| Author | Message | ||
     maplewood fan Citizen Username: Mplwfan Post Number: 284 Registered: 4-2003  |
My fourteen year old has been describing where his friends live by saying they live in Maplegood, Maplewood, or Maplehood. Apparently the kids at middle school say this. I hadn't heard this before. Have other people heard their kids saying this? I talked to mine about how using these terms is negative for a variety of reasons. His response was "sure" and he'll probably use the terms outside of my earshot - like any typical fourteen year old. | ||
| Nohero Supporter Username: Nohero Post Number: 5312 Registered: 10-1999  |
I don't know how many kids use those expressions. The kids your son heard them from, probably picked it up from their elders. For example, the first time I heard the "Maplehood" expression was from reading a post here, and not from my kids. So, it's not the fault of your son's friends, but of their parents (or, the parents of the kids they heard them from). As for the attitudes that cause such comments - you've done the right thing talking to your son about it. | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5443 Registered: 3-2002 |
maplewood fan, I have also seen the phrase "Maplehood" used on MOL by one of this board's biggest idiots and town detractors...perhaps the apple doesnt fall far from the tree and a kid heard a parent using the phrase...or a parent heard a kid use the phrase and instead of having your reaction, they thought it was hilarious and used it online themselves. If I had to guess, we do not live in the neighborhood where the phrase most likely originated. Where are the boundaries? Obviously, some parents dont know, and I am not referring to a map. | ||
| Jay Citizen Username: Jaymon Post Number: 1113 Registered: 10-2004  |
I just heard these terms recently, too. Apparantly, they are picking it up at CHS. For the those not familiar, here is the breakdown: MapleGood: The area on the other side of town, Richmond Ave, Wyoming and above. MapleWood: the area that surrounds CHS (west?) Valley and towards Springfield MapleHood: the area on the other side of Springfield Ave that is still considered Maplewood. I know, it's all pretty derogatory if you ask me, but that is the vernacular. I did not make this up. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7173 Registered: 5-2001  |
I don't have kids, but I first heard "Maplehood" from another adult who does have kids. I didn't think anything of it, because she has a sardonic sense of humor. Then, like Nohere, I read much more about it here online. | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 3980 Registered: 7-2001  |
I know that kids at the Middle School are familiar with these terms. I don't see anything positive coming out of using them. | ||
| tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4196 Registered: 12-2001  |
The behavior of parents notwithstanding, kids are obviously capable of coming up with street terminology on their own. It isn't as though they live in a vaccum. I would venture to guess that even if all parents in Maplewood-South Orange were 100% P.C. in front of their kids at all times, kids would still develop a terminology of their own. | ||
| ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 1654 Registered: 11-2001 |
Nor do I. It's unfortunate that middle school kids are using these terms, and even more unfortunate that they assign labels to places where people live. Does someone's street address define that person? It looks like that is where this is headed. | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 2370 Registered: 10-2001  |
I heard the term "maplehood" long before I moved here. It was used by a woman who grew up here then moved away and she used that term when we told her we were looking at houses here in Maplewood. | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 245 Registered: 2-2005 |
when we lived in park slope, i had a friend who called it Pork Slop. | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 2590 Registered: 9-2003  |
My middle schooler heard this stuff at school. To her and her friends, Ridgewood and up is MapleGood. Ridgewood to SA, Maplewood. SA and over, Maplehood. I don't hear them assuming that address is all in all, but there's definitely an element of profiling going on. I do hear them talking as well in terms of the neighborhood surrounding their elementary as somewhat defining. I only know Clinton, but it's clear that there are ideas related to one's neighborhood school, family money, etc. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 9160 Registered: 4-1997  |
What about South Moronge? I've only heard it once. | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5450 Registered: 3-2002 |
I never knew there was a word that rhymes with "orange" | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7177 Registered: 5-2001 |
It's probably naive to think that, named or not, kids (and adults) will not assign a vlaue to where someone lives. Growing up, we all knew what neighborhoods the "rich" kids lived in and the "poor" ones. As an adult, I realize what a stereotype it was. But think about whether or not you make certain assumptions about a family's circumstance based on where they live. Be honest. If your kids had a friend who lived in Irvington, would you allow them to go to a sleep-over? What about Summit? | ||
| blackcat Citizen Username: Blackcat Post Number: 555 Registered: 6-2001 |
If I can sell my house, that we bought for under $200K a few years ago for over $400, does that change the status to Maplegood? We are in "Maplehood". | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 506 Registered: 7-2005  |
I've been saying Maplehood since about... 5th grade. I'm now a college freshman..and I still say it. | ||
| Lester Jacobs Citizen Username: Lester Post Number: 107 Registered: 10-2005 |
I teach my kids not to judge kids at school on where they live but by net worth, income, college of their parents, which are the true scorecards of a person's value to society. For example a middle class person who has assets over $1MM, income of $300K, and went to Stanford is better than a poor person who has $100K in assets, makes $80K/year, and went to Seton Hall. I think most kids are smart enough however to figure out that more of the former live in Maplewood/good, and more of the latter in maplehood. | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 3986 Registered: 7-2001 |
And all along I thought that Lester was serious. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7180 Registered: 5-2001 |
Park- he had me going, too. All along, I thought that he was some crusty, old, backwards white guy. Who knew what a satirist he could be? | ||
| Lester Jacobs Citizen Username: Lester Post Number: 108 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thank you. But yes I am a crusty, old (in spirit), backwards white guy from Texas. | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 3987 Registered: 7-2001 |
Thank you. But yes I am a crusty, old (in spirit), backwards white guy from Texas." I'm not buying it, I'm just not buying it. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13483 Registered: 1-2003  |
greenetree, I most certainly would let my kid have a sleepover in Irvington. It troubles me that you would presume to know how any parent here would decide on that and that any of us would not allow it. We moved here to expose the kids to diversity of ethnicity and income. It's working, somewhat, but my kids have gravitated towards kids of income greater than or equal to our own more than to kids of lesser incomes. There are exceptions. These names are shorthands, and I am not convinced it's harmful to have words that identify observations that the kids have made. The lifestyles do vary from home to home, and there are trends of lifestyles in the sections of town. Yes, it is possible to abuse these terms and look down at those whose incomes are lower OR HIGHER than your own. But that won't necessarily happen. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13484 Registered: 1-2003 |
Lester, are you my neighbor with the golden retriever? I'll say howdy next time we meet. | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 3988 Registered: 7-2001 |
"Lester, are you my neighbor with the golden retriever? I'll say howdy next time we meet." Tom, If you really see Lester can you tell him I'll meet him at the Yacht with my jar of Grey Poupon. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7181 Registered: 5-2001 |
Tom - I wasn't making a presumption about what would/would not be allowed or what parents do. Frankly, the only time I care about how parents raise their children is when they are screaming in white-table cloth restaurants or they pick my flowers. But I digress..... If I did not make myself clear, I apologize. My point is that people make assumptions about what is "good" and what is "bad". Those assumptions are based on geography, nationality, religion, sexuality, gender, education. Whatever. Many times on this board, Irvington is mentioned in a negative context. I am not denying that there is a lot of crime there. But everyone who lives there is not a drug dealer, drop-out, thug or just an inconsiderate neighbor. I am also pretty sure that there are residents of Summit who abuse their children, deal drugs or blast their car stereos in the middle of the night. But what's "desirable"? University is no indication, either. Didn't Dubya go to Yale? | ||
| aquaman Supporter Username: Aquaman Post Number: 838 Registered: 8-2001  |
People, people. I thought it was called "Gay"plewood? And by the way, GT, Irvington was last described as "desirable" by a perky realtor in 1949. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13487 Registered: 1-2003 |
greenetree, I'm processing what you said and am trying to figure it out. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 515 Registered: 7-2005 |
::Shakes head:: | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 3704 Registered: 5-2001  |
South Orange mini-localities: The Pillage Dogpatch Jewstead Montroach The Hole -s. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 518 Registered: 7-2005 |
You are all either A. Thinking way too hard about it...or B. Just out of the age where you'd understand. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1754 Registered: 5-2001 |
When we first moved to Maplewood, my then 5-year-old (now 12-year-old)and I were invited into a neighbor's house for a playdate. 15 minutes in, my daughter puts her hands on her hips and announces, "Man, you guys are REALLY rich!" Kids see differences and figure things out and it's not necessarily condescending. We try teach all of our children to identify differences in trees, climate, cars - damn near everything before they're in Kindergarten. It stands to figure that sometimes they are going to identify dichotomies (trichotomies?) that make adults uncomfortable. I haven't heard the Maplewood/hood/should/could yet from my Middle Schooler, but if I do, I'll ask her what it means. If she says that it means one part of town is awful, we'll go from there. | ||
| Darryl Strawberry Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 7044 Registered: 10-2001  |
I'm rich. | ||
| 3ringale Citizen Username: Threeringale Post Number: 154 Registered: 1-2006 |
I first heard the term Maplehood about 9-10 years ago, when I told an outside contractor at work where I lived. Cheers | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 1757 Registered: 5-2001 |
Straw - Yep. You can't buy a house for under $250K anywhere in Maplewood/Hood/Good. Welcome to the (statistically) way upper middle class if you're a homeowner in whatever we call it. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 7230 Registered: 5-2001 |
If the kids are using these terms to distinguish different parts of town then it is likely that they at least see a splintering of our town into three or more distinct communities with different needs and characteristics. Rather than asking where these terms come from, shouldn't we be asking what we can do restore a single community identity for our town, thereby removing the root problem? | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13500 Registered: 1-2003 |
I don't think they see the differences as a problem. It may not be something that needs fixing. Differences in income and lifestyles are noticeable. If the noticeability is a problem, I don't think there is a solution. | ||
| Morrisa da Silva Citizen Username: Mod Post Number: 424 Registered: 12-2003 |
You should google Maplehood. It's eye-opening. Among the first entries - Maplehood rekkids - a record lable out of maplewood, MO - Not New Jersey. also Urban Dictionary - (my kid told me about this one), and a very troubling personal website full of Crip Gang stuff. http://www.maplehood-rekkids.com/main.html http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=maplehood&defid=351107 http://www.angelfire.com/ct3/mn.moved-to-lid-hash/ | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13504 Registered: 1-2003 |
I think the most shocking thing about those web pages, Morrisa, is that kids are allowed to publish things on the web. | ||
| Mr. Big Poppa Citizen Username: Big_poppa Post Number: 581 Registered: 7-2004  |
Why is the term Maplehood deragatory, other than meaning the "less rich" part of town? I'm not insulted knowing that there are very many other houses much nicer than mine. | ||
| hch Citizen Username: Hch Post Number: 237 Registered: 8-2002 |
My landlord in Hoboken, who supposedly had friends here, used the term "Mapleberg" when we told him we were moving here. |
