Chances are that many of you have heard about the article on the website Homesnacks.net, in which Atmore was listed as the “fifth worst place to live in Alabama.” When I checked my Facebook page, I saw that several of my local friends had posted it, and were commenting on how it was unfair.

I actually got a double whammy of the story, because just as many of my hometown friends were also posting it. I grew up in Gadsden, which was listed as the No. 1 worst city on the list (Oddly, the photo they used shows my old church. Trust me, I know many worse streets in Gadsden they could have picked from).

The North Carolina-based authors said that they used some data and statistics to back up their claims, but I’m skeptical of any website that lists Atmore as a “suburb of Mobile” and says it takes an hour to get to No. 9 Eufaula from Birmingham (maybe in a stock car from No. 7 Talladega).

Obviously everyone has a voice on the Internet, but you can’t believe everything that’s posted online. Also, the flawed analysis shows that you can’t just come up with a list by looking at random statistical data.

I wonder how the authors might have tried to quantify great community festivals like Williams Station Day. I wonder if the listmakers considered the Wind Creek Casino complex and its benefits to our local economy and quality of life. I wonder if the authors would have placed Atmore at No. 5 if they had seen the community volunteer spirit of groups like the Rotary Club, Lions Club, Community Friendship Club, and many more. Also, one of their data points (population density) lists a lower density as a negative — news flash, some of us like having a little space to move around!

It’s likely that the authors of this list just created it to get a reaction and web traffic, and I suppose I’m helping to provide them exactly what they wanted. Regardless, I’m proud to say I’m from Atmore, and I know that there are plenty of things that are wonderful about this city. And that’s something you can’t just compile into a spreadsheet.