re: Who here grew up in Baton Rouge?

Grew up in BR, moved to Vegas for 5 years after LSU, moved back to BR for past 3 years for work. Trying my hardest to get out of BR again. Having moved after college and seeing other parts of the US and then moving back I realized how much BR sucks.

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One thing I can tell you is moving away and then coming back after you have removed yourself from it for a while, you see it clearly. I'll never forget landing at the airport to come back and visit family and looking at the filthy conditions of NBR along 110, then the dead zone that downtown was, and the drivers, OMG the drivers... whew... Then the graffiti, and grey/brown grime on the interstates, the missing guard rails, fences along the interstate being taken over by weeds and tallow trees, litter everywhere, etc.

Funny how I really never paid much attention to these third world conditions when I was growing up living there, and soon afterwards it became normal again. But it's not normal.

This is not how every city is.

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When was the last time you were here? Sounds like you left during the late 90's. They've made considerable improvements in the past 20 years.

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When was the last time you were here? Sounds like you left during the late 90's. They've made considerable improvements in the past 20 years.

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I live here now. I moved back for family.

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Is one guy leaving going to fix the obesity problems, crime rate, AIDS epidemic,etc?

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Never said it would fix everything. Nothing positive can come from someone who has such a crappy outlook on the place he's in.

I gues with your logic, until we find a single solution that solves every problem, the place cannot improve, right?

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So,this is your defense of BR?

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How is that a "defense" at all. All I'm saying is we don't need anyone that is so miserable. Nothing worse than listening to someone who complains about crap. Do something about it if you're so unhappy. In this case, leaving would be the first option.

Why is he here in the first place, if it sucks so much?

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Good point, but that doesn't explain why there is still a very uncomfortable thing between whites and blacks most everywhere you go here, why things are still very much divided into the white thing to do and the black thing to do, and yet it's not the overwhelming amount of blacks engaged in this crime, but a small portion of a population that makes up half of the city's population.

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It's not like it's a purposeful thing, if it does happen. If i'm out somewhere and there happen to be black people, i don't see white people leaving. But you won't catch any smart person going "hang out" on plank road/gardere. It's not a race thing, it's a crime thing.

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n my estimation there is plenty enough low rent trashy whites and blacks to go around, and that's the common denominator people are looking for, and what most human beings that aren't trashy want nothing to do with.

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Exactly. I avoid ghetto's and trailer parks alike. I don't discriminate on race, i discriminate on crime and class, to a point. I don't mind who you are, unless you give me a reason.

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I know people who moved to NO from here, who literally seem to just live to shite on BR. And then they're always getting their houses broken into or bikes stolen, or some other terrible bullshite.

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Seriously, that stuff never happens in BR.

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I understand that BR isn't for everyone. BR, IMO, is more of a family/friends sort of town. Meaning, that most things are done with a big group of friends or family. It seems like every week we either have a party at my house or another friends house, or we have a big cookout with friends and family. The food is great, and if you have close family and a tight nit group of friends, then BR is awesome. Now i do wish BR was like NOLA in some instances. I enjoyed the plethora of restaurants, and it seemed every weekend there was always some sort of activity going on in NO. But, being that NO is only an hour away, it's not really a big deal. I'll take crawfish boils, cookouts, cornhole, and drinking in the backyard with friends/family over the hustle/bustle of some other places.

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These are all the positive things about the place, and I'll agree. The problem I see though is there is a disproportionate amount of attention placed only upon the positives than addressing, or even admitting the blatant negatives staring people in the face, the same I'd say most who never do leave the area or region never even recognize because it's become normal and they aren't exposed to places that have it more together, and don't think BR can be much better I suppose. Instead we settle for it, and others come to its defense like people who travel through here along the interstates don't see this as what it is.

If Baton Rouge wants to attract people and business and industry here, it needs to address its eye sores, education woes, and take pride in their local community rather than selling it out to the highest bidder to own. I grew up here, and have spent the majority of my life in this city, but truth be known, unless we begin to see some big improvements. It and it's neighboring areas are not a place I think I want to live the rest of my life in, not willingly. And when I hear half the city wanting to divide it in half I have to say that it doesn't give me much hope for its future as a desirable place I'd want to spend the rest of my days in a quality of life. Familiar? Yes. Family and friends? Yes, but desirable at this point? And emphatic NO. Although I suppose with breath still in me I hold on to a hope that it will wake up tomorrow with an epiphany and begin to see itself as better than the mediocre it's settled for.

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Funny how I really never paid much attention to these third world conditions when I was growing up living there

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That sounds like a lonely existence. I mean, I could understand wanting to stay single and all, but all you do is stay home all day. That doesn't ever get to you? You don't ever want to travel any? Explore the world?

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People are always trying to project their own needs and fears of being alone onto me. I know it is hard to believe, but not everyone person needs to be around people a lot. Being by myself never gets to me, but I understand that a lot of people simply can't understand that because they are wired a different way. Also, I travel plenty. I have been to England 3 times, Ireland, France, Disney World multiple times, Disneyland, San Diego, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Boston, Charlotte, Omaha, many places in Texas, and skiing 5 times at 5 different places and going to a 6th place this winter.