This REALLY ticked me off when I lived in NY

[shaeff]

We were neighbors. I lived in Pine Plains for most of my life.

I've been out to Pine Plains countless times. It's a beautiful area.

Canada

I was born in Poughkeepsie (and my Father moved us at the age of 6 to rural northern Vermont on 30 acres) and always viewed NYC as one of those places "but for the grace of God I'm not there".

I'm just 45-40 minutes north of Poughkeepsie. Used to go there all the time when I was younger.

 

[nybirdman]

I also live in the "Vampire" state;fortunately NYC is 400 miles away;due South.To keep that in perspective Detroit,Michigan is also 400 miles.I can see Canada out my front door;love all the upstate parts of NY.My daughter went to college in NYC ,so we have seen the "Big" city.As they say,nice place to visit and sure wouldn't want to live there.
As per my sig;North of Upstate!

 

[CobyRupert]

Apparently, it doesn't take much to "tick" people off these days. Getting upset over such trivial matters. No wonder there is so much anger and hatred in the world today.

It's a trivial matter, but speaks to a bigger issue that is serious: The preponderance of stupid people! :banghead:

 

[Thall303]

As you get older, you tend to be more grouchy!

If you’re grouchy when young, it’s only going to get worse!

 

[newbury]

Hey, don't give it to us! On a clear Day you can see it from the CN Tower in Toronto across Lake Ontario, but that's close enough!

And hey, isn't "upstate" a socioeconomic term? LOL

On a clear Day

Reminds me of my youth (early 1970's), we frequented Ethan Allen park (1006 North Ave, Burlington, VT) which has (had?) a tower built in 1905. Ethan Allen Tower .

It has a truly commanding view of Lake Champlain (which runs north - south). In the summers we would gather at the top to watch the sunset and the cloud of smog gradually creeping up the broad valley to envelop us. It was reminiscent of the clouds coming from Mount Doom. Each summer the clouds of pollution would creep closer. But the Clean Air Act kicked in and by about 1975 it wasn't as bad.

 

[Sigarms]

It's a trivial matter, but speaks to a bigger issue that is serious: The preponderance of stupid people! :banghead:

If you think I'm stupid, I do believe you're sadly mistaken. That said, I've always admitted I'm a dummy, but I believe there is a difference between stupid and ignorance. If I've assumed incorrectly, my apologies.

 

[Sigarms]

Apparently, it doesn't take much to "tick" people off these days. Getting upset over such trivial matters. No wonder there is so much anger and hatred in the world today.

Don't put too much stock into opinions posted on an internet forum.

I've been blessed enough that between Georgia, SC, NC, WV, PA, NY, VT and Maine, I've probably physically walked more in each state than the average person living their entire life in the US. Every state has something to offer and hold to ones heart IMO. My post was directed towards the fact that it seems like the United States holds NYC in higher esteem than the state of New York, and I do believe that is WRONG.

That said, my rant was only an observation to a group of people that for the most part I don't know on an internet forum, but made because I assume most here are like me in how we live our lives (I don't do face book LMAO).

You're very correct, my post is a trivial matter. However, I get just as ticked off as much as when I read the news has a gun labled incorrectly, or they call a dog a pit bull when in reality it's a heinze 57 mix and its easier to use a generic term because it's assumed that's what everyone knows.

 

[PJSprog]

You've also described life in Illinois. There is Chicago, and then there is everything else, which is called "downstate." Regardless of where it actually sits geographically, that downstate label is generally worn as a badge of honor ... because it's "not Chicago." Probably the same feeling in NYS. I suspect people in Rockford are equally aggravated by such a mislabeling.

 

[art]

I live ten minutes south of Utica and we call it central NY which it is. Normally when traveling I refer to it as just north of Pennsylvania! It takes the confusion out of it! I used to be proud to say ny years ago but the cuomo family taxed that out of me!

 

[CobyRupert]

If you think I'm stupid, I do believe you're sadly mistaken. That said, I've always admitted I'm a dummy, but I believe there is a difference between stupid and ignorance. If I've assumed incorrectly, my apologies.

Oh, no, no, no! Sorry, my apologies if you thought I meant you. By stupid people, I meant other people, present company excepted of course!

When it comes to the term "upstate", I think there's at least 2 definitions.

1) Relative to the speaker's location, either north or upstream as has been pointed out. Speaker should be aware of their audiences location too as the term may not be relative to them. Thus if your speaking to a statewide or nationwide audience, Binghamton is NOT upstate NY!
Another definition is
2) A location that is not relative to speaker's location, but involves looking at a map. A location geographically in the northern part of NY. By northern, I mean at least north of Albany or the Mohawk River, but not west of (say) Syracuse, or otherwise part of central, western, or southern NY.

One can conclude that when a word has no shared meaning, it is meaningless.