I love living in New Jersey but sometimes it really sucks

[Sin Nombre]

The non-contact mindset an East coast thing.

I believe it is a city thing. Some very self-absorbed people live in west coast cities and some of the most friendly people, including teenage girls who are usually stand-offish for good reason, I have found while spending time in rural Maine.

 

[Rich]

Many folks just live in fear of the "other". It is pointless to take it personally.
I often make eye contact or say a simple greeting or comment to people on the street to be friendly and see what their reaction will be. I either get a nice response or a cold shoulder, but as I have not tried to offend or intimidate them in any way, I don't let it bother me if they don't respond the way I would like them to.

I don't actually take it personally, even though my post may have come off that way. I just don't get what the problem is. Maybe I'm just too nice and friendly of a guy or something and expect everyone else to be the same, no matter how Pollyanna that may be.

 

[So What]

Ain't that the truth? If someone wants to get me riled up, all they have to do is make a comment about me smoking - especially if they're someone I don't even know. Would they walk up to a fat person eating dessert in a restaurant and say to them, "You know, if you eat that f*cking brownie, your heart is going to explode." No, they wouldn't. The only people more annoying than nonsmokers are exsmokers. "OMG! I didn't see that warning label that covers half the pack of cigarettes during the 20 years I've been smoking! Thank you, Captain Obvious!"

Joeydago would!!!!!

 

[FrankieOliver]

Rich, I know you're a fashionable guy, but consider switching out the Ralph Lauren for Tommy Bahama over there by the beach.

Trust me.

 

[Rich]

I believe it is a city thing. Some very self-absorbed people live in west coast cities and some of the most friendly people, including teenage girls who are usually stand-offish for good reason, I have found while spending time in rural Maine.

I hear ya, but this town is less than two square miles.

 

[joshatatlasstands]

I think it has more to do with them than it does with you Rich. I am personally very happy and well aware that you exist.

 

[River]

Typical east coast bullshit.

I just got back from Las Vegas and Sacramento. "East Coast bullshit", my ass.

 

[Rich]

Maybe I'm naive or too much of an optimist or something but I just don't understand why folks can't be friendly. Perhaps I was born in the wrong time... then again, I dig high gain amps so I guess I have to take the bad with the good.

 

[Sin Nombre]

I hear ya, but this town is less than two square miles.

But do you know where the person you spoke to is from?
Weren't they most likely a tourist, perhaps someone who may not travel far from home very often and feels intimidated just walking down a strange street?

 

[So What]

I don't actually take it personally, even though my post may have come off that way. I just don't get what the problem is. Maybe I'm just too nice and friendly of a guy or something and expect everyone else to be the same, no matter how Pollyanna that may be.

I would say that the problem lies with them more than you. I doubt they even put too much thought into judging you. I bet they were guided by there own insecurities.

As musicians, we are used to being on display. We crave it to some degree. Others are so insecure, that they avoid any contact with people they don't know.

My wife is like that. She is a nice person when you get to know her, but she is just really shy. So, since she doesn't make small talk with strangers, people have always considered her "stuck up". She isn't, she is really just shy.

 

[PraXis]

I can't wait to leave NJ. If I have to be here more than 2 years extra I'm going to blow my head off with a 12 gauge.

 

[Skintaster]

I just got back from Las Vegas and Sacramento. "East Coast bullshit", my ass.

I don't know. I've spent a decent amount of time on "The East Coast", and found a lot of friendly people there. They get a bad rep for no good reason. I think some people perceive a faster pace as being less friendly, but that's not necessarily true.

 

[CA-8-5799]

Hi,how are you?The khaki,s and Lauren sound nice.Did you say hello first.I moved to Jersey when I was seventeen so I could get a drivers license a year early.New york was eighteen.Jersey was seventeen.Don't let it ruin your day..

 

[Skintaster]

I also gotta chime in that I think that smokers really ARE one of the last groups of people who seem like it's "ok" to be rude to or abuse. I think that's complete bullshit.

Don't get me started... I've seen people go out of their way to lecture a person smoking OUTSIDE, in an easily avoidable area that didn't subject them to second hand smoke. WTH?

 

[So What]

I don't know. I've spent a decent amount of time on "The East Coast", and found a lot of friendly people there. They get a bad rep for no good reason. I think some people perceive a faster pace as being less friendly, but that's not necessarily true.

That's right! It isn't the East Coast that is like that. Maybe just the North East.

Come down South. We'll be nice to your face, and talk about you behind your back.

 

[Rich]

But do you know where the person you spoke to is from?
Weren't they most likely a tourist, perhaps someone who may not travel far from home very often and feels intimidated just walking down a strange street?

Not likely at 10:30 PM in April. Tourist season doesn't begin until after Memorial Day. There are exceptions, but this person was dressed like a local out for a walk (not out to impress), not like a tourist.

 

[Skintaster]

That's right! It isn't the East Coast that is like that. Maybe just the North East.

Come down South. We'll be nice to your face, and talk about you behind your back.

Heck, I think the much maligned "New Yorker" is generally friendly. The cops there are among the friendliest I've ever encountered.

My damn yuppie neighbors here in Houston, which I generally consider a pretty "friendly city", wouldn't piss on me if I were on fire. I don't get it.

 

[Rich]

I would say that the problem lies with them more than you. I doubt they even put too much thought into judging you. I bet they were guided by there own insecurities.

As musicians, we are used to being on display. We crave it to some degree. Others are so insecure, that they avoid any contact with people they don't know.

My wife is like that. She is a nice person when you get to know her, but she is just really shy. So, since she doesn't make small talk with strangers, people have always considered her "stuck up". She isn't, she is really just shy.

That's certainly a possibility and there are some friendly folks around here. Admittedly, I want to be just left alone sometimes but, even then, I'll still give a simple greeting when I approach someone; just "Hi" is enough.

 

[PraXis]

Slayer wrote the outro for my experience in NJ.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=209MCqMTPDU]Disciple-Slayer - YouTube[/ame]

 

[cooljuk]

I just got back from Las Vegas and Sacramento. "East Coast bullshit", my ass.

Well, I've not been to Sacramento but I've been to Vegas a few times and it's another PLANET all on it's own. Planet Plastic. Nicotine and hooker-grade perfume with advertisements in all 3 dimensions... even the FLOOR of the tram is covered in vinyl ads for Coca-Cola and the newest Pixar flick. Vegas is a town that oppresses free thought but encourages mindless action. Fun for a few days, then it gets to me.

Last time I was there, I found a cool local though. I sat in with some "homeless" street musicians and jammed on a little Zeppelin on a bridge for passers by. ...then I fixed the nut slots in his guitar by filing them with a bit of another string. He told us where to get good beer for a fair price. Give/give. All was redeemed.