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NIMBY / YIMBY

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New York: Immigrants are welcome here, we are not like those bigots from Texas who hate immigrants. Texas: OK, we just paid some bus tickets to New York to the immigrants, take care of them. New York: Oh, you can't do this to me.
Close the border! We are full of illegal immigrants here! We can't take care of them, we get over a thousand of them every day! It's been years like this and now it's even worse! ↓ Oh, you just hate immigrants because you're racist and xenophobic, we defend open borders, we are a sanctuary city, immigrants are welcome here, no one is illegal, no one should be punished for crossing an imaginary line in a rock floating in space. But don't worry, we will do what we can, we will help these people, we will show you who is the real christian, we will treat them like people and not like cargo or political pawns. OK then, here's a bus full of immigrants, take care of them. No! We can't take care of them! And you are a monster! You claim you are a christian, but instead of taking care of the poor like Jesus said, you just send them elsewhere! And transporting people across state borders is illegal, it's human trafficking. LATER... Sorry, you will have to make another trip, we wish we could help, but you have to go away.
Yimby or Nimby Lenin's 1918 Decree on Land
M. Nolan Gray @mnolangray Wholesome YIMBY content POSTBOI '111' BUNKY'S BROTHEL 'fraid you're right, pardner 6:37 PM - Aug 6, 2018 from Manhattan, NY POSTBOI this town ain't big enough for the two of us Alex th BROTHE 403 Retweets 27 Quotes 1,925 Likes 11 Bookmarks linysnek comics
Are y'all with the NIMBYS? We're not NIMBYS. We support 100% truly affordable housing, provided it has full neighborhood approval and satisfies 16 key sustainability metrics and provided the housing is for long-term residents, NOT transients and it doesn't infringe on parking or neighborhood character, or overload the transit system, or result in a private developer making any money, and only after comprehensive community review to ensure it doesn't cast shadows and contributes to the decommodification of housing altogether and ultimately the abolition of capitalism itself imgflip.com THEN Yeah, this is it.
Authoritarian You drive up living costs for the working class. Econo- Left ritarian You make it harder for families to raise kids in stable homes. NIMBY (NOT IN MY BACKYARD) ATTITUDS OF OPOSTO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ONE'S COMMUNITY. WHILE DEFENDED AS J Jacos sr PEN, IT CAN OPENS UND To SarEGUARD EDAS, METICS", SOCIAL HEAUTY. EVERYDAYCONCEPTS 10 You use zoning laws to keep minorities poor. Left Authorit Rig GABRIEL KRIESHOK Libertarian Economic- Right You worsen the energy crisis by shutting down nuclear. Right
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About • History • Online Presence • Various Examples • Search Interest • External References • Recent Images

About

NIMBY / YIMBY are slang acronyms that stand for the catchphrases Not In My Back Yard or Yes In My Back Yard. The colloquialism NIMBY is typically used to describe local residents' opposition to new or proposed developments in their area on the grounds that such developments would affect their quality of life or property value. The origins of the term NIMBY can be traced back to environmental concerns raised by Michigan and New Hampshire residents in response to proposed nuclear generation plants in their locality. However, the term NIMBY has increasingly become associated with worsening racial and economic segregation over the years, with NIMBY supporters being accused of limiting the overall supply of affordable housing under the guise of opposing gentrification. NIMBY beliefs are also often referred to by derivative terms like NIMBYism, NIMBYists or NIMBYs.

History

The Encyclopedia Brittanica describes NIMBY as "one’s opposition to the locating of something considered undesirable in one’s neighborhood,"[1] while the Oxford Dictionary describes NIMBY as "a person who objects to the siting of something perceived as unpleasant or hazardous in their own neighborhood, especially while raising no such objections to similar developments elsewhere."[2]

An early example of the use of the term "NIMBY" can be traced back to a Virginia local newspaper article from June 29th, 1980 (seen below).[3]

No One Wants Backyard Nuclear Dump By ERNIE GATES Low-level radioactive waste includes tools, rags, clothing and other items con- taminated by radiation in nuclear power plants; casks of contaminated water, steel. alloy plates and other items bombarded by radiation in nuclear research; syringes used in radioactive medication; even the rats and beagles used to test the effects of radiation on animals. It doesn't glow in the dark and it isn't as dangerous as spent nuclear fuel or other See 500-Acre, Page A5 Staff Reporter Some call it the Nimby Syndrome. That's Nimby, as in "Not-in-my-back- yard." which is where everybody wants to put a Virginia dumping grounds for low level nuclear waste. Nuclear waste disposal sites in some states are slowly closing their doors to ship- ments from outside their borders, so Vir- ginia and most other states are faced with a need to set up their own dumps The alternative is to shut down nuclear power plants, stop nuclear research and call a halt to nuclear medicine. As director of the state Solid Waste Commission, Susan Dull has been a victim of the Nimby syndrome in conducting public workshops on the need for a nuclear trash dump in Virginia. "A lot of people just hear 'nuclear' and think of something that glows in the dark. Ms. Dull said.

The NIMBY acronym has been frequently used by social scientists since the 1980s to describe local communities resisting the construction of controversial facilities like nuclear waste disposal sites or prisons. However, since the 2010s, the term NIMBY has increasingly come to be associated with racial segregation and economic inequality on account of NIMBY organizations opposing the building of new housing infrastructure on the grounds of opposing gentrification.[4] The use of the word NIMBY in the 21st century is often pejorative.

Comedian Geroge Carlin[5] notably used the phrase "NIMBY" in a comedy set that took place on April 24th, 1992, as part of his Jammin' In New York special (seen below).

Online Presence

On August 7th, 2018, the Facebook[6] page Urban Memes Crushing NIMBY Dreams posted a meme about NIMBYs being afraid of homeless shelters, gathering over 400 likes in five years (seen below, left). On April 4th, 2019, Twitter[7] user @kathdovi posted a parody of "In This House We Believe" signs, gathering over 3,000 likes in four years (seen below, right).

I'm a NIMBY It means he's afraid of POOR PEOPLE HOMELESS SHELTER 你 What's a NIMBY No, it doesn't. 阿 Stop it, Patrick, you're scaring him!

On July 12th, 2019, the Instagram[8] page realbayarea memes posted a NIMBY meme that gathered over 500 likes in four years (seen below, left). On September 9th, 2020, a tweet by Twitter user @amore_orless[9] that read, "NIMBYs spent $3500 on ugly boulders to prevent unhoused people from existing in their neighborhood… 😤 /…so we moved them 🥰" gathered over 117,000 likes in three years (seen below, right).

Tech workers who get s--- constant ly fc 'Now let's find out who's really behind the bay area's gentrification old man Nimby!

On April 22nd, 2022, Redditor[10] /u/CeeWitz posted a meme to /r/starpacks captioned, "NIMBY In A Liberal City Starter Pack," gathering over 1,000 upvotes in a year (seen below).

"NIMBY in a Liberal City" starter pack EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE IN THIS HOUSE, WE BELIEVE: BLACK LIVES MATTER SAFET WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS CEQA NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL SCIENCE IS REAL KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING DIVERSITY EKRISTIN JOINER CAFEPRESS.COM/THEWAWHSHOP CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT their home decor OVER LUXURY GENTRIFICATION Nextdoor NTRIFICATIO EL BARRIO SE VEND STRE SALOJO Zoning F--- OFFT WE'RE FULL "I support new housing, BUT..." Greedy Developer's their advocacy CASH GRAB [CITY] RESIDENTS FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT their property values NO MONSTER in the Mission "Building new housing here will cause displacement" demands more "community meetings"

YIMBY

The YIMBY movement, which stands for Yes In My Back Yard, supports the construction of affordable housing and denser housing layouts. YIMBYs also often support rezoning in states like California that would allow for the construction of high-rise buildings and the repurposing of obsolete buildings in housing in order to create denser, less sprawling cities and suburbs.

On August 6th, 2018, Twitter[11] user @mnolangray posted a comic with the caption, "Wholesome YIMBY content," gathering over 1,900 likes in five years (seen below, left).

On July 11th, 2023, Twitter[12] user @yhdistyminen posted a tweet that read, "YIMBY developer shills may tell you that $720/month for a one-bedroom in a new build, right next to transit, in a neighborhood where the median unit is much pricier, is "affordable", but have you considered that I personally do not deem it "affordable"?" The tweet gathered over 1,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).

M. Nolan Gray @mnolangray Wholesome YIMBY content POSTBOI '111' BUNKY'S BROTHEL 'fraid you're right, pardner 6:37 PM - Aug 6, 2018 from Manhattan, NY POSTBOI this town ain't big enough for the two of us Alex th BROTHE 403 Retweets 27 Quotes 1,925 Likes 11 Bookmarks linysnek comics
bob's burgers urbanist @yhdistyminen YIMBY developer shills may tell you that $720/month for a one-bedroom in a new build, right next to transit, in a neighborhood where the median unit is much pricier, is "affordable", but have you considered that I personally do not deem it "affordable"? Salem Snow @Salem4Congress • Jul 10 Replying to @thetimeisnowTB IT IS AFFORDABLE! THE DEVELOPER TOLD ME SO! IT'S BASED ON THE MEDIAN CITY AMI! 4:45 PM Jul 11, 2023 · 171.2K Views IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE. 59 Retweets 5 Quotes 1,662 Likes 24 Bookmarks

Various Examples

Are y'all with the NIMBYS? We're not NIMBYS. We support 100% truly affordable housing, provided it has full neighborhood approval and satisfies 16 key sustainability metrics and provided the housing is for long-term residents, NOT transients and it doesn't infringe on parking or neighborhood character, or overload the transit system, or result in a private developer making any money, and only after comprehensive community review to ensure it doesn't cast shadows and contributes to the decommodification of housing altogether and ultimately the abolition of capitalism itself imgflip.com THEN Yeah, this is it.
Is it affordable "enough?" ♫ Yes No Yes NIMBY flow chart Need a reason why you're against this new housing? Enough? Does it have parking? How much is enough? Doesn't matter... Yes Yes No Is it "Affordable?" Is it taller than 3 floors? No Where will they park all their luxury SUVs?? Is it a physical structure? Bonus choice! "mUh nEIGHborHOOD character" or "I have a design opinion" Yes No (Please don't ask me how much my market-rate home is worth) Out of context with the multi-million dollar bungalows nearby! Also, please ignore other nearby apartment buildings that also exist. NO new housing!
"I'm worried about the impact have NIMBY a rescue ship would on our neighborhood character." Samuel
Yimby or Nimby Lenin's 1918 Decree on Land
The BETOOTA ADVOCATE NIMBY Richmond Shitebags Want Drug Users To Die In The Park Like The Good Old Days ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Authoritarian You drive up living costs for the working class. Econo- Left ritarian You make it harder for families to raise kids in stable homes. NIMBY (NOT IN MY BACKYARD) ATTITUDS OF OPOSTO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ONE'S COMMUNITY. WHILE DEFENDED AS J Jacos sr PEN, IT CAN OPENS UND To SarEGUARD EDAS, METICS", SOCIAL HEAUTY. EVERYDAYCONCEPTS 10 You use zoning laws to keep minorities poor. Left Authorit Rig GABRIEL KRIESHOK Libertarian Economic- Right You worsen the energy crisis by shutting down nuclear. Right

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References

[1] Encyclopedia Brittanica – NIMBY

[2] Internet Archive – Oxford Dictionary

[3] Newspapers – NIMBY

[4]  New York Times – Twilight Of The NIMBY

[5] YouTube – nybeans

[6] Facebook – Urban Memes Crushing NIMBY Dreams

[7] Twitter – kathdovi

[8] Instagram – realbayarea

[9] Twitter – amore_orless

[10] Reddit – /r/Starterpacks

[11] Twitter – mnolangray

[12] Twitter – yhdistyminen

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NIMBY / YIMBY meme examples referencing the slang terms.

NIMBY / YIMBY

Part of a series on Internet Slang. [View Related Entries]

Updated Jul 12, 2023 at 05:21PM EDT by Zach.

Added Jul 12, 2023 at 01:19PM EDT by sakshi.

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About

NIMBY / YIMBY are slang acronyms that stand for the catchphrases Not In My Back Yard or Yes In My Back Yard. The colloquialism NIMBY is typically used to describe local residents' opposition to new or proposed developments in their area on the grounds that such developments would affect their quality of life or property value. The origins of the term NIMBY can be traced back to environmental concerns raised by Michigan and New Hampshire residents in response to proposed nuclear generation plants in their locality. However, the term NIMBY has increasingly become associated with worsening racial and economic segregation over the years, with NIMBY supporters being accused of limiting the overall supply of affordable housing under the guise of opposing gentrification. NIMBY beliefs are also often referred to by derivative terms like NIMBYism, NIMBYists or NIMBYs.

History

The Encyclopedia Brittanica describes NIMBY as "one’s opposition to the locating of something considered undesirable in one’s neighborhood,"[1] while the Oxford Dictionary describes NIMBY as "a person who objects to the siting of something perceived as unpleasant or hazardous in their own neighborhood, especially while raising no such objections to similar developments elsewhere."[2]

An early example of the use of the term "NIMBY" can be traced back to a Virginia local newspaper article from June 29th, 1980 (seen below).[3]


No One Wants Backyard Nuclear Dump By ERNIE GATES Low-level radioactive waste includes tools, rags, clothing and other items con- taminated by radiation in nuclear power plants; casks of contaminated water, steel. alloy plates and other items bombarded by radiation in nuclear research; syringes used in radioactive medication; even the rats and beagles used to test the effects of radiation on animals. It doesn't glow in the dark and it isn't as dangerous as spent nuclear fuel or other See 500-Acre, Page A5 Staff Reporter Some call it the Nimby Syndrome. That's Nimby, as in "Not-in-my-back- yard." which is where everybody wants to put a Virginia dumping grounds for low level nuclear waste. Nuclear waste disposal sites in some states are slowly closing their doors to ship- ments from outside their borders, so Vir- ginia and most other states are faced with a need to set up their own dumps The alternative is to shut down nuclear power plants, stop nuclear research and call a halt to nuclear medicine. As director of the state Solid Waste Commission, Susan Dull has been a victim of the Nimby syndrome in conducting public workshops on the need for a nuclear trash dump in Virginia. "A lot of people just hear 'nuclear' and think of something that glows in the dark. Ms. Dull said.

The NIMBY acronym has been frequently used by social scientists since the 1980s to describe local communities resisting the construction of controversial facilities like nuclear waste disposal sites or prisons. However, since the 2010s, the term NIMBY has increasingly come to be associated with racial segregation and economic inequality on account of NIMBY organizations opposing the building of new housing infrastructure on the grounds of opposing gentrification.[4] The use of the word NIMBY in the 21st century is often pejorative.

Comedian Geroge Carlin[5] notably used the phrase "NIMBY" in a comedy set that took place on April 24th, 1992, as part of his Jammin' In New York special (seen below).



Online Presence

On August 7th, 2018, the Facebook[6] page Urban Memes Crushing NIMBY Dreams posted a meme about NIMBYs being afraid of homeless shelters, gathering over 400 likes in five years (seen below, left). On April 4th, 2019, Twitter[7] user @kathdovi posted a parody of "In This House We Believe" signs, gathering over 3,000 likes in four years (seen below, right).


I'm a NIMBY It means he's afraid of POOR PEOPLE HOMELESS SHELTER 你 What's a NIMBY No, it doesn't. 阿 Stop it, Patrick, you're scaring him!

On July 12th, 2019, the Instagram[8] page realbayarea memes posted a NIMBY meme that gathered over 500 likes in four years (seen below, left). On September 9th, 2020, a tweet by Twitter user @amore_orless[9] that read, "NIMBYs spent $3500 on ugly boulders to prevent unhoused people from existing in their neighborhood… 😤 /…so we moved them 🥰" gathered over 117,000 likes in three years (seen below, right).


Tech workers who get s--- constant ly fc 'Now let's find out who's really behind the bay area's gentrification old man Nimby!

On April 22nd, 2022, Redditor[10] /u/CeeWitz posted a meme to /r/starpacks captioned, "NIMBY In A Liberal City Starter Pack," gathering over 1,000 upvotes in a year (seen below).


"NIMBY in a Liberal City" starter pack EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE IN THIS HOUSE, WE BELIEVE: BLACK LIVES MATTER SAFET WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS CEQA NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL SCIENCE IS REAL KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING DIVERSITY EKRISTIN JOINER CAFEPRESS.COM/THEWAWHSHOP CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT their home decor OVER LUXURY GENTRIFICATION Nextdoor NTRIFICATIO EL BARRIO SE VEND STRE SALOJO Zoning F--- OFFT WE'RE FULL "I support new housing, BUT..." Greedy Developer's their advocacy CASH GRAB [CITY] RESIDENTS FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT their property values NO MONSTER in the Mission "Building new housing here will cause displacement" demands more "community meetings"

YIMBY

The YIMBY movement, which stands for Yes In My Back Yard, supports the construction of affordable housing and denser housing layouts. YIMBYs also often support rezoning in states like California that would allow for the construction of high-rise buildings and the repurposing of obsolete buildings in housing in order to create denser, less sprawling cities and suburbs.

On August 6th, 2018, Twitter[11] user @mnolangray posted a comic with the caption, "Wholesome YIMBY content," gathering over 1,900 likes in five years (seen below, left).

On July 11th, 2023, Twitter[12] user @yhdistyminen posted a tweet that read, "YIMBY developer shills may tell you that $720/month for a one-bedroom in a new build, right next to transit, in a neighborhood where the median unit is much pricier, is "affordable", but have you considered that I personally do not deem it "affordable"?" The tweet gathered over 1,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).


M. Nolan Gray @mnolangray Wholesome YIMBY content POSTBOI '111' BUNKY'S BROTHEL 'fraid you're right, pardner 6:37 PM - Aug 6, 2018 from Manhattan, NY POSTBOI this town ain't big enough for the two of us Alex th BROTHE 403 Retweets 27 Quotes 1,925 Likes 11 Bookmarks linysnek comics bob's burgers urbanist @yhdistyminen YIMBY developer shills may tell you that $720/month for a one-bedroom in a new build, right next to transit, in a neighborhood where the median unit is much pricier, is "affordable", but have you considered that I personally do not deem it "affordable"? Salem Snow @Salem4Congress • Jul 10 Replying to @thetimeisnowTB IT IS AFFORDABLE! THE DEVELOPER TOLD ME SO! IT'S BASED ON THE MEDIAN CITY AMI! 4:45 PM Jul 11, 2023 · 171.2K Views IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE. 59 Retweets 5 Quotes 1,662 Likes 24 Bookmarks

Various Examples


Are y'all with the NIMBYS? We're not NIMBYS. We support 100% truly affordable housing, provided it has full neighborhood approval and satisfies 16 key sustainability metrics and provided the housing is for long-term residents, NOT transients and it doesn't infringe on parking or neighborhood character, or overload the transit system, or result in a private developer making any money, and only after comprehensive community review to ensure it doesn't cast shadows and contributes to the decommodification of housing altogether and ultimately the abolition of capitalism itself imgflip.com THEN Yeah, this is it. Is it affordable "enough?" ♫ Yes No Yes NIMBY flow chart Need a reason why you're against this new housing? Enough? Does it have parking? How much is enough? Doesn't matter... Yes Yes No Is it "Affordable?" Is it taller than 3 floors? No Where will they park all their luxury SUVs?? Is it a physical structure? Bonus choice! "mUh nEIGHborHOOD character" or "I have a design opinion" Yes No (Please don't ask me how much my market-rate home is worth) Out of context with the multi-million dollar bungalows nearby! Also, please ignore other nearby apartment buildings that also exist. NO new housing! "I'm worried about the impact have NIMBY a rescue ship would on our neighborhood character." Samuel Yimby or Nimby Lenin's 1918 Decree on Land The BETOOTA ADVOCATE NIMBY Richmond Shitebags Want Drug Users To Die In The Park Like The Good Old Days ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact Authoritarian You drive up living costs for the working class. Econo- Left ritarian You make it harder for families to raise kids in stable homes. NIMBY (NOT IN MY BACKYARD) ATTITUDS OF OPOSTO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ONE'S COMMUNITY. WHILE DEFENDED AS J Jacos sr PEN, IT CAN OPENS UND To SarEGUARD EDAS, METICS", SOCIAL HEAUTY. EVERYDAYCONCEPTS 10 You use zoning laws to keep minorities poor. Left Authorit Rig GABRIEL KRIESHOK Libertarian Economic- Right You worsen the energy crisis by shutting down nuclear. Right

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References

[1] Encyclopedia Brittanica – NIMBY

[2] Internet Archive – Oxford Dictionary

[3] Newspapers – NIMBY

[4]  New York Times – Twilight Of The NIMBY

[5] YouTube – nybeans

[6] Facebook – Urban Memes Crushing NIMBY Dreams

[7] Twitter – kathdovi

[8] Instagram – realbayarea

[9] Twitter – amore_orless

[10] Reddit – /r/Starterpacks

[11] Twitter – mnolangray

[12] Twitter – yhdistyminen

Related Entries 534 total


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verbum
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verbum

The radical anti-NIMBY community is mostly people who contribute little to nothing towards a stable community. It's an interesting dynamic where the local legacy small-business owners (people who've owned their storefront for at least 5 years), families with children, people who volunteer in their local community organizations, and so on tend to be opposed by people with nothing tying them down to their location. And turning the question of new developments into a discussion about homelessness in order to guilt-trip locals is crappy too.
The NIMBY label is oftne used as a cop-out to discredit many people's nuanced positions and genuine concerns regarding new-construction policies and practices: "I dunno, maybe we shouldn't bulldoze 4 blocks of of arts-and-crafts era single-family homes in our neighborhood to build 27 different 5-over-1 apartme-" "NIMBY! WE GOT A NIMBY OVER HERE!" ugh, anyone ever heard of Missing-Middle Housing?
And Lord knows that if they secured a decent single-family home, they'd take it and immediately turn into NIMBYs themselves. No empathy, no self-awareness.

I hate labels. I hate labels so much.

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downer
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downer

It's funny because NIMBYism is really one of the most universal human foibles, yet it's somehow become a partisan political thing.

It's kind of like the whole 'courage requires you to be scared' thing – most people who decry NIMBYism are simply looking at things they either personally don't mind in their backyard, or don't truly worry about ever coming to their backyard.

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