and things that are culturally opposite, and the natives would just look at me like, "What are you talking about?" because this is all they've known for 20+ years. It's exactly how I used to think before I started branching out of Los Angeles and absorbing myself into different cities and not just sitting in a comfortable tour bus, but actually getting lost, driving in a rental, trying out the train system, going into cabs, stumbling upon unexpected places, talking to natives, etc.
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cinderblock
Failed Conformist

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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: DTCharlieB]
#23493117 - 07/30/16 05:09 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
DTCharlieB said: I like akron I find it to be a pretty nice place. That Giant Eagle was pretty neat o thought for a grocery store. I like that little bar they have in there and the beer selection is incredible. Not to mention you can buy a sampler of 4 or 5 different beers at a relatively cheap price. Plus they absolutely refuse tips, which is cool but i like to tip.
My viewpoint is almost the oppostie of yours. I thought there were a lot of black people and many blacks and whites interacting. But wherw I live I may see 5 black people a year. There is very little to no diversity here. But I do enjoy it, even though theres not a whole lot to do. But crime rate is low, people are nice, very good place to raise a family.
I see alot of that in Akron, just mich larger with more to do. If you thougjt Akron has afforsable houseing you would be blown away at affordability in my area. It has gone up a littlw over the last 5 years do to the natural gas boom but its evening back out now.
Akrons cool but if your looking for a big city vibe its probably not the place for you. You can drive by Lebron James's house though. Maybe even camp outside on the street with some peeping tom binoculars if your into that type of thing.
I'm not really looking for a "big city" vibe, but maybe I am and I took it for granted.
I've been to Seattle, Chicago, New York, San Diego, etc., and they all had plenty of stores with people walking in and out of them.
The thing with Akron is that even the main streets don't have any stores other than gigantic supermarkets. The rest is just trees.
I'm still scratching my head over the experience. On one hand, I've always considered myself a nature person, and someone who appreciates tranquility. I just don't know what it is about Ohio that's thrown me off so much, but I think it has a lot to do with the lack of diversity. But I don't know. I can't judge Ohio based on a couple days. It's one of those cities I feel I'd have to proactively reach out to people who I could relate to and hear their thoughts and how they cope with the ordineriness of it all. And if even they give me blank looks and are genuinely puzzled by my remarks, then I'd have to resign myself to a nonexistent social life.
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Enjoywho
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: cinderblock]
#23493152 - 07/30/16 05:20 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ya I enjoy nature and all. But I'm a city kid. Everyone here's stoked for hunting season and I'm like eh sure I'll go camping but I don't really want to kill anything.
The area around Butte is just beautiful no matter which way you go. But this small town vibe stuff just doesn't do it for me. Need some diversity and people to talk to that don't know at least 5 other people you do.
-------------------- "I don't give nothin' to nobody, I just pay the cost to do business." - Riley "Young Reezy"-Boondocks "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "In the days of kings and queens I was a jester." "And then the great lord created bears... too many bears... shoulda really dialed back on the bears." Squidbillies "Can you start speaking words instead of your damn filthy lies!"- Louise "Bobs Burgers"
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cinderblock
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Enjoywho]
#23493326 - 07/30/16 06:14 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Enjoywho said: Ya I enjoy nature and all. But I'm a city kid. Everyone here's stoked for hunting season and I'm like eh sure I'll go camping but I don't really want to kill anything.
The area around Butte is just beautiful no matter which way you go. But this small town vibe stuff just doesn't do it for me. Need some diversity and people to talk to that don't know at least 5 other people you do.
I think I'd love to go hunting if a deer happened to stumble into my backyard... which actually happened on one of the properties I went into. It had an amazing backyard that you could never get in Los Angeles. Very few properties in LA are built beside parks, and if they are, even the smallest house with 800 sq ft of livable space would ring you up $1 mill+.
But because the entire county of Akron is essentially built on a forest, there are neighborhoods where you pretty much have park land right behind you and you could pretend it's your property because why not, it's so remote and closed off from the paved trails of the national park.
I was extremely close to pulling the trigger when I saw Bambi meat in my backyard.
But yeah, I never knew the lack of diversity would be such a deal killer. I think the whole "Leave it to Beaver" era of America is seriously glorified and over-romanticized. I guess it comes down to what you're used to. I wouldn't mind the lack of diversity if the people here were sort of "hip" to things outside of the Cleveland Indians and Ford and sports bars, and I'm sure there are such people if I look hard enough. It's just... I'll be fielding potential acquaintances and friends from a very niche, esoteric demographic.
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JonBongGroovy


Registered: 01/23/15
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: cinderblock]
#23493451 - 07/30/16 06:56 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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In live in Dayton and pay $365 a month all utilities included and I would trade it for herpes if it ment I could live outside Ohio.
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Enjoywho
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: JonBongGroovy]
#23493643 - 07/30/16 08:01 PM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ya I feel ya op. I just tried to talk to my friend in spanish which I'm not fluent but I've been around Spanish speakers my entire life and can speak and understand it. I was sitting there and basically shrugged. I'm rusty as fuck. I don't even think I've seen a Mexican here.
It is very niche and the people are nice and all but it definitely lacks diversity. Which is something I greatly enjoy. A friend of mine went to college in Ohio and his basic synopsis was it sucked. I've never been personally though.
-------------------- "I don't give nothin' to nobody, I just pay the cost to do business." - Riley "Young Reezy"-Boondocks "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "In the days of kings and queens I was a jester." "And then the great lord created bears... too many bears... shoulda really dialed back on the bears." Squidbillies "Can you start speaking words instead of your damn filthy lies!"- Louise "Bobs Burgers"
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Maroon
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Re: Cleveland and Akron from an outsider's POV [Re: Enjoywho]
#23527837 - 08/10/16 10:24 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Pittsburgh is a good choice with slightly more blended populations
-------------------- UNDENIABLE PROOF A MODERATOR (Enlil) USES FRAUDULENT POSTS TO SUPOORT HIS OPINIONS. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/23596771#23596771 anyone can verify my original post in its unedited format. This proves the length the disinfo whores will go to defend pseudo theories. What quack jobs. Time to get out of moms basement. One must ask why they would be complicit in crimes against humanity? Is debt based money really worth whoring out your credibility for?
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