Does it bug you when people say they are from 'Atlanta" when

[jayavarman]

they really live in the suburbs? I was recently on a plane @ someone said 'I'm from Atlanta' . . . naturally I replied, me too, where do you live & the reply was "Lawrenceville"

Maybe I'm nuts, but it just annoys me. I of course would never correct anyone, but still . . .

Whats wrong with saying, "I'm from Marietta" or "I live outside of Atlanta" I know so many suburbanites that go Months without coming into the city & know jack about anything inside 285.

Maybe I'm just crazy, or maybe its the latent suburbanite in me . . . Even though I could see the twin towers from my house (growing up)in Jersey I would have no more said I was from NYC than I would have claimed to be from Paris.

Am I crazy, or just an intown snob (or both)

- J from Candler Park/Little 5 Points

[bluestateguy]

1. I know some people that are very racist from the Atlanta suburbs

They told me the racist joke about the MARTA, which I'm sure you have heard, and the wife once said with a straight face that she didn't want to use a hotel swimming pool because "there were too many black children in there for me".

[Justitia]

2. Can a Texan chime in?

In response to the same question, I say I'm from Dallas, but I actually live in a suburb named Frisco.

I only say Dallas because people know where it is, but few have heard of Frisco. For me, it's just easier and more descriptive.

[drumwolf]

3. I hear ya

I'm also willing to bet that if you do say to a non-Dallas-area resident that you're from "Frisco," that person thinks you're referring to SF. (ON EDIT: As an actual SF resident myself, BTW, I can tell you that no one in SF ever refers to their city as "Frisco.")

I'm originally from a NYC suburb called Dobbs Ferry, and I tell people I'm from New York. My hometown is right outside New York CITY but it's also part of New York STATE.

[HawkerHurricane]

6. Beg to differ...

Lot's of people who LIVE in San Fransisco call it 'Frisco'.

The people from the suburbs, THEY hate when it's called 'Frisco'. To them it's 'THE City'. (And you can hear the capitals in thier voice.)

Of course, to me, 'THE City' is Manhatten. Go figure.

[Justitia]

8. Yup, I've had people assume I meant San Fran

There is also a Frisco, CO apparently.
I just go with "Dallas" for those outside the area.

[girl gone mad]

5. Hehe..

I was just going to say the same thing, only I'm from an even smaller town just a little furhter Northwest of Dallas.

It's just a habit when talking to people from out of state. If people ask what part of Dallas, I'll come clean.

[Justitia]

9. Where ya from fellow Metroplex-er??? -eom

[HawkerHurricane]

4. Fun fun fun...

When meeting people, it's much easier to say "I'm from San Diego" than "I'm from (blank)" and then have to say "It's near San Diego'.

I grew up in Los Angeles. In the city limits. I was 20 miles from downtown, but I was still in city limits. But L.A. custom says you give the name of your neighborhood... So I told people from out of state "I live in Mar Vista", then "It's in Los Angeles, just south of The People's Republic of Santa Monica, just west of the world's largest outdoor insane asylum in Venice, just east of Culver City, and just North of Playa Del Ray."
By that time they were totally confused. Easier to just say Los Angeles; and if they were familiar with it you could give them details.

[ThatPoetGuy]

7. Hmmmm....

The person from Lawrenceville, claiming to be from Atlanta....

It wasn't a woman named Stacey, was it?

[RebelOne]

10. I live in Woodstock, but usually say that I live north of Atlanta

or in the Atlanta metro area.

[RamblingRose]

11. No. A lot of people refer to "In" or Out" (referring to I-285 perimeter)

I think Atlanta is one of the biggest urban sprawls, since it is not land-locked by an ocean, another state, etc. That is one reason why it is hard to judge the true size or population of the city. Somebody feel free to correct me.

Just so you know, I live "out", but all of my jobs, doctors, birth of my daughters, have been "in". You decide.

On edit:
My family is also from NJ (Bergen County), and I often describe it as a suburb of NY.

[flaminbats]

21. An idea I have…

The Atlanta and Fulton County governments should be consolidated, as has been done in Athens-Clarke County. North Fulton is no longer the rural, isolated backcountry that it was twenty years ago. It has become bonded to the economy and culture that is now greater Atlanta. This is also true, to a lesser extent, in south Fulton.

Why should residents in Atlanta City limits pay both County and city taxes for duplicate services, and why should people living in north Fulton not also receive the government services provided by the city? Under my idea city governments, like those in Roswell and Union City, will be converted to branch offices of the larger Atlanta-Fulton County government. No longer will there be divisions between north and south Fulton, or the county and city governments. Now the government will function based on the reality that Atlanta is larger than its city limits. The water, transportation, and education problems of the city and county will no longer be treated as just isolated concerns.

[flaminbats]

12. The area around Northlake Mall may not be downtown or midtown

but it still has an Atlanta address! For those who grew up in Peachtree Hills during the 30's and then moved to Dekalb County in the sixties, Atlanta has always been home...

[ulysses]

13. we lived in Inman Park for 3 years

Lord, I miss it down there.

We've been in Scottdale (e. of Decatur) for eight years, but I still tell people from out of town that I live in Atlanta - otherwise they think we're in Arizona.

[themaguffin]

14. Like every city

Most people of any area (metro area) say they are from ___ (city name) not near it, but just it. Part of it, I guess is simplicity. I used to live in the city proper, but now live just outside of it in Smyrna (Cumberland/Vinings) and it's not worth it to explain it to someone from out of town and regardless it should be the city proper, 'burbs exist because of the city. The city of Atlanta can't physically grow and has a population of 400,000 meanwhile the burbs keep spawling and now we have over 4 million in the metro area, but only 10% is the city itself...

[wyldwolf]

15. No

I've lived in Stockbridge, Roswell, and soon Alpharetta.

I live in Atlanta - just not Atlanta proper.

[doni_georgia]

17. I've lived in Stockbridge and Roswell too

Don't find too many of us who have lived on both sides of town. I have also lived in Grant Park, Little Five Points, Virginia Highland, and grew up in Lakewood - all in the city limits.

[doni_georgia]

16. There's a reason for this

So many people live in the burbs but work in the city, that people just say they are from Atlanta, instead of metro Atlanta. I always say I'm from Atlanta (which I am - native born Atlantan who lived most of my life in the city limits). I now live in Metro Atlanta - southside. When speaking to another person from the metro area, I specify the burb I live in, but as no one outside of the area has heard of my little town, I usually just say I'm from Atlanta to outsiders.

[onehandle]

18. Inside the Perimeter Highway and maybe a mile or two outside....

...in some parts, you can say you're from Atlanta. Lawrenceville? No way.

The mailing address for Dekalb County is mostly Atlanta. If your mailing address is Atlanta, but you're not inside the city limits that's fine. Say you're from Atlanta. There are several small townships within the Perimeter (like Decatur, where I am), which are considered Atlanta.

Lawrenceville? You vote consistently to use Atlanta City resources, but not to pay a dime for them. You're the ones that keep Georgia red.

I tell people all of the time, "Atlanta is not Georgia".

[kevinam]

19. No, it doesn't bug me...

and I do it. I live in the outer burbs. I am very happy where I live. However, when I am outside the region people don't know where Covington Ga is. I say Atlanta, they get the idea. Actually, I usually say the Atlanta area, or something along those lines. I don't know you, so I won't say you are an intown snob, but those folks do exist. I had some gal make a derogatory comment about how I was OTP, and how undesirable that was. OTP = Outside the Perimeter. Atlanta doesn't consist of just city limits. The population is much greater outside the city than inside. There is a big difference in your example about NYC. You lived in a different state. Most people have a concept of where New Jersey is. I can kinda understand you living in the city paying higher taxes, and property values, but people aren't trying to sponge off you, they are just trying to make it easier for people to identify. Even if I tell someone I live in Covington, they are going to ask where that is, and I am going to tell them east of Altanta, so I just feel like I am saving a few steps...Kevin.

[RubyDuby in GA]

22. Totally agree about Covington

Kevin, I too live in Covington (grew up there, went to school there, etc.) and I usually tell people that I live just outside of Atlanta, but that I work right in the middle of downtown Atlanta. And as far as OTP elitist snobs go, just tell them there must be some reason that Newton Co (Covington) is the 7th fastest growing county in the nation...must be people trying to get away from elitist snobs.....

[kevinam]

23. kewl, TWO dems in Covington

:) Actually, I don't have quite the lineage here in Covington that you do. I have lived here around 3 1/2 years. The gal who made the OTP comment followed that by saying I am a slum lord because I have a rental house. So I knew where to stick her comments. :) I play softball/flag football in Atlanta, and I rarely hear negative comments about living in the outer burbs. Most of the comments are, where is that, or isn't that kinda far out there. Most people are fairly respectful of where I chose to live. You are right dammit, Newton county is the 7th fastest growing county in the country, and I think 2nd fastest in the state, so it isn't all bad...Kevin.

[doni_georgia]

28. I'm 8 miles outside Newton County

My parents live there.

[newsguyatl]

20. i hear ya

same thing happens to me all the time.

i live in downtown, so when i say atlanta, i MEAN atlanta. ;-)

[Race4Peace]

24. I'm from Rincon, but if nobody knows where that is, I just say Savannah

[Drunkkkkkkkkman]

25. I know what you mean.....

I am from Norcross, so if I meet someone from Atlanta, or Georgia--I tell them I'm from Norcross. However if I meet someone from like, Michigan, I just say Atlanta because they will normally assume Norcross is closer to Plains or Commerce than the burbs.

[thirstygeorgian]

26. I usually say I live in Alpharetta

unless its someone not from the North Georgia area.

I'm one of those that crosses the perimeter maybe once a month.

[newyawker99]

27. Hi thirstygeorgian!!

Welcome to DU!1 :toast: