Do you ever get into arguments with people about Detroit?

by Zeno 2014-06-11, 10:20

He said the top 5 worst cities in America are San Antonio, Houston, Oakland, Philly, and Detroit. I felt the need to defend Detroit because even though it has its problems, there's no way it's in the 5 worst. I'm not even a Detroit blower. I was born and raised in Dallas. But I feel like there are a lot of redeeming qualities about Detroit that only people that live in Michigan know. I think that "Detroit is just the worst" mentality comes from people outside of the state that only see the "ruin porn" that gets reported on.

by **WBill** 2014-06-11, 10:34

I'm sure there are 5 worse, but also about a 1000 better.

by **Giant Moose** 2014-06-11, 10:38

I don't see how you think Detroit isn't one the 5 worst. It takes a special level of sucking for a city to lose a million residents.

Do you ever get into arguments with people about Detroit? C4208863721

Do you ever get into arguments with people about Detroit? C4208863721

by **tGreenWay** 2014-06-11, 10:56

Giant Moose wrote:I don't see how you think Detroit isn't one the 5 worst. It takes a special level of sucking for a city to lose a million residents.

Looking only at population expansion and contraction in surmising the level to which Detroit sucks is intellectually fallow.

by Rook 2014-06-11, 11:11

Detroit sux. Yes there are some redeeming qualities, but the city is dysfunctional, services are non-existent, crime is rampant. The lipstick by a few investors is just that. None of the real problems have been addressed. Story just today on how DPS screwed up a grant application for guaranteed millions in funding for pre-school kids. If you think corruption is going way with the McNamara disciple running the show, your crazy.

by Johnny Alpamayo 2014-06-11, 11:12

WBill wrote:I'm sure there are 5 worse, but also about a 1000 better.

This. I have a personal love for Detroit, but I'd be kidding myself if I didn't place it near the absolute bottom of large cities I've visited.

by **Giant Moose** 2014-06-11, 11:12

Not really. When a city loses a million people, there is something seriously wrong going on there.

by Rook 2014-06-11, 11:12

In direct answer, no I have never had an argument on the topic, lot of discussions but no one has ever taking the position that Detroit is anything but sucky to form an actual argument.

by **Blanch32** 2014-06-11, 11:13

Have you visited any other major cities?? Name 5 that are worst.

by Rodeo Burger 2014-06-11, 11:31

Nope. I've never met anyone that didn't acknowledge that Detroit is easily one of the worst 5 cities in the nation.

by **NigelUno** 2014-06-11, 11:36

Blanch32 wrote:Have you visited any other major cities?? Name 5 that are worst.

Where do you live?

by **Turtleneck** 2014-06-11, 11:40

Giant Moose wrote:Not really. When a city loses a million people, there is something seriously wrong going on there.

I agree with both of you. The drastic decline is evidence of problems specifically related to Detroit. However, it is also directly related to economic shifts and new migration patterns in the US. Much of the old industrial corridor has lost population to the sun belt.

by **Blanch32** 2014-06-11, 11:46

NigelUno wrote:

Where do you live?

Charlotte. The real one.

by **NigelUno** 2014-06-11, 11:57

Blanch32 wrote:

Charlotte. The real one.

Nice. The DQ downtown is solid.

by MasonGuy 2014-06-11, 12:12

I read that they have a really good coney dog place...

by Izzo Court 2014-06-11, 12:13

Drive Grand River from Novi to Comerica Park and then try to explain how Detroit isn't one of the worst 5 cities. I'm rooting for Detroit to bounce back but currently it's a lot of little nice spots in an island of blight.

by Larry Kazamias 2014-06-11, 12:25

I would defend the Metro area. I would not defend the city.

I will say I have hope that the city will get better with a MF like Duggan in charge.

by Senior Dickfist 2014-06-11, 12:58

Izzo Court wrote:Drive Grand River from Novi to Comerica Park and then try to explain how Detroit isn't one of the worst 5 cities. I'm rooting for Detroit to bounce back but currently it's a lot of little nice spots in an OCEAN of blight.

Fixed it for ya...

by Echos Myron 2014-06-11, 13:13

I get into arguments over Detroit all of the time living outstate, but seriously, Detroit is probably the worst major city in the United States. I just spent a week in Oakland two weeks ago and Detroit is by far worse.

The one problem I have with the media's portrayal of Detroit is they focus on "declining population" and "nobody lives in Detroit anymore." So anyone with no experience or knowledge of Detroit thinks it is a tiny city. I have friends in Minneapolis who think Minneapolis is bigger than Detroit. They don't believe me when I say Detroit has nearly twice the population of Minneapolis and that metro Detroit is nearly as populated as the entire state of Minnesota.

by Herbie Green 2014-06-11, 13:17

I recently went on a trip to see a client in Detroit with a guy from Arizona. His quote "I never would have thought a city as bad as this actually existed in the U.S."
I wasn't going to argue with him but I didn't tell him that he was actually in one of the better parts of town.

by Zeno 2014-06-11, 13:56

Blanch32 wrote:Have you visited any other major cities?? Name 5 that are worst.

Flint, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Oakland. I would kill myself if I had to live in any of those cities.

by LoneWolfSparty 2014-06-11, 13:58

Blanch32 wrote:Have you visited any other major cities?? Name 5 that are worst.

Mosul, Baghdad, Beirut, Kabul, and San Francisco.

by Zeno 2014-06-11, 13:59

WBill wrote:I'm sure there are 5 worse, but also about a 1000 better.

My position was pretty much, "We're not the best city, but we're not the worst in the country. We're not even the worst in Michigan (Flint)". Keep in mind, I was debating this with someone who has never set foot in the state of Michigan. I explained downtown is better and is continually getting better, but the immediate surrounding areas of Detroit proper still suck pretty hard.

by **Blanch32** 2014-06-11, 14:07

LoneWolfSparty wrote:

Mosul, Baghdad, Beirut, Kabul, and San Francisco.

So Detroit is better than 3rd world war zones. Great....

by **Blanch32** 2014-06-11, 14:08

Zeno wrote:

Flint, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Oakland. I would kill myself if I had to live in any of those cities.

Flint is not a major city. Plus The rest of your list is pure crap.

by **WhiteBoyHatcher** 2014-06-11, 14:18

Baltimore's Inner Harbor is great, and nicer than anything Detroit has to offer.

I love Detroit, but I can't defend it. I've traveled a lot for work and fun over the past 10-15 years and I can't think of a major city I've been to that would be less appealing to an outsider.

by **Dr. Strangelove** 2014-06-11, 14:53

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Baltimore's Inner Harbor is great, and nicer than anything Detroit has to offer.

I love Detroit, but I can't defend it. I've traveled a lot for work and fun over the past 10-15 years and I can't think of a major city I've been to that would be less appealing to an outsider.

Baltimore is Detroit with salt water. They both have "green zones" near the stadiums but I wouldn't venture to far from those corridors.

Worst major cities that I've been to:
1. Detroit (nuff said)
2. Baltimore (The D with salt water)
3. Newark (Do I need to explain it?)
4. Jacksonville (They have a Green Zone at The Landing but the rest is a shithole and it smells from the paper mills)
5. Washington DC (the Federal District and Georgetown are nice but after that you best be packing)

by **Phil McCrackin** 2014-06-11, 15:03

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Baltimore's Inner Harbor is great, and nicer than anything Detroit has to offer.

I love Detroit, but I can't defend it. I've traveled a lot for work and fun over the past 10-15 years and I can't think of a major city I've been to that would be less appealing to an outsider.

Lets not get carried away here. Baltimore's Inner Harbor might be nicer than Detroit, but it's basically a collection of overpriced chain restaurants and tourist trap shops.

by **tGreenWay** 2014-06-11, 15:04

LoneWolfSparty wrote:

Mosul, Baghdad, Beirut, Kabul, and San Francisco.

Do you ever get into arguments with people about Detroit? 502811600

by **Rocinante** 2014-06-11, 15:06

I won't defend detroit, it's a hole. I will defend San Antonio though. That downtown is awesome.

by Rodeo Burger 2014-06-11, 15:13

Rocinante wrote:I won't defend detroit, it's a hole. I will defend San Antonio though. That downtown is awesome.

I'd like the River Walk a lot better if the water didn't look and smell like raw sewage. It struck me as a glorified mall food court.

And Charles Barkley was right, they got some fat women down there.

by **Rocinante** 2014-06-11, 15:58

Rodeo Burger wrote:

I'd like the River Walk a lot better if the water didn't look and smell like raw sewage. It struck me as a glorified mall food court.

And Charles Barkley was right, they got some fat women down there.

I have only been there in the winter. Probably 4 times. It never smelled to me... although I did pee on the river walk once. I was drunk... probably shouldn't have with all the cctv around there.

by **AMwood** 2014-06-11, 16:19

i stayed at the motorcity casino hotel last night. super nice rooms. i talked to a stripper at the casino bar for a little bit. she was nice. but if you walk off the property it gets a little stabby and rapey.

i stay at the ren cen 4-5 times a year and enjoy the downtown a lot. i always look forward to my stays down there. lots to do.

but grand rapids is better What a Face

by **Turtleneck** 2014-06-11, 17:47

GR is like your GF's breasts. Fake.

by tanfan! 2014-06-11, 17:56

I thinks it's close to if not number one as far as worst cities. Move out if Michigan fir a few years. Compare. Detroit is a shit hole.

by **Phil McCrackin** 2014-06-11, 17:58

Turtleneck wrote:GR is like your GF's breasts. Fake.

So, you're saying it's awesome?

by tanfan! 2014-06-11, 18:01

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Baltimore's Inner Harbor is great, and nicer than anything Detroit has to offer.

I love Detroit, but I can't defend it. I've traveled a lot for work and fun over the past 10-15 years and I can't think of a major city I've been to that would be less appealing to an outsider.

I won't take my wife downtown. It's an embarrassment. It's gotten worse since I left back in 1987. It was a shit hoke then too.

by Bonerland 2014-06-11, 18:07

There is the City of Detroit and the Detroit Metropolitan area. I tell people that suburban Detroit is no different than suburban Minneapolis-St. Paul or any other midwestern suburban place. Most sane people believe me.

I tell people that there are five million people in the Detroit area and that the city is just one part of the metro area. I also tell them that downtown and the area around JLA and Comerica and Ford Field are nice and that Greektown and are small pockets of Detroit that are fine.

I've been to Oakland which was okay and I have been to Memphis which I would never want to live in. I also tell people that there are parts of New Orleans which are crap.

by **Phil McCrackin** 2014-06-11, 18:10

In the late 90's I traded a bum outside Saint Andrews a half full bottle of cheap vodka and a couple of cigarettes to break into my car after locking the keys inside. I felt like that was a pretty good deal and simultaneously solved problems that we both had. I could have done it myself, but he saw what was happening and had the coat hanger ready to go.

The cigarettes were payment to get him to break in. After watching him do this in about 10 seconds, the vodka was offered as payment to not do it again after we left for the concert.

by **AMwood** 2014-06-11, 18:50

Turtleneck wrote:GR is like your GF's breasts. Fake.

Do you ever get into arguments with people about Detroit? 55953254

Do you ever get into arguments with people about Detroit? 3557613862

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