I'm guilty. I've always been a shameless home town booster. I love Chicago and always have. Before I came to this board, I was well aware that Chicagoans have an usually strong affinity to our city and an enormous sense of identity. But I must admit that even I was surprised by the degree of partisanship shown on this board (by me and others).

So this question is for Chicagoans (and outsiders, looking in): are we really that self-focused and self-obsessed? Do we really possess as much of (if not more) of those very traits that we find offensive in NYC? Do we really put down other places far more than the folks in most other cities do?

I feel safe asking, since I think I definitely have elements of guilt in this area. Are we really that obnoxious?

i fiercely love chicago, but not at the expense of other cities and places. i don't feel the need to put other cities and places down. i LOVE chicago, and that's good enough for me.

i guess the driving force behind that is the fact that i am an architecture uber-nerd, so all cities interest me in general, whether they're good or bad is irrelevant, cities are just fascinating places and i love them.

I agree with much of what sharpie said... especially the part about being interested in all cities. But, that doesn't change the fact that I am a complete snob when it comes to cities that I find "acceptable." I think we do have unnaturally strong feelings about our City... but, I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. For some reason, though, we do feel the need to put down other places needlessly (I am surely no exception). Doesn't even really make much sense... typically, someone puts another person down because they're insecure about their position... but, there is no logical reason for insecurity here in Chicago. Sure, we know we're not NY, but, we also know that we're better than any other city in the country... and few true urban afficianados around the world would dispute that fact.

So, I can't really put my finger on what it is that makes us the way we are... but, yeah, I do think we're pretty obnoxious and, frankly, I fucking love it :)

We weren't dubbed the "windy city" for no reason :)

arrogance and condescedence are my most hated human attributes, that's why i try not put down other cities.

I don't know that it's necessarily condescending. It's most definately arrogant.

I also despise those traits... in a person. I think it's different when you're being arrogant about something external to you. It's not as if I would say that I am a better person than any given Clevelander, but, I've got no problems letting them know that our city kicks their city's ass. Does that make any sense? There's just a difference.

arrogance and condescedence are my most hated human attributes, that's why i try not put down other cities.

THank you Sharptent. I get so sick of everyone putting down LA. Thanks for being above that. People just put LA down cause their jealous of the spotlight we get!!!!!

^ well SILVERLAKE, you could also help out if you stopped being condescending to other regions in our nation when you refer to the midwest as "fly over country". you imply that the middle part of the country is entirely worthless, and that's a really friggin arrogant and condescending attitude to have against a region that comprises over 60 million people!

remember, respect is a two way street, and you got to give it, before you get it, you dig?

It's not as if I would say that I am a better person than any given Clevelander, but, I've got no problems letting them know that our city kicks their city's ass.

you would actually say that to someone? "my city kicks your city's ass"? have you no tact?

that's not only arrogant, but that also makes you seem like a jerk as well.

THank you Sharptent. I get so sick of everyone putting down LA. Thanks for being above that. People just put LA down cause their jealous of the spotlight we get!!!!!

There isn't a single booster from Chicago as bad as you are. Your brand of boosterism includes a lot of fantasy. Personally, I like LA but I do not like you.

Anyway, there are a couple of overzealous Chicago forumers but what city doesn't have them? At least Chicago boosters don't tend to make stuff up. The fact that there are so many poeple on these forums ignorant about the place doesn't help either.

Yes sharp... I would say that to someone... albeit a little more eloquently. I don't think it's the slightest bit arrogant to explain to someone the benefits of one place over another. And how in the hell does it make me sound like a jerk? If I tell you that one sports franchise is better than another and back it up with some good facts... I hardly think I'd come off as a jerk.

People are so aprehensive to express their opinions anymore, it's sickening. Don't be so afraid of stepping on someone's toes or telling them how you feel. It's a perfectly healthy habit. If they're wise... they'll tell you how they feel in return and the two of you can figure out who (if anyone) is right.

Civic pride for many, such as myself, seems like a thing from the past - it's nice to see city loyalties are still around. So many cities in the past 50 years have gone through a severe identity crisis.

So - if you all love your city - go ahead & brag about it, just don't get upset if not everyone shares your feelings ;) (though Chicago is one of my favorite places)

I'm not a shameless booster. Chicago is the greatest city on the planet. It's a known fact. Is there something wrong with trying to spread the truth? To get rid of ignorance and superstitions like "Vancouver is the greatest" or have a stupid, moot, argument like "London vs New York." Is there something wrong with that?

ahahhahaha!!! Awesome STR.

geoff, maybe i'm just not reading you right, but i don't really believe in a world of absolutes, that is why when i encounter folks with very strongly held personal opinons who are loud mouths about expressing them, those people come across as jerks to me. that's all. you know, when you're at a bar and some douche is going off about something, well i am one of those "shut the fuck up and drink you goddamn beer" kinda guys.

and as much as i love chicago i will never accept all this idiocy about it being the greatest city in the world. chicago is a damn good city, but when you recognize all the friggin problems this place has, i don't know how one could proclaim it the best in the world. that just sounds like the blathering of a fool.

^Not a fan of satire and irony are you?

^ that's the problem with the internet, unless you use one of these guys, ;), intenetions can be nearly impossible to discern.

^I hate smilies. :mad2:

It's interesting, the topics, that come up when one has been away for a few day's.

I love Chicago, I really do, but do I think it is the greatest city? Not so much. If money were no object would I stay here? Doubtful.

For me, Chicago offers more hardcore urban bang for the buck than any other place in North America. I get to live here and be in an amazing urban place, with amazing history, architecture, and big time tall buildings, yet still live at a level of comfort and stay within my means (more or less). So, I can't imagine a place that can do any better for me.

That said, I do have pride for this city, it is my home, and I have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon. I am truly greatful to be a Chicagoan, and have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to comparing this city to any other place in the country. Those of us that call this city home have a lot to be thankful for.

lol

I wonder if we sometimes get into semantic questions on that world's greatest city issue. "world's greatest" does not equal "world's best"

Personally I think there is something else at play with us Chicagoans. We don't think of our city as the world's greatest because that is a meaningless issue and an unwanted commodity.

I think instead we see Chicago as the world's (or maybe America's) most complete city, the type of city you'd create if you made one from scratch. So looking from that American perspective, I feel (and believe it is shared) that Chicago is unique in that it offers the best qualities, the cricitcal mass, the full range of ultimate urbanism in a wonderfully usage setting. We rejoice of the fact that we do not have the size of NY and the sprawl of LA . We see ourselves having the good things those cities have but a quality of life that we don't think they have.

Meanwhile, we feel the range of opportunities we have exceed that of smaller cities. It's more like the baby bear thing in the three bears: not too big, not too small, but just right. In a sense, it is a million miles away from the old second city complex where being #1 meant everything. It's a far more mature and self-assured Chicago that can look itself in the mirror and say "I like what I see"

It's our opinion. It's the way we see the city.

sharp... I think you were misunderstanding me. I'm not one of those guys who will relentlessly, and falsly for that matter, tell you that Chicago is the greatest city on earth. Now, don't get me wrong... I love this City as much as is probably socially acceptable; but, it will never take over the place in my heart that is reserved for NY (sorry everyone). That said, I think Chicago is our Nation's second greatest treasure, and I'm not hesitant to tell people that (and explain why).

Again, I don't see what's wrong with that? If being proud of where you lived was a higher priority for more of this Country's citizens, I think we'd all notice a vastly-improved quality of life spanning from our biggest metropoli down to the smallest villages and hamlets.

When I say the word Chicago, a winged, trumpeted angel flies out the crack of my ass and serenades me with "Overnight Celebrity", so yes.

^Wow. Is there a place around here where I could get one of those?

It's a known fact. Really? Don't believe the hype.

Cleaned up the crap in this thread, carry on...

^Thanks.

^Ditto.

When I say the word Chicago, a winged, trumpeted angel flies out the crack of my ass and serenades me with "Overnight Celebrity", so yes.

I'm left wondering: how does this compare with the agony of child birth? And I also wonder if this is an experience that every woman out there wishes every man would experience. Especially if the trumpet has sharp edges.