Pennsylvania gets a bad rap sometimes – and sometimes those complaints come from the very people who live here. Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder so what one Pennsylvanian might find charming, another might abhor. However, there are some misconceptions about Pennsylvania that just need to be put to rest once and for all.
- No one ever succeeds if they stay in PA.
Flickr/Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Ever heard someone complain that only Pennsylvanians who leave actually succeed? Fortunately, history proves that false. Just take a look at Andrew Carnegie, who came to Pennsylvania to find success.
- The longer you stay in PA, the less chance you’ll leave.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson DVM Some Pennsylvanians do spend their whole lives in PA because, well, they want to stay here.
- Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the only real cities.
Flickr/John Delacy Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, along with Harrisburg, may be the state’s most prominent cities. But, that doesn’t mean they’re the only cities. Erie, Scranton, Lancaster, and Hershey are among the many cities and towns that make Pennsylvania so diverse.
- It’s so utterly boring in PA.
Mishler Theatre Well, yeah, PA can be boring if you’re not into the outdoors, museums, art, music, sports, dining out, the theater, history, nightlife… and the list goes on and on.
- The weather is insufferable.
Flickr/Phil Moyer We’re lucky enough to have all four seasons and sometimes all in one day. So, if you’re unhappy with the weather, wait just a few hours and it will probably change.
- Culture? What’s that?
Yelp/Dan R. Sometimes you just have to shake your head when people complain about PA’s lack of culture. PA’s brimming with culture – from one side of the state to the other – with such institutions as The Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts in Harrisburg, The Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. And, that’s not even scratching the surface of all that PA has to offer.
- Pennsylvanians just aren’t friendly.
Flickr/Matus Laslofl If you’ve ever stood at a bus stop or sat on a mall bench, you know that’s pretty much a farce. Sure, some people aren’t friendly but the majority of us? We’ll willingly (and happily) strike up a conversation with a stranger as we sit and wait for the bus, to be called for our doctor’s appointment, or as we stand in a long line at the store.
- Pennsylvania is just so backwards.
Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Fortunately, that misconception is easily proven false by looking at how innovative our state and the people have been for generations. From George Ferris’ invention of the Ferris Wheel to Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine, we’ve always been forward thinking.
- Pennsylvanians just don’t know how to drive.
Flickr/Mark Danielson Well…it’s all in the eye of the beholder, right?
What are some of the misconceptions about Pennsylvania you’ve heard from out-of-staters or even fellow Pennsylvanians? Do those misconceptions bother you? If you know anyone who has doubts about just how great PA is, just show them all the things Pennsylvanians miss when they leave the state.
Flickr/Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Ever heard someone complain that only Pennsylvanians who leave actually succeed? Fortunately, history proves that false. Just take a look at Andrew Carnegie, who came to Pennsylvania to find success.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson DVM
Some Pennsylvanians do spend their whole lives in PA because, well, they want to stay here.
Flickr/John Delacy
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, along with Harrisburg, may be the state’s most prominent cities. But, that doesn’t mean they’re the only cities. Erie, Scranton, Lancaster, and Hershey are among the many cities and towns that make Pennsylvania so diverse.
Mishler Theatre
Well, yeah, PA can be boring if you’re not into the outdoors, museums, art, music, sports, dining out, the theater, history, nightlife… and the list goes on and on.
Flickr/Phil Moyer
We’re lucky enough to have all four seasons and sometimes all in one day. So, if you’re unhappy with the weather, wait just a few hours and it will probably change.
Yelp/Dan R.
Sometimes you just have to shake your head when people complain about PA’s lack of culture. PA’s brimming with culture – from one side of the state to the other – with such institutions as The Whitaker Center for the Science and Arts in Harrisburg, The Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. And, that’s not even scratching the surface of all that PA has to offer.
Flickr/Matus Laslofl
If you’ve ever stood at a bus stop or sat on a mall bench, you know that’s pretty much a farce. Sure, some people aren’t friendly but the majority of us? We’ll willingly (and happily) strike up a conversation with a stranger as we sit and wait for the bus, to be called for our doctor’s appointment, or as we stand in a long line at the store.
Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
Fortunately, that misconception is easily proven false by looking at how innovative our state and the people have been for generations. From George Ferris’ invention of the Ferris Wheel to Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine, we’ve always been forward thinking.
Flickr/Mark Danielson
Well…it’s all in the eye of the beholder, right?
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