New board name [moved from newly renamed Other Boroughs board]

[bobjbkln]

Not exactly food related, but specific only to this board. Just noticed the name change. Thank you moderators. Always though Manhattan was the Outer Borough anyway. PS need to change the name of the sticky post to match.

[roxlet]

I have never heard of the term "outer boroughs" being used. Ever. "Oh, I think we'll go have dinner tonight in one of the outer boroughs.". Really? Or, "I'm so sick of Manhattan, let's try the outer boroughs.". Truly, I would like to see where this is usage. I lived in NYC my entire life, in three of the boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens), and if this is how the boroughs are referred to, it's news to me. The fact of the matter is, you might say that you lived in Brooklyn, but you'd never say that you lived in the outer boroughs. Or, as I wrote above, you might say you lived in several boroughs. Why not just say what it means and not mince words: Not Manhattan.

[Servorg]

In the same way that many residents of Manhattan consider themselves to be living and working at the center of the known Universe then, conversely, everywhere else must be "outer" to it... lol

http://www.bniouterboros.com/

[roxlet]

Lol! Exactly. When we moved to Westchester about ten years ago, my husband (not from NYC) , claimed that it was the first time in my life I lived on the mainland of the United States.

[Silverjay]

I've been living in NYC for the past seven years and have heard outer boroughs referred to as a manner to describe everything not Manhattan. And friends born and raised and still living in Queens and even Greenpoint, refer to Manhattan as "the city". I always thought that the layout of the subway system supports both of these turns of phrase.

[Jim Leff]

Google for 2,920,000 results.

[roxlet]

I get 729,000 Google results for Outer Boroughs plus this definition from the Urban Dictionary:
"Any borough of NYC that is not Manhattan, namely Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island. Mainly used by Manhattan elitists..."
For "Other Boroughs," which I think is the better, less denigrating description, I get 15,700, 000 results.

[Silverjay]

You need remedial googling skills. You're not even close. Place terms in quotes you get 1,290,000 results. Then scan for instances when the terms are not merely coincidental pairing. like, "Staten Island, unlike other boroughs, is...". If you do this, there are hardly any references to "other boroughs" as a usage for what we are discussing.

[roxlet]

Well, you may be right, and my google skills may suck, but I still think that the Urban Dictionary has the definition of Outer Boroughs correct. Once again:
"Any borough of NYC that is not Manhattan, namely Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island. Mainly used by Manhattan elitists ..."

[small h]

I've lived in Manhattan since 1983. "Outer boroughs" is commonly used now and has been since I can remember, as in "We want a place with a yard, so we've been looking in the outer boroughs."

[jen kalb]

You really like this better? I dont like to define my turf if reference to Manhattan

[mudaba]

Yep, bobjbkln, that's why we made the change. We felt that it was very 1980 to define the boroughs in relation to Manhattan. Leaving the Manhattan board as it was and naming the other board "other boroughs" (in other words, not Manhattan), is why we made the change. Outer Boroughs suggests that the boroughs are "out there" and that the center is Manhattan.

Meredith of CHOW

[jen kalb]

I disagree with this logic. Outer Boroughs is both a term NYers use and a geographical term. Other basically refers to Manhattan every time you use it (you cant have an other without a referent. Like I said above, I dont define my turf in reference to Manhattan and now I have to think of my turf as other than Manhattan.I think you should have referred this to outer borough users before making this change.

it would be like splitting the Bay Area Board into ""SF" and "other than SF". Maybe not a good analogy, tho.

[Servorg]

"Other basically refers to Manhattan every time you use it (you cant have an other without a referent."

It would seem that outer has the same issue. You can't have an outer without an inner or a center. This name change is really a distinction without a difference.

[Jim Leff]

Jen said:
--------------
"it would be like splitting the Bay Area Board into ""SF" and "other than SF". Maybe not a good analogy, tho."
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.....or "SF" and "Other Bay" .

Y'know, cuz "East Bay" is so referential to SF (i.e. "east" of WHAT?), whereas "Other Bay", obviously, stands proudly on its own. ;)

[Silverjay]

People in New York in 2012 say Outer Boroughs. It's just how it is referred to here locally. You should have posted a sticky on the board and solicited opinions.

[Bob Martinez]

I think we ought to have a Brooklyn board and move Manhattan to Other Boroughs.

Seriously, I think it's a well meaning innocuous change. It's fine with me.

[E Eto]

Maybe the powers that be should rename the bay area board the "Frisco" board. Oh, right, no one in "the city" uses that term.

[mudaba]

I'm going to do that! Everyone can vote, and if the vote is "Stick with Outer Boroughs", then we'll change it back.

Thanks, Meredith of CHOW

[Silverjay]

Power to the people. Cheers!

[rose water]

the voting thread is here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/828100