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?

Clodfobble · 11-30-2007, 10:42 PM

Dublin, Ireland. The stench of vehicle exhaust was constant, detectable even inside the buildings. Also, one of the people with us got robbed.

I've actually been to New Jersey too, but I was about 8 years old, so I may not have been aware of how bad it was. I know we spent most of our time in the suburbs though, so in my experience Dublin was still way worse.

Cloud · 11-30-2007, 10:44 PM

interesting how negative experiences, not merely the city itself, impact our choices

jinx · 11-30-2007, 10:48 PM

Montreal, then Boston or Oakland. Wait, no, New Jersey.

LJ · 11-30-2007, 11:28 PM

every once in a while, i get detoured off of admiral wilson blvd into camden.....

thats some fucked up shit.

coatesville was no picnic either

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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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.

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.

11-30-2007, 10:44 PM	#11
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	interesting how negative experiences, not merely the city itself, impact our choices __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

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.

11-30-2007, 10:42 PM	#10
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Dublin, Ireland. The stench of vehicle exhaust was constant, detectable even inside the buildings. Also, one of the people with us got robbed. I've actually been to New Jersey too, but I was about 8 years old, so I may not have been aware of how bad it was. I know we spent most of our time in the suburbs though, so in my experience Dublin was still way worse.

11-30-2007, 10:48 PM	#12
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Montreal, then Boston or Oakland. Wait, no, New Jersey. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

11-30-2007, 11:28 PM	#13
LJ i am myself Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: via blackberry, maybe Posts: 750	every once in a while, i get detoured off of admiral wilson blvd into camden..... thats some fucked up shit. coatesville was no picnic either __________________ Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show ... -C.Dickens

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