QOTD: Who gets a more bum rap, NJ or Staten Island?
Jstas
Posts: 14,806
I was reading an article earlier this morning on Slate.com where the author whines about how horrible those from Staten Island have it because they are the butt of the jokes in NYC. Those of us from NJ here at work think she should suck it up 'cause she doesn't know the half of it when it comes to bum raps that are undeserved and fueled by ignorant stereotypes and misconceptions from people whose "visit" to the area consisted of a Google Earth tour.
That aside, it can be argued that both Staten Island and New Jersey have garnered undeserved reputations that are completely inaccurate concerning the true state of affairs in both places.
So, which undeserved reputation is worse, NJ or S.I.?
Me? I think NJ has it worse because for one thing, nobody really knows about the S.I. plight outside of New York and NJ. Also, the rap NJ has to deal with is all encompassing. The entire state is dismissed because of the Newark/Jersey City metropolis. While some of the stereotypes are based in reality (chemical plants in Elizabeth, just south of Rt 9/Pulaski Skyway stink to high heaven but the "trash smell" actually comes from the Staten Island dump which was closed in 2001 I believe), the rest of the state is actually quite nice with many areas reserved as protected wildlife reserves and state parks. But you wouldn't know it from all of the out-of-staters (we call you "bennys" and it's derogatory) who think it's funny to perpetuate the stupid stereotypes without ever actually experiencing what they are complaining about. Some have never even been to the state.
Needless to say, I think the NJ reputation permeates the culture more than the Staten Island reputation and the constant popular culture references in TV shows, bad comedians, movies and so on only continues the bad behavior but makes it worse. So much so that the show "Jersey Shore" is assumed to be about NJ residents when in actuality most of the cast members aren't from New Jersey at all and people have a hard time believing that.
So what do you think?
That aside, it can be argued that both Staten Island and New Jersey have garnered undeserved reputations that are completely inaccurate concerning the true state of affairs in both places.
So, which undeserved reputation is worse, NJ or S.I.?
Me? I think NJ has it worse because for one thing, nobody really knows about the S.I. plight outside of New York and NJ. Also, the rap NJ has to deal with is all encompassing. The entire state is dismissed because of the Newark/Jersey City metropolis. While some of the stereotypes are based in reality (chemical plants in Elizabeth, just south of Rt 9/Pulaski Skyway stink to high heaven but the "trash smell" actually comes from the Staten Island dump which was closed in 2001 I believe), the rest of the state is actually quite nice with many areas reserved as protected wildlife reserves and state parks. But you wouldn't know it from all of the out-of-staters (we call you "bennys" and it's derogatory) who think it's funny to perpetuate the stupid stereotypes without ever actually experiencing what they are complaining about. Some have never even been to the state.
Needless to say, I think the NJ reputation permeates the culture more than the Staten Island reputation and the constant popular culture references in TV shows, bad comedians, movies and so on only continues the bad behavior but makes it worse. So much so that the show "Jersey Shore" is assumed to be about NJ residents when in actuality most of the cast members aren't from New Jersey at all and people have a hard time believing that.
So what do you think?
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Post edited by Jstas on
Comments
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I think NJ has it worse because for one thing, nobody really knows about the S.I. plight outside of New York and NJ.
I think that says it all right there. I have heard many jokes disparaging NJ, not a single one about SI."The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage." Thucydides -
I agree. While I've heard of the Staten Island thing but it's near as prevelent as the Jersey "armpit of America" thing. And Staten Island is tiny compared to Jersey.If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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Joisey.
And for the record, i only make fun of it to make fun of it. I've been to numerous parts of Jersey, and you're completely correct. Outside of Newark, it's not bad at all.I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
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What's wrong with Newark or Jersey City?
I've never gone out of my way to visit NJ. I have been to NYC a few times and we like it there, but I suppose that's a different environment altogether.
I've flown into Newark before and never had any troubles. I wanna say we drove through Jersey City as we headed east into NYC, but I could be wrong - I've only been in that airport one time and what was several years back.
I've often heard NJ referred to as the armpit of the USA, is it Newark specifically that people are referring to, or what's the deal with that?
I do agree about the comparison though, I've personally spent enough time in NYC to hear the SI comments, but mostly that's a regional thing I think, whereas everyone knows the sh!thole streotype that NJ gets.
I don't know about NJ specifically, but I've been through the northeast a few times and personally I think it's some of the most beautiful parts of the country, especially in autumn.
Now Texas on the other hand, well lets just say I've been trying to find a way to get out of here for a long time... -
Jersey has Camden the most dangerous city in the country. nuff said
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excluding Newark, NJ is pretty nice state....subtract high property tax and it's goldenVideo: LG 55LN5100/Samsung LNT4065F
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The "Jersey Shore" show is a f#ckin joke. I'd like to go postal on one of they're shoots, the scumbags. Those idiot greaseball guido wannabe's and the gnarly **** hairspray **** they're trying to boff turn my stomach.
And NO, they ain't from Jersey. They're probably from Staten Island... -
Jersey is beautiful except for a few areas and that is where the bashing comes from. SI was dumping ground so I guess that were the SI jokes come from. I've lived in Jersey and moved because of the property taxes but IF that changed, I would go back in a heartbeat.
Philly gets a bad rap too some deserved and some not but that's another story. -
I've heard people complain about property taxes, but think that's the first time I've heard someone say they moved to another state because of them
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AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »I've heard people complain about property taxes, but think that's the first time I've heard someone say they moved to another state because of them
Yeah we couldn't afford it. I now live in a state where there are little to no real estate taxes and my mortgage is very affordable.
