nfscd # 7 ~ Sodom and Gomorrah of 21st century America
Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 10:23AM 
Shattered hopes and dreams * click to embiggendecay # 14 drew a reply from James that, distilled to its essence, said "... Vegas disgusts me. It is, in my opinion, the ultimate example of, to quote Mark, 'dumping all over' America and squandering our resources." If you haven't read my entry, you might want to give it a glance in order to understand why James thought his Vegas anecdote was relevant to the discussion at hand. IMO, it was appropriate.
However, The Landscapist's ever vigilant fact-checker (the guy who lets me get away with nothing), Paul Maxim, disagrees. He opined that; "Sorry, I don't get it. Las Vegas is no worse than most American cities and better than many of them. Is that good enough? Probably not. But to paint this city as the Sodom and Gomorrah of 21st century America is as ludicrous as it is uninformed."
Ok. It seems that we all (me, Paul and James) agree re: Las Vegas - "Las Vegas is no worse than most American cities and better than many of them. Is that good enough? Probably not." But, IMO, Paul's defense of Las Vegas is a bit of damning with faint praise. I, personally, have never considered the phrase "not good enough" to be a positive endorsement of anything that I might be doing.
However, I don't wish quibble over that particular point. I'm more interested in the notion of considering Las Vegas is as "the Sodom and Gomorrah of 21st century America" and I think there is a very good case for thinking of it as such. Why? The manner and message of how the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau (or some such other tourism promotion agency) wants us to think about the place.
All tourism promotion entities are forever trying to come up with the tag line or phrase that most memorably places a mental picture of the place in the perspective tourist's mind. Las Vegas has landed upon the tag line, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". IMO, you would have to be naive or an idiot to think that what they are suggesting by "what happens in Vegas" is about double parking or jaywalking.
What it suggests to me is activities involving sex, drinking, drugs, gambling, and excessive indulgences that, after you arrive back home, you are not going to brag about (or even discuss) to your wife, your kids, your mother, your priest, or another 'upstanding' citizen of your community. This is not to suggest that some, maybe even most, don't go to Vegas just to have some good clean fun but then, when you think about it, why would they care whether or not what they did in Vegas, stays in Vegas?
IMO, I think that a very good case can be made for considering Las Vegas to be "the Sodom and Gomorrah of 21st century America" if for no other reason than that's how the LVCVB wants us to think about it.
gravitas et nugalis
note to Paul: No bourbon was consumed nor animals harmed in the making of this entry or the accompanying picture. Although, since the pictured footwear is made of synthetics and are made in China, one could logically assume that someone or something was or is being harmed. But, of course, that's just a part of the shattered hopes and dreams.
Reader Comments (9)
Mark,
In my opinion, the tagline you mentioned was stolen from the military whos tagline is, "what happens on TDY stays on TDY". It is all about the same implied things you mention, usually done in a foreign country.
On a different note, I like those shoes!
Vegas is probably my most favorite city in the US to be leaving. I'm either going home or heading out to enjoy some of the many fabulous hiking opportunities there are a few hours drive from Vegas in most any direction. Cheap to get to, cheaper to rent a car than most places, nowhere else is better to be leaving.
The slogan used by the LVCVA has been widely used outside the military. Our installation crews have a similar motto used long before that ad campaign of "What happens on the road, stays on the road". So, who knows what city that is happening in?
Outside the "Tourist Corridor", it is much like living in any SW city of the same size. This like any city is what you want to make of it. I am sure most anywhere in the world at times can be called "A good place to be from".
The term "Sin City" is a hot button with me. The only time I have seen it effectively used is the naming of a local business (Syn City), dealing in synthetic turf, water issues being what they are.
Yes we do have our issues of what is condoned in the TC and I do believe the governor of NY did not come to Las Vegas for his sport, had he, he still could be in office. I also wonder of O.J.'s opinion on LV's leniency compared to that of SoCal's.
FWIW
for what's it worth and straying so far from photography on this topic, I would honestly say I might have paid to see this young Tom Jones completely lose it on the dance floor in Vegas. Just wait until the 1 minute, 17 second mark of this for some kind of bodily explosion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDE0s4wy2bc
Yes, we have strayed a long way from photography, but sometimes it's worth the fight....
First, when I said it's "probably not good enough", I was referring to virtually every town in America (even small ones in the Adirondacks). It was neither damning nor faint praise - just a statement.
Second, I'm underwhelmed by your "evidence" that this is the modern day version of S and G. Jeez, all you could come up with is an old cliche about Las Vegas, one that was neither created by nor endorsed by the LVCVA? What were you thinking? Remind me to never have you selected to be on a jury that's trying me for a crime I didn't commit. You seem to be easily swayed by hearsay evidence!
Finally, how about a few facts. I know they get in the way sometimes, especially for those who've already made up their minds, but let's give it a whirl anyway.
Surprisingly, most people who visit LV come for reasons other than partying or gambling. The majority (40 %) are on vacation. That is, they fly into Las Vegas, stay here a few days, and then visit other parts of the southwest (Zion, Bryce, Death Valley, Arches, etc.). Many of those people travel with kids. The second largest group visits for business reasons (20 %). The third largest group is here for so-called "special events" (like weddings or honeymoons or to visit relatives). Fourth on the list is gambling - way down there at 12 %.
By the way, most of the money made in Las Vegas is non-gaming (about 60 %).
And here's my favorite: 40 % of all visitors are over 50 years old. Now there's a bunch of party animals for you! They're baby boomers, for heaven's sake (just like you, Mark). I know - I see them every day wandering around the place that I work in. They're not doing things that they're trying to hide from people back home. Their spouses are with them.
Also, contrary to popular belief, the "mob" no longer runs LV (hasn't for a really long time). It's run by the same kinds of corporations that run GM and Ford and Sony. No, wait. That's not quite true. The folks running these corporations are smarter than those other guys.
Yes, some people come here just to party. It's a "destination". it's a place where they can do things and see things that aren't available back home. Like I said yesterday, it's Disneyland writ large.
But some folks will never "get" that. And of course others have different ways to get through the winter months. I mean, what would you rather do? See to-scale replicas of the Great Pyramid, the Statue of Libery, and the Eiffel Tower while enjoying the warm sun, or shovel snow?
Sorry...another clip. Paul's stat about 40% of visitors over 50 reminded me of this bit from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"...(video is in top left corner of page). And I'm quite sure the dynamic has drastically changed from the days when Thompson was there, but I love the stereotype.
here is the text in case you don't want to watch...
[ the scene: Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson (Johnny Depp) wandering aimlessly on a casino floor...presumably high as can be on something. ]
"who are these people? these faces? where do they come from? They look like caricatures of used car dealers from Dallas, and sweet jesus there are a hell of a lot of them at 4:30 on a Sunday morning, still humping the American dream.That vision of the big winner somehow emerging from the last minute pre-dawn chaos of a stale Vegas casino."
http://www.killerclips.com/clip.php?id=88&qid=912
I was to the Las Vegas airport twice, but all I did was drink and gamble.
in considering vegas as america, you need to see the movie lost in america.
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Cities-Other-Mike-Davis/dp/1565848446
Vegas is worse than most American cities. Read Davis's book and weep.