June 17, 2008
"Why I Hate DC" Needs A New Hater
ATTENTION ALL HATERS.
Rusty is leaving the building. Or at least Friendship Heights.
The author of the anti-Washington blog "Why I Hate D.C." announced on his site today that he is moving to Columbus, Ohio and will no longer be contributing to the site. Rusty's been writing the blog since 2006, when he took the reins from James F.
The blog has dropped off a little in vehemence over the past few months - did Rusty actually find happiness and lose all his vitrol? Regardless, we'll miss his borderline-stalker recounts of WaPo reporter Laura Sessions Stepp's latest atrocities, and think of him every time we're stuck in an hour-long delay on Metro. Actually, we can't promise the latter; it happens too frequently. But as a DCist born and raised in Ohio, however, I can safely say that he should be able to find plenty of material for mockery in Columbus, even if there is no Midwestern equivalent of Late Night Shots.
In the meantime, some of our more enraged commenters should take note: Why I Hate DC is in need of a replacement. Those interested should send an essay and writing samples to whyihatedc@gmail.com by July 6 at noon. Today's post on predatory intern-seekers should at least get you inspired.
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I lived in Columbus for 26 years.
Trust me: why.I.hate.Cowlumbus won't be far behind.
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Have fun in fly-over country!
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I lived in Columbus for 10 years. I second 14thandYou.
Rusty, If you need help with why.I.hate.columbus, keep in mind: E Gordon Gee is an anagram for Ego G Nerdo
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They could probably save the cost of salary and just reprint old WTOP comment threads. More than enough hate there.
Do I get a referral fee?
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Take the test!
Over the course of two and a half years, Rusty spends a considerable amount of time and energy mocking Washington, DC and deriding its government, culture, citizens, nightlife, public transportation system, schools and journalists. He then moves to:
a) London
b) Paris
c) New York
d) Columbus, OH
Wow.
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I hate DC too, but I live in Arlington.
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I will miss Rusty.
Although this gives me hope that maybe I can move out of DC too.
Des Moines here I come!
Cheap river front property!
What, too soon?
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RecSpecs, I know. Oh, do I know.
I get the feeling that I am going to deeply regret all my complaints about the stadium when I can't watch a game this summer.
But at least I'll have the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets!
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Who will be called a Douche on every post now!? Poor annon ....how we'll miss you.
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Actually there's only one real sports team in Columbus.
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I was once at a bar at the same time as Rusty. He pooped on my shoe. It was very gross.
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The Crew?
Oh, right, the Buckeyes.
I HATE college football. So I should fit in just fine.
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So long, Rusty. There's a metric ton of haters to take your place, but I doubt any'll have your "I'd prefer Columbus" level of committment.
The $ is where the mouth is.
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I LOVE DC. Buh-bye rusty!
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Comblowus isn't all that bad. Where else can you go that has Wendy's on every corner?
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Ok. Add that to the list. I hate college football and I hate Wendy's.
Obviously, I hate a lot of things. But I like my girlfriend, hence the move.
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Do you like the Gap and Abercrombie? That is where they were born and still live today.
BTW, even if you hate football, go to one bucks game...you will totes feel like you are in the scene in "Triumph of the Will" when they all pile into Nurumberg stadium...
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I wouldn't call a team that undeservedly plays in the National Championship game only to get obliterated every year a real sports team.
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So, after two years of bitching about Metro service, Rusty is moving to a city with NO SUBWAY! Bwaaahhh ha ha!!!! Enjoy your busses and $4.50 a gallon gas, Rusty!
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This "national championship" you speak of... does that come after the Michigan game? 'Cause if you win that, everything else is gravy.
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Rusty is still blogging over at the new and awesome blog (which I also write for), Pushback.
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People who hate dc yet still live here (for whatever reason) should be shot.
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In all seriousness, Columbus isn't a bad city. In general, the people aren't a-holes--they'll actually hold doors open for you, say things like "please" and "excuse me", they don't tailgate you and drive 100 mph on their highways, etc. The cost of living is microscopic compared to DC. Commutes are a breeze--nothing's more than 15 minutes away from you. They have some gorgeous downtown theaters, good restaurants, and some lovely historic neighborhoods.
Of course, it's easy to sit here in D.C. and mock the cities that don't possess the cultural attractions, urban lifestyle, transportation or dining and retail options of a place like D.C. But aside from giving fresh ammunition to that pretentious D.C. stereotype, it invites comparisons to cities that possess more (or better variations) of the things I listed than D.C. does.
I moved to D.C. from Columbus several years ago, and have no plans to return. And, yep, Columbus is urbanly deficient in a number of areas. But it's no backwater, and I'd seriously question the mentality of a D.C. resident who feels the need to take potshots at a city like Columbus in order to make themsevles feel better about living here.
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Rusty's hatin on DC was so oddly misplaced. There's a lot to bitch about in DC, but more often than not Rusty's bitching was based on fairly uninformed views (like his/her inability to comprehend the stadium tax thing, etc.)
Meaning no disrespect, but DC hatin has always deserved better.
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Now he's free to start Columbusist. The world has been waiting.
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Uhhh....and we're supposed to give a crap about this becauuussee....???
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I love DC, but the people in Columbus are MUCH better looking. If you like blonde girls with large breasts, it's definitely the place to be. And the population is actually more diverse than you'd think for a "fly-over" state.
Also the Newport Music Hall is the only venue I've been to that has a shot of rivaling 930.
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"But aside from giving fresh ammunition to that pretentious D.C. stereotype, it invites comparisons to cities that possess more (or better variations) of the things I listed than D.C. does."
So true. Like, well, most every major European city over half a mil population.
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"If you like blonde girls with large breasts, it's definitely the place to be."
Maybe after Southern California, Florida, SEC college towns, Austin, each Scandinavian country, Germany, Moscow and the sleazy part of Tel Aviv.
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And the population is actually more diverse than you'd think for a "fly-over" state.
That's more true than you think. Back when I was still working at restaurants/bars in the mid-90's, one of the managers that I worked for went to OSU for Hotel & Restaurant Management. He told me that they used to have all of these weird restaurants in Columbus because it was the city that had the closest demographic match to the entire US, so they would test restaurants in Columbus.
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Columbus's rock scene kicks DC's ass, believe it or not.
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i recall (i might have it mixed up with another OH town) Cowlumbus had great diners and pubs and good music scene.
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test restaurants in Columbus
I'm pretty sure that every small city in America (in population or in prestige) makes a similar claim. I've lived in two different places where a local resident told me that "this place is special because every chain in America test-markets here."
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I've lived in two different places where a local resident told me that "this place is special because every chain in America test-markets here."
Then there's the towns like Utica, NY where people claim the Italian food is so good because "this is where the NY mafia retires to".
Frankly, if I were "made", I'd use said "made-hood" to make sure I never had to step foot in a dump like Utica, NY.
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The only thing I remember about Columbus was eating fried sauerkraut balls in some bar. A dense slurry of sauerkraut, deepfry batter, scooped up in an icecream scoop, and seared at 375. Not as greasy as you'd imagine. It had this odd Baked Alaska cool kraut in the middle/searing crispy crust on the outside vibe. Went really well with a bottle of local ale.
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If you're going to move to Ohio, then Columbus is the only city you should even step foot in. The Short North is IMO better then most neighborhoods in DC. And, as previous posters said, the folks are friendly, which even as a New Englander transplanted here to DC found refreshing when there. And, how could I forget? Columbus has JENI'S ice cream. Enough said.
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Pia-Funny you should mention the Short North. Mrs. 14thandYou (a lifelong Washingtonian) felt the same as you the first time I took her there. German Village is also a great 'hood.
And, yes, it has Jeni's ice cream...also Graeter's.
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What's the word on the Victorian Village?
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Victorian Village is cool...lovely houses, Goodale Park, some nice restaurants/shops along 5th Ave. Neil Ave. during the fall is gorgeous. Also it's within walking distance to the Short North.
If I was being brought back to Columbus, Victorian Village would definitely be on my short list of where I'd be looking to buy.
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I used to live in Brooklyn. I find there's very little to complain about here compared to my old neighborhood. DC is clearly more livable.
It's really not bad, unless you're one of those assholes that insists on driving to work, in which case, screw you.
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http://www.clippersbaseball.com/
No need to miss the Nationals. Our AAA team is in Columbus.
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The Short North/Vic vill is also the Gayborhood of Columbus.
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Victorian Village--that's where I was robbed at gunpoint walking back to my apartment with my visiting mother after dining in the Short North. Yup, moved from DC to Ohio to live with my boyfriend and got robbed at gunpoint. Worst. Decision. Ever. I haven't been back to that hellhole since I left six years ago. Good luck with that, though!
Do be sure to check out the Great Pumpkin Show in Circleville, OH this October.