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I’m trying to wrap my head around what it is in Halifax’s culture, and Nova Scotia in general, that is so negative and pronounced… I mean, the proof’s in the pudding and I’ve never seen so many downtrodden, moody and just plain miserable fuckers in all my life. I often wonder if there’s some Be-An-Asshole-Chemical in the air being steadily pumped into the unsuspecting sleepwalking culture OR some invisible smog of negativity and depression that constantly hangs over everything and slowly drains peoples life-force AFTER making them slowly lose their minds…
Well, I’ve observed that generations of men were basically unemployed deadbeats, prompting resentment from women, who, in turn, eventually snowballed an immense FemiNazi culture of staggering and horrifying proportions( I’ve never seen so many half-shaved heads eating salads behind so many pairs of Buddy Holly glasses-this is madness!). The men, excluded from the Lesbianic activities, eventually also turned to their fellows, wore tight jeans, grew monstrous beards and, like the ladies, decided ‘Well, since I have no ‘real’ work ethic in me, I’ll just opt for artsy pop-culture and pretend I’m somehow useful to the world: “Yeah, that’s it! We’ll hide in shabby drug-inspired pop-art and even worse music! Hotdiggity! Great Scott, I’ve done it!”
And the poor? I mean, the shelter-doomed, smoke-grubbing hopeless poor? Don’t even get me started. Since moving here, I’ve lost all feeling for the poor and regard them with utter contempt( What’s all the more fucked up? IM POOR TOO!). The rich here are just plain lucky and are limited to rare sightings like UFO’s…
So * sighs* Yeah, this place is fucked in more ways than one… I can see why people just up and leave. I’m presently trapped here but am planning my escape. I’ll be the proverbial bearer of grim tidings like in every adventure story: the decrepit lonely soul who says “Don’t go back that way Mister! That place is doomed! Many go that way and some…*points a trembling finger*…never return..”
Someone get me the fuck out of here! —Hiding my smokes and beating these bastards off with a stick!
This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2015.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA – BEST WRITTEN BITCH OF 2015.
That’s a little slice of Nova Scotia history you won’t see in the tourist brochures.
On the plus side, we do have a new stat holiday coming up.
Happy Shawn Desman Day, partner.
I don’t understand why people find it so hard to get a job around here. Regrettably, there were circumstances in my life that have prevented me from getting a post-secondary education. I have tried many times to go back to school but it his hard to do (not impossible) when you live alone. Still, I have never been unemployed longer than a month or made less than 13.00/hr in the past several years. I know that’s not a great wage but it’s enough for me to live easily with some money left over for trips or gadgets or to save up for school. My friends who have done college and decided to stay in this province have all found work making 20 something an hour. Again, maybe not as great as some other area’s – but still a very livable wage.
I also don’t understand why simply having a beard allegedly makes someone a dreaded ‘hipster’. Beards have been around as long as men have been around. And why is somebody a “FemiNazi” because of the way they cut their hair or what food they eat? OB, you are an extremely shallow, lonely, judgemental and miserable person.
Art is subjective. There are some terrible bands around but there are also some great bands and a lot of talented people. You can piss on them all you want – what do you do besides bitch and moan about other people? At least they have friends and a pastime they enjoy.
Where do you think you’re going to go? Where is this magical place without homeless people, panhandlers, men with beards, or lesbians? And do you have to blow yourself up in a public place to get there?
Geography & Felicity
“Don’t go back that way Mister! That place is doomed.” Hiding my smokes
Is there a cause-effect relationship between geography and felicity, between the place one happens to live and one’s happiness? More broadly, are one’s mental states a product of external circumstance? Clearly the poster thinks so but, in my view, this is to forfeit control over one’s ontological destiny – who one is – to factors lying outside of and beyond one’s control. Surely one’s values are, in the final analysis, self-generated. In the same way that one creates ones meaning in the world so one must also create one’s happiness as its by-product. Indeed, one might say that to create one’s meaning in the world IS to create one’s happiness. One must cultivate a reflective posture. One must actively engage in philosophy.
“Come this way Mister This place is bathed in sunshine.”
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
I am trying to wrap my head around what barren fucking meadow you came from if thinking Nova Scotia was ”greener pasture”. One of the best things about Nova Scotia is our lack of pretense. The ”rich” are not rare sightings in these parts. They are seated next to you at the diner, driving a similar car to everyone else, and count their blessings rather than their money. This is Nova Scotia. You must have been thinking about Trawna.
Alberta. Your solution is in Alberta.
Buck up little camper!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z9MHWvJM9w
Its always been that way. The whole place is a day late and a dollar short. Its where Canada stores its gullible hillbillies.
“Where Canada stores it’s gullible hillbillies”
B.C. – Winston Blackmore takes a Trip To Bountiful
http://www.ucobserver.org/features/2012/05…
Alberta: Wiebo Ludwig gets back to the land
https://postmediaedmonton.files.wordpress.…
AND Omar Khadr becomes the Justin Bieber of the Chomsky crowd
http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.146671…
Saskatchewan: Where Academics continue to explore the boundaries of “Beneath Contempt”
http://anthrojustpeace.blogspot.ca/2010/03…
Manitoba: Nuff Said
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fhxdrVz6is0/hqdefaul…
Ontario: Too Flippin’ Easy
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1217248/thumbs/o…
Happy Remembrance Day from Afghan Girls getting an education
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/archives/sunn…
Gosh Thanks, Multiculturalism.
Quebec: Even Easier than Ontario
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bM0pCwfkXUo/UTQq…
New Brunswick: Hallelujah!
http://media.columbian.com/img/photos/2014…
Disclaimer: Possibly a slight exaggeration on my part
Prince Edward Island: Okay, at this point I’m not even trying, anymore
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/origin…
Newfoundland:
http://www.codajoy.net/wp-content/uploads/…
Not saying we don’t have our problems here, but let’s stop pretending that we are the epicenter of suck.
sure I am not a guy, but doesn’t it hurt to beat off with a stick? think of the splinters!
Tarsand Gal Here–I left Alberta 20 years ago (at the hight of the previous boom), and made a deliberate choice between West Coast and East Coast.
I’m VERY glad I picked Nova Scotia. I have no desire to live in any other Canadian city.
Of course itt’s a mixed bag (EVERY place has plusses and minuses), but you’ve got a lot of good things going on here.
With all the connection to monumental historical events, the LIVING musical culture, the incredibly rich and supportive arts scene, the universities, the new and ambitious restaurant ventures, not to mention the new Library and upcoming YMCA–as well as an incredible waterfront– Downtown Halifax is going through a real renaissance these days.
Halifax rocks, and although the place has gone through hard times (and some really silly corporate “branding” exercises), this city got a real soul and I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else.
OB, grow up and quit blaming your lack of happiness on a place. You could just move somewhere else but I suspect you will find yourself being the same person with the same complaints in a different location. So, man up! Here’s some hints to get you started:
1. Quit smoking – you’ll feel better in the long run and have more money.
2. Improve your job skills so you can get a better job. Take evening classes or go back to school. Whatever it takes. Feeling appreciated in your job for your skills or knowledge is a wonderful balm for all that ails you.
3. Get out and try some new things (language classes, music lessons, whatever). Develop some new interests. You’ll meet a lot of great interesting people with positive attitudes.
4. Lighten up and become master of your domain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi68hPMinA…
Hope this helps!
What happened, Sport? Run out of blow? Mom and dad won’t support your partying any more? Whaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I want everything that everyone else worked for without doing the work… Whaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
Agree with Harper, too whiny. Way too many generalizations to boot.
I’ve been out in Calgary for five years and it’s been long enough. I got the experience I needed and now I am heading back home to be with all of my family and friends. I have been networking and have something lined up. Yes, I’m taking a pay cut but I can’t wait till March 2 to say Sayonara Alberta, Hello Homeland! Only thing that’s gonna suck with this decision (besides the pay cut) is I’m dealing with the Halifax dating scene again *shudder*. I had a great guy I was with for the past four months, but that all ended when I told him I was going back home. He’s from Alberta and everything in his life is there, so he didn’t want to move out to NS with me and I don’t blame him. Oh well, wasn’t meant to be. Maybe I will actually meet someone who is worth it in Halifax, who knows…until then I’m enjoying the single life hanging out with everyone and ramming the vibe on my clit when I need an orgasm!
Calgary? Oh, DO say Hello to our old LTWWB pal “Kay” while you’re there!
Ha ha ha! (Sorry to be so evil, I just couldn’t resist!)
Hey here’s some free advice from a happy clean shaven employed Nova Scotian that has a solution to all of your issues… Leave Nova Scotia go back where you came from and find something to whine about there… see problem solved… my day just got better.
Have a nice day.
Nova Scotia is a beautiful place, but not the best place.
Weather is horrible. Like Mizzy mentioned, low paying jobs.
Very high taxes and cost of living. One of the highest tuitions in Canada. You can’t argue with those facts. The people aren’t as friendly as proclaimed and I even heard this from people living here. Yes I’ll stop to help someone in a jam. I’ll feed an individual but not because I’m from NS, which I’m not, but because it’s the way I was raised.
These are the cons. I’m not really sure what the pros are but I thank God everyday I have a great career to keep me going 🙂
Well, on the surface, a lot of places DO appear more physically attractive. There are many places that are obviously bigger, and much shinier, and admittedly more dazzling than Halifax. I like to take vacations to places like that.
But when I want to be truly at HOME, I like to be in Nova Scotia. It is hard to say exactly why. I think it’s that I have spent enough time in shiny dazzling cities that I can see through the dazzle to all the false stage props projecting from underneath. Sure I find it fun, but I am not fooled by the glamour that can be achieved with a pile of money.
We DO have many problems here needing urgent solutions, just like Randomness has listed. But any other place will have a different set of problems equally urgent, and some will be much much worse.
I think that Nova Scotia is going through a generational change. I see a HUGE difference in the attitudes of younger people compared with the older generations here–worldly, educated, well-travelled, connected, highly informed–it is more than night and day, it’s a different planet. I also believe that some of the BIG problems that we have in this province and city CAN be solved. Maybe it will take time, but there is serious creativity and brainpower here, and I have faith in that.
Oh, and I actually LOVE the winters here. I LOVE ’em!. They’re short–2 and a half months!, and usually mild, and I love a good snow day. You couldn’t pay me enough to spend another winter in Alberta. 25-to-40-below for months on end? No thanks! The last winter I spent there started in early October and didn’t end until April. And don’t even get me started on the darkness.
Oh, and I do find the people in NS to be “friendly” but I temper that with “in a Canadian way” — still a bit on the reserved side more than the “extroverted” side. I have spent a lot of time with Americans, and THEY are “friendly” (crazy yes, but very, very “friendly”). If you want to know unfriendly, I suggest that Edmontonians are among the most insular people you will ever meet.
15 years of being stuck in this hell-hole OB…if my wife would come with, id be gone in a heartbeat. Nothing you said OB is out of line or untrue. they say first impressions are a big part of life…my first impression of this place, when asking a lady politely for directions to a place and her response “fuck off” was bang on with the facade of “friendliest place in canada” I got better reception being a white guy accidentally ending up in harlem. In Boston i had my meal paid for because i was canadian. Now, ive lived in every province and also territory(when they were called that) and everything was better than living in this shit hole city/province. God’s country they call it(sorry newfs) but all of nova scotia looks like Cottage country Ontario….which is fine, because in ontario, cottage country is bearable for about 2 weeks at a time…much like Nova Scotia, and especially Halifax.
Well Cuja,
We happen to have an airport, a train station, a bus depot, a ferry service, and several paved roads that will lead you out of the province.
And, Edmonton really is lovely this time of year.
Bon voyage!