what's your opinion?

[Surf City Baby]

Seems some regulars don't much care for Southern MD or for Southern Marylanders. What's your opinion?

I'm curious. I'm a native Californian, have lived in Charles Co. for less than three years. Other than a good case of culture shock, which I'm just about over, I find nothing wrong with the area. In general, most folks' politics are more conservative than mine; there are more churchgoers, more smokers, more gun owners, than I ever knew or saw back home. But those differences are neither good nor bad. I find customer service in some areas back home to be better than service here, and in some areas it's worse. When I've had reason to call the sheriffs, I've found the officers far less condescending than were the police officers I had to call once back home. Road rage and disregard for the environment are worse here; the air is far, far better, as are most folks' dispositions, generally. I can't find decent Mexican food. But there are so many trees, flowers, birds and critters on my own acre here. I'll take the trade-offs.

What do you think of Southern MD?

[vraiblonde]

I said I loved it there. The past tense is because I live in Frederick now. But the best friends I ever had in my life are in St. Mary's. I was a single come-here Mom and I never lacked a place to do Christmas, Thanksgiving and other "family" holidays. And I NEVER felt that standoffish good ol' boy network that everyone talks about.

[vraiblonde]

Oh yeah - we have a TON of restaurants (good ones, too) up here but I was just as happy in St. Mary's having dinner at the Willows every time I went out. There's no John Nucci in Frederick.

That is good that you have adjusted to the change Surf City. I answered with “I love it here.” I have only heard 2 people complain about this area, ST and Olive Oyl, which leads me to believe that they are miserable people who hate everything including their own birthdays. Happiness is what you make it and if you’re an azzclown with no friends, it can be a miserable place to live, just ask Olive Oyl and ST. Of course a nice sunny and close beach would make me very happy, but for the time being, I am fairly settled.

[vraiblonde]

Originally posted by cariblue
I found John to be terribly invasive and rude.

Rude is John's middle name. When I was dating, I used to make my dates pass the "Nucci Factor". We'd go to dinner, John would start...what? Flirting probably isn't the right word because sucking on someone's neck goes past that. If the date lost it, bye bye to him. Larry offered to rent me out, which told me he was a keeper.

[JabbaJawz]

I like it here just fine!

[SmallTown]

Originally posted by IM4Change
I have only heard 2 people complain about this area, ST and Olive Oyl, which leads me to believe that they are miserable people who hate everything including their own birthdays.

Gee, and everyone says that stereotyping is bad.

Only 2 people say they hate it here? I dunno, I see a lot of posts about people complaining like crazy. Be it builders, drivers, sheetz, bottle rockets in the yard, ATVs, water management, quality of housing construction, road work that never seems to end, the list goes on.
I was always a very happy person until coming to somd. Somd didn't offer what I liked, and it tooks its toll on me, so I left. If you like it, fine. Enjoy it. I love where I'm at now because it offers everything *I* need. Is it perfect? Of course not. Will I live here forever? Who knows.
But people shouldn't hate because people have different tastes than them. I was able to learn this (thus my lack of bashing somd), I would hope others could do the same.

But considering the somdsucks site, I don't think i'm only 1 of 2 people who didn't like it there.

As far as IM4Change's comments about lack of friends? All the friends in the world wouldn't change the fact I had to drive an hour to shop, received constantly bad customer service, had idiot left lane drivers, etc. People always tried to find other excuses of why I didn't like it there, which I just don't understand. And then there is the "those things happen everywhere you go!" but it was at a much higher rate in somd than what I was used to.

[Kain99]

I'm hoping and praying that we don't have this same tired old fight again today.

[SmallTown]

Originally posted by Kain99
I'm hoping and praying that we don't have this same tired old fight again today.

Yes. It is amazing how people will ask a question about somd, or even post a poll about it, then get upset when someone offers an opinion other than theres. People love to talk about how great diversity is, as long as they agree with the people in question.

"those things happen everywhere you go!"

That is exactly what I was thinking here, and most of the complaints here about

builders, drivers, sheetz, bottle rockets in the yard, ATVs, water management, quality of housing construction, road work that never seems to end

are just part of life no matter where you live.

I notice that whenever you live in a largely populated area, you will run across rude customer service. Right now, I think customer service has improved. There isn't a sign up in every window looking for help since the economy has gotten so strained. The area is growing and I know the road construction gets to be a pain. I once heard somebody refer to Maryland as the road cone capital of the United States, but that is the price you pay for progress.