Of the 80% of the US population claimed to be in metropolitan areas, what portion is there by choice? How many would relocate to a rural area if they could make a living there? There is a difference between typical and ideal. Americans are attracted to the Heartland (however defined) as an ideal. Metropolitan areas fall short as an ideal once you leave the theatre district. Get over it.

please speak for yourself. many, many Americans actually *prefer* to live in a metropolitan area, for a multitude of reasons - many of which are directly related to the fact that no one treats them as "outsiders."

calling the almost-mythical "Heartland" "ideal" is nostalgia at best, and self-delusion in general - there is no one more oppressive or rejecting than a small town inhabitant to someone perceived as "different" - even if that one was born there.

As opposed to those classy, welcoming urbanites who never, ever look down on people from the "sticks" or suggest that rural people are inbred freaks who want to anally rape virtuous vacationers, right?

As opposed to those folksy salt-of-the earth types who would never look at an urbanite like a freaky subhuman or suggest that the big city isn't crawling with dangerous people who will not only beat you up for pocket change but just plain old be rude to you and talk too fast! Get over it.

Get over what? I've lived in cities my entire life.

It is worth pointing out that rural stereotypes about urban centers are a hell of a lot more true-to-life than the Deliverance image so many urbanites carry around in their heads.

Planetary Eulogy:

It is worth pointing out that rural stereotypes about urban centers are a hell of a lot more true-to-life than the Deliverance image so many urbanites carry around in their heads.

Would you care to provide any evidence for this, or should we just believe whatever you state?

Res, non verba.

Illinichief:

Of the 80% of the US population claimed to be in metropolitan areas, what portion is there by choice? How many would relocate to a rural area if they could make a living there? There is a difference between typical and ideal. Americans are attracted to the Heartland (however defined) as an ideal. Metropolitan areas fall short as an ideal once you leave the theatre district. Get over it.

Well- how many rural people live there by choice? If they are so fond of living in the backwoods, then how come their children are leaving for the big cities in droves? How come the small towns and the back country are forever losing population and the suburbs are forever gaining population?

I don't deny that some americans fantasize about the 'heartland' ideal. Americans fantasize about any number of things. A lot of grown-ups even dress up in cowboy get-up. Some even drive around in empty pick-up trucks to complete that moronic fantasy. What we shouldn't do is confuse fantasy with reality.

As opposed to the holy, God fearing rural people to whom not belonging to a church or having kids is the equivalent of being Satan. That are so homogenized that they still look at people who are different races or nationalities as if they were animals in a zoo. And finally, those good country folk who are so suspicious of strangers they're aloof and cold.

I lived in NY til I was 23 and I'll admit their in your face style can be a bit much. But at least they're friendly. Rural people call it nosy and getting in people's business. NY calls it caring about another person. I live in Maryland and when I first moved here, the hardest thing to get used to was how if you said "Hello" to a stranger, they'd stare at you as if you were crazy.