After watching '54',as an Englishman I wondered......

**SeventiesStyle** · June 25th, 2002, 11:24 PM

about the difference between NY and NJ.Could
any New Yorkers or New Jersey people using this forum enlighten me?

In England,there is tremendous domestic rivaly between the major population centres,such as London,Manchester,Liverpool,
Birmingham etc.This is put to one side during
national events such as England soccer games,
but generally things do tend to be done slightly differently in each place.

Is it the same with NY and NJ?.

**markydefad** · June 26th, 2002, 12:25 AM

Hey, I'll let the New Yorkers & New Jerseyites definitively answer this, BUT, as an American I gotta say that NEW JERSEY is the brunt of more jokes in the U.S. than any other state I can think of.

Often referred to as "The Armpit of America", I think New Yorkers have great disdain for the gauche New Jersey folks who get gussied up and go to Manhattan to party. Think the kids from "Saturday Night Fever".

Nicky & Boodi & the other NY/NJ folks will, no doubt, have more insight in this matter than I.

**markydefad** · June 26th, 2002, 12:33 AM

Afterthought:

Think of Gilda Radner's loudmouthed, rambling newscaster Roseanne Rosanna-Dana from "Saturday Night Live" reading her incessant letters from a fictitous Mr. Richard Fader from Fort Lane (I think) New Jersey (oops, I just typed New Jewsey!!!)who every week asked her another series of questions.

Her reply:

"Ya know, Mr Fader, you got a lotta questions... for someone from New Jersey" :lol:

**totoman** · June 26th, 2002, 05:32 AM

the problem with telling us to look at SNL is that we do not see that programme here. I don't think it has ever been shown here i the 25 years it has been going

toto

**HustleBaby** · June 26th, 2002, 08:38 AM

On 2002-06-26 01:25, markydefad wrote:
Hey, I'll let the New Yorkers & New Jerseyites definitively answer this, BUT, as an American I gotta say that NEW JERSEY is the brunt of more jokes in the U.S. than any other state I can think of.

Often referred to as "The Armpit of America", I think New Yorkers have great disdain for the gauche New Jersey folks who get gussied up and go to Manhattan to party. Think the kids from "Saturday Night Fever".

Nicky & Boodi & the other NY/NJ folks will, no doubt, have more insight in this matter than I.

Marky,
To be honest with you, I have no idea as to why New Jersey is the butt of everyone's jokes. I've heard many people make jokes about Jersey but I never paid a lot of attention to it. I don't even know why Jersey is referred to as "The Armpit Of America" - Boodikka and Flatbush can probaly enlighten us. I do know that New Yorkers look down and frown upon Jersey folks. Finally the kids in "Saturday Night Fever" was from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (NY).

*DISCO DELIGHT*

**Bernie** · June 26th, 2002, 09:22 AM

On 2002-06-26 09:38, HustleBaby wrote:

On 2002-06-26 01:25, markydefad wrote:
Hey, I'll let the New Yorkers & New Jerseyites definitively answer this, BUT, as an American I gotta say that NEW JERSEY is the brunt of more jokes in the U.S. than any other state I can think of.

Often referred to as "The Armpit of America", I think New Yorkers have great disdain for the gauche New Jersey folks who get gussied up and go to Manhattan to party. Think the kids from "Saturday Night Fever".

Nicky & Boodi & the other NY/NJ folks will, no doubt, have more insight in this matter than I.

Marky,
To be honest with you, I have no idea as to why New Jersey is the butt of everyone's jokes. I've heard many people make jokes about Jersey but I never paid a lot of attention to it. I don't even know why Jersey is referred to as "The Armpit Of America" - Boodikka and Flatbush can probaly enlighten us. I do know that New Yorkers look down and frown upon Jersey folks. Finally the kids in "Saturday Night Fever" was from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (NY).

*DISCO DELIGHT*

Hey watch it there Hustlebaby, Marky...

I'm from Jersey and proud of it. Literally lived with the World Trade Center clearly visible from my backyard in Jersey City.

Actually some New Yorker's problems with Jersey are simply envy. Everything is cheaper-gas is way cheaper and it's full serve 24/7. No sales tax on clothes which is why NY'ers flood our stores... More importantly the beautiful forests and mountains not even an hours drive from the city.

New Yorkers and New Jerseyans like to bash each other for no other reason than to bother one another and it's done in a fun way. I've never met anyone really serious about it, but the rest of the country thinks otherwise.

Truth be told, the problem is Elizabeth, NJ which has a nasty stench-and I mean nasty. Because of that armpit the rest of Jersey has gotten a black eye.

[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-06-26 10:32 ]

**SeventiesStyle** · June 26th, 2002, 01:19 PM

Thanks to all who replied.It's exactly the same in the UK,so I get the picture now!!!!

**paul** · June 26th, 2002, 06:41 PM

Well I lived in New York for a few years many moons ago. Like Texans, many New Yorkers talk like the rest of the world revolves around them (easy Delight, Boodi, etc.) In the case of Jersey it seemed to have a lot of chemical and other industrial plants. This of course means pollution and other by-products. I don't know if it's worse than most major industrial areas but leaving NYC and heading into Jersey, it looks like it. Perhaps this is where the armpit description comes from. Anyway, I have family in New Jersey so as far as I'm concerned it's not that bad.

**NickNack** · June 26th, 2002, 09:06 PM

On 2002-06-26 10:22, Bernie wrote:
Truth be told, the problem is Elizabeth, NJ which has a nasty stench-and I mean nasty. Because of that armpit the rest of Jersey has gotten a black eye.

I'm a New Yorker (Brooklyn), born & raised, now living in New Jersey since 1989. Bernie has nailed the "armpit" issue... it's Elizabeth, NJ. When you drive out of New York and into New Jersey, if the ugliness of the industrial center doesn't kill you the stench will. It's the one thing I remember as a kid taking trips in the family car. Many New Yorkers grow up believing ALL of NJ is like this. This is the cause of the jokes and the "battle" which, as also stated, is mostly in fun. It's also true as Paul says that a lot of NY'ers think our city is IT (isn't it?

) You should also know that when I say "New York", I mean New York City. I don't know how the rest of the state feels, or if they even care.

Now that I live in New Jersey I'd be the first to say that those who still make those armpit jokes simply haven't travelled through it. I'm in a quasi-rural area: a small city that still has farms surrounding it. It's in a valley --- very beautiful. When you get a full moon out here you can actually see shadows on the ground. That never happens under the city lights. As one of those New Yorkers who made those Jersey jokes growing up, I would never say them now.

_________________
Dancin'... A Thing To Free Your Mind

Nicky

[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-06-26 22:09 ]

[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-06-26 22:10 ]

**HustleBaby** · June 26th, 2002, 10:54 PM

On 2002-06-26 10:22, Bernie wrote:

Hey watch it there Hustlebaby, Marky...

I'm from Jersey and proud of it. Literally lived with the World Trade Center clearly visible from my backyard in Jersey City.

Actually some New Yorker's problems with Jersey are simply envy. Everything is cheaper-gas is way cheaper and it's full serve 24/7. No sales tax on clothes which is why NY'ers flood our stores... More importantly the beautiful forests and mountains not even an hours drive from the city.

New Yorkers and New Jerseyans like to bash each other for no other reason than to bother one another and it's done in a fun way. I've never met anyone really serious about it, but the rest of the country thinks otherwise.

Truth be told, the problem is Elizabeth, NJ which has a nasty stench-and I mean nasty. Because of that armpit the rest of Jersey has gotten a black eye.

[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-06-26 10:32 ]
[/quote]

Hey Bernie,
I don't visit Jersey that often so I would have never known about Elizabeth's stench that stunk up New Jersey's image. My uncle who is a native New Yorker but lives in Orange(10 yrs) is forever making Jersey jokes. Why? Who knows? I have friends in Patterson, Seacaucus and North Bergen and I never made any Jersey jokes towards them. As far as shopping goes, I've shopped in Jersey twice in my lifetime. I refused to go sooooo far because I'm usually lucky at finding fashionable bargains/sales in NYC.

*DISCO DELIGHT*

**Bernie** · June 27th, 2002, 07:47 AM

On 2002-06-26 23:54, HustleBaby wrote:

I've shopped in Jersey twice in my lifetime. I refused to go sooooo far because I'm usually lucky at finding fashionable bargains/sales in NYC.

*DISCO DELIGHT*

Sooo far?! What do you mean?

I used to work by the World Trade Center at J & R and I usually got into work ahead of my friends who lived in Brooklyn or Queens.

**jazz_pilgrim** · June 27th, 2002, 02:28 PM

In London, we have a great rivalry between SOUTH LONDON and NORTH LONDON. In the middle is the Thames !

Naturally, I'm from SOUTH LONDON !! :grin:

BTW What did you make of the film, SeventiesStyle? I watched it as well, even though it finished at 2am! Some good tunes in there, I remember - Odyssey, Chic, GQ. Wasn't sure about the storyline, though ...

**HustleBaby** · June 28th, 2002, 12:17 AM

On 2002-06-27 08:47, Bernie wrote:

On 2002-06-26 23:54, HustleBaby wrote:

I've shopped in Jersey twice in my lifetime. I refused to go sooooo far because I'm usually lucky at finding fashionable bargains/sales in NYC.

*DISCO DELIGHT*

Sooo far?! What do you mean?

I used to work by the World Trade Center at J & R and I usually got into work ahead of my friends who lived in Brooklyn or Queens.

Bernie
Many people from Bklyn and Queens have an hour minimum ride to the city - much longer than a lot of Jersey folks.
It usually takes me 40 min maybe an hour (from The Bronx) to get to Fulton & B'way or Park Place depending on how the traffic is. I usually don't go further than the Village or Canal St. My thought is why spend the extra carfare(I don't drive) and go the extra distance when I can find reasonable priced clothing all over the city from 34st, 86st, 59st etc...

*DISCO DELIGHT*

**Rugger57** · August 22nd, 2007, 06:43 PM

This post about New Jersey reminds me of a joke I heard YEARS ago.

A guy and a girl were making out in the back of a car. The girl gets all hot and bothered and says, "Ohhhhh, baby! Kiss me where it stinks!"

He promptly got into the front seat and drove her to New Jersey!

HEY!!!!! I didn't say it was a GOOD joke, did I???

**EricHG23** · August 22nd, 2007, 09:44 PM

Originally Written by totoman

the problem with telling us to look at SNL is that we do not see that programme here. I don't think it has ever been shown here i the 25 years it has been going

toto

Funny SNL is *still* mocking Jersey regularly--right now they have the regular characters "two Jersey Gay Guys" in track suits...

Man I wish they'd finally release the director's cut of 54. What a waste.

E

**darrens** · August 28th, 2007, 06:53 AM

As an aside, I was amused when I was talking to an American friend of mine (who frequents these forums, in fact) about a business trip I had made to Jersey (an island in the English Channel). He didn't realise that there was a place that New Jersey was (presumably) named after! :icon_lol: