Whenever I see complaints of “I live in X, X is a mess”, I’m much more likely to listen than when I hear “I live in X, Y is a mess” — the former implies someone

Whenever I see complaints of “I live in X, X is a mess”, I’m much more likely to listen than when I hear “I live in X, Y is a mess” — the former implies someone has valid critiques that come from their lived experiences, and yet they still choose to live there, for whatever reason. The latter more often than not just speaks to ignorance — it’s easy to dismiss something on hearsay. This goes both ways. I’m from Dallas and live in Los Angeles. Both cities have their own share of problems (and their own great qualities) — and yet both are much more likely to quickly dismiss the other as lost causes than take a deep look at their own issues. It’s fine to have a preference, obviously, but don’t let your preference cloud your judgement: many would say the exact same thing about rural Arkansas — and for many, it probably wouldn’t be a paradise, based on any number of politics, orientations, race, socioeconomic status, or even just where your friends and family are! — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t for you.