“We kid because we care.”
I hadn’t noticed it until people from outside of Arizona started asking me about it. “Why are people in Phoenix always making fun of each other?” I originally thought it was just me, but it seems to be a general attitude toward anyone who puts himself out there.
In my travels, I’ve come across cities with truly vindictive people who create enemies within their communities. Phoenix doesn’t seem to have quite as much of that genuine angst — with only a few exceptions.
However, when it comes to public displays of negativity, Phoenix seems to stand out among cities, based solely on my personal encounters with people outside of Arizona who have made this type of observation. It’s hard to say if there is a reason or if it just happens to be this way.
I know quite a few awesome people in Phoenix who are incredibly positive, but they tend to be quieter.
It is common for people to be to proud to acknowledge people around them. It’s also far to easy to sit at home and belittle the achievements of others or critique their ways of doing things. Unfortunately, this seems to be human nature.
I just wanted to say I read this post after you originally published it, and for some reason I keep thinking about it. I think it’s a wake up call that even small banter among friends can be taken out of context.
I’m not sure why that is, but just let me know if there is anyone in particular that you would like me to rough up for you. Oh, and by “rough up”, I mean to make a joke about their Mom and then run away as fast as I can. :)
Saskatchewan is very similar. Lots of artists, innovators and biotech folks, but for years it was considered weird to say anything good about this place, and these people.
An economic mini-boom has played a big part in changing attitudes, but we shouldn’t need validation from the stock market and equity markets to feel positive…