Mythbusting

Let's be honest, New Jersey gets a bad rap. Many of the preconceived notions of the Garden State and its residents are valid, but some are not. I've been away from the state for over 4 years now so I have a different perspective than those entrenched in the state their entire lives, and I'm ready to tackle some of the myths. Let's go in.

Myth #1: New Jersey is the "armpit of America." True...and False.
Just like the other 49, the state has its dumps that I wouldn't wish upon anyone...case in point: Elizabeth, Newark, and Camden on the short list. I happened to grow up in a town in Central NJ that I couldn't even come close to afford living in if I tried today. Since most of the state's traffic is in-and-out of northern Jersey, the factories, smoke stacks, and overall trash set the impression for visitors. Unfortunately, most that visit the state never get down to the shore, or even some of the more affluent neighborhoods in New Jersey where shelter-seeking celebs settle down. I'm not going to convince any non-New Jerseyans on this one, so I'm moving on.

Myth #2: Everyone from New Jersey worships Bruce Springsteen. True.
This is a Lady Gaga argument (it can go both ways--get it?) because while Bruce is great, he can kinda be forced upon you which is quite obnoxious. Without sounding sacrilegious, I feel like Bruce fandom is similar to Baptism or Confirmation--it's almost better if you receive it later in life when you can make decisions for yourself. I grew up surrounded by Bruce fanatics among my friends and family, and as any rebellious young'n, I disliked the music simply because everyone else thought it was so great. Not until Bruce's halftime performance at last year's Super Bowl did I realize, "You know what? Everyone might be onto something." I'm not a full-fledged Bruce fan, but I have a "Greatest Hits" album (which I always used to joke was a blank CD) and that's sufficient for me at this point.

Myth #3: New Jersey is comprised of mostly guidos. False.
These guys are not your typical residents, in fact they only come out of the woodwork in the summer. Most aren't even from New Jersey, and we can give a big F-U to Staten Island for breeding these contemptuous creatures that you might mistake for oompa loompas. Not familiar with guidos or BENNY's (Bayonne, Elizabath, Newark, New York)? Listen here to find out everything you need to know. The only thing worse than guidos and BENNY's are the Jersey girls that fawn over them. Which leads me to...

Myth #4: Jersey Girls are...well...Jersey Girls. True.
Ok, they're not all Toddlers & Tiaras alumni, but they all have a little edge. And you know what? They're proud of it. They're proud of being a little independent, a little difficult, maybe a little bitchy. Don't look at me...I married a Florida girl. Some guys want a girl who will stand up to them...think Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill. But guys--just know what you're getting yourself into. I realize I may not be making many friends with this commentary, but as Jim Cramer says, "Some people want to make friends, I just want to make money."

Myth #5: Residents call the state "New Joi-sey." False.
I've never heard anyone from NJ pronounce it that way--that's a New York thing. Not really sure where that mixup occurred along the way.

Myth #6: The old turnpike/parkway gag. True.
Exit 98 on the Parkway.

Countless other stereotypes exist, but I don't have the time/desire to get into them all. Just like most other states, it's great if you pick the right places to visit. It's affluent and expensive as much as it trashy and fetid, so it's a true mixed bag. Take a visit, spend some time there, and keep an open mind to form your own opinion because the preconceptions may not be all true. Or maybe they are...?