Comments on: Columbus and the comma

By: Bill Harman

Bill Harman — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:50:00 +0000

There are not that many Chicago’s, LA’s or Indy’s unlike Columbus which has at least 14 other cites with the same name through out the country. It’s perception and reality in that most are smaller towns and ours is the largest. I was born and raised here and it’s always been a “big” little city to me and that probably has a lot to do with how the area is looked at, both inside and out. But that’s a good thing because the quality of life is top notch and I can visit the others to enjoy what’s not here but always come “home” to Columbus. Maybe I don’t want what they have to be here? Besides I believe the people who live here, for the most part, view the “brand” as what it is and that’s reality. You can try to change that perception but the reality of it is that the city will have to change and grow before the folks who live here think of it differently first and that perception then gets out to the rest of the world. Be careful what you wish for because I’m content with this being our little secret and everyone else is losing out by not living the “Columbus, Ohio” experience.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:55:00 +0000

I love this city. After traveling to nearly every major city in the US, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have Columbus as home.

For the longest time, I have never used the ,OH in business and personal communication. I leave it to the other person to ask “Ohio?” or even worst “Georgia?”

We’re the biggest and the best Columbus. The other cities need the comma. There is no need for it here.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:33:00 +0000

I agree with you and Ryan. I love Columbus. Been here my entire life and have no desire to move. I love traveling, but Columbus is such a unique place that even if I don’t have the money or time to go anywhere, there’s always something to do.

I think Columbus has the problem of there being multiple cities with exactly the same name. For obvious reasons. I know when I have said Columbus to people I just say the name of the city, not the state. Sometimes I get a question of huh?!? but mostly not.

I also agree that we have a clean slate. The housing crunch hit here but nearly as bad as other places. We are an emerging tech town and with all the local colleges around we still have the ability to become something bigger.

By: ryansquire

ryansquire — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:18:00 +0000

Billy,
I think you’re right, Columbus lacks an identity. But in the current economy, that’s a bit of a blessing. I’m from Buffalo. You know where Buffalo is. Buffalo is known as the Erie Canal city, or steel city. All of that is no longer important, it was a hundred years ago. The best thing that’s happened in the city of Buffalo in the last 20 years is that they lost 4 straight Super Bowls. ouch.

So Columbus not having an identity is ok; it means we have a blank slate. I think the networks we are currently building will eventually lead to an identity that we can all be proud of.

As far as the comma, we have a problem. Because we lack an identity, we don’t have anything that sets us apart from Columbus, GA. Even Tommy Callahan didn’t know the difference.

NBC 4’s parent company, Media General, has a TV station in Columbus, GA (at least for now). We always have to include the Ohio for that reason.

So, for now the comma sticks. But i think you’re on to something. If we can find an identity and get it to stick, we can think about dropping the comma.