most cariocas have a very complex relationship with their city, being fiercely proud of all its successes, beauties, and achievements, while at the same time heartbreakingly disappointed by its short-comings and failures - the city, including its places, people, atmosphere, and institutions, is felt by cariocas, consciously or unconsciously, to be a part of their identity, and can serve as an extension of themselves.

that said, they do not take kindly to others talking critically or negatively about the city, even if simply to agree or support a point they have made - critical comments are met with protective responses ranging from injured and uncomfortable silence, to aggressive defensiveness.

there are a number of infamous examples of this phenomenon - when the simpsons produced an episode set in rio, depicting the city as full of monkeys and rats, sexual aggression, violence, and crime, there was widespread outrage and a public apology was demanded from fox.