7 questions not to ask a Las Vegan
Despite how many people come to Las Vegas every year (or maybe because of it), people seem to struggle with understanding how the city’s residents actually live their lives.
Both frequent visitors and people who have never set foot in the valley ask questions that leave us cringing. Here are some of the worst:
1. How can you stand the heat?
It’s not that bad — really. Sure, it’s ridiculously hot for a few months out of the year. But you get used to it, and then you get weather you can’t complain about for the other nine months. We’ll take the trade over trying to use our credit cards as ice scrapers when we’re running late for work.
2. Want to hang out on the Strip tonight?
3. Why can’t you come to this event I gave you five minutes’ notice for?
It may come as a surprise to our friends from out of town, but we aren’t just sitting around at home all day waiting to be invited to something. We have jobs. Or families. Or other commitments that mean we can’t drop everything at a moment’s notice to come spend the day by the pool. Sorry.
4. Do you just party, like, all the time?
Another of those tired stereotypes, like the old “which hotel do you live in?”
Ever wonder what keeps the city you so enjoy visiting up and running? Here’s a hint: It’s not 2 million people staying out until dawn seven nights a week.
5. Can you hook me up?
It depends? We’ll use our locals discount on show tickets or buffet passes, sure. But if you’re looking for an upgrade from the hotel’s crappiest room to a presidential suite, well, you’re wrong.
6. How many celebrities do you know?
Zero. Unless you count that time we saw Britney Spears at Target but spent so long debating about whether it was her that she disappeared. No? Then zero.
7. How can you live here?
Las Vegas gets a lot of crap for being true to itself. People complain that it’s too dirty, or loud, or a horrible place to raise children. But they just keep coming, making the Las Vegas Strip the most visited tourist attraction in the world. We’ll put up with the haters for as long as they keep away a state income tax.
Contact Stephanie Grimes at sgrimes@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @stephgrimes
