Worst city you've been to...?

Kitsune · 11-30-2007, 02:57 PM

I had the pleasure of dealing with some sales goons at the office over the past couple weeks and, since they travel so much, the conversation always seemed to drift to their experiences around the country and what cities they enjoyed the most with the seemingly most important factors being weather, traffic, and food. For fun, I inquired what the worst city they had ever been to was.

"New Jersey."
"New Jersey's not a city."
"Any city in New Jersey."

The other seasoned traveler agreed, leaving me rather surprised that neither of them said "Detroit". Many years ago, I would have answered "Pittsburgh", but I've heard that place is no longer as I remember it and the stink of sulfur from the mills is pretty much gone. It'd probably come down to any of the dozen tiny towns I've passed through on the highway that no one will know.

So, what is the most unpleasant city you've been to and why?

glatt · 11-30-2007, 04:23 PM

A lot depends on timing and frame of mind.

For a while, I would have said NYC, but then I had a few trips there that were a blast.

busterb · 11-30-2007, 04:30 PM

Warri, Nigeria

Undertoad · 11-30-2007, 04:40 PM

Small city division: Gary, IN
Big city division: Detroit, MI
New Jersey division: Camden, NJ

Cloud · 11-30-2007, 04:45 PM

Compton, CA and Tijuana come to mind (but that may be the circumstances I was in at the time).

Also . . . Mexico City. Before about the mid-70s I was there a lot, and it used to be beautiful, but later than that I hit my tolerance for pollution and crime and sheer mass of people.

Quarantine · 11-30-2007, 04:55 PM

Bradford, England
I've only been there once about 20 years ago. It was raining and I got assaulted, so that has probably influenced my decision.

slang · 11-30-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsune

So, what is the most unpleasant city you've been to and why?

That's a good thread question for sure.

I've been in so many truly horrible places in the last 4 months that anyplace in the US seems quite pleasant in contrast.

Then again, it's been a long time since I was in Jersey.

shina · 11-30-2007, 09:34 PM

Has to be Tokyo. Nice but way too crowded.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-30-2007, 10:14 PM

Wecome to the Cellar, Quarantine.

Bradford's in the middle, isn't it?

Sundae · 12-02-2007, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Bradford's in the middle, isn't it?

We call it the North, but if you look at a picture of Britain it's pretty much in the middle (the top is Scotland you see)

I am very fond of Bradford, as is Dana (it's on her doorstep) - here's her pictures.

I agree it's all down to personal perception. Any place can seem grim in the wrong circumstances. That said, I don't think I even have a worst city. I dislike some of the suburbs of London, but that's about it.

Perry Winkle · 12-02-2007, 10:59 AM

I'm beginning to get sick of Newcastle. I've not been outside the city in 2.5+ months. I'm used to quite a bit more mobility than this.

Luckily, the girlfriend and I are taking a trip at Christmas. We're going to Prague (hostel), then have Christmas in Vienna (double bed in a hotel), and New Years in Brussels (queen bed in a hotel!). Hopefully that will cure what ails me.

lookout123 · 12-03-2007, 01:17 PM

Tucson. if new jersey is the armpit of america then Tucson is the taint. there is like one square block that is pretty'd up so they can advertise what a nice place it is. the rest of it is overrun by litter, dingy, dirty, gross. in half the city they don't even bother putting the signs in English at all. it is so messed up that i think the mayor is even here illegally. well maybe not... but i wouldn't be surprised.

TheMercenary · 01-11-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

We call it the North, but if you look at a picture of Britain it's pretty much in the middle (the top is Scotland you see)

I am very fond of Bradford, as is Dana (it's on her doorstep) - here's her pictures.

I agree it's all down to personal perception. Any place can seem grim in the wrong circumstances. That said, I don't think I even have a worst city. I dislike some of the suburbs of London, but that's about it.

My friends live in Stanley Village, not the same as Stanley, but close by.

Timo · 03-02-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I dislike some of the suburbs of London, but that's about it.

yeah but some of them are absolutely ace,
I lived in a suburby part of High Barnet for 17 years... I always felt it was quiet enough to feel peaceful but connected enough to feel... well, connected. Although in saying that I was recently informed High Barnet has a higher crime rate than Hackney. (doesnt suprise me... Hackney is on the rise)

Its not a city but I have a bone to pick with Enfield in London,
what a dive. What a total dive.

ZenGum · 12-01-2007, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shina

Has to be Tokyo. Nice but way too crowded.

Tokyo, crowded? Myth.

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11-30-2007, 02:57 PM	#1
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	Worst city you've been to...? I had the pleasure of dealing with some sales goons at the office over the past couple weeks and, since they travel so much, the conversation always seemed to drift to their experiences around the country and what cities they enjoyed the most with the seemingly most important factors being weather, traffic, and food. For fun, I inquired what the worst city they had ever been to was. "New Jersey." "New Jersey's not a city." "Any city in New Jersey." The other seasoned traveler agreed, leaving me rather surprised that neither of them said "Detroit". Many years ago, I would have answered "Pittsburgh", but I've heard that place is no longer as I remember it and the stink of sulfur from the mills is pretty much gone. It'd probably come down to any of the dozen tiny towns I've passed through on the highway that no one will know. So, what is the most unpleasant city you've been to and why?

11-30-2007, 04:30 PM	#3
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Warri, Nigeria __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

11-30-2007, 04:45 PM	#5
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Compton, CA and Tijuana come to mind (but that may be the circumstances I was in at the time). Also . . . Mexico City. Before about the mid-70s I was there a lot, and it used to be beautiful, but later than that I hit my tolerance for pollution and crime and sheer mass of people. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

11-30-2007, 10:14 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Wecome to the Cellar, Quarantine. Bradford's in the middle, isn't it? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-03-2007, 01:17 PM	#12
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Tucson. if new jersey is the armpit of america then Tucson is the taint. there is like one square block that is pretty'd up so they can advertise what a nice place it is. the rest of it is overrun by litter, dingy, dirty, gross. in half the city they don't even bother putting the signs in English at all. it is so messed up that i think the mayor is even here illegally. well maybe not... but i wouldn't be surprised. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

11-30-2007, 04:23 PM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	A lot depends on timing and frame of mind. For a while, I would have said NYC, but then I had a few trips there that were a blast.

11-30-2007, 04:40 PM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Small city division: Gary, IN Big city division: Detroit, MI New Jersey division: Camden, NJ

11-30-2007, 04:55 PM	#6
Quarantine Lead Subordinate Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 15	Bradford, England I've only been there once about 20 years ago. It was raining and I got assaulted, so that has probably influenced my decision.

11-30-2007, 09:34 PM	#8
shina Hopeful Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 232	Has to be Tokyo. Nice but way too crowded.

12-02-2007, 10:59 AM	#11
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	I'm beginning to get sick of Newcastle. I've not been outside the city in 2.5+ months. I'm used to quite a bit more mobility than this. Luckily, the girlfriend and I are taking a trip at Christmas. We're going to Prague (hostel), then have Christmas in Vienna (double bed in a hotel), and New Years in Brussels (queen bed in a hotel!). Hopefully that will cure what ails me.

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