10 Things You Should Never Say To Someone From Chicagoland

Oh, the beloved Windy City. Chicagoland is called home by millions of lovely people. These are things that we get so annoyed to hear!

Oh, the beloved Windy City. Chicago is called home by millions of people, and lovingly so. The love for deep dish pizza, beautiful architecture, and the Cubs runs deep here. And, of course, you can’t forget the beautiful suburbs that lie outside the tall skyscrapers and city streets. Chicagoans are built tough, but there are certain things that we’ll defend to the death about our stomping grounds. These are 10 things you should never say to someone from Chicagoland!

1. “Chicago traffic isn’t that bad!”

Wrong, wrong and wrong. Until you’ve actually sat in rush hour traffic that acts more like a parking lot that just a little congestion, you can’t say anything. Everyone who lives in the area knows to avoid any and all highways when the clock hits 4 pm. Unless you want a normal half hour trip to take you almost two hours, that is.

2. “Ketchup belongs on a hot dog”

Say this and you won’t be served a hot dog in any part of this city. In fact, most hot dog places don’t even offer ketchup as a condiment (for example, Gene and Judes) since it is a core belief of almost every Chicagoan that ketchup on a hot dog is forbidden. Besides, the only condiment that belongs on a hot dog is mustard, alongside some other delicious toppings that make up the famous Chicago hot dog. Otherwise, please take your ketchup elsewhere and far away from any hot dog.

3. “Stop complaining about Chicago winters”

Do you have to bundle up in at least three layers plus a parka just to get to your car so you can avoid frostbite? I didn’t think so. Yes, we signed up for the not so pleasant weather during our winter when we moved here. But for the harsh conditions we endure, a little whining about the cold temperatures is well earned.

4. “Thin crust pizza is much better than deep dish”

Then don’t eat it. Leaves more deep dish pizza for the rest of us. And more melty cheese, and marinara sauce, and buttery crust. MMMMM

5. “Why do you say you’re from Chicago when you’re actually from the suburbs”

First of all, we all consider ourselves Chicagoans no matter which Metra stop we live near. It’s not just about location, being a Chicagoan is a way of life. Secondly, it’s just way easier when out-of-state to say you’re from the city than mention some obscure suburb most people have never heard of. And as much as we don’t like to admit it, we feel slightly cooler saying we’re from the city.

6. “Chicago is so dirty and noisy”

Contrary to popular belief, Chicago is actually pretty clean for being a bigger city. And there are plenty of trees and plants that contribute to making the city one of the most beautiful in the country, in our humble opinion. And yes, it is a little noisy, but what city isn’t? Comes with the territory!

7. “Why not just give up on the Cubs?”

This questions quite as relevant anymore (World Series Champs 2016), however it has something to do with Chicago pride. And that comes with every local sports team here! No matter how any of them are doing, we don’t give up on them, even when there’s a 71 year curse involved. Chicagoans are tough, and so are our sports teams.

8. “Chicago can’t even compare to New York”

Who even said we were comparing? These are two cities in distinctive places that are famous for different things. No one’s saying we’re better than them, and everyone can appreciate both cities for what they offer. Sure, we may have quite the pizza rivalry, but aside from that, we have a lot of respect for The Empire State!

9. “I love the Willis Tower!”

Do you mean the Sears tower? That’s what it has been known as for years, and will stay that way, at least in a lot of Chicagoans’ hearts. And we agree, we love it too, it’s the pride and joy of our amazing city! But we’ll never let go of the original name.

10. “ I would never go to the South Side- it’s way too dangerous”

The South Side has always had a history of being a rather violent place, however, that doesn’t mean it should be completely disregarded! There are some fantastic places to visit in the South Side, and it is still considered a beautiful part of what we call Chicagoland.