So what's so bad about New Jersey?

icycalm · banned Joined: 17 Dec 2006

I just watched Clerks II, which reminded me of this question I've had for ages.

I mean obviously I've seen countless movies which make fun of Jersey, and -- again from the movies -- it seems like a slightly run-down, boring suburb. But what's the difference with other suburbs in cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, etc. ?

I'd love to hear especially from people who live/have lived there. Also keep in mind that I am not from the States, and that I've never been to the east coast.

Balzac · Joined: 04 Dec 2006

Guidos for one.

CubaLibre · the road lawyer Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Balmer

Living in New York's shadow makes everyone in north Jersey a poser (hey man, I'm a New Yorker too) or a stuck-up asshole (we're just as good as New Yorkers mothefucker!).

South Jersey is sort of like Maryland's Eastern Shore in that it's a sort of bizarre redneck subculture stuck inside sub-suburban retail hell.
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another god · Joined: 04 Dec 2006

New Jersey has a ton of shopping malls. It's really, really weird.
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Isfet · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: A New York

i think it might have a lot to do with the idea of Jersey's proximity to New York. a Klaus Nomi DVD i watched a month or two ago sort of stressed this stereotype a bit.

the idea being that while much of Europe, NY and the rest of the country was getting into Klaus, Bowie, the bizarre, rigid fashion, new wave and that kind of 80s chique, Jersey was embracing cheap beer and hair metal full on (which Klaus Nomi and his band found out firsthand when they opened for Twisted Sister).

but these are all extremes.

inmatarian · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:33 am

New Jersey, the state where you can see just about anything if you stand on the roof of your car, but to get from here to there, you'll need to take the turnpike.

I'm not joking.

Also, if you need a good laugh, drive Route 4. There's a section towards the new york end where the highway is paved with the flattened corpses of a thousand squirrels.

Again, I'm not joking.
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Tokyo Rude · Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Location: I'm on the phone Derrick!

Mr Mustache · Mean Mr. Mustache Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Bushwick

No left turns.
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SplashBeats · Guest

New Jersey is dirty, smells like shit, is horribly laid out, and a complete pain in the ass to navigate.

New Jersey is full of crime, shit, piss, drug addicts, crack, and fire.

My extended family is from New Jersey. I've spent a bit of time there. There's nothing redeemable about New Jersey. The thing to do if you are in New Jersey is try to get to NYC, where enjoyable things happen sometimes.

Fuck New Jersey.

inmatarian · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:05 am

I hear Patterson is a nice place to observe the blacks in their natural habitat.
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Hot Stott Bot · banned Joined: 05 Dec 2006

Nwe Jersey has some good meatball subs.

Isfet · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: A New York

if dhex were here, he'd stand up for Jersey.

but i won't.

Hot Stott Bot · banned Joined: 05 Dec 2006

They have some damn fine meatball subs.

Never been to a state with better ones.

New York has good meatball subs but they're to uuh.. "neat".

Boston has good ones too, but they're too "flavorful".

New Jersey has the perfect mix of grime and almost-italian for the perfect meatball sub.

Nathan's hot dogs too!

I feel that mix similarly works well for New Jersey and hot dogs.

Mr Mustache · Mean Mr. Mustache Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Bushwick

Annoying liquor laws...New York kind of has those to though.

Another crappy state is Maryland.
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Wall of Beef · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Fart Beach

Mr Mustache · Mean Mr. Mustache Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Bushwick

That's pretty bad, but I liked Minnesota...at least Minneapolis.
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Ebrey · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles

CubaLibre · the road lawyer Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Balmer

Hot Stott Bot · banned Joined: 05 Dec 2006

I'm not sure Princeton is much cheaper than NYC.

CubaLibre · the road lawyer Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Balmer

Hot Stott Bot · banned Joined: 05 Dec 2006

True at that, sir. True at that.

Capt. Caveman · Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Location: behind the wall of sleep

Native Jerseyan posting itt.

I'm not even going to try and defend this place. The region I live in (north and west) is actually pretty in places, but nevertheless mindnumbingly boring. The overall cost of living is damn near inexcusable. We are the densest fucking state in the nation. I'd move to the city, but I hate cities. Kind of in a quandary here. Being born in Jersey is kind of like being born into a trap.

EDIT: Regardless, there are a lot of good things in and from Jersey that I will defend vigorously. The aforementioned meatball sub (there is kickass italian food all over the place here), the scuzzy ass suburban punk culture (I'm not sure why I defend this, I think it's just because I grew up with it), the music of Ted Leo and Bruce Springsteen, etc. etc. Some people find not having our own sports teams a bummer, but I don't.

shnozlak · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:09 pm

Is it true you cant pump your own gas there? Dose this effect prices?
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Mr Mustache · Mean Mr. Mustache Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Bushwick

It is true, I knew there was another overtly annoying thing!
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internisus · shafer sephiroth Joined: 04 Dec 2006

exodus · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: OAK

the impression I get is that new jersey is no better and no worse than any other place, but new yorkers are just more vocal about it sucking, since they're right next to it. since they get to pretend to be a cultural center, when everyone knows california's the only way, they yell about their neighbors.

this is what I think.

oh except for them not being a cultural center, I was kind of joking there.

also I know several nice people who come from new jersey.
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oneEIGHTkevin · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Portland

Man, Oregon's liquor stores close early, there is no liquor sold at grocery stores, and we can't pump our own gas!

Portland is pretty and green though.
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Ebrey · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles

Mr Mustache · Mean Mr. Mustache Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Bushwick

Pijaibros · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Casino Night Zone

Mr Mustache · Mean Mr. Mustache Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Bushwick

They are solid.
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Wilkes · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:12 am

Wilkes · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:12 am

Wilkes · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:15 am

Wilkes · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:17 am

and what a fucking thread to make when I'm both drunk as hell and in west virginia I swear fucking Pikachu fuck

Hot Stott Bot · banned Joined: 05 Dec 2006

Wilkes, confirm on the meatball subs for the pride of Jersey.

Hot Stott Bot · banned Joined: 05 Dec 2006

Oh wait you don't eat meat or something, right?

Huh.

Wilkes · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:21 am

what.

there's... good pizza. better than NYC, truth be told, and I've had the best of both worlds.

winkerwatson · badmin Joined: 04 Dec 2006

there is one type of meat wilkes will eat rite guys lol
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Wall of Beef · Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Location: Fart Beach

rabite gets whacked! · Joined: 05 Dec 2006

The problem as I see it is the concrete. Essentially, if you're in Jersey and you're not driving/standing on concrete (or the boardwalk in a few places), you might as well be in Eastern Pennsylvania. And who wants that?

From "I'm From New Jersey" by John Gorka (who has since moved to Minnesota):

I'm from New Jersey, I don't expect too much
If the world ended today, I would adjust.
I'm from New Jersey, no I don't talk that way
I watched too much TV when I was young
I'm from New Jersey, my mom's Italian
I've read those mafia books, we don't belong.

Bridge:

Girls from New Jersey who have that great big hair
They're found in shopping malls, I will take you there

I'm from New Jersey, it's not like Texas
There is no mystery, I can't pretend
I'm from New Jersey, it's like Ohio,
But even more so, imagine that
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