RSS FeedWhy is Vegas Vegas?
What makes Las Vegas…Las Vegas? John Pryzbys (it’s pronounced like “frisbee” but with a “b,” if you’re curious) has an article that asks that question in today’s RJ. And I’m one of the ones who offered some answers. From, naturally, the LVRJ:
What is Las Vegas?
A place. An idea. A stereotype. And, for those of us who happen to live here, a city that defines us in ways we probably don’t even realize.
Las Vegas is a place steeped in contradiction and shaped, either subtly or overtly, by both natural and man-made forces that, in turn, shape us.
That’s why we batted around this question: What are the basic forces — things, ideas, conditions — that define Las Vegas and make it different from any other place in the world?
Here are our conclusions. We don’t pretend that our conclusions are the final word. Feel free to do some batting around of your own.
Here’s what I had to say about “transience:”
Some newcomers, Schwartz says, have a “boomtown mentality.” They want to get everything they can out of Las Vegas and move on. “We’re like a modern-day Virginia City or Goldfield or Searchlight with nicer buildings.
“People move here and think, ‘I’m going to get a great job and make $50,000 parking cars, and I’ll do that a couple years, save up, buy a house, get a lot of equity, trade out and move back home.’ And it doesn’t always work.”
It’s an interesting question–a sort of “why is this night different from all other nights?” query that leads to more questions than an actual answer.
One could write a whole book on the subject. Or two.
Posted in life in vegas
May 30th, 2008 at 3:42 am
I’m happy you posted on this topic (per the R-J article you were noted in).
I read the entire article and it actually has more questions than answers when you approach it from my vantage as a 15+ year resident.
I do agree with the “dig in (per summer heat) but it is different here. We don’t have to bundle up. Even on the hottest days, we won’t die within a few hours outside (as would happen in the colder winter climates).
As bad as the heat is in summer, the concept that we can be outside and just consider it a nuisance is pretty nice.
I also appreciate the note regarding transient nature of Las Vegas. It not only shapes Las Vegas, but separates everyone:
Those of us who have been here for some time dismiss (and sometimes laugh at) the new residents who think they are going to make huge money doing whatever (parking cars, dealing cards… you name it).
I see the Las Vegas hierarchy as this:
The “Old Guard” of natives and/or those who moved here 20-40 years ago do still seem to run the town.
The “Middle Guard” that moved here between 10-20 years ago seems to do pretty well no matter what.
The “New Guard” that moved here between about 1998 and 2004 were still able to get entrenched enough to make some things happen and have a great life (and many of them continue to live here).
The people showing up now… good luck. With things slowing down, they will have to gut it out and stay in town even longer to get their slice of the mystical pie we all call Las Vegas.
That “pie” (jobs with good pay and/or power) doesn’t seem to be growing as quickly as it has in the past.
Just my thoughts. As always, your blog is great reading.
Ted Newkirk
Managing Editor
http://www.accessvegas.com