Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen offers apology to New Orleans residents, not city

Dome50 said
What PR problem? New Orleans is one of the most popular tourist desitinations in America consistently drawing major events year in and year out (can't wait for the Saints to play in a home Superbowl next year). But no one here isn't acknowledging that the place has some problems. Yes, crime is bad. Yes, it stinks after 100,000 people party on a street for 24 hours. New Orleans doesn't appeal to everyone and that is ok. And it sounds like it doesn't appeal to you. The French Quarter has experienced some violence lately and that is terrible, and if you choose to just forever scratch it off your "to do" list that's your prerogative but it sounds like you are the one living with your head in the sand. I've been going to the quarter for years and have never experienced crime. Am I just lucky? I don't know, but I'm not missing out on a really cool thing. So maybe check it out next time before heading back to Missisissippi and before painting with such a broad brush.

You don't get what I'm saying. It seems like nobody does, that's why you're after me.

I love New Orleans, and I know a lot more of it than Bourbon Street. I don't mind staying there. The "you" was general and so was the "I".

It's the automatic rejection of any opinions of outsiders that's a little annoying about New Orleans. "Take it or leave it" is a bad attitude for a tourist city, plain and simple. I'm not saying you should change your culture or way of life, only that cleaning the place up a little so it doesn't reek at the BEGINNING of the night, and addressing the crime problem, would be a good idea.

Or maybe we should just agree to disagree, because I'm speaking as a person who loves New Orleans, and y'all aren't really getting what I'm trying to tell you.

Perception is reality.