Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning January 2007 » Is Detroit geography or psychology? « Previous Next »
Top of pageBottom of page

Irvine_laird
Member
Username: Irvine_laird

Post Number: 18
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 1:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What are Detroit's true boundaries? Who is "in" and who is "out"?

Recently, a friend of mine asked if we should think of Detroit as geography or psychology. Our conversation produced three points of view:

1) Detroit is GEOGRAPHY, that is, all that falls within the city limits.

2) Detroit is GEOGRAPHY, that is, all that falls within the loose bounds of the metro Detroit region.

3) Detroit is PSYCHOLOGY, that is, an idea that exists in people's hearts and minds. This encompasses all of Detroit's communities, cultures, histories, places, etc.

All three are obviously true. But which one should most influence the way we perceive ourselves as we try to build a healthy society here in the next 100 years?
Top of pageBottom of page

Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936

Post Number: 1274
Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 2:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Eight Mile Road is the damndest geo/psych border ever to exist in the United States. Period.
Top of pageBottom of page

Jt1
Member
Username: Jt1

Post Number: 8727
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 2:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Both. Many people consider themselves Detroiters due to history but the reality is that the Detroit defined by geographic lines is facing the issues facing Detroit.

I think the idea of metro region or phsychology is fine for most core cities but the fact is that Detroit has dealt and continues to deal with population flight, economic flight, racial division with the suburbs, infighting with the suburbs, legacy costs, insurance costs etc. that are defined by geography.

Sadly the only way to build a healthy Detroit is by defining it as your #1 because how our metro region and state work. If every regional bill gets killed at the polls then we as a eographic region certainly aren't embracing the region as Detroit with the exception of sports or convenience.
Top of pageBottom of page

Detourdetroit
Member
Username: Detourdetroit

Post Number: 281
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 2:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

amen ray1936. damn those surveyors!!!
Top of pageBottom of page

Transitrider
Member
Username: Transitrider

Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2007
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 2:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Agreed, Detour. Damn Thomas Jefferson! ;)
Top of pageBottom of page

Jjw
Member
Username: Jjw

Post Number: 279
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 3:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There are ex-Detroiters and suburban Detroiters and there is a metro Detroit. But, Detroit should be defined by its geographical borders, just like any other nation, state, or city. The psychology or sociology aspect of Detroit is to evasive to consider.
Top of pageBottom of page

Yelloweyes
Member
Username: Yelloweyes

Post Number: 110
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 4:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Small talk conversations I have had related to this topic.

Where do you live?

Detroit?

What part?

The far east side?

Oh...Detroit, Detroit.

Yeah, Detroit, Detroit.

Isn't that (place favorite Detroit stereotype here)
Top of pageBottom of page

Jimaz
Member
Username: Jimaz

Post Number: 1777
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 5:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

quote:

What are Detroit's true boundaries?

It seems that, psychologically, the perceived size of Detroit grows in direct proportion to the observer's distance from Detroit. Curious phenomenon, that.
Top of pageBottom of page

Lilpup
Member
Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 1955
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 7:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

probably true of any large city
Top of pageBottom of page

Esp
Member
Username: Esp

Post Number: 47
Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 7:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I would say 3) Psychology, but, the question is unanswerable because you haven't defined where HERE is.
Top of pageBottom of page

Craig
Member
Username: Craig

Post Number: 119
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 9:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I believe that your friend overlooked at least one other option: political

Detroit in/out, yes/no speaks to political power, e.g. Detroit is a defacto one-party town, and many suburbs constitute strongholds of the alternative party; Detroit is a bastion of black political power; municipalities outside of Detroit thrive on their independence/home-rule; etc.

I expect that if one is black and Democrat then one is happy to claim "Detroit" because to do so is to identify with tangible political power. If one is white and Republican than I imagine that the pull of identifying with Bloomfield or Birmingham or Rochester is stronger.

Further, I don't believe that political orientation necessarily trumps or is incapable of co-existing with the psychological dimension. For example, I claim Detroit as home (it was) for purposes of tribal identity, but I simultaneously thank God that I am a part of different governmental unit, a unit small enough that I feel that I can exert some influence (via the ballot and persuasion) over my elected officials.

Guess who here has a little poli sci under the belt...
Top of pageBottom of page

Kronprinz
Member
Username: Kronprinz

Post Number: 212
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 9:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

who here DOESN'T have a little poli sci under his belt? or urban studies for that matter ?
Top of pageBottom of page

Craig
Member
Username: Craig

Post Number: 121
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 10:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

^good point, KP. Did anyone enjoy it?
Top of pageBottom of page

Quozl
Member
Username: Quozl

Post Number: 373
Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 11:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Agrees with Ray1936.
Top of pageBottom of page

Eastsidedame
Member
Username: Eastsidedame

Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 2:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oh, absolutely psychology. Ask anyone who's ever moved out of town:

"Where you from?", you're asked.

Be you from Walled Lake or Warren, Redford or Romeo, the answer is always:

"Detroit."
Top of pageBottom of page

Gibran
Member
Username: Gibran

Post Number: 164
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 3:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I always claim to be from Detroit and then I pause and say Detroit proper....Like public schools...But I am sure that when you said I pull for the Pistons it was always not the Auburn Hills Pistons but the Detroit...It is the same in Dallas or other regions where there is a strong suburban base. In San Antonio where the city over took the burbs it maybe different.

Add Your Message Here
Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.