Closing Bell: On Leaving Park Slope
“I am leaving Park Slope because I am increasingly impatient with people too socially deficient to act like good neighbors. People who won’t spare five seconds to help an old lady. People who can’t figure out their way around without checking their iPhones. People who don’t say hi to the neighbors with whom they share…
“I am leaving Park Slope because I am increasingly impatient with people too socially deficient to act like good neighbors. People who won’t spare five seconds to help an old lady. People who can’t figure out their way around without checking their iPhones. People who don’t say hi to the neighbors with whom they share a stoop. These things are getting noticeably worse.” This is the nut of a post by longtime Park Sloper Daryl Lang who’s leaving the borough and moving to Manhattan. The essay covers everything from the Park Slope Food Co-Op to pretentious parenting and “fidgety and skittish” fathers. His final diagnosis? “Park Slope’s reputation as a welcoming place went viral, and brought in new residents who made it a warped exaggeration of itself.” Agree?
On Leaving Brooklyn [History Eraser Button]
8 years is a long time to live in one place–sounds like he’s restless.
I’ve been in PS for 6, and I can say that, like all places, it has its pluses and minuses. But overall it’s a pretty damn nice place to raise (small) kids. The vibe is very welcoming to parents, especially. Last evening (before the insane hailstorm) I sat out on the stoop with my 2-year-old and chatted happily with neighbors and passersby for a half-hour. Not an uncommon occurrence. It reminds me of college sometimes, except with small children in tow…
I can’t say how things will change as the kiddies grow, however–I do think one thing that makes PS work for people of a certain age is that there is an abundance of 1,000-sq ft apts. They work well when you have little ones, not so much with two teenagers in the house. Also there’s a dearth of good middle and high schools. So, like Mr Lang, we may have to move on–but i hope i don’t blame PS when and if we do…
hehe – you KNOW he’s reading this
Hi Daryl! **waves**
Seriously, by no definition is 21st Street Park Slope and that just makes the “article” even more amusing. His broker told him it was Park Slope 8 years ago, and he’s run with it ever since, the poor thing.
Amazing. How about you GTFO?
“OMG
So I just realized who this douche bag is; he’s works with an acquaintance.
Suffice to say there is JUST A SMIDGE of projection in that post.”
People do tend to despise what they are.
Probably couldn’t get laid in the hood so now he will try his luck with tourists who don’t know a fraud when they see it.
Park Slope isn’t perfect. But it’s kinda nice. I’m staying. Also, who is this guy again?
Move to BedStuy…Lots of friendly people here 🙂
As much as I can’t stand SOME elements of Crown Heights, I can say I definitely appreciate the fact that people speak to each other. It’s an aspect of the nabe that has made me stay.