Atlanta tops lists of “most irritated cities”
Argh!
Atlanta is the crankiest city in the nation.
That’s according to a new poll conducted by Sperling’s BestPlaces and was based on a measurement of 11 irritation factors, including pest control, traffic congestion, and heat index, among others.
(We just walked across the street for lunch and can attest that the heat index is indeed pretty irritating today.)
The survey was commissioned by Edge Shave Zone, who has signed on comedian John Caparulo to help get the word out. Because of his, ahem, sharp wit. Heh.
Here’s the whole list.
50 Most Irritated U.S. Cities:
Atlanta, GA
Houston, TX
Washington, DC
Baltimore, MD
Los Angeles, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Tampa, FL
Birmingham, AL
New York, NY
Phoenix, AZ
Orlando, FL
Sacramento, CA
Dallas, TX
Miami, FL
Detroit, MI
Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL
San Diego, CA
Nashville, TN
Jacksonville, FL
Cincinnati, OH
Memphis, TN
Louisville, KY
San Francisco, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Columbus, OH
Raleigh, NC
St. Louis, MO
San Antonio, TX
Indianapolis, IN
New Orleans, LA
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Pittsburgh, PA
Seattle, WA
Virginia Beach, VA
Salt Lake City, UT
Oklahoma City, OK
Richmond, VA
Cleveland, OH
Denver, CO
Hartford, CT
Portland, OR
Kansas City, MO
Providence, RI
Tucson, AZ
Buffalo, NY
Minneapolis, MN
Milwaukee, WI
Rochester, NY
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150 comments Add your comment
Bob
July 24th, 2010
11:41 am
“I’ll move” I bet you never lived in Memphis. That is one miserable place. I lived there 8 years and could not call it home even when I bought a house and made new friends there. I tried everything to make myself at home there and I just couldn’t. Atlanta is far better.
Fred
July 24th, 2010
11:41 am
Good – Lots of tall hardwoods.
Bad – Associated with Cynthia Tucker
Bob
July 24th, 2010
11:44 am
The area around Ga Tech didn’t used to be that uniformly dangerous. The danger was mostly in the Southeast Campus area. I bet that is considered the “safer” area of the campus than the northside. Fortunately most of our suburbs are still considered “safe”.
Bob Lynn
July 24th, 2010
11:50 am
duh
@ Goobers
July 24th, 2010
11:50 am
Hey Goobers…do you realize not too many people, excluding myself, have responded to your philosophical dribble that you obviously cut, copied and pasted from some textbook you saved from your liberal collegiate days? If you hate the South, specifically Atlanta, so bad, you maybe need to get into your overpriced Prius and hit the road north. If you do not live in Atlanta or the South, southerners and other interested parties are extremely happy. I agree Atlanta hasn’t been a southern city since Sherman’s BBQ during the Civil War, however for some of us southerners that live south of Macon, we are not all toothless wonders roaming the woods looking for our cousins to marry. Yes, the idea of Atlanta being on the list as a cranky city may be true, but other cities can also be included. You should try Savannah sometime? All in all, Goobers quit the verbal diarrhea. If I want to hear something like that, I will watch a Roy Barnes commercial.
Mark Coleman from Montclair, New Jersey
July 24th, 2010
12:02 pm
Thus far, I’ve read all 104 + comments and I would say…”Tired of it” made the most sense to me.
– Using real name, hit me back and you can have my phone number too.
– AND REALLY PEOPLE, DO WE LIVE IN IRAQ? AHIGHT THEN! WE’RE AMERICANS, AND WE CAN LIVE ANYWHERE IN THESE GREAT STATES THAT OUR HEARTS ALLOWS!
“God bless you all and it’s chocolate cities and it’s vanilla surburbs” – Parliment circa 1976.
@ @ Goobers
July 24th, 2010
12:08 pm
If you live south of Macon then you don’t really know what Atlanta is like. The city has some real infrastructure problems that need to be addressed now. People like you getting fooled into sticking up for “the south” and “southerners” and thinking that there isn’t anything wrong are just making things worse. You’re just helping rich folks from buckhead or wherever maintain high property values by shifting blame to some imaginary group of people. When mass transit, crime and accessibility issues are addressed then property values about the city will more uniform and less tightly packed in certain areas. I just don’t believe that the north vs south thing is an actual issue anymore because you just never see it on a day to day basis.
john heard
July 24th, 2010
12:28 pm
well the braves are playing good ball , an the falcons should make the playoffs , and that’s all i got to say..
BeKindToMe,I'mYourCousin
July 24th, 2010
12:36 pm
What’s going on? Why are all of you, so bitter with one another? Northerners, Southerners, Westerners and Easterners Whites, Blacks, Asians, Hispanics etc. Live each day as if it’s, your last. We are all here on borrowed time. Try to think positive go out and help someone, you’ll feel better, its not important what color they may be. Go out and clean your neighborhood, meet new people you might be able to find out about job openings if you are out of work. p.s. Remember that every man, women, boy or girl from the begining of mankind in east Africa to the children born this very second anywhere around the world are your distance cousins. So, be kind!!!!!!!!
Justify Atlanta Greatness
July 24th, 2010
12:44 pm
having traveled around 32 of the 50 states with major cities throughout, I can tell you that Atlanta is by far not the crankiest. Having said that, it is no where as great as the supporters believe it to be to. If you like true southern hospitality, don’t come to ATL. Many in Atlanta seem to possess this aire of superiority which I can’t really understand given it has nothing to offer in the way of diversions and attractions that can’t be experienced in a weekend. Where are the amenities that other cities of similar size possess? Why do I feel safer walking around Brooklyn than throug the Lenox mall entrance? As soon as I realized the city is full of $30,000 millionaires, I stopped caring and moved outside the Perimeter and thank God.
Steely Dan
July 24th, 2010
12:45 pm
What a sh*thole Atlanta is. I am a native that moved away 25 years ago and just came back. What a mistake to live here.
The natives are so fixated on class, money and status; it is like going back to junior high. What arrogant, pompous, provential douchebags.
What is with the black people here? They are the lowest of low lives and scumbags. They just make Atlanta creepy. My black friends from other cities are just embarrased and appalled by how repulsive their distant relatives are here.
Looking forward to the next job transfer to leave this crackerland.
Alex
July 24th, 2010
1:05 pm
Despite this article being “for entertainment purposes only”, not scientific, the numbers are out. I agree with Scott and Mel, the conservative idiots running this place have held this major city in the 50’s.
Davarous Quimarious Lantiquee Jones
July 24th, 2010
1:05 pm
I represents that remark you deel-doe. You wants dem fries wid dat?
and athens is the most irrelevant
July 24th, 2010
1:08 pm
Enter your comments here
Jim
July 24th, 2010
1:09 pm
I live near Peachtree @ 8th. Party town, it’s safe, it’s fun, it’s convenient to MARTA and points beyond. No city is crime-free. I regularly take MARTA to the airport, do Centennial Park area, and to Buckhead. Only 5% of the people who say they live in Atlanta can produce a Drivers License with an Atlanta address.
Bev
July 24th, 2010
1:09 pm
I didn’t see Hawaii on the list?? I bet they’re the least crankiest!
A D Stinky Fingers
July 24th, 2010
1:10 pm
Where the red panties at?
To @@ Goobers from @ Goobers
July 24th, 2010
1:13 pm
Wasn’t really making it a north and south thing…as for the crime, congestion, high property taxes, hey that’s why I live south of Macon…enjoy your traffic congestion and I’ll come benefit from the big city when Lady Gaga comes to town…afterwards I’ll go back to my double-wide in my pickup and enjoy the slow drawl that is my life
boots
July 24th, 2010
1:25 pm
@ read: my bad. Thx.
John
July 24th, 2010
1:28 pm
Bottom line, if you’re not happy here…..move. Life is too short to be unhappy with where you live. For the dude that has lived here 41 years and said, “Atlanta Sucks”,….41 years???? What are you still doing here?
Mark
July 24th, 2010
1:59 pm
This places absolutely sucks, I was suckered in moving here because of the so called “Cheaper cost of Living”. What a joke, I learned the hard way cheaper does not mean better. Between the racial tension, humidity, nothing to do, lack of good public transportation, no sidewalks, I could go on and on. My first chance I am outta here and headed back to the Bay Area. I can not wait and BTW I am not taking Delta so save you stupid commments.
John
July 24th, 2010
2:06 pm
we r not cranky you stupid jerks.
At at the Lanta A
July 24th, 2010
2:18 pm
Atlanta is the place to be.
Dirty bird livin’ is the life for me.
Crime spreadin’ out so far and wide.
Keep Manhattan, just give me that Southern pride.
New York is where I’d rather stay.
I get allergic smelling ay.
I just adore a penthouse view.
Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue.
…Crack *hores.
…The stores.
…Hot air.
…Times Square
You are my wife.
Good bye, city life.
Atlanta we are there.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND
July 24th, 2010
2:32 pm
Just yesterday, I was reading a blog and this young lady was lamenting how she miss the sounds, smells and belligerent drivers in NYC. Then she stated that people DOWN HERE like to talk and touch you and she didn’t like that. She didn’t like the trees because of her allegeries and she didn’t like the sound of crickets. If I could’ve afford it, I would have gladly paid for her moving expenses.
Comic Relief
July 24th, 2010
3:21 pm
Calm down Atlanta and watch a funny youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVGJcIl5ydE
Jane
July 24th, 2010
3:23 pm
My favorite thing about Atlanta is the huge number of “ministers” who refer to themselves as bishops, apostles, and doctors, even though they’ve never been to college. Seems like there’s a very large, not very bright, percentage of Atlantans who blindly send their money to these scam artists. It’s really sad, when they could be actually donating money to legitimate, worthy causes.
Rob
July 24th, 2010
3:28 pm
I agree that life is too short to spend in a city where you’re so unhappy. That’s why I’m feverishly working to get my house on the market with the next month. I’ve been here 5 years, and have hated every second of it. The crime, heat, traffic, racial tension, listening to rap crap at every corner….I could go on and on. When my wife was bitten by my neighbor’s roaming pit bull, it was the end of our rope. There are so many great places to live in this country, and Atlanta is not for us. We’re moving to Denver the day our house closes. Cannot wait!
Northern Atl Liver
July 24th, 2010
5:00 pm
Atlanta is not a safe place to live. I live Northeast of it and I still don’t feel safe. I agree with T.O. about it. If you don’t see that the Atlanta area is changing for the worse then you REALLY haven’t been there or you live in another state. I will NOT going into that city for any reason.
Northern Atl Liver
July 24th, 2010
5:01 pm
Rob, can I come with you to Denver?
A D Stinky Fingers
July 24th, 2010
5:28 pm
Me too, Rob. I need a new AD job after my DUI and the Buckhoe incident.
red
July 24th, 2010
5:49 pm
T.O
July 23rd, 2010
7:06 pm
I response to TO: As some one who has been living IN this city for the last 10 years I can tell you that things crime etc is WAY better than it was in the lat 90s and early 2000. The only difference is now there are people who care more about reporting crimes. The crime has not gone up the reporting has. And if you want to leave I will help you and Scott roll out.
Been living in Atl for over 30 years. Things are changing for the worst. Piedmont Park isn’t even safe anymore. The students at Tech can’t be out past 10p. Intown living is flat out scary with the amount of break ins and muggings. Thugs have taken over this town. You’re almost forced to move to the north part of town. Truly said. Atl is the Detroit of the south. Where are these thugs parents?
hotlantaeric
July 24th, 2010
7:39 pm
is this a racial thing??
Big Ruff
July 24th, 2010
8:32 pm
Atlanta’s a real craphole, with some of the most unscrupulous people I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s like being in a 3rd world country… Lie, steal, and cheat while carrying bibles and posturing over which church they attend. Child support is practically an INDUSTRY down here….As I Brooklyn transplant I am very disappointed with the culture or lack thereof….Add the fact that you have a large population of slick wannabe hillbillies, that are too dumb to pull off a decent con, and you people wonder why the murder rate is so high???….Funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life is a backwoods country hillbilly on I-20 in some piece of crap filthy 1967 pickup truck with a cell-phone…..Also, you people can’t drive, you drive very erratic and have very poor driving skills…If I see one more biscuit or glass of sweet tea, I’m gonna puke
Get Out There and Enjoy
July 24th, 2010
9:48 pm
We can tell who isn’t getting laid in Atlanta.
Big Ruff
July 24th, 2010
10:25 pm
I’m married, ya dope!….To a woman from Boston, that is well educated, has real hair and that can actually pronounce words properly and use them in the proper context!…..If I weren’t married there’d be “slim pickins” for me in the ATL as I am repulsed by skankopotomus 300 pound gold diggers with 6 kids that have to go on “Maury” (You is dat baby daddy) begging for DNA results so they can get paid, screaming “I needs a mans to takes care of me!”…….THUS, you don’t have to concern yourself with someone of my stature ever getting “laid” in the ATL, no thank you, you keep it!.
Varuca Salt
July 25th, 2010
12:29 am
I am not shocked. Atlanta is going through spending and development withdrawals. Like most of the country, Atlanta is feeling the economic crunch. Maybe the city that was once to busy too hate just isn’t “busy” enough anymore. Economic stress, high temperatures, and constant traffic gridlock (due to poooor planning) is enough to make anyone stressed out and a bit cranky. I just hope that if and when the motor revs up on the economy again, Atlantans will be a bit more disciplined (economically and environmentally) with their development. The New South has lost its Southern hospitality, I suppose.What did we expect?
damn yankees
July 25th, 2010
12:52 pm
can go home!!!
thecutest
July 25th, 2010
3:24 pm
I’ve lived in Atlanta as well as other Southern cities. But I currently live in Los Angeles.. I’m surprised L.A. isn’t at the top of the list instead. People here are major D-bags. They were D-bags in NYC (where I lived for 5 years) as well. This list seems poorly constructed. I hope the author isn’t beating up on the ATL because of its ethnic make-up.
Andrew D
July 26th, 2010
7:13 am
To all of the people who wasn’t born here, or grew up here please take my advise. If you don’t like it here, all highways leading out the city are open 24 -7. They are not nearly as congested as those coming in. Your leaving will ease the congestion on the roads and your job opening will give some worthy person a source of income.
R U M O R S Magazine » Atlanta tops lists!
July 26th, 2010
9:06 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/the-buzz/2010/07/23/atlanta-tops-lists-of-most-irritated-cities/ [...]
Belinda
July 26th, 2010
12:25 pm
I’m not a native but I’ve lived her for 31 years. Atlanta has changed and I’m talking about the whole Metro area when I say Atlanta. All changes have not been for the better. The traffic has gotten much worse in spite of many new roads. Crime has gotten much worse in the suburbs. And the economic collapse has hit very hard here. I think all of this has contributed to many people being irritable and cranky especially on the roads!!!!!! We plan to retire in about 6 years and we plan to move to Rabun County. I do not expect it to be perfect. But I think it will be a less irritating place to live.
Dani
July 26th, 2010
7:42 pm
@Mark I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am from the Bay and moved here because I could not afford to buy a home in California. As the old saying goes “visiting is much different from living here”. As a single Black woman with two kids, we do not live by the stereotypes that I have seen posted here. My sons are educated, have no jail records or kids out of wedlock-I have raised them better than that. My kids have been called “rich”, which we surely are not, just because I don’t allow them to share their clothes with others, (which I have never heard of until moving here) and having pride in their appearance (they don’t look like they just rolled out of bed). It’s not a matter of acting “white”, we speak proper English (@Bronco, I don’t understand alot of this Southern accent. All your words run together or it sounds like ebonics, whether the person is Black or White), have respect for others and acting ignorant in public is not an option. My sons have been accused of being “momma’s boys” because I care about their whereabouts and behavior. We have lived in numerous places, but as a mother, I am from the old-school. My parents raised me right, and I followed the tradition with my sons. My eldest is 21. He knew living off me was not an option. The only way he could live at home was by attending college and/or working until he received his degree. He chose to follow the family tradition of being third generation Air Force, and getting his degree in the process. My 16 year old wants to do the same. My children have been exposed to many cultures and environments by just living in the Bay Area, ie., the Planetarium, Golden Gate Park, Lawrence Hall of Science, Cinco De Mayo, Chinese New Year, Black History and others. Many of the kids here are content with just hanging out. Many parents here do not want to share car-pooling duties with the kids. They want you to take and pick up the kids all the time. With all the “wealthy Black people” here, why are our kids standing out on the busy streets (Camp Creek Pkwy) begging for money to either buy uniforms or go to championship games? I lived in Sandy Springs and have never seen any other minority children endangering their lives to do something constructive. I never saw this in any other city I lived in but here. There are too many people here who are trying to keep up with the Jonses and Smiths and participate in cliques. I’ve always been a independent person, so I don’t fit in with all the fake people here-especially the women. Out West and up North, if we don’t like one another, we do not pretend to do so we can know one another’s business-I could care less about you. I am not a prude, but some of these “fashionistas” need to quit. I’ve never seen more desperate-stripper looking women before in my life here. You can look sexy and cool by not exposing everything you got. I know it is hot here, but come on, where’s your self-respect? On Easter Sunday, I swear most of the women must have come straight from the club to the church, they looked that disrespectful in the Lord’s house. @Shackled by Real Estate I agree with you also. I’m tired of missing the things I love dearly like being able to walk down or cross the street without the fear of being ran over. I have been in 3 car accidents within a 2 year period here-none of them my fault. Where do these people receive their driver’s education-the bubblegum machine? The yield sign is just decoration for the sidewalk and freeway entrance. I am in the process of selling my home, so no one needs to tell me Delta is waiting. I’ve been waiting and craving to get that U-Haul truck to get out of this backwards town-never to return. If Atlanta is progressive, Lord, I’d hate to see the opposite. It’s all hype-don’t fall for it like I did.
Don't Believe the Hype
July 28th, 2010
2:08 pm
@Dani, I agree 100% with your post, You are right on point. I am in the process of moving also.
Nicki
July 29th, 2010
9:27 am
This is so evident of being the work of Yankees.
Atlanta isn’t perfect, but no city is. That being said, NYC, Boston, Philly, or Baltimore should have topped the list. The ppl there are RUDE, buildings dirty and old (historic significance set aside), and the traffic isn’t much better- as the ppl there do NOT know how to drive- esp in NYC.
lily kate
July 29th, 2010
10:53 am
I love Atlanta….granted, it is a dirty place at times, but it’s my home. And I for one don’t appreciate someone with bad manners bringing it down.
satch
July 30th, 2010
2:37 am
the atl is overrated.little 5 was cool, girl watching at south dekalb mall cool.in seattle now, yeah it rains but 1 sunny day here is worth one month there.i enjoy driving again! hated it in the atl.people a lot more relaxed,water and mountain views everywhere.and quiet as it is kept beaches everywhere! i took the advice and got on delta.glad i did!
satch
July 30th, 2010
2:41 am
minneapolis should not be on this list at all.’minnesota nice” is for real.i spent six months there,very friendly people there.
sue
July 31st, 2010
12:11 am
actually, as a native new yorker, and a resident of atlanta for 20 years, i don’t find atlanta to be cranky at all. i don’t find new yorkers to be cranky, either. there are things to like and dislike about both cities.
sue
July 31st, 2010
12:18 am
and all that said, i find country folk in the south, midwesterners, and people from chicago and new orleans to be exceptionally nice. haven’t traveled all over the country, but i expect that most people are nice, and if they’re not, i don’t take it as an insult.
Xeo
August 1st, 2010
3:23 pm
I kind of like living here as it’s like living in an exotic, foreign country while still being in the states! No one speaks English, the taxes are very high, the majority are socialists (or communists) so you can feel like an ex pat here without ever leaving!