Ehhh was out having a couple of IPAs at the local watering hole and zeroed in on a pack of dames with sudern accents, a few from Nashville and one from near Lexington, KY somewhere out in the sticks. All to often when the question comes back to me, "where bout you from"?...from Nashville folks and I reply MEMPHIS why do they make that sour face as if the Bluff City is in Trashganistan or something? It seems these two cities are going in opposite directions even the Kentucky lady was more warm although she didn't seem to know our connection (Cal) to her beloved wildcats.

Ugh ehhh what are you Memphians doing that is causing this or are they just "Better"?

Check out this gif, this is exactly how it goes with visitors from Nashville or Knoxville when I say MEMPHIS...exactly.

After 20 years in the Navy and 104 stamps in my Passport as an ocean going tech one thing rings true. No matter where I am in this great big world when I am introduced to someone from Tennessee and I tell them I am from Memphis, unless they are from the bluff city, the response is a universal "oh". As I have gotten older and look fairly harmless the stepping back and checking wallets/purses has died down a good bit.

Whenever I'm out traveling and say that I'm from Memphis people always say"That's where they shoot first 48 right?"even though that was 5years ago.Second question is"Is it really that dangerous?"

Anyone outside of Tennessee always gives me good feedback. But I'll admit it, when I make my yearly drive through Memphis, it never surprises me anymore to see how little has been done to improve the city, but instead how so many of my former favorite hangouts, streets, parks etc. have gone down the $hitt(er). Someday, hopefully soon, Memphis will place value on education and intelligent citizens who will lead them out of this Memphis depression. If you live in Memphis you may not even realize how bad it is because you've been around the change so your normal has slowly changed with it, but Memphis is anything but normal. Only 3 things still tie me to Memphis: Basketball teams, family, BBQ.

(12-14-2013 07:45 AM)hongkongtiger Wrote:  After 20 years in the Navy and 104 stamps in my Passport as an ocean going tech one thing rings true. No matter where I am in this great big world when I am introduced to someone from Tennessee and I tell them I am from Memphis, unless they are from the bluff city, the response is a universal "oh". As I have gotten older and look fairly harmless the stepping back and checking wallets/purses has died down a good bit.

This was a well respected city 25 years ago. It started down hill when the people of this community started electing leadership like a guy that beat his pregnant girl friend and city council members that can't even keep their snouts out of a bottle when driving.

(12-14-2013 07:51 AM)macphil30 Wrote:  Whenever I'm out traveling and say that I'm from Memphis people always say"That's where they shoot first 48 right?"even though that was 5years ago.Second question is"Is it really that dangerous?"

Oak hill, A suburb of dallas, is a good example of Memphis. They remind me of each other. If I want good food I go there, but I only carry exact change & no wallet if you get my drift.

(12-14-2013 07:51 AM)macphil30 Wrote:  Whenever I'm out traveling and say that I'm from Memphis people always say"That's where they shoot first 48 right?"even though that was 5years ago.Second question is"Is it really that dangerous?"

Get that an awful lot too...speaking of First 48, how is it that everyone on Earth has seen that freakin show? I mean even folks who don't own a television has seen that show, out of all the things to watch it has to be that one...smh

(12-14-2013 07:54 AM)JTS Wrote:  

(12-14-2013 07:45 AM)hongkongtiger Wrote:  After 20 years in the Navy and 104 stamps in my Passport as an ocean going tech one thing rings true. No matter where I am in this great big world when I am introduced to someone from Tennessee and I tell them I am from Memphis, unless they are from the bluff city, the response is a universal "oh". As I have gotten older and look fairly harmless the stepping back and checking wallets/purses has died down a good bit.

This was a well respected city 25 years ago. It started down hill when the people of this community started electing leadership like a guy that beat his pregnant girl friend and city council members that can't even keep their snouts out of a bottle when driving.

Dam. Gnarly stuff.

(12-14-2013 07:57 AM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  

(12-14-2013 07:51 AM)macphil30 Wrote:  Whenever I'm out traveling and say that I'm from Memphis people always say"That's where they shoot first 48 right?"even though that was 5years ago.Second question is"Is it really that dangerous?"

Oak hill, A suburb of dallas, is a good example of Memphis. They remind me of each other. If I want good food I go there, but I only carry exact change & no wallet if you get my drift.

You mean Oak Cliff?
And that would be like going to north Memphis.

You guys are reacting to nothing, IMO. If you said you were from any other city, you would likely get a similar reaction. Most people don't give a damn about strangers, and aren't going to care where you're from, unless it coincides with something in their own lives. The First 48 thing will die before long.

And beyond that, who gives a crap about the impression some random stranger has about Memphis? People love their hometowns, and don't give a crap about most other places.

Martin Luther King

(12-14-2013 08:18 AM)TripleA Wrote:  You guys are reacting to nothing, IMO. If you said you were from any other city, you would likely get a similar reaction. Most people don't give a damn about strangers, and aren't going to care where you're from, unless it coincides with something in their own lives. The First 48 thing will die before long.

And beyond that, who gives a crap about the impression some random stranger has about Memphis? People love their hometowns, and don't give a crap about most other places.

Ehhh yah but you seem to be missing the point or just simply glossing over mate. You get two completely different reactions "I'm from Orlando", "I'm from Memphis".

I hear you though, I really don't personally care where people are from, I'm more in tune to where they are at, "mentally".

This inferiority complex baffles me.

(12-14-2013 08:27 AM)hollywoodtigerhound Wrote:  

(12-14-2013 08:18 AM)TripleA Wrote:  You guys are reacting to nothing, IMO. If you said you were from any other city, you would likely get a similar reaction. Most people don't give a damn about strangers, and aren't going to care where you're from, unless it coincides with something in their own lives. The First 48 thing will die before long.

And beyond that, who gives a crap about the impression some random stranger has about Memphis? People love their hometowns, and don't give a crap about most other places.

Ehhh yah but you seem to be missing the point or just simply glossing over mate. You get two completely different reactions "I'm from Orlando", "I'm from Memphis".

I hear you though, I really don't personally care where people are from, I'm more in tune to where they are at, "mentally".

Not missing the point, or glossing over. I just have a different opinion. I've been saying I'm from Memphis all my life, and traveled all over the country for 30 years, and never got one negative reaction. I think your concern is overblown, and is too small of a sample. At any rate, it is not my experience, and I traveled every week for over 25 years.

When I say Memphis, most people mention Elvis.

Beyond that, why is it even important what others think of Memphis? Or that they have a different reaction to Memphis than Orlando? Why care?

Elvis Presley

My beautiful wife.

King Willie

This is not my experience outside of Tennessee. I've never gotten a negative reaction.

Inside the state is another story I think. And most of the hillbillies have never been to Memphis.

(12-14-2013 08:18 AM)TripleA Wrote:  You guys are reacting to nothing, IMO. If you said you were from any other city, you would likely get a similar reaction. Most people don't give a damn about strangers, and aren't going to care where you're from, unless it coincides with something in their own lives. The First 48 thing will die before long.

And beyond that, who gives a crap about the impression some random stranger has about Memphis? People love their hometowns, and don't give a crap about most other places.

See your point and raise you two
In my experience it has been purely a reaction from Tennessee natives. Elvis or Blues is the first reaction to most people I meet.

Not giving a crap. In fact when friends of mine tell me they have a friend from Tennessee and they want to introduce me. I ask if they were from Tennessee or Memphis. If Tennessee is the answer I make a friendly wager that when I tell them I am from Memphis they will respond with the universal "oh" So far I am up about a twelve pack

(12-14-2013 07:54 AM)BIGDTiger Wrote:  Anyone outside of Tennessee always gives me good feedback. But I'll admit it, when I make my yearly drive through Memphis, it never surprises me anymore to see how little has been done to improve the city, but instead how so many of my former favorite hangouts, streets, parks etc. have gone down the $hitt(er). Someday, hopefully soon, Memphis will place value on education and intelligent citizens who will lead them out of this Memphis depression. If you live in Memphis you may not even realize how bad it is because you've been around the change so your normal has slowly changed with it, but Memphis is anything but normal. Only 3 things still tie me to Memphis: Basketball teams, family, BBQ.

How does anyone who claims to be a Grizz & Tiger fan only make a "yearly drive through Memphis?" Go to a Tiger game or 2 & you'll actually have a heck of a lot of fun in Memphis.