Year-end lists: 8 things those listicles got wrong about us

It happens every three months or so. Someone on your Facebook or Twitter feed shares a link to a list attempting to define you and your city. Some of the lists are pretty accurate, others are way off, and most of them we’ve come across in the past year or so (it’s impossible to resist clicking) contain at least one blatant mischaracterization of Tampa or St. Pete.

For instance:

1) Since when is Ale and the Witch a brewery? In a list of things “only people in St. Petersburg would understand,” Movoto ran a photo of the establishment with a blurb touting St. Pete’s breweries. We love A&TW, but it is an establishment that sells craft beer — it doesn’t brew any. 

2) Boardwalk? What boardwalk? That same list mentions the profusion of dogs in the city, which is accurate. Less so is the inclusion of a “boardwalk” as a place to see many doggies. No boardwalks here, guys; unless you mean something other than a walkway made of boards.

3. Don’t say “’burger” unless it’s after “ham…” Several months ago a Movoto listicle targeting people who are moving to St. Pete drew the ire of residents by claiming that “cool kids call it the ‘burg’” and that those living in the city are referred to as “burgers.” Sure, a few people do call it the 'Burg and that's fine. But 'Burgers? No. Definitely fucking not.

4) Are you old and rich? If not, Buzzfeed was wrong about us. In a color-coded map featured with its listicle, “What Florida cities actually mean,” Tampa Bay was colored blue — for “Old Rich People.” The list itself left St. Pete off, and said Tampa was defined by its strip clubs — wow, never heard that one.

5) Beercan building in St. Pete now? Movoto's list of "27 things people from St. Petersburg have to explain to out-of-towners." featured a photo of a putatively St. Pete food truck rally with a downtown Tampa backdrop.
6) Hulk Hogan lives in Clearwater, not Tampa! In its rundown of supposed Tampa stereotypes, a Movoto writer alleged that dudes here “all think they can fight,” which is just silly. And they included a picture of Hogan, a Clearwater resident, as evidence of this. Hogan does own Hogan's Beach opposite the Courtney Campbell Causeway from Clearwater, but that's as Tampa as he gets.

7) Tampa’s Pier??? In another assertion about Tampanians, this one calling all who live in the city “sun-baked and salt-caked,” Movoto featured an aerial photo of the iconic St. Pete Pier, which is, oddly enough, definitely. not. in. Tampa.

8) Snobby? As if! A listicle featured on Travel and Leisure’s Website dared to call Tampa the 6th snobbiest city in the country. You know something? Just because we’re attractive and smart (as has been pointed out in similar listicles) and just awesome in general doesn't mean we’re snobs!

This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2014.