Why does everyone hate Park Slope?
Comments
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I think the bitterness people may feel is that their homes are being taken away?
And a damn good reason to feel bitter. In 1987 after living on 13St & 8th Ave for over 15 years we were evicted so people like me (now) can come live here. We were dirt poor and had no where to go but the projects so I can relate to feeling bitter. By the Grace of God, I was able to do better and now instead of bitter I kinda feel guilt for coming back and contributing to Rose having to move out of her apt. -
Subject: Why do people love the Slope?
pitu wrote: [quote=Rose][quote=belzjm]everytime someone comes out from manhattan to visit me in park slope, they fall in love. they are in shock about how lovely, vibrant and beautiful it is. most, if not all have contemplated a move to park slope.
That was me in 1989 or so, just out of college, living in White Plains, which was boring, and working in midtown Manhattan, which seemed so overwhelming and chaotic after four years of living in the sticks. I came to PS one day to visit a friend and I was in love. It certainly has its faults, but there is nowhere else in NYC I'd rather live.
It's pretty sweet that this thread needs a name change to "Why Do People Love The Slope?"
ha!
Totally agree with Mamita that the article is unimaginative filler, or rather a retread on the bandwagon.
I thought the New Hate was shaping up like the way people were/are free to hate the Upper East Side, for it's $$$ - hating on the bugaboos and investment banker parents,
instead of the Old Hate which was hating on the crunchy: public interest lawyers, writers, social workers, multiracial queer couples, divine greenspace, great food lalala
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I Love the Slope because it isn't New Jersey. Also, the rents in the South Slope/Greenwood Heights (wherever the heck I am) is much cheaper than PS "proper".
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ok, fine. you aren't bitter. i'm not either. i've already said above that i don't mind park slope moms at all. i think it's ridiculous to say such a thing. i guess i was trying to make a guess why some people have it in their heads that it's only park slope moms that take up space, etc. my point was that i encounter people every day taking up the sidewalk...probably just as much as park slope moms. how about tourists? let's hate them more. they take up more room and walk more slowly. see my point?
as someone said, it's the complete disregard for other people that's annoying. since people seem so eager to hate only park slope moms for this when talking about our neighborhood, i figured i'd take a guess why some people might be so stereotypical. apparently there are many non biiter single and non single people on this board. i'm glad. i myself am happy to be single at this moment also. no kids, yet i seem to coexist in the midst of 7th avenue quite fine. -
wait...guys, come on. this is exactly the kind of circular, pointless conversation that PS is mocked for, and perhaps with some justice. if what the article says is biased, so be it. we all live here. if we like it, we stay. if not, we leave. certainly no one paying the rent here is being forced to stay because they can't afford to move somewhere hipper (or less hip, depending on whether you hate hipsters for being here or hate articles for incorrectly saying they're here), grungier, or more graffiti-covered.
and yes, if don't like children, certain aspects of the neighborhood at this time might be considered annoying. but at the same time, we know from a zillion studies that children raised in stable, middle class homes, surrounded by doting adults who talk to them and expose them to lots of different experiences are more likely to succeed in school and in life than children who come from less. let's not despise parents who are doing what they can to do a good job, nor their children for being privileged.
by the way, you can't ungeneralize from a study on the "east coast" and assume that typical east coast charitable = typical park slope charitable giving, or even typical new york state giving. the east coast also includes lots of fiscally conservative states with rich people who don't like giving money. -
lnelson, i think that think thread has turned into two... the problems people have with PS, and the person who thinks single child-free woman are bitter. i've has so many discussions about the former i can't even go there on this board without getting my head ripped off.
as for the latter, it's so insulting to read that many strong, independent women from many neighborhoods in many states would be pissed off by it. -
Subject: Park Slope is the closest neighborhood to Sesame Street
Park Slope is disliked by some people because it is one of a hand full of neighborhoods in the city that most represent what everyone else would like their neighborhoods to be; a decent place with an active community, a park, and a sense of purpose. It is just simple jealousy of the hard work and the dedication of many people that has made this Brooklyn neighborhood strong and interesting over the years.
When someone states Park Slope is not the "real" Brooklyn, it's only because they don't know what the "real" Brooklyn looks like in the first place. Pathetic criticism of pregnant or child-bearing women is just a misunderstanding of the general point. Children and mothers have always been in this neighborhood, and they are essential. Don't be a mother hater.
If anyone would like to get psychological with this analysis, the dislike really comes from Park Slope's close resemblance to PBS's Sesame Street. Who wouldn't be pissed not to live here?
And of course, who cares what these people think anyway. The greatest part of being in Park Slope is that it doesn't really matter what other people think. Were in Brooklyn now.
Charlesbklyn -
Subject: Re: Park Slope is the closest neighborhood to Sesame Street
charlesbklyn wrote: When someone states Park Slope is not the "real" Brooklyn, it's only because they don't know what the "real" Brooklyn looks like in the first place.
Right. All those of us who were here before the yuppie train rolled in from Pennsatucky were just placeholders for you, waiting for the 'real Brooklynites' to come and take over. :roll: :roll: :roll:
Park Slope hating must be one of those cases where 'everyone else is crazy', huh.
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Oh, this is my favorite part! When people pull out the "if you disagree with me, you must be from Iowa/"Pennsatuckey"/Ohio" card. It's always accompanied by a claim to be the only one who knows what the "real" Brooklyn is. This thread is just getting good! OK, all you "real" people -- I'll grab some popcorn while you tell us who is "real" enough to live here and who has no right to take up sidewalk space. Be sure to throw in a lecture about "diversity" as you explain that only certain people should be allowed to go into certain neighborhoods.
Actually, strollers are a huge pain in the butt to use, but if I know I'm giving some rigid stick-up-his-ass "hipster" a coronary, it'll make using them quite enjoyable. Thanks! I only have one kid, but maybe I'll buy a twin stroller, just for fun. I'll choose one with a sharp steel protuberance right at Achilles-tendon height. See ya round! -
how about tourists? let's hate them more. they take up more room and walk more slowly. see my point?
At this point, I realize it's silly to continue respondind to this but darn it.. it's so hard not to.
I"m not understanding what you guys mean by "hate" which is a word I don't regulary use but I'm probably missing something. I don't hate anyone but I do find some people more annoying than others.
Toursist are high on my list of people who annoy me. Not because they are tourist but because in most cases they are walking around looking up, completely unaware, see my point? I work near Times Square, it's a nightmare getting to the train after working 13 hours. I lived in London for a few years and would go on holiday Spain, English tourists annoyed me. Not because they were English or tourists but because they were unaware and felt "entitled" to the best holiday they could have with no consideration for the rest.
I'm not sure where you got the impression I was singling out PS Moms so I think me trying to explain is just a waste of time because you are going to continue believing it..
If you're going to refernece my comments on the degenerates on 5th ave. then I'll say it one last time.... based on what I read... they were not blocking the entire sidewalk and it seemed the person posting the original thread was just annoyed at the mere sight of them having a beer and playing cards outside of where they live.
In the end, I think we both agree....it's the complete disregard for other people that's annoying
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There are rude people everywhere. I can't remember being attacked by a toddler or having my path blocked by a stroller, but my own pet peeve is the people who are so engrossed in their cell phone conversations that they are totally oblivious to their surroundings.
On the diversity/"real people" issue, my South Slope block has a mix of Italian families who have been here for generations, food co-op members who breast-feed their toddlers, lawyers, single hipsters, lesbians, members of several different races/nationalities, etc. We have a fashion magazine editor and people who breed pit bulls in their backyard. Everyone seems to get along nicely. -
I can't really believe that people actually expend any karmic or psychic energy hating PS moms - as fun as that always seems to me. I've been in my wonderful rent stabilized center/north slope apartment for 12 years and if there is one thing I've learned it is how cyclical trends are (and repetitive). The fact of the matter is we just happen to be on a major Breeder Migratory Path - where you will find young single people, mating and breeding in Manhattan, moving to PS to raise their first one or two toddlers and then permanently moving to New Jersey where the 4-5 bedroom house with large yard in picture perfect bucolic suburbia beckons.
All of this will pass and we will once again be left with Steve Buscemi buying coffee and danish unimpeded by large infant vehicular traffic at Connecticut Muffin, along with an oversupply of Limousine Liberals who continue to send money to their favorite charity to battle racism but still call the NYPD when they see a black guy on their block.
And PS will continue to be the PS we have always loved and hated with equal fervor. -
but my own pet peeve is the people who are so engrossed in their cell phone conversations that they are totally oblivious to their surroundings
ohhh nooooo, you hate people who use cell phones on the street!
It would be ignorant of me to think you really felt that way just because they annoy you.
Your block sounds fantastic, hope I have the same experience while living here. -
lmboogie wrote:
why is this necessary?but my own pet peeve is the people who are so engrossed in their cell phone conversations that they are totally oblivious to their surroundings
ohhh nooooo, you hate people who use cell phones on the street!
It would be ignorant of me to think you really felt that way just because they annoy you.
Your block sounds fantastic, hope I have the same experience while living here. -
"lnelson" wrote: and yes, if don't like children, certain aspects of the neighborhood at this time might be considered annoying. but at the same time, we know from a zillion studies that children raised in stable, middle class homes, surrounded by doting adults who talk to them and expose them to lots of different experiences are more likely to succeed in school and in life than children who come from less. let's not despise parents who are doing what they can to do a good job, nor their children for being privileged.
Yes but there are now studies (aren't there always studies) being conducted whether this kind of over-indulgant parenting is producing children who are self-centered and ego-maniacs.
There is good parenting, good enough parenting, neglectful parening and then just plain old CRAZY parenting. I think sometimes PS moms are lumped into the crazy parenting group. -
lmboogie wrote: based on what I read... they were not blocking the entire sidewalk and it seemed the person posting the original thread was just annoyed at the mere sight of them having a beer and playing cards outside of where they live.
Come on, at least be honest regarding what your hostile about....you are trying to split hairs to disguise your obvious biases. There is no stroller on earth that is larger then a card table with 4 or 5 people sitting at it (with chairs). As described, the table was in the middle of a 5th Ave (i.e. narrow) sidewalk and the card players were loud and drinking. And despite the fact that you get "annoyed" at "tourists", "strollers" and "can't tolerate" "upper middle classs white people" because they have "more of a sense of entitlement" (May 30 5:21am) - you have no problem with people co-oping virtually an entire sidewalk for themselves.
-Try all you want but it is clear that your hostility has much less to do with what people are doing and much more to do with WHO the people are who are doing it.
and BTW - thats fine, just be upfront about it,Rose wrote: On the diversity/"real people" issue, my South Slope block has a mix of ... We have a fashion magazine editor and people who breed pit bulls in their backyard. .
Sorry but that is my pet peeve...talk about degenerates...just what NYC needs another backyard Pit breeder. With thousands of Pitbulls being put down in shelters and thousands more being mistreated and neglected everyday , It is truly hard to think of a more discusting way to make a living. -
why is this necessary?
Why is what necessary? -
your snarky comments to rose, when she was just talking about how she likes her street
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friendlypitbull wrote:
I don't think they made a living at it, I think it was just an occasional thing. Actually, I don't think they are breeding dogs anymore -- we used to hear little puppy yips from their backyard but it's been a couple of years. They do have one of those fierce-looking pits but the dog is never off-leash. I do agree with you about backyard breeding.
Sorry but that is my pet peeve...talk about degenerates...just what NYC needs another backyard Pit breeder. With thousands of Pitbulls being put down in shelters and thousands more being mistreated and neglected everyday , It is truly hard to think of a more discusting way to make a living.
Livetotravel, I think your observation about the Breeder Migratory Path was totally on-target at one point, and still is true to some extent, but much less than in the past. I think a lot more people are now choosing to stay and raise their families here. The people who post on the PS Parents listserv about moving to the suburbs usually express a lot of angst about it -- they would prefer to stay in the city but can't afford it -- rather than having always had the ultimate plan of moving to the burbs for the green lawns and good schools.
I think it makes for a better neighborhood when you have people of all age groups living together. I think that's healthier than city neighborhoods of hipsters and suburban neighborhoods of young families, and "adult communities" of aging baby boomers. When did it become desirable for society to be so stratified? -
brooklynpotter wrote: your snarky comments to rose, when she was just talking about how she likes her street
It's cool, I didn't take it that way, though I appreciate you sticking up for me. -
I wasn't being snarky about the street she lives in. I really do hope I have moved to a neighborhood that is as diverse as she describes her block.
I was being snarky about the cell phone because it seems to me if you comment on something annoying you then you automatically "hate" it. -
actually, i hate the way a lot of people use/talk on their cell phones, so i won't even say it just annoys me. but rose is far more agreeable than i am
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I love the Slope because it has 4 great qualities:
it's beautiful, it's lively, it's a great place to live, and it makes assholes purple-faced with rage.
[Edited to clarify: I meant to say "my living here makes assholes purple-faced with rage." Though, hell, maybe the actual physical neighborhood itself sets some people off. One never knows nowadays. Anyway, the fact that some don't think my kind belong here is just a little icing on the cake; I'd love it even without that. For me, it's the human-sized architecture, the park and the Botanic Garden, the feeling that, 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, I'm in another, better world, the general neighborliness... and all the other young families. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:] -
I FUCKING LOVE LIVING IN PARK SLOPE!!!
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I love the park, the low-rise buildings, being able to see the sky, the beautiful brownstone blocks, the raffish charm of the mix-and-match architecture of the south slope, being able to buy milk and beer on the corner, being able to walk to good restaurants. I love that my kids can have the independence to walk around and take public transportation and not have to sit at home waiting for a ride to the mall.
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i like that there's nice people in the slope like rose seems to be.
you rock, rose. -
can't tolerate" "upper middle classs white people
If you're going to quote me then at least put into context, don't just pick a sentence that appears to reinforce your point.
Although I"m not white, my income alone puts me in the "upper class" status. Not middle but upper. I'm not bragging just letting you know that I can relate to human nature... you certainly feel entitlement if you have the upper hand. You can also feel entitlement if you are at the other end of the spectrum. I've felt both so the key is to fight it and try to be as humble as possible.
Not sure if this makes me biased but I do have a soft spot for any group of people who historically have gotten the shit end of the stick.
Here's a quote I'm sure will be used at some point. African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics in this country have historically gotten the shit end of the stick. -
Subject: Lets get our definitions straight here ...
It's almost impossible to make a point on this board without someone attacking your point of view. Can't we all just get along?
The REAL BROOKLYN
1) Tolerance
2) Diversity
3) Love
4) Community
5) Toughness
Anything else is somewhere else, and not our problem.
And yes, whether your a new arrival, or you have been here for years, there has always been someone before you, and its up to you to make it work. I've been here from my beginnings, and I don't mind other people moving into the neighborhood one bit. Anyone who states they hate new arrivals because they are different then the people before them shouldn't be in Brooklyn in the first place. It should be remembered, the 1970's "white flight" was the opportunity of a lifetime for people who did not mind living with others. Those people were practically giving their buildings away. It was "insane!" (Crazy Eddie)
Live with others, be tolerant, and stop hating mothers with children. If most of you were here in the 1980's, you'd wish that was the biggest problem you had; suckers.
Just keep Brooklyn Brooklyn.
Charlesbklyn -
belzjm wrote: i like that there's nice people in the slope like rose seems to be.
Aw, that's sweet. I'm not really that nice. And my kids are among those annoying teenagers congregating on 7th Avenue and in the Tea Lounge. But I do clean up after my dogs.
you rock, rose.
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[quote="lmboogie"]
and so have asians, jews, and gays and women. and now, after 9/11, middle easterners. so basically, you have a soft spot for anyone who isn't white.
Not sure if this makes me biased but I do have a soft spot for any group of people who historically have gotten the shit end of the stick.
Here's a quote I'm sure will be used at some point. African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics in this country have historically gotten the shit end of the stick.
i'm not baiting you, honestly. but it makes me insane when people don't realize that at some point or another each of us has faced adversity because of who we are and what we look like. [/b]
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