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typeytypetype t1_iwrgy6i wrote

Reply to comment by myothercarisapynchon in Debate: when can you say “I’m from Philly” by SnooStories6852

Gotta be honest, I'm not sure what there is to get bent out of shape about. I grew up in Montco, but have been living in Philly for more years than I did Montco. Around here, I tell people exactly where I'm from, but if I'm talking to someone unfamiliar with the area I just say I'm from Philadelphia because it's easier and I assume no one cares enough for me to bother clarifying.

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myothercarisapynchon t1_iwrhjyu wrote

i think it’s exciting to have that in common with someone, until i ask what neighborhood and they look back at me blankly because they are not from philadelphia lol

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typeytypetype t1_iwri3gs wrote

Hear that, and agreed, I would think it's weird for people to tell other locals that they're from Philly when they're not actually.

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myothercarisapynchon t1_iwridm9 wrote

yeah, i guess my experience with this is mostly from when i went to drexel years ago. i do think it’s different when whoever you’re talking to wouldn’t be familiar with whatever small locality you actually hail from

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Little_Noodles t1_iwrj4p4 wrote

You’re at least living here now, though, and have been for a while. That’s a way different thing than someone that grew up in MontCo, mayyyybe went to college here with no intention on staying, and then moved back saying they’re from Philly.

I didn’t grow up here, and I moved around the country a bit after college, but I’ve been here as long as I’ve been anywhere and don’t plan to leave.

Where else would I say I’m from? The town I haven’t lived in for 20+ years and never will again? The only conceivable reason to do that is if the person is very obviously asking where I’m “from” as shorthand for “where did you live as a child?”.

Like, if I’m in a bar in Philly and someone asks if I’m from here, I tell them I grew up down the shore in South Jersey, but moved here after grad school, because I’m not sure which version of the question they’re asking.

But if I’m somewhere I needed an airplane to get to and someone asks where I’m visiting from, where I lived when I was 11 isn’t relevant, and I’m from Philadelphia.

Though I’d agree that the audience matters. If “Philly” barely means anything to the person you’re saying it to, it really doesn’t matter if you say you’re from Philly or “just outside” Philly. You should say “just outside”, but the person you’re saying it doesn’t care and neither do I, really.

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typeytypetype t1_iwrjvu2 wrote

Agree with all of that. I think of my brother, who lives in CA and also grew up in Montco, and he regularly tells people in CA that he's from Philly. Not because he's trying to claim some 'status' as a Philadelphian, but because no Californian knows the surrounding county names or cares. However it'd be pretty cringe if he went around telling people here that he's from Philly.

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respondstostupidity t1_iwsel32 wrote

> I'm not sure what there is to get bent out of shape about

It's kind of irritating because you think you might know someone's family or be able to relate to them but then when they say Lancaster, they may as well have said Nebraska.

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