POLL: Does Jacksonville still have an inferiority complex?

[KenFSU]

Once known as the "armpit of Florida," Jacksonville's long-held inferiority complex is extremely well documented. Past mayors have studied it. Major national newspapers have reported on it. Sportswriters have exploited it. And, at times over the last decade, you could literally feel it on the streets.

In the last couple of years, and particularly in the last 18 months or so, it genuinely feels (to me) like there's been a pretty significant shift in the way that we view our city.

Am I alone in feeling like Jacksonville has shaken off much of the inferiority complex and that people have begun to take genuine pride in the city?

Despite our problems, there seems to be a ton of confidence and optimism on the streets about the city and its future.

[BossmanOdum10]

Jacksonville has sooooo much potential and yet nothing ever comes of it. As a Jacksonville Native, I've seen a lot of improvements in the city but there is so much more to do. There's no reason why Jacksonville isn't a TOP tourist/ banking/ FUN city. We have a river, beaches, and a lot of OPEN space! COME ON JACKSONVILLE!!! Jacksonville has to do BETTER!

[I-10east]

Despite our problems, there seems to be a ton of confidence and optimism on the streets about the city and its future.

I totally agree, but I think that the inferiority complex is very prevalent. Exhibit A, the recent thread announcing the restaurants; Jax supposedly 'screwed up' an opportunity to get better restaurants, and blah blah blah...Nevermind that chain restaurants like that are added in SJTC-like malls all over the country in other metros. I wouldn't expect a five star Gordon Ramsay restaurant, or a Jewish steakhouse within a mall setting.

IMO what started the inferiority complex in Jax was internal; Then that spreaded around the country. Just like the movie Deadpool taking a crack on us (spoiler alert). Saying (paraphrase) that we 'have a great TGIFridays', very funny....Then proceeding to say "What is a military unit doing in Jax?" Clearly dont know anything about Jacksonville...

Here's my inferiority thread a lil bit back. http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,25262.0.html

[I-10east]

^^^Do you ever have an opinion for yourself, or are you just going to respond negatively (with no substance) to mine all of the time? Always offering ZERO to the conversation, stay consistent...

[vicupstate]

In the last couple of years, and particularly in the last 18 months or so, it genuinely feels (to me) like there's been a pretty significant shift in the way that we view our city.

Can you provide some examples? 

[KenFSU]

In the last couple of years, and particularly in the last 18 months or so, it genuinely feels (to me) like there's been a pretty significant shift in the way that we view our city.

Can you provide some examples? 

First off, really interesting post Stephen^

Vic, sure I can think of a lot of examples, though obviously anecdotal.

I'm in digital marketing, which tends to attract a pretty young workforce, and I've seen a strong change in the last few years in how young professionals in particular talk about the city. Seven or eight years ago, they couldn't wait to get out. Now, I hear nearly everyone speak about Jacksonville as a cool city that they're happy to live in and they show off to their friends.

They love the night life, between the beaches, and Riverside, and the Elbow, and the Town Center. They love the breweries and passionately argue about which is the best in the city. They brag on the local restaurants - Taco Lu, M Shack, Burrito Gallery, Flying Iguana, Blacksheep, Moxie, etc. They love the Armada. Everyone is on hype level 11 for the Jags. They love their neighborhoods, particularly Brooklyn, the Beach, and Town Center.

Also, a lot of announcements - IKEA, Top Golf, Cowford Chophouse, Amazon, even Red Robin - that would have felt like impossible megaton acquisitions a few years back seem to be happening every couple of months, and people genuinely don't seem that shocked. Hell, even the amphitheater, which the city bungled for decades, seemed inevitable when the Jags floated the idea.

Just feels like, despite total ineptitude, Jacksonville has built some pretty incredible momentum that people are starting to feel more and more.

To me, it all seems like such a far cry from Mayor Peyton dancing at Club Paris and Wayne Weaver running the Jags into the ground.

[Tacachale]

I think the inferiority complex, in the sense of the attitude that we can't/don't/won't ever have nice things, is alive and well. I rate the inferiority complex and attendant fatalistic negativity as the worst thing about living here.

And yeah, a big part of it is the result of not valuing what we have, but it's also a cause of not valuing what we have. We don't value our cultural scene, so we say we don't have one and don't support what's there. We don't value our own history, so we believe it doesn't matter and bulldoze what's there. We don't value our environment (natural or urban), so we incentivize wrecking it.

I'd agree that there's been an attitude shift over the last several years; people are a lot more excited and invested in the city and the direction it's taking. To me, the greatest example has been the success of the "go local" movement here. People get genuinely excited about local things - restaurants, culture, events, teams, etc. - and more importantly, are willing to support them. It's a sea change from how things were when I was growing up.

[mtraininjax]

it genuinely feels (to me) like there's been a pretty significant shift in the way that we view our city.

An inferiority complex comes from reports of how OTHERS see the city. Everyone I know who lives and plays and works in Jacksonville is happy to be here and thinks this place is a slice of heaven.....if they did not, they would have moved elsewhere to the true armpits of the world.

Jacksonville is not inferior to any city in all my travels. The River, the beaches, the restaurants, the neighborhoods, we have some of the best in the world. Do we have the #1 transit system in the world, nope, not by a long shot, but for MY NEEDS, it is fine. Good roads, good entertainment and a sports team I can be proud of, I don't need to root for the Dolphins or Falcons, I have my team, so if people are concerned about inferiority, hey, they can leave anytime they choose.

Wayne Weaver did not run the Jaguars into the ground. When Weaver owned the team, he built teams that went to the playoffs. So far, Shad Khan has built the world's largest scoreboards and turned the Stadium into a circus, so if you want to slam on Weaver for anything, make sure its all about bringing Football to Jacksonville and building teams that actually accomplished playoffs and playoff wins. The last winning Jaguar coach was Jack Del Rio, under Weaver. Money can't buy you success in football.

[vicupstate]

The inferiority complex came from the locals living here during the last half of the 1900's.  It had basis in fact too. The tolls, the pollution, the corruption, the dis-accredited schools.  The problem is as those problems were addressed and largely solved, the mindset of the locals, particularly the natives didn't.   

From my experience the NATIVES have the highest level of inferiority, not the people who moved in from other places. The natives don't appreciate the positives that are present, and still hold on to the past mindset. The fact that the city has been essentially leaderless since 2005 or so, doesn't help either.

For the life of me I don't understand why the area has not recovered from the recession better than it has.  In most major metros, it is a bad memory from the past, but most of JAX has yet to experience a recovery. 

[Adam White]

it genuinely feels (to me) like there's been a pretty significant shift in the way that we view our city.

Jacksonville is not inferior to any city in all my travels. The River, the beaches, the restaurants, the neighborhoods, we have some of the best in the world.

This is not meant as an insult to the restaurants and restaurateurs of Jacksonville - but if you think Jax has some of the best restaurants in the world, you might need to travel more (or further afield).

[mtraininjax]

This is not meant as an insult to the restaurants and restaurateurs of Jacksonville - but if you think Jax has some of the best restaurants in the world, you might need to travel more (or further afield).

You must live under a rock.

[Adam White]

This is not meant as an insult to the restaurants and restaurateurs of Jacksonville - but if you think Jax has some of the best restaurants in the world, you might need to travel more (or further afield).

You must live under a rock.

The world is a really big place.

[Rob68]

We deserve to have a complex..led by good ole boys since forever..biggots galore..low wages..racism rampant. .even our so called progressives lay down like a dog for conservatives that drag us down year by year ..handing out cash for football time after time even if we dont have it....better restaurants but we are still 40 years behind any other larger city in the south.

[I-10east]

Wayne Weaver did not run the Jaguars into the ground. When Weaver owned the team, he built teams that went to the playoffs. So far, Shad Khan has built the world's largest scoreboards and turned the Stadium into a circus, so if you want to slam on Weaver for anything, make sure its all about bringing Football to Jacksonville and building teams that actually accomplished playoffs and playoff wins. The last winning Jaguar coach was Jack Del Rio, under Weaver. Money can't buy you success in football.

I agree, particularly that Weaver didn't drive the Jags in the ground. Weaver was instrumental in keeping the team here. Did Weaver made any mistakes within his tenure as owner? Of course, it's a business and mistakes are bound to happen.

People love to talk about free Winn Dixie tickets, and play psychic Monday morning QB with the Coughlin firing; IMO Weaver's biggest flaw was not backing the city within that 2008 financial crisis (which later hit other larger cities in NFL attendance) I understood that he needed to stay viable, but putting Jax on blast through a financial crisis wasn't the smartest thing in the world; That announcement should've stayed in house within the top brass IMO.

I never understood the whole Weaver vs Khan thing though, I love them both. IMO Khan is doing a great job here. Getting canned immediate success on the field very quickly is winning the battle; The big picture of team stability in this city, and building through draft is winning the war.

[vicupstate]

We don't value our own history, so we believe it doesn't matter and bulldoze what's there.

I agree with alot that you said, but IMO that quote is very cliche and popular to say, but in actually hasn't been a significant factor in many years. No offense, but statements like that is the exact source of the inferiority complex IMO; That we constantly bulldoze everything. We love to act like other cities (not that I'm okay with it) wasn't tearing down historic buildings (like the Heard etc) in the 70s-80s, and we were the only one.   

You are absolutely right that JAX was not alone in doing so in the '70's and '80's. On a per capita basis it actually came through those decades better than many. The issue is those other places have stopped or at least dramatically slowed down that trend. JAX seems to have not only continued it but in some areas dramatically increased it.   And in my opinion it does so because the powers that be do not believe it is important, and because there is nothing 'special' about JAX's history in their minds.