ann arbor is overrated. » Blog Archive » We’re Still Resisting

We’re Still Resisting

Realtors who speak in disconcertingly long complete paragraphs and forget to close their quotes have nothing but good things to say about A2: “A small large city, Ann Arbor has all the culture and amenities of a large metropolitan area but minus the overcrowding and hectic lifestyle. It’s not just a college town, but a multifaceted community that is hard to resist once you’ve been here, full of recreational, cultural, and employment opportunities.”

68 Responses to “We’re Still Resisting”

I see that exclamation points are the preferred form of punctuation for “Realtors!” If anyone can explain why this particular group of salespeople (unlike car salespeople or, I dunno, furniture salespeople) had the bald hubris to trademark the capitalized “Realtor” and insist on that usage I’d be grateful.
posted by Laura on May 6th, 2004 at 7:16 pm
My favorte are the “custom gormet kitchens” in the cracker-boxes they’re building up on M-39. Poor bastards.
posted by Steven on May 6th, 2004 at 9:20 pm
They forgot to say that A2 is a ghost town when the students go home.
posted by __earth on May 6th, 2004 at 10:41 pm
Man, I would like to see their definition of “amenities.”

Seven more days here. Seven. Looking very forward to it.
posted by icecreammotor on May 6th, 2004 at 11:13 pm
Realtese ™ is a language all its own. My favorite example described a house looking out on a “tree-filled arboreum.”
posted by Sam on May 6th, 2004 at 11:44 pm
Yeah. As far as the lack of hecticness, it’s a miracle I make it from my Kerrytown workplace to the AA bus station every day on my trusty bike (with glaring headlight and taillight flasher) without being flattened by some right-lane-turning, cell-phone-yakking, SUV-driving AA idiot who doesn’t seem to grasp that the white-light man on the “walk” sign means that I do indeed have the right of way to cross the street, for Christ’s sake.
posted by Laura on May 7th, 2004 at 12:01 am
Realtors saying something positive about a place where they are trying to sell real estate? Shocking, shocking I tell you!

BTW, I personally think that a) the description in this sales pitch is more or less true, and b) the best time of the year in AA is when the students are gone and things revert back to the locals. Ghost town? I think not.
posted by Steve Krause on May 7th, 2004 at 6:56 am
It won’t remain a small large city for the long run if the predictions of a dozen high rise buildings amd thousands more residents come true.

The plans for increased density downtown wil be a major factor in increasing suburban sprawl outside the city when people no longer want to live in a dirty, crowded downtown.

Why do people always seem to equate bigger with better?
posted by mucho gusto on May 7th, 2004 at 7:00 am
Laura, uh, don’t get mad, but if your on a bike, then the “white-light man on the “walk” sign means” doen’t mean you have the right of way, unless your off your bike and walking it. Bike are considered a vehicle, and must follow all the signs and rules of the road that basically cars do, meaning you stop at a red light (and get this, wait till its green), you stop at a 4-way stop, not just bike right through.

Transportation in this town is tricky, I’ve walked, biked and driven almost ever inch of ann arbor, there are idiots using all forms of transportation.

And finally, this is the best time of year in ann arbor, most of the students are gone!! You can park and drive with some sanity. For those who hate Tree Town so much, hang out here in the summer, meet some of the great locals this town is filled with and enjoy!
posted by Just a Voice on May 7th, 2004 at 8:11 am
mucho,

I disagree. The population of this area keeps increasing (despite the efforts of aaio, et al, to talk it down). Those people have to live somewhere, and if it’s not within the AA city limits, it will be in the townships. A denser downtown does not have to be dirty or an undesirable place to live.
posted by tom on May 7th, 2004 at 8:40 am
I agree, Ann Arbor is actually a decent place when the students are gone. No more rude, cell-phone yakking, sweatpants-wearing, flip-flop flopping, Abercrombie zombies shambling all over the place. Hurrah!
posted by DaveD on May 7th, 2004 at 8:46 am
Wow, I didn’t realize students were so horrible. Maybe your problem with them is that they are all getting younger and younger every year, while you are not…
And although I know it’s not the correct attitude, I think the cultural opportunities in A2 are amazing, especially for a city this size. The students are the reason all of those things are available to us.
That said, summer is my favorite time of year in A2, too! (notice the Realtor-worthy exclamation point)
posted by c-loh on May 7th, 2004 at 9:40 am
The population of A2 has only increased approximately by 2000 people in the last ten years, from about 110,000 to 112,000. Including students.

The downtown and surrounding student ghettoes are not the cleanest or best cared for places. This is supported by the mayor and council’s attempts to institute community standards policies and enforcement. I’ve worked on the city sponsored downtown cleanup days for several years and volunteers collect many truckloads of garbage and debris. Every year. Face it, people are slobs. As a group, students are worse slob. Add several thousand more folks, including students, downtown and there will be more trash blowing around, more overflowing dumpsters and more piles of butts dumped from car ashtrays on the street. There will be more traffic congestion and greater difficulty or pedestrians to use downtown. Putting a couple of thousand more residents downtown will only increase the use of automobiles in direct opposition to council’s stated desire to decrease auto use downtown. Moreover, without services for downtown residents other than housing, there wil be more automobile use when they have leave downtown to buy groceries or buy a pair of socks.

Indeed, tom, you make my point. If all the fuss about the Green belt, preventing sprawl and a desire for greater residential density downtown is the direction we, as a city, are headed, where are the efforts to make downtown a safer, cleaner and more inviting place for future residents? If there aren’t efforts to make downtown a more diverse and interesting place to live work and play, people will end up moving to the sprawl areas instead of staying downtown. There is virtually no practical retail downtown and no place to buy groceries, save, White Market. There is no green space or recreational public park for downtown residents. I don’t think we can reasonably expect people to live downtown if they have to go to the suburbs to buy groceries or household goods.

Don’t get me wrong. I am in favor of greater density in the city as a whole, not just downtown. Why does downtown have to bear the burden of housing several thousand more people? I live walking distance away and work downtown. I ride a bike to work 10 months out of the year. I like being downtown, but uncontrolled and poorly planned urban growth us just as bad as suburban sprawl. In fact, poor urban planning (overcrowding lack of business diversity and municipal services) contributes to suburban sprawl.

It’s a matter of sustainability. Can Ann Arbor sustain a vital, diverse and healthy downtown by going overboard and increasing residential density without the requisite other services that people need to live? I don’t believe that we can expect that happening just by increasing the number of tall buildings and adding several thousand people to a relatively small area.
posted by mucho gusto on May 7th, 2004 at 1:16 pm
Students aren’t horrible. They just can’t drive or park. They are slobs more concerned with drinking, getting laid and getting a six figure job that getting an education. They’re spoiled and rely and on mommy and daddy for just about everything.

The excuse of their behavior being a necessary evil of living in A2 is bull*#@t
posted by danno on May 7th, 2004 at 1:22 pm
Whe I said that the population of the area is increasing, I meant A2 and the surrounding townships, not just the city. While there has not been much growth in the city, it has exploded in the outlying areas. My point was that A2 must be open to increased density or else population growth will continue in the outlying areas.

Otherwise, I agree with all your points.
posted by tom on May 7th, 2004 at 1:31 pm
Yeah, it’s pretty cool how the students prop up the economy all year and then clear out and allow the locals to enjoy it.

The only times I’ve had to slam on the brakes to avoid a stop-sign disregarder, it’s been a middle-aged local.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on May 7th, 2004 at 2:16 pm
A bit off topic, but something I have been curious about…Perhaps Mr. Gusto or other long time residents could answer this…What used to stand on the site of bank at Liberty and Division?
posted by A Different Jon on May 7th, 2004 at 3:27 pm
I’m glad that aaio believes that the students “allow” the locals enjoy the fruits of their wallets. Talk about an arrogant, “let them eat cake”, attitude.

Hey! I’m glad you’re brakes work! I can say the same about oblivious, self indulged students who don’t seem to comprehend the symbols for WALK and DON’T WALK. I guess the symbols had to be substituted for old fashioned words, because they sure as hell couldn’t understand those either.

I’m so old I can’t emember what was at that corner. At one time it was probably a field with big oak trees. I’ll consult my oracle.
posted by mucho gusto on May 7th, 2004 at 5:48 pm
Walk or no walk sign, pedestrians have the right of way in every state of the union. Sorry if that’s inconvenient for people who prefer to get from place to place via moving couch.

As for what used to be on that corner, I thought I had heard that Pretzel Tree (or Pretzel Bell or something like that) was on that corner.
posted by Anna on May 7th, 2004 at 6:34 pm
Yeah, wouldn’t it be great if we real Ann Arborites never had to put up with those damn college students in our college town? Of course, without the U-M, we’d all have to really like farming if we wanted to live here, because AA would be pastureland without it . . .

So, if I’m understanding correctly, you all get upset about having to share your town with anyone who doesn’t think or behave the way you expect them to. The gated stucco communities of Orange County seem progressive by comparison - at least those folks only insist on a 2-block radius of homogeneity.
posted by Nick on May 7th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
Danno, I take offense at your suggestion that the the students are spoiled and rely on mommy and daddy for just about everything. As a parent of a U-M student, let me assure you that my son/daughter is a self reliant, self supporting person who works VERY HARD getting an education. I am very proud of the hard work, self discipline, and self reliance he/she displays. Consider the fact you might be wrong.
posted by a parent on May 7th, 2004 at 11:27 pm
Do you not know the sex of your child, or are you afraid that we will somehow discern who you are from a gendered reference?
posted by Alex on May 8th, 2004 at 7:51 am
yeah, I could be wrong, but not this time
posted by danno on May 8th, 2004 at 8:09 am
Pretzel Bell (or “P-Bell) was located on the southwest corner of Liberty and Fourth Ave. We used to go there and drink beer after rec league softball
posted by mucho gusto on May 8th, 2004 at 8:13 am
The Pretzel Bell (or P-Bell as it was called) was at the corner of Liberty and Fourth in the space that is now the Champion House. The building is still called the Pretzel Bell Building. I don’t know what used to be at the corner of Liberty and Division.

Students hate townies, townies hate students. So what else is new?
posted by tom on May 8th, 2004 at 8:17 am
Yes, I would lose all anonymity!
posted by a parent on May 8th, 2004 at 10:16 am
Im fairly sure A2 city ordinace (paraphrased) is that a pedestrian may disregard traffic signals IF there is no oncoming traffic, and IF they do not create a hazard or obstruction. I disagree that legally a pedestrian has automatic right of way everywhere. I think that belief may be widespread and part of the problem.
posted by stella on May 9th, 2004 at 10:09 am
Right, it’s the students who insensitive and have no grip on reality . . . It still amazes me when locals here ask why the teenaged college students can’t be more grown-up. I mean, I know living in AA is supposed to train us for being 55-year-old suburbanites scared of our own shadows, but where I come from teenagers are just immature and self-absorbed by definition. There may be less of a conspiracy to ruin townie quality of life than you think.

To say nothing of the fact that the students aren’t demanding that the locals change the way they think and behave to suit their own wants. I don’t know, I’m not sure it’s the students that have a problem with their grip on reality. You folks may have to get used to the idea that living in a place oriented around a large university is going to mean having lots of college students around most of the year.
posted by Nick on May 9th, 2004 at 11:20 am
What I heard after either a Take Back the Night or a Hash Bash was that a hippie print studio stood on the site. It burned down before the AAFD could get there (sound familiar?) I would like to know if that is true. Maybe todd knows how to look that up?
posted by A Different Jon on May 9th, 2004 at 7:29 pm
90% of students are self-absorbed morons, choking the city with their blithe disregard for the town and people who live there, coasting on mumsy-and-daddums’ cash advances. Out-of-staters tend to be closer to 95% morons.
90% of the townies are small-minded, shrill and fearful, more focused on their own narrow self-interest than the ideals they profess to hold, treating students (and young people in general) with at best indulgent condescention, and at worst outright hostility. People who move here from out of town tend to be about 95% money-grubbing fucks.
Summer is the best time purely on a numbers basis: Most of the students are gone, especially the out-of-staters, so there are simply fewer douchebags in town, though the per capita incidence of douchebaggery is only arguably decreased.
I would like to say that the students are far more likely to be bovine pedestrians, unable to even jaywalk correctly. (Possibly a plurality coming from small towns to the “big city” of Ann Arbor, therefor being lost in the subtleties of when to walk and when to wait, and another plurality coming from big cities in which jaywalking isn’t feasible, like LA or much of Chicago). However, clueless drivers tend to be almost exclusively people who are past college (even grad student) age, and who meander with the symptoms of late-onset Downs Syndrome.
posted by js on May 10th, 2004 at 3:32 pm
condescension. No t.
js
posted by js on May 10th, 2004 at 3:33 pm
Jesus, js. Move, or kill yourself, or something.
posted by Ben on May 10th, 2004 at 4:23 pm
Regarding the corner of Liberty and Division, now the site of TCF Bank–this site had a wonderful Italianate house on it. You can read all about it on the glass frame standing in the park kitty korner from the bank. There are 15 other such glass “frames” scattered around town showing what USED to be at various sites. It’s kind of sad, actually. The most impressive is at Main and Huron and shows the old courthouse.
posted by swines on May 10th, 2004 at 4:27 pm
The historical markers are part of a very cool historical walking tour of downtown.

But I think whoever asked wanted to know wat was there immediately before the bank
posted by Anonymous on May 10th, 2004 at 7:58 pm
js, let me buy you a beer at todd’s joint.

I mean it.

But, I’ll have to kill you afterwards
posted by mucho gusto on May 10th, 2004 at 8:02 pm
And I remember the creaky floors of the old “econ” building before it burned down.

Again, before AAwO.

Ilya
posted by ilya on May 10th, 2004 at 8:05 pm
Don’t forget Waterman Gymnasium and natatorium that was across from where the Dental school is now located
posted by Anonymous on May 10th, 2004 at 9:37 pm
Hmmm…interesting. I was a student in the early 90s. LOVED my new freedom. Paid for it all myself–”mumsy and daddums” had no cash to advance. Thought the town was cool, the locals snobbish, and everything too damned expensive. Ran out of money and left after four years with no degree. Moved to Grand Rapids, then to Chicago. Saved up enough money ($6000 for two classes–eeegads!) to finish the degree. Since then, I come back every few months. If I had the dough, I’d be back in Ann Arbor permanently in a heartbeat. Yes, the students are annoying. I was an annoying student 15 years ago. But cities have personalities, and Ann Arbor and I get along great. I’d trade it all to be one of those snobbish locals. (I realize now that my immature vision of snobbishness translates now to mid-age confidence. So call me snobbish.) I’m going to have to dump Chicago soon–too loudmouthed, violent, sprawling, and trashy for my taste.
posted by Mary on May 10th, 2004 at 11:07 pm
The unidentified poster above is correct in assuming that I am interested in what immediately preceded the bank. I am in Chicago, myself, so I cannot read the sign in person. Also, the webcam (URL below) trained on Liberty and Division is not picking it up.

http://www.blackant.net/other/webcam.php
posted by Anonymous on May 11th, 2004 at 12:59 am
Whoops!
posted by A Different Jon on May 11th, 2004 at 1:01 am
Ben- I’d be willing to wager that the rough statistics of 90-95% jackass and retard concentration are pretty universal in any given area. The trick is finding the 5-10% of people who are worthwhile, something that cities do by having a large enough population to self-segregate. As far as getting out of here- I will, once both my girlfriend and I are done with our respective schooling.
And, for the record, while I think that Ann Arbor is overrated, and often needs the piss taken out of it, I generally like the town. Just not most of the people in it. (”It’s not the band I hate, it’s their fans.”)
(But I will take Mucho up on that offer. Death is a small price to pay for free beer.)
js
posted by js on May 11th, 2004 at 9:15 am
Even in Michigan, it is the law that cars must STOP when a pedestrian steps into the street. Honored in the breach, I know, but you lose a point on the written driver’s test if you don’t know that. I did, once.

Every now and then, when I see a pedestrian in the street, I stop the car, and wait until they find their way to the curb, as the traffic honks behind me. “I’m just following the law,” I say.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on May 12th, 2004 at 10:56 pm
Culture? Please! Ann Arbor has to be the most sterile and stagnant cities in which I have lived, when it comes to culture. Ann Arbor is the embodiment and epitome of white, high middle/upper class privilege; there is no culture. Wake up ann arborites, your city is not that great!
posted by HS on May 13th, 2004 at 12:13 pm
HS, the dirty secret is that AA ISN’T a city, it’s an upper-middle-class suburb. Adjust expectations accordingly.
posted by Nick on May 14th, 2004 at 12:55 pm
Regardless of the exact classification, Ann arbor is cultureless.
posted by HS on May 14th, 2004 at 4:10 pm
Totally cultureless, huh? Well, we ain’t got one of them fancy grooming bars, or an Urdu drive-thru curry stop.
So, I guess that EdgeFest, one of the premier experimental jazz festivals in the world, I guess that must take place in Chelsea. And I suppose a world-reknowned record label specializing in South American psychedelica and garage rock, why, that must secretly be headquartered in Rochester Hills. Hell, with no culture, it must be murder to see an internationally known folk musician at, say, The Ark. Even someone like Jim Roll, an underrated but decent performer, must live somewhere else.
To say nothing of the absolute lack of breweries, coffeeshops, galleries and internet communities.
Jesus, does HS stand for High School? We get it. You don’t like it here. But instead of sounding like an ignorant whiner, take advantage of some of the culture that Ann Arbor does have. It’s a college town, much like hundreds of others across the country. And that alone makes it a hell of a lot more fun AND cultured than, say, Birmingham.
js
posted by js on May 14th, 2004 at 5:26 pm
I was walking across Huron Street the other day and was “challenged” by police care who wanted to make a left turn in front of me. The “walk had changed to a “don’t walk” as I was crossing. The local cop had his window rolled down and told me, “hey, the sign says “don’t walk”.

I almost asked him if he knew where his luggage was.

Pig.
posted by mucho gusto on May 15th, 2004 at 8:36 am
Actually, HS stands for Hawk Santos, 100% pure bred from the Zuni Nation. What does JS stand for Jack ass service? And I will stand by my argument. Ann Arbor is white, upper/high middle class. That term is synonymous with cultureless. You like to think you have culture, by bringing in bits of token culture, but that simply reflects the typical eurocentric cultural identity crisis. Culture for me is speaking my own language, a language that was literally BEATEN out of my ancestors by good old catholic missionaries in the name of your god. Culture for me is being able to tell the stories of our creation; stories that have been around long before your people ever figured out what a boat was. Culture for me is food that cannot be found anywhere in ann arbor, ANYWHERE! Culture for me is men and women whose hair is black and whose skin is tan and golden like the sands of my home. That being said, Mr. JS, Ann Arbor’s “token” culture does not cut it.
posted by HS on May 15th, 2004 at 2:37 pm
What a depressing post. Wow…..I’m going back to work.
posted by todd on May 15th, 2004 at 5:29 pm
HS doesn’t hate the people of Ann Arbor. He hates the culture of Ann Arbor. Then again…

Ann Arbor has a culture. It’s not cultureless. HS just doesn’t relate to or like it’s culture. In fact his narrow view of what culture is defines 99% of the rest of the world as cultureless.
posted by mucho "cultcha" gusto on May 15th, 2004 at 11:54 pm
Yeah, every place has a culture of some kind. That said, though, AA’s culture (as exemplified by JS’s post) is extremely white-bread. I would have said Ann Arbor is lifeless rather than culture-less. Although maybe all those internet communities account for all the streets being empty after 7pm?
posted by Nick on May 16th, 2004 at 11:37 am
I don’t know what part of town to are referring to as “lifeless” and the streets as empty after 7 PM. It sure isn’t Ann Arbor.

You’re probably referrng to Ypsi.
posted by danno on May 17th, 2004 at 6:34 am
No, if it was Jack Ass Service, it would be JAS. See how acronyms work?
So, hold on Hawkman, you’re saying that a town doesn’t have any culture unless it has YOUR culture? That’s just as much a statement of flawed supremecist thinking as saying that your culture is worthless. (If I was a fightin’ man, I’d say that you were just pissed that those myths of yours didn’t hold up once my people figured out what a boat was. Your feelings of victimization have nothing to do with whether or not Ann Arbor has culture). If all you want is your creation stories and frybread, go back to Chaco Canyon. Otherwise, deal with the fact that this is a MIDWEST COLLEGE TOWN. Jesus fuck, you whiner, go to Taylor, Mi. Go to Wyandotte. Go to Milford. Hell, go to Grand Rapids. Live there. Then come back and bitch about white monoculture.
And hey, as far as it being primarily white, the first two things I mentioned (EdgeFest and No Fun records) are predominantly black and hispanic, respectively.
Goddamn. Is everyone here guilty of the “undistributed middle” fallacy? Ann Arbor is neither the “Athens of the Midwest” or whatever-the-fuck self-aggrandizing bullshit bumpersticker slogan you wanna trot out, nor is it the absolute worst place ever. It’s a fuckload better than most of Michigan and, outside of Ypsi and Detroit (which both have their problems), it’s hard to make a case to live anywhere else if you are in Michigan.
See how well your Zuni affirmations go in Belleville. Then maybe you’ll appreciate Ann Arbor a little more.
posted by js on May 17th, 2004 at 10:24 am
Mr JS:

Do yourself a favor: when you reply as ignorantly and hatefully as you just did, just send that email to me directly, so as not to embarrass the rest of your race: indigenous80@yahoo.com.

Again, your response simply typifies the lack of culture from which you come. Nonetheless, your responses give me a good laugh and chuckle with which to start my day. Thank you!

Sincerely,
H Santos.

My heroes have always killed cowboys and cavalries
posted by HS on May 17th, 2004 at 11:34 am
I’d say that any talk of heroes killing, cowboys, Iraqi’s or indigenous folks, is pretty hateful.
posted by mucho gusto on May 17th, 2004 at 12:24 pm
My, my, my, isn’t this a nice discussion.

A bit of an introduction, as I am new to this website. I moved here from Boston almost three years ago. Has it ever been painful!!! I miss the ocean, I miss the relatively short drive to the mountains and I miss the culture of a real city (/town/whatever you want to call it). A friend told me about this website a few weeks back and I have loved reading it ever since. Were it my website, I would willingly publish my name and contact number and print out some bumper stickers; but, I digress.

In my humble opinion: Ann Arbor is one of the most ridiculous places I have ever lived: the realty, the “art,” the grossly over-priced goods and services, the snotty residence and the lazy, whiney residence (JS, you certainly qualify under those last two). For instance, in Sunday’s paper, there was an article about a local A2-ite (another pet peeve: “A2”) who was complaining she would have to start bagging her leaves in the fall. This is the only place I have lived where the city caters to the lazy citizens. My guess is, like a true ann arborite, she will just pay to have that service now done for her. For instance, JS’s responses to HS’s posts. His attitude seems to be very representative of local mentality, a mentality that is scarily unable to think outside of a very small box (of course, I realize his next reply will be a personal attack saying that I am just throwing out blanket statements—any bets?). Most people (see JS, I said most, not all) here cannot seem to organize a single thought past UM football, greenbelts, whole foods or the auto industry. HS, on the other hand, is able to make a very sad point: that our indigenous culture (I am from the Otomi and Inuit peoples) is still taking the proverbial beating since the arrival of euros. How dare he (JS) make the comments he does, when the worst genocide in world history happened here on this land. How dare he make the comments he does, when there is third world country here in the United States. How dare he make the comments he does when there is third world country just down the street in Detroit. JS, perhaps you would want to represent your city (/town/ whatever you want to call it) and extend a helping hand out to those who do not have what you have. Maybe with that kind of an attitude, instead of saying things as crass and offensive as “If all you want is your creation stories and frybread, go back to Chaco Canyon,” people would not have created websites like this. It seems to me that this website was created because many of the people who come here from outside the state of Michigan are able to see through the thin veneer that is the reputation of ann arbor. My question to other people on this website: “Is JS ann arbor? Do you really want to ally with someone who has such a blatant disregard for another race? Is that what ann arbor is really about? I hope not.

Concerned,
JMLarios
posted by JMLarios on May 17th, 2004 at 12:34 pm
And just a side note: I like HS’s Cowboys and Cavalries slogan. It calls attention to the fact that U.S. service men have committed heinous atrocities when it comes to the first nations on this land the butchering of Cheyenne at Sand Creek, various Sioux nations at the Knee, radiation testing with the Inuit and many more. Sadly, this policy is now in practice overseas.

JMLarios
posted by JMLarios on May 17th, 2004 at 12:52 pm
So, JMLarios, I guess Beantown is a great city who’s only problem is their traffic and lousy drivers?

pulleeze. You can’t be serious. But I suspect you are.

What I’m tired of is folks who move here (or worse live somewhere else) and base their opinions of A2 on their incredibly limited experience, narrow mindedness and presence the U of M.

Admittedly, A2 has it’s problems, but what place doesn’t? If A2 is such a horrible place why do people continue to come here to live work and play?

From where I sit, crosslegged and in front of my teepee, A2 is a lot better than most midwest towns that I have visited or lived in.

Now let’s pass the pipe
posted by mucho gusto on May 17th, 2004 at 1:25 pm
Bienvenidos JMLarios. Lo siento que tienes que vivir en ann arbor. Espero que puedas revolver a boston, o su casa, pronto! Viviendo aqui, como tu sabes, es horrible. Pues, ?que se puedo hacer?

I am glad someone else shares a similar view to my comments. Some of us are here TEMPORARILY. Believe me, when I am done, I am gone. I am leaving this archaic and inhospitable “community” as soon as possible. I am a student and I regret the day I told UofM I would attend. I won’t even get started on my feelings about “THE U,” as if there is no other university around. So dont worry, gusto, I am moving AWAY from ann arbor as soon as I am done. And then you can go back to your complacent, simpleton, blue collar way of life.

HS

And by the way, the cavalries comment was half in truth and half in stooping to JS’s level of argument.
posted by HS on May 17th, 2004 at 2:08 pm
I’ll take “conversations that are completely pointless and unproductive” for $500, Alex.

It’s springtime….isn’t everyone supposed to be out multiplying or something?

You know where to find me if you want to have a drink and relax……
posted by todd on May 17th, 2004 at 4:44 pm
Right off the bat, two things: First off, I’m not gonna play some sort of “politically correct” game of qualifiers here. HS said that Ann Arbor did not have culture because it didn’t have a representative slice of his personal ethnic identity. Embarrass the rest of my race? I speak for myself, not the ever present Uncle Charlie. And hey, what race would that be? Cherokee? Black? German? French? Irish? That’s bullshit, and I’m callin’ him on it. If you, JMLarios, had more intellectual integrity than racial allegiance, you’d call bullshit too. As for Chaco Canyon, that’s sure enough a bastion of Zuni culture. If that’s all that defines culture for HS, let him go there. Otherwise, y’know, get the fuck back into reality, where the rest of us live. Wow, white people are the predominant culture in America? Could that be because they’re the statistical majority? And again, get your ass out to Belleville. See how diverse it is out there.
Second, JM, did you manage to read above the response to HS? I know reading is hard, what with having to do it in the language that was forced on your ancestors, but I think that we can put that behind us enough to have you exhibit some base-line comprehension.
YES, ANN ARBOR ISN’T AS GREAT AS IT PRETENDS TO BE. DOES THAT MEAN THAT IT’S TOTALLY WITHOUT MERIT? NO, YOU GAS-HUFFING MORON.
And c’mon, my “blatant disregard for a person’s race”? Yeah, I’ll stand up for that. I am blatantly disregarding race. Y’know why? Because I judge people, not races. I know that both you and HS are pusilanimous whiners on your own, and not representative of any great indigenous narrative.
And Christ, I can’t wait until we see an end to the use of “blue-collar” as an insult. Wow, you work for a living? You must suck!
My heros all thought for themselves, and very few of them killed anyone.
(Wow, Mucho and I again in this thread? I’m gonna have to call him a pig-fucker or something just to get my cred back…)
js
posted by js on May 17th, 2004 at 5:04 pm
Doing office work during good weather breeds angst, Todd.
posted by js on May 17th, 2004 at 5:18 pm
mucho “blue collar pig fucking” gusto.

Correct all accounts

Thank you very much
posted by mucho gusto on May 17th, 2004 at 10:50 pm
I give up, Mr. JS, it is no use aruging with your kind. Congratulations, you won. Woo-hooo!!!

HS
posted by HS on May 18th, 2004 at 10:23 am
A bit of a delay in my response.

Probably the best thing you could do, HS. no use trying to get an ann arbor citizen to have a thought apart from what he was brought up to believe.

GUSTO: actually, I would say boston has a much better traffic pattern and safety record compared to ann arbor. People there know how to drive. Yes, they drive aggressively, but they know how to do it. I am not a native of boston, but I learned very quickly how to drive as aggressively (and safely) or how to get out of the way. Here in ann arbor, people have no idea how to drive. Here in ann arbor, it is legal to turn LEFT on reds but then there are signs that say to RIGHT turn on red. What kind of logic is that? Ann Arbor Logic. Here in ann arbor, bicycles are allowed on the side walk. What kind of logic is that? Ann Arbor logic. A logic that seems counter clockwise to the rest of the modern, developed world. Another luxury of boston traffic was the roads. When they build a road in mass or in maine, it is built to last! The roads on the east coast can survive a winter that is far more taxing than anything michgan can produce. Of course my theory on roads deals more with the corruption and influence of unions on state and local governments…a wholly different story.

And sure boston has its share of snotty citizens, but one expects that on the east coast. Just like one expects to pay more money for a house or an apartment. In boston, I would gladly pay $700 dollars for a studio. But this is the midwest! It should be more like Kansas than east coast here. Realty should be cheaper. People should be nicer. When I hold a door open for the person behind me, it is nice to hear a “thank you.”

So all in all, given the choice of ann arbor or any city on the east coast, or any city in the true midwest, or any other city for that matter, it would be the other city, any day of the week and twice on a sunday.

Enjoy the weather outside today, gusto!
JmLarios
posted by JmLarios on May 19th, 2004 at 9:12 am
Then move, you idiot.
Left turns on red are allowed onto one-way streets. It is legal in every state except Connecticut, the District Of Columbia, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina (although a law is due to passed soon to permitting), Rhode Island, parts of South Dakota and Guam. Ann Arbor logic? Well, then it seems Ann Arbor has wider borders than I knew.
“…but then there are signs that say to RIGHT turn on red.” What kind of syntax is this? Not Ann Arbor, or even English, syntax.
As for biking on sidewalks, Madison, Bowling Green and East Lansing all allow it, as do many cities in California. The only places that don’t seem to be larger cities, where the population density makes it unsafe and infeasible to treat bicycles as pedestrians. Once again, your ignorance of the rest of the world should not be seen as an indictment of Ann Arbor.
That you dismiss the snotty citizens on the east coast, while railing against them here is another moment of cognative dissonance. They can be expected there, but not here? Why? Because of your stereotypes about the town? Or maybe because you were so in awe of the East Coast denizens that you were willing to honor them with a bowing and scraping that you won’t deign to here?
And hey, when I hold doors, I almost always here a “Thank you.” Maybe there’s some external signifier of jackassery that marks you as not worth the courtesy. Perhaps your disdain for the town is so telling that you’re not even able to communicate in a polite manner and realize that not everyone values your immaculate presence, Prince Pasha? Either way, blaming the town for not being Boston both shows your inability to form realistic expectations and your utter ineptitude in making any sort of case for why people who live here should be nice to you. Except, well, that you have a dog.
Realty should be cheaper? People should be nicer?
I should be a foot taller and have a great fade-away jump shot.
posted by js on May 19th, 2004 at 2:39 pm
I think I am going to have to take HS’s approach:

I give up JS, it is no use. You win, you are intellectually superior. Woo-hooo. Go get a cookie.

JMLarios
posted by JmLarios on May 19th, 2004 at 4:31 pm
Today I was at Starbucks on Washtenaw waiting in line to go to the restroom. Funny thing is, I’m nine months pregnant, and I was the only person in the line. HERE’S WHERE IT GETS FUN. Suddenly and without warning, the woman in the restroom exited at the EXACT SAME TIME as a rude, skinny, and very foreign (can we please speak English in our own country???) woman clickity-clacked her way up to the door, which I was patiently waiting at, and entered the restroom. Not only did she enter the restroom, but she yelled at the woman exiting to “Don’t shut the door” because the thought of touching a DOOR disgusted her, I suppose. THEN, she LOOKED AT ME (at this point I was confused and baffled - amazed at the thought of someone actually cutting in front of a pregnant woman for a chance to go to the restroom…), LOOKED AT ME AGAIN, and shut the door in my face. What was I to do? I could hardly move, and I swore I heard my unborn son swearing at the bitch who had just stolen his chance to get some breathing room inside me! With a full bladder in his face, life is pretty cramped! I left. That was all I could think of to do. I should have banged on the door, and with my superhuman strength I have gained in my angry pregnancy fits, I could probably have scared her into running out of the bathroom with her pants around her ankles. I just left though, fuming and angry and ready to kill every foreign person I saw for the rest of the day. I know it’s wrong and racist and rude - but does anyone care in this city? No. Because they’re all rude, and obviously better than you, even if they can’t speak your language. I couldn’t think of a worse city - full of rich people who didn’t learn to drive in this country, but inevitably have a larger, sturdier and more expensive car to drive around and run you off the road in. If I ever see that girl again, I’m sure I’ll punch her. If I can even recognize her - seems like everyone looks the same here too. Perhaps I’m just ranting, but you’ll have to agree with one thing - Ann Arbor is overrated. And it sucks.
posted by SickOfRudePeople on August 4th, 2004 at 9:58 pm