So where is this nonsense coming from? Some DJ at a local radio station decided this was his new “cause d’jour”, and has enlisted his mindless minions to his bidding. You can be sure that “Hotlanta” will be around a lot longer than this guy’s radio show.

It’s too bad his listeners don’t have anything more important to do than to worry about whether Hotlanta is the latest name for Atlanta or not. Obviously, they need to get a life, but it would be nice if they could think for themselves, too.

Hotlanta is the one nickname that’s actually weathered the years (there have been many other nicknames). Why? Because it’s the one nickname that’s actually descriptive of Atlanta. We have the hottest nightlife in the south. And yes, it’s hot here. Even the history of the name is cool. It got it’s start as a song done by the Allman Brothers back in the 70′s. And let’s not forget that the word itself is great. It’s a clever manipulation of “Atlanta”, and people like it. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

As for ATL, what that heck is that? It’s a luggage tag and means absolutely nothing at all. It’s not clever, meaningful, or even nice. It’s just boring and lazy. I have nothing against people using it, but compared to “Hotlanta”, it just doesn’t measure up at all.

The fact that “Hotlanta” promotes our great city to the world not withstanding, how is denigrating what people call our city, a term we ourselves promoted, helpful to our image? If you don’t like the term, don’t use it, but please stop telling others that they can’t use it. That’s just rude.

And we’re the city to busy to be rude… LOL!