Originally Posted by DocS
Are you referring to the
whole of the USA?!
You can't write off such a large and diverse country completely surely? There are things about the US which drive me crackers but there are parts that are so unique as to be unmissable (even LAS - it's bizarre but amazing in a strange 'worth a look' kind of way).
Well yes and no to be very honest.
No because I lived there (NYC) for a good while in the 80's and loved it because I was a young bright eyed thing (not that I am old now but the flame aint so bright second time round). The city had edge, frighteningly so but if it were a colouring (or coloring) book then it would be vibrant, hurt your eyes even.
Yes because... well I still love NY (and Chicago) but with all the gentrification that has gone on in some places has made it all seem very pastel to me now. Unfortunately I think this has radiated outwards and the model used just doesn't appeal to me anymore. To much homogenisation for me, and even SF with its 70% owned independent businesses still lacked a little lustre for me. Beautiful country just not the model I would want to live under.
This is not a US bashing session honestly. The UK is going a similar way but I would imagine the small size of our island makes sure that everyone lives on top of one another enough that we get interesting hybrid communities, where in the States, while very multi cultural, seemed so blatantly seperatist at the same time.
My recent visit was work related and I had a nice time there. I actually went there considering moving over there (visa permitting) but in hindsight have decided against it.
Sorry
