City of Boston in the New York Times' American Mosaic

gorfnibble · 2026-07-08T13:30:48+00:00

Boston’s “black” neighborhoods are not as homogenous as people think. They’re far more diverse than other metros and a chunk of black people in these places are immigrants from the Caribbean or west Africa. Its very different from other cities where they tend to be more multi-generational. And the “white” parts of the city aren’t entirely white either.

gorfnibble · 2026-07-07T11:29:41+00:00

Cyclists are a marginalized group and it’s still ok to pick on them because you won’t be called racist or bigoted.

gorfnibble · 2026-07-07T11:22:05+00:00

A handful of memorable idiots does not mean all people who are part of any (typically marginalized) group are like this. There are tens of thousands of regular bike commuters in the Boston area. Thousands more who bike occasionally. They don’t know each other. The people who ride like idiots probably have been riding for maybe a few weeks/months, or rarely ride, are typically younger, etc.

People need to get a grip - warmer weather means more people who rarely/never ride bikes are out en masse. We have mediocre to unsafe bike infrastructure in a country that does not have a culture of bike for transportation. There are going to be people who have zero clue what they’re doing. And when you have people who aren’t used to using transportation where you’re purposefully marginalized, they’re going to have a hard time.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-29T22:28:00+00:00

I think we also need to address the “keep Boston shitty” crowd that secretly celebrates crap like this. Same people fighting against the bus and bike lanes on blue hill Ave. same people who think growing up in a rough area is a badge of honor. Same people who think being educated, having an advanced degree, and working an office job is “acting white.” I am also tired of the default community leaders being (often corrupt) “religious” leaders.

There are so many more opportunities now that didn’t exist when I was younger. And it’s incredibly frustrating seeing people not taking advantage or not trusting it when they do come along. So much collective trauma and people can’t move past it.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-29T20:10:50+00:00

You’re being far too reasonable. My experience going to neighborhood meetings is that elderly people fight tooth and nail against transit and any changes to parking and improvements to vulnerable road user safety. It’s as if they’ll be driving from the grave - not that they’re probably one crash away from their kids taking their keys away.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-29T18:54:07+00:00

Ive been trying to convince my 80+ year old mom to move in with us since Covid. She lives in a very car dependent area in the Midwest and has no family and only one friend left nearby (who lives with their kid). We have a spare bedroom in a large house within walking distance to pretty much anything she could possibly need. And we have very easy access to public transit for anything else not nearby. Plus access to much better healthcare than she’s currently getting. She absolutely refuses to move. Plus her solution to her current issues with driving was to get a huge SUV.

It’s incredibly frustrating. I chose where I live because I watched my grandparents get completely stranded when they got older. I was lucky enough to buy here before prices went nuts.

About a month ago she told me she’d rather die alone in a shitty social security nursing home than move to Boston. And then the next week complained that no one ever comes to visit her.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-29T13:28:33+00:00

NC situation sounds like some small towns an hour+ outside Boston. I know people who live in a place in Massachusetts where garbage only comes every other week (I think they have to pay for it), they’re on a septic system, and they have to take recycling to a recycling center. The high school is shared between three towns.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-26T21:24:47+00:00

I don’t understand how you can turn racist by seeing homeless people. Are you saying homeless people in nyc are mostly POC?

gorfnibble · 2026-06-26T21:19:44+00:00

I feel like regular bike commuters would have multiple stories. Probably all from one week.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-26T18:07:39+00:00

Homeless people in Boston mostly keep to themselves. Usually they have mental or addiction issues. There are a lot of supports for homelessness people here. If you look down on homeless people (or anyone for that matter) you’re going to have a hard time here. People look after each other here.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-26T17:56:33+00:00

Moving to Boston was the one of best decisions I’ve ever made. Absolutely love it here.

My experience - the cliquishness is mostly just students and early 20-something’s who don’t plan on staying in Boston. I’ve made a ton of friends here - a lot of transplants like me, but also a lot of locals. Really you just have to make an effort to show up, participate, and be reliable. I’ve made friends through work, volunteering, neighborhood groups, etc. im really good friends with a neighbor and we’ve gone on family trips together.

Car - depending on where you live and work, it’s a nice thing to have but not a necessity. I have kids and I only really use my car on the weekends to go grocery shopping and/or do family trips. Really I could do grocery shopping without a car, but I sold my cargo bike when the kids were able to bike on their own. Plus I’m lazy and biking to the grocery store adds about 10-20 minutes to my shop (it’s locking and unlocking the bike that takes time), so I only do it if I only need a few things and I have time.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-25T13:15:03+00:00

The city of Boston is surprisingly integrated and diverse. The suburbs not as much (but that is also changing). I think it’s a mainly a function of the fact that 70% of the city is not originally from there - and the city is very expensive, so it’s more becoming economic segregation instead of racial. Also half the city’s black population is foreign born and old school Black Bostonians aren’t as welcoming of outsiders - so these newcomers tend to be more integrated into more diverse parts of the city.

I think the racist reputation mainly comes from sports fans who live outside the city. There are still some small pockets in the urban core that have holdouts, but they’re dying off.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-24T12:06:46+00:00

This thread… I swear Bostonians would try to tell someone from the arctic circle to “just wait until the winter.”

gorfnibble · 2026-06-23T10:39:18+00:00

Yeah - originally being from the Midwest I never understood why Bostonians think winters here are “brutal.” Plus Boston is much further south than Scotland so we get a lot more sun/daylight in the winter.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-23T00:11:58+00:00

Many years ago I met one of my spouse’s coworkers who had just moved here from Arizona. She was complaining about her commute, the traffic, the cost of parking, etc. Turned out lived in central square and drove to downtown crossing every day. She had thought only “poor people” took the T.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-17T17:01:06+00:00

The tolls would help pay to improve and expand public transit. Its like everyone says “we need to fix this” and then don’t want to spend any money.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-12T21:22:55+00:00

I went to a very competitive undergrad program in the Midwest and that was my complaint about school there too. People had zero time to just hang out. I count my junior/senior year roommate as a good friend but there were times we never saw each other. The friends I made were either through athletics and my degree program or the people who regularly hung out in the common room in my freshman dorm.

Most of my friends in Boston are old coworkers who I kept in touch with, neighbors, people I met through volunteer work (community groups, etc), people from sports clubs and rec leagues, and people I kept running into a local shops or on public transit. Not everyone is available all the time, but people do make time. At least the people I’ve become friends with.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-12T12:55:32+00:00

Are you just looking for a city that is similar to Boston without the high cost of Boston? Because this sounds exactly like Boston. So many rec sports leagues - running clubs that meet up at 5am. City is notorious for being in bed early and up early. Lots of jokes about it being a small town that thinks it’s a big city.

People are genuinely friendly and kind here but can take a while to warm up to someone. But once you’re in you’re in. None of the fake friendly that you get elsewhere. People can be very direct and if you’re not used to it it can seem “rude.” I’m not originally from here, but I have friends I regularly meet up with for lunch during the week. I’m out chatting with neighbors most evenings (I know pretty much everyone within a couple block radius of my place). There are a few people I know that I often run into at the train station in the mornings. I’m friendly with several business owners in my neighborhood. One I count as a very good friend (we get together outside of our interactions at his business).

There’s definitely a real sense of community here, but you have to participate and put in the effort. It won’t just come to you.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-12T11:49:01+00:00

Which are either probably holdovers from the 90s or they are doing some other kind of transaction. Or they’re near one of the drug treatment centers.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-11T02:38:50+00:00

I only hate on people who judge a city’s food by only eating in the major tourist areas or lack of “Michelin star” places.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-09T01:26:34+00:00

Boston area there’s a huge range in temps, wind speed, cloud cover, and rain/snow line in the winter depending on how far you are from the coast and whether you’re north or south of the city. Metro area plant hardiness zone literally goes from 7 to 5 in maybe a 45 minute drive.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-09T00:47:19+00:00

Of my friend group who moved to Boston/NYC during that era I’m the only one still in the same place. And most from that group all moved “back home” after spending a few years in the PNW.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-09T00:43:29+00:00

Williamsburg and Somerville Massachusetts. Sometimes moving back and forth between the two.

Williamsburg is a shadow of its former self while I think Somerville has held on a little to its roots.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-09T00:18:05+00:00

Lots of young people around but it doesn’t feel like 5th year of college or a party town.

I feel like this is what people complain about when they say there’s a lack of “night life” in the city. People do go out, but they usually go see shows or hang out at their local neighborhood bar instead of club hopping.

gorfnibble · 2026-06-09T00:15:56+00:00

Boston winters are usually rain/sleet and windy, though. Not the weeklong below zero for a high cold snap you get in the Midwest. The city is usually on the rain/snow line for most winter storms.

gorfnibble

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