  Leannam1989 Member Username: Leannam1989 Post Number: 68 Registered: 06-2008 |
http://tinyurl.com/4ff4bo Click "sport" and scroll down to find "VLT in the U.S.: High mood in Scott Rade Center" This is a Hockey blog following Blues Patrik Berglund. Anyway, they spent a couple days in Detroit. Here are the comments. Scroll down to Day 9. It says (some parts are still hard to figure out) "Downtown Detroit is a ghetto. Large derelict buildings surrounding our oasis of luxury sham. I dare not go one meter outside the hotel door. Shall we go somewhere that is the car that case, otherwise it may be. You may think that I and photographer Bilberg are cowards. Sure, maybe we are, but we tried anyway to make contact with local people on the nearest bar. The future will show whether they really liked us, or if the reporting from Detroit to be short-lived. Sure, we drive a fat lobster here in Detroit, but if the truth be made, I would need a tank to feel safe. Downtown Detroit is simply a different world than we are accustomed to, and I Bilberg is as misplaced here as two twelve tags for elk hunting. I am afraid and I do not ashamed of it - for it is truth. If all goes as intended, you will still receive part of Detroit's front - Nicklas Lidström lives in luxury Bellagio and the Red Wings finance facilities in Joe Louis Arena. Surf into vlt.se and see if VLT's crews will survive the reality of Detroit. With the help of police officers who continually check the Hilton hotel are we going to do our best to deliver to Thiruvananthapuram. " Day 11: "Noted that Detroit's urban actually is beautiful - at a distance, from Canada." Day 12: "Today, I left and Jonas Bilberg Detroit. Indeed the city was not what I had expected, but Hockey Town gave us yet memories of a lifetime. " Not saying I agree or disagree, but it is an interesting view from an outsider. Do you think most foreigners feel this way? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 6286 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ha! Well, we still have the British. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 8861 Registered: 11-2004 |
You almost kind of wish he had met a caring local who could've shown him some of the finer things in our fair city. The same thing could be said for any visitor to a foreign city though, especially if they don't know where to go and even worse if they get a room at a seedy hotel in a less than hospitable part of town. | ||
Dtowncitylover Member Username: Dtowncitylover Post Number: 311 Registered: 02-2008 |
No, I know plenty of outsiders who liked Downtown Detroit. | ||
Greatlakes Member Username: Greatlakes Post Number: 257 Registered: 07-2007 |
You missed the best part of his first day's letter, the opening sentence: quote: Downtown Detroit surely is not quite the impressive face of America as Manhattan or Chicago's Michigan Ave, and I sympathize with a foreigner's fears of the unknown, but that opening line is quite ridiculous, especially from someone staying at the Hilton Garden... FYI, the fat "lobster" is actually the word Hummer. Who knew? To his credit, though, you did leave out his second thoughts: quote: (Message edited by GreatLakes on September 25, 2008) | ||
Scooter2k7 Member Username: Scooter2k7 Post Number: 142 Registered: 10-2007 |
While personally I have never felt afraid to be in downtown Detroit I can see who these two Swedes would be intimated by Detroit. Now these two are not credible, immediatley they start on the attack of Detroit. If they were afraid to venture on to the streets of Detroit, how would they do in Chicago, New York City, or Los Angeles? Those 3 are bigger and meaner. These 2 are probably just some farm boys who would feel uncomfortable in any urban environment. | ||
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo Post Number: 999 Registered: 06-2005 |
Yea, but even farmers are willing to venture out on the street if there are other people milling around... contrary to the scene in Detroit. I can totally see their perspective, even if they lived in moderate sized towns, they never see in Europe what is common in many American cities. But I am sure these guys would fair just fine in NYC or Chicago. Detroit does require imagination and hearty courage. I am SURE they were "warned" about Detroit and heard many negative things before getting here, hence the initial negativity. I hear it often from Europeans who have never been to Detroit, but know someone who has. The perception from the non-visitor is always worse than the told experience from the visitor. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 6288 Registered: 10-2003 |
It really depends on where in Europe you're talking about. As I brought up, the British don't have this same fear of Detroit, probably because they have quite a few cities like it. Same with many Germans. I can, up to a point, she some Swedes having a legitimate unease and fear of a tough city that they've only heard about and never seen with their own eyes, but this piece was just ridiculous, I don't care how you spin it. I'm sure many Swedes would probably even agree that this was a bit much. Seriously, parts of the article sound as if they were written by some home-schooled, farm-raised individuals. | ||
Silverbeauty Member Username: Silverbeauty Post Number: 62 Registered: 11-2005 |
ouch | ||
Silverbeauty Member Username: Silverbeauty Post Number: 63 Registered: 11-2005 |
I did meet an American that moved to Sweden w/her Swedish husband. She said there is no poverty there, and very little crime.That said, these two Swedes probably haven't seen much poverty in their cities. Too bad they couldn't find a friendly Detroiter. I just hope the memories Hockey Town gave them for a lifetime, are good ones. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3308 Registered: 07-2004 |
I'd argue that no Swede writes such horrible English unless they're a bumpkin. | ||
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo Post Number: 1000 Registered: 06-2005 |
I thought that too, Detroitnerd. Most scandinavians speak better English than we do... | ||
Greebomusic Member Username: Greebomusic Post Number: 15 Registered: 08-2008 |
I'll assume that the reason it reads so broken is that it is translated using an internet translation site as the url so kindly points out.  (Message edited by greebomusic on September 25, 2008) | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3309 Registered: 07-2004 |
This could be the most unusual translated page ever. "Endangered twisting the neck of girls: Intimidated after cat fight The girls tried to split the two cats who fought. Suddenly, a very agitated way out." "Sura Woman stabbed a knife in the leg A 26-year-old from Surahammar knife cut badly during the night on Wednesday. He was driven to the central hospital with a 10 centimeter long wound in the leg." Or this one: "Why should I pick up after my dogs when the subject butt, snuff and garbage everywhere?" | ||
Izzyindetroit Member Username: Izzyindetroit Post Number: 102 Registered: 07-2008 |
As if St. Louis is much better. | ||
Vas Member Username: Vas Post Number: 945 Registered: 01-2004 |
This reminds me of when I tried to take the Swedish band Dungen on a tour of Detroit. It seemed they were intimidated by the city and weren't stepping out of the venue. Maybe it was my craziness. After being in Malmo and Stockholm, yes I would say Detroit is the exact opposite of their cities. No wonder they're fearful. Buck up and garb ye balls Swedes. There's nothing to fear here but your confidence. | ||
Cycledetroit Member Username: Cycledetroit Post Number: 17 Registered: 09-2008 |
From my experience of living in Europe, I can agree with Silverbeauty. Europe doesn't have poverty like we do here in Detroit. It looks different over there. In Madrid, the red light district is very clean, and well taken care of. Yes, there are working girls on every corner, and nasty men walking around. But, it looked nice. I understand why Detroit would look a bit scary to them. If I didn't grow up here and really understand Detroit, I would be scared too. There is no lying about it, our great city needs a good cleaning. Another example is when I lived in South Central Los Angeles. The street I lived on was so nice, the yards and gardens looked great. The houses were well maintained. Yet, there were shootings at the corner at least once a month. Now in Hamtramck, there is trash ALL OVER the street, windows broken, houses with fire damage, and very little crime(on our block at least). | ||
Mortalman Member Username: Mortalman Post Number: 333 Registered: 03-2007 |
Blah, blah, blah! | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3317 Registered: 07-2004 |
A little cranky this morning, Mortalman? | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 10407 Registered: 10-2003 |
If this is what people are writing about then that is the case. They are writing what they perceive so I would take it as fact. The problem here is we see a Subway fast food joint go up and we get giddy about it (though they are closing down now). In any other city that wouldn't even warrant a mention to anyone. Many are to blinded by their love of Detroit to see the true negatives of a decayed city. | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 3624 Registered: 09-2007 |
Albeit over-exaggerated, the guys just told it like it is. Even as an American city, Detroit is like no other place. Whatever bad is happening in NYC, St. Louis or Chicago, it's much worse in Detroit. Their downtowns aren't filled with surface lots or abandoned mid-rises. As Goat stated, we don't even have a Mcdonalds in our CBD, while other cities have department stores & all sorts of storefront shops. But hey, some people love their filth & will live in it. (Message edited by DetroitRise on September 25, 2008) | ||
Youngprofessionaldetroiter Member Username: Youngprofessionaldetroiter Post Number: 390 Registered: 07-2008 |
quote: Detroit is one the least outsider-friendly cities to which I've ever traveled. Even to people who live but 3 hours away. The streets are dirty and confusing. Even in the CBD, one wrong turn at the wrong time of day can put you in a treacherous situation. Vacant buildings and lack of pedestrians make it even more unwelcoming. So why am I moving there? Why am I encouraging others to do so? It's to build a city back up and reap the benefits from doing so. Look at Dubai. Of course everyone wants to live in Dubai, NOW. It took someone of vision 15 years ago to say..."Let's build a city of unprecedented opulence and wealth." I disagree with those who love Detroit for what it is. I love Detroit because it's my home. But I don't love it for what it is. To accept that would be for us to sell ourselves short on what we could be, what we should be, and what we need to be. So if you want to come to Detroit to help rebuild, come with your sleeves rolled up and ready to work. Those who stay will be rewarded. If you lack vision, drive, persistence, character...you'll have a hard time living here. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 3492 Registered: 04-2006 |
What a horrible translation. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 7313 Registered: 08-2004 |
Agreed, this translation is so bad, that we're basing our opinions of this article on borderline gibberish. | ||
Det313grrl Member Username: Det313grrl Post Number: 337 Registered: 01-2005 |
What's the big deal? There are people who live in our own suburbs who will NEVER come downtown. | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 3630 Registered: 09-2007 |
^And when they do, it's only for a sporting event. Most suburbanites would probably travel to Las Vegas & gamble before visiting a downtown casino. | ||
Alan55 Member Username: Alan55 Post Number: 2206 Registered: 09-2005 |
I really enjoyed this part: "and I Bilberg is as misplaced here as two twelve tags for elk hunting." (That European surrealist sophistication is totally going over my head.) | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5594 Registered: 10-2003 |
Of course there is very little poverty over in Sweden. The people pay what is it....70% of their income in taxes. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 6291 Registered: 10-2003 |
Why do people keep talking about Europe as a monolith and one that "doesn't have poverty"? That's simply not true. If you want to talk about Sweden, specifically, that's one thing but has no one ever heard of Berlin and the countless industrial cities of England, the trash mounta in the streets of Naples? Anyone ever been to East London? This idea that the whole of Europe knows nothing of grit, trash, and poverty isn't true. They don't have anything like Detroit, no doubt, but this idea that Detroit would feel like an alien universe is silly. |
