Why do people HATE New Jersey?

Question

I personally think it is a gorgeous, diverse state. Yeah we have our slummy parts, but who doesnt? People fail to see the miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, farmlads, acres of pine trees, and the Appalachin Mountains. Plus, your never, ever, more then an hours drive away from anything you want. It has 4 of the richest counties in the country, and the shopping capitol of the world!

Yet there is never any shortage of people ready to say they hate New Jersey, that it smells, it's dirty, and it's dangerous, all simply not true! I hate when people from PA try to say "we should blow up NJ and give PA a beach, it smells when ever we cross the border." (to them I like to say, because you don't know anything better then cow sh*t)

My question is, why do people hate NJ? and for those of you who talk trash about it, have you ever actually been here? or past the the highways you have travelled on?

Answer 1

I moved to New Jersey from Virginia about ten years ago. I was surprised at all of the beautiful countryside, the mountains, the forests, and all of the beautiful places. But in general, my experience in NJ was generally negative compared to other places.

For example, In Virginia I lived at the beach. I used to spend a lot of time at the ocean. In New Jersey, I had to pay every time I wanted to go to the beach. I was shocked when I first heard that and I'm still shocked ten years later. It's a huge turn-off when you're used to going to any beach you want on either coast without even considering a fee.

Also, the cost of living is a total shock unless you're coming from DC, Boston, or parts of California. You can easily pay $350K for a two bedroom cape cod if you don't want to commute for an hour. I had 4 kids so two bedrooms didn't cut it. And my wife raises our kids, so we had only one income, meaning $350K was out of the question, yet we needed at least 4 bedrooms, not two.

And finally, I had a hell of a time whenever I wanted pizza after midnight, people in stores and in traffic were generally unfriendly to strangers in comparison to most of the country, prices on dining, furniture, and clothing was much higher, there was no local broadcast news - only NYC, or Philly in the south, I could go for miles and never find a convenience store if I didn't know where to look, NJ vehicle inspections suck, the major highways had tolls, and for all the talk about being close to NYC culture, most people in NJ rarely ever went to a show in the city or any of the other cultural events.

I recently moved to what most NJ residents would consider a nightmare. It's a large midwestern city. I have beautiful manicured boulevards, I'm in a beautiful new house that would cost over $1 million dollars in NJ, I have more restaurants than NJ ever offered, at a much lower price, my property taxes are 1/3, I can take my kids to NFL, NBA, etc. without traffic and without hurting my pocketbook, I get almost as many national performance acts at half the cost, food is cheaper, clothes are cheaper, the school system is the best in the state, and people are FRIENDLY. Kids ride their bikes in the streets and neighbors sit out front in the evenings and share their lives. People are walking their dogs and stopping to meet or catch up with others.

For me, NJ was a stepping stone. I'll miss friends, I'll miss some beautiful countryside, but otherwise, compared to many other places I didn't find it a good place to live.

Answer 2

I am originally from Jersey. Specifically Montclair. Even graduated Montclair State College. My understanding is it's now Montclair State University. I tell people all the time about Jersey. Especially South Jersey. Then up in North Jersey you've got the city within minutes. There's culture, sports, excellent food, good education, the change of seasons, beaches, close to the mountains etc... We moved from NJ to FLA and now to TN. I think when we retire in a few years, hopefully, we will return to NJ. Don't forget to mention that NJ is the home of the diner.

Answer 3

Let's see, I have spent time in NJ. Someone decided that left turns a dangerous, want to go to a restaurant that is about a mile to the left of your hotel. It turns into a major trip, because you have to make a right turn, then find somewhere it is safe to make a u-turn.

Then they have things on the road called jug handles. ANd they love having you stop every 5 miles or so on I think the Garden State for tolls. This was years ago, my son went to hockey camp in Ocean, my arm ached the next day from rolling the window up and down to toss a quarter.

The drivers are worse then New Yory City, but better then Chicago.

But I do like Ikea and shopping in Paramus.

I wouldn't say I hate NJ, but I don't love it either.

One time we did see a body of water ithere, the color of it was glowing, like the tidy bowl man had drowned in it.

Of course there is the NJ-NY joke. How can NJ got toxic waste dumps and NY got lawyers ---NJ had first choice.

Answer 4

I don't hate New Jersey... my best Friend is from NJ and when i visit the USA its going to be my first stop there

Answer 5

Because everyone knows about the slummy smelly trafficy parts.

Answer 6

I hate it because you live there. And yes, I've been there. I was born there.

Answer 7

I DONT hate New Jersey...

Answer 8

Can't say I hate it. I can say I hate your accent. When a word is spelled Jersey, how the hell do you come up with Joyzee, or beer= bea,or car= ca. jeez are you just lazy or what?