Does Jacksonville have an Inferiority Complex?

[john stark]

Before you vote, let me explain my thought process...  Here in Jacksonville we get excited about: new signs going up on bay street for bars, the renovation of our only downtown grocery store, or the smallest possibility of a new restaurant at Town Center.  I think that outsiders have the wrong idea about our city, and because of that we try to portray Jacksonville in a skewed light.  We don't have a bustling downtown filled with pedestrians or a great downtown night life.  I just feel that were the new kid on the block looking for something to prove.  Whether that is an inferiority complex or not, I don't know.  I'm having trouble explaining what I'm trying to say.  Maybe some of you could help me out?

[Driven1]

i don't think we try to portray Jax in a skewed light.  i think the reality is that Jax sits under a dimly lit light down a fairly dark alley that is at least a couple of blocks from "the strip" - where bright lights hover over the other cities that are moving forward and are already leap years ahead of us. 

i think most of us see the city for what it is. 

[thelakelander]

i think most of us see the city for what it is. 

We have all the tools, but no tool box.

[JeffreyS]

I love Jacksonville but we can't seem accept the potential we have here.

[brainstormer]

We cling to every little piece of new development, hoping it will spawn more.  Especially now as there isn't really anything "big" happening.  Not that we shouldn't applaud and support the small projects.

[RiversideGator]

Nothing big?  What about the Deutsche Bank deal which will bring 1000 jobs paying $40,000+ per year on average?  And what about the Mitsui and Hanjin deals for the port?  Those will also bring in thousands of high paying jobs.

[David]

I've had a rollercoaster of emotions with my home city. In my early 20's, leading up to the 2005 superbowl I had all this hope of downtown getting transformed in a matter of years, much in the way downtown West Palm Beach did in just ten years. After the superbowl proved not to an overnight transformation of the city, I fell into a funk about the city's future. Now, with a little more age and a forum with like-minded people, I do finally see the city for what it is.

To the outsiders it can seem a bit small-town minded that we do get excited over a new club, a rennovated grocery store downtown, but it is progress. Slow, but steady...jacksonville-like progress.

Basically you have three options with Jax,

Accept it for what it is.

Initiate change yourself, by whatever means you have.

Move.

[RiversideGator]

Jacksonville has never been a boom and bust city like those in South Florida.  We are less reliant on tourism (obviously) but have more solid industries, some of which pay more, like the railroads, shipping, finance, insurance and the Navy.  This means slower but steady growth.  As you see from the new Census estimates, we are growing while the Miami MSA appears stagnant.  So, we are getting there and are adding new amenities every day.  IMO, it is just a matter of time before Jacksonville becomes at least a 2d tier city in the 2 million population range.  World city status may be a long way off but so are world city problems.

[Jason]

A small part of me believes that the general population has an inferiority complex but the larger part of me sees it more as a strong passion for this city.  I have noticed that those that love Jacksonville for all she is REALLY and ZEALOUSLY love this city and will do anything to defend her.  I've spent the last few years talking and meeting with others through UrbanPlant, MetJax, and MetroJacksonville and have found that there are a LOT more people that truely love this place than I originally thought.  When people feel strongly about something they tend to get a little offended when someone else badmouths it.  Some of those badmouths are local transplants and others are outsiders.

I think the average Jaxson loves this city/metro despite her flaws and do not feel inferior when compared to other cities, they actually feel superior.

[Charleston native]

^ I think Jason summed up my thoughts on this question quite well. I voted no, as for the majority of people who live in Jax. There might be a few of those who do have a complex on this site, though. 

[Captain Zissou]

I haven't read the other posts, but the fact that this thread exists means that we still do have an inferiority complex.

[Steve]

Totally think we do - look at us during the super bowl.  Frankly, our big thing was to try to convince people that we were a good city.  I remember first coast news going to Houston the year before our super bowl, and the local media asking sportswriters from out of town if they should give us a break because were small and it was our first time.  Most of them responded correctly - hell no!

It reminds me of the dumb blond saying "I'm Smart - why don't people realize it?"

[copperfiend]

Look how many people in Jacksonville get excited about a new Wal Mart.

[downtownparks]

...the fact that this thread exists means that we still do have an inferiority complex.

I was going to say this exact thing.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I dont know anyone who gets excited about a new walmart. I've seen more protest than excitement. I am a native that moved away in 95 to Atl, then moved back,(03) I still ask myself WHY,anyway since this is my home I do stand up for Jax since it is my place of birth. This inferiority thing was really an issue before the Super Bowl, but we made it through that. I thought that the SB would wake up this city,but we've gone right back to our boring conservative ways. I dont think Jax will ever become a first tier city. The leadership and way of thinking is just not there, what a shame because the potenial is certainly there.