A HOMETOWN AND A DATELINE: So people are fussin’ again over DC vs. NYC. I used to get really defensive about this stuff; I hope, and think, that I’ve chilled out on it. Here are some scattered thoughts on this perpetual argument (which seems popular only in the media and music worlds, but whatever, journalists are people too, I think).

1) Obviously, New York City is objectively better. I mean, duh. Anything DC has, New York has more of it (except trees, deer, and sky…). But when we’re asking what’s the best place in the world, it strikes me that an objective measure is exactly the wrong one. This subject above all other subjects should be subjective. It is “dulce et decorum” to love one’s hometown. Demanding objectivity about someone’s home is like demanding objectivity about his family–it’ll only annoy him.

2) I don’t think Jonah Goldberg is right that “New Yorkers spend no time worrying about their rivalry with DC while Washingtonians obsess about it.” I’ve seen the “who’s bad?!” argument started up at least as often by New Yorkers as by DC-lovers. I’ve seen at least as many self-lacerating “DC sucks, why do I live here, New Yorkers are a master race!” articles as pro-DC, “#2, We try harder!” ones. And, of course, the mentalities are different–it’s scrappy, wrongheaded but kind of admirable, to argue that the obvious underdog is actually the better city; it just comes across as bullying when the New York Times or wherever tries to make everyone here agree that DC is lame.

3) Is DC a “factory town”? Not really. There are (at least) two cities here, in uneasy conjunction: Washington-the-dateline and D.C.-the-hometown. People move here from elsewhere to work on Capitol Hill, hang out only with other political transplants, get bored with talking politics 24/7, and conclude that D.C. is boring–even as they express astonishment when they meet someone who actually grew up here. You’d think that the second part of their reaction to the city (astonishment that there are D.C. natives) would be a clue that there’s a whole swathe of Washington life that they haven’t found yet. I have no problem a’tall with people leaving because the hothouse atmosphere of the politicos becomes stifling and boring. I have no problem with people saying, “Sure, there might be other aspects to DC, but why should I bother finding them? I want to go somewhere else.” That’s natural, and shows an admirable ability to recognize the degree to which “inside the Beltway” circles can become confining and stultifying. But I do think when making broad “DC vs. the world” comparisons, even political journalists should keep in mind that they are not the sole demographic of this city.

4) The skyline. The New York skyline is a thing of beauty, for sure–ten thousand glittering windows, each one hiding a life, a story. But if you like some sky with your skyline, D.C. offers gorgeous panoramic views, bright blue sunny expanses, varied rooftops rather than endless skyscraper-canyons, and whole clouds. Really, they’re pretty! Now that I think about it, of course, New York City offers these things too–in Brooklyn, for example. Or is that not what we mean when we compare “DC” to “NYC”? I suspect we’re really trying to compare a narrow slice of one city with a narrow slice of the other.

5) If you try to judge DC based on whether it beats New York, you will miss out on a lot of great things this city can offer. You’ll never get around to going to the Shakespeare Theater, because New York obviously has better theater. You’ll never entrench yourself in a neighborhood bar for an evening, because everyone knows people just talk politics at D.C. bars. If you want New York, move there; New York does a much better New York impression than D.C. does! If you want something else, try this little city.

Here’s a list of stuff I love about D.C.