Regional Stereotypes (International Posters Please!)

[Taiden]

interesting stuff. can we get more international posters to throw out some stuff about people within their own country? i'm pretty curious if you guys are as terretorial as the US.

[Kyrandian]

New Jersey here. Our reputation is not entirely deserved. Yes, central NJ has a high-percentage of industrial zoning, but its a very important state economically, and the most densely populated (14 million people). I live in northern NJ, which is very green, (no pun intended) with forests, little stores, nice sidewalks, all that suburban crap. NJ's bad reputation is 99% hype.. most people who go TO nj rather than THROUGH nj usually enjoy it.

The people are assholes, but hey-- i have about 3 friends anyway for that very reason. But i must say- The proximity to Canada and NYC make for a nice variety of smokage.. even though its overpriced. But hey, thats amerikkka, right?


Blaze on

[birdgirl73]

I am also from Texas. This thread worries me on a number of levels because I'm not at all sure it helps shed light on these prejudices and will help in dispelling them as much as it simply gives them a voice, as Skink postulated. It's for this reason that I'm seriously considering closing this thread. I intend to think about this for a bit longer first, however.

I also feel compelled to comment because I've lived in Texas all my life and never once heard anyone in my 45-year acquaintance express a desire for it to be a Republic. Similarly, I've only heard people from the northeastern U.S. referred to as "yanks" or "yankees" and not people from other geographical areas. My family is from Louisiana a generation or so ago (north Louisiana, to be specific), and so it's important for me to point out that not all hurricane refugees are thugs or crackheads, and for that matter, not all of them came out of New Orleans.

There are Texans, and I'm proud to be one of them, who've traveled widely around the world and who work hard not to say disparaging things about France or Canada or other places that we've been lucky enough to visit and enjoy. At the moment, I'm finding it much more difficult not to disparage the culturally insensitive attitudes of some of my fellow Texans. . . .

[KiEfBoyjBm]

There are Texans, and I'm proud to be one of them, who've traveled widely around the world and who work hard not to say disparaging things about France or Canada or other places that we've been lucky enough to visit and enjoy. At the moment, I'm finding it much more difficult not to disparage the culturally insensitive attitudes of some of my fellow Texans. . . .

Don't worry Birdgirl...I do not share all of the opinions I that I "shed" light upon. From my perspective...which may be rather limited having only lived 19 years...you cannot deny that people are EXTREMLY proud of our great state...I would press you to find another state who has a well organized independence movement like Texas does...while it is not an overwhelming force, it is widely recognized. I have known a couple people who have gone as far as renouncing their American citizenship in favor of the interim Republic of Texas which currently exists. While I would not go as far as denouncing ties to America, if a revolution occurred my allegiance would be to my country...TEXAS.

And you don't think all the folks up north should be or are sometimes referred to as Yankees? Consider it's definition as provided by the American Heritage Dictionary:

1. A native or inhabitant of New England.
2. A native or inhabitant of a northern U.S. state, especially a Union soldier during the Civil War.
3. A native or inhabitant of the United States.

Americans outside of Texas fit two of these definitions really well...especially if you consider my previous Independent Texas comments. I have heard Yankee thrown around in reference to folks outside of Texas many times. I am a student at A&M and can recall very well an instance in which my tenured history professor referred to "everyone north of the Woodlands" as Yankees...which is even broader than I had previously mentioned.

Do you remember the recent election when Kinky Friedman called the refugees "thugs and crackheads," it was pretty controversial but many people did concede that a large rise in crime could be accurately attributed to the addition of refugees from Louisiana and to a smaller degree Mississippi. Even former first lady Barbara Bush was quoted as saying:

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle)--this is working very well for them."

I am sympathetic towards them, I was in Galveston when Rita was due to hit...I was evacuated and treated very hospitable along the way.

As for the French...is there something wrong with telling them that their socialist system is broken? Is there something wrong with fearing that the severe economic effects of their government might spread to America...or even worse TEXAS? I know that you appreciate their rich culture but you must admit that their growing 9% unemployment rate is dangerous to the entire world. And you also must take note of there stageringly low productivity standards which are seemingly unimaginable from mine and many of my fellow Texans' points of view. While we are working hard to send our tax dollars to every country on the planet France is on vacation...likely spending the Iraqi oil for food money they illegally obtained.

Oh damn...I spilled beer on my keyboard. What is the harm in this discussion...I don't know if I will ever get much of a chance to go international as you have, I see this as an opportunity to see other people's point of view...I'm sure your interested to see how the rest of the world might view us Americans.

[RedLocks]

im from new jersey...we think the south is a bunch of hicks, new yorkers drive like shit, people from the midwest are fat and lazy and live in trailer parks, people from california (specifically LA) are overly health conscience

FIXED! otherwise i totally agree bwaaa
edit: in nj also

[Skink]

I have to say that I don't recall talking to anyone about how skinny people are there,,, or dirty there,,,ever in my life... I was surprised to here all of the negative crap other people in other states say about Jersey on a radio program one day... I can't even fathom where this crap comes from,most of these people have never even been to NJ...

[OniEhtRedrum781]

Can't we all just get along?

[birdgirl73]

I must say, Kiefboy, you're a persuasive person. And you can be very articulate and persuasive, which is impressive. Yes, I know we Texans have a lot of pride in our state. That much is very true. And as for the other stuff, I'm going to give it some pondering time. I know you're not the only one who believes what you do about France.

I often have found myself believing you have a future in law and/or politics, Kiefboy. Do either of those areas interest you? I think you have an aptitude.

I know much of the rest of the world believes us to be aggressive, arrogant war-mongers. But among this stoner community, I think people are more tolerant of us. I liked the way you responded, and your ability to do so diplomatically has encouraged me to leave this thread open a while longer to see what plays out. (Also, I feel sorta under the weather tonight and mostly just want to go to bed.)

[zephyrinne]

I'm from West Virginia, probably one of the most stereotyped states out there. Cue all those cute jokes everyone likes to tell. Haha, but really.. there's a lot of people here who don't really take kindly to 'outside folk' from other areas.. I'm not like that, but a lot are. It's a pride thing, I think, especially in the older generations.

West Virginia is a laid back, slow paced state. Communities are close-knit, and well.. I've heard people say 'if you're not from WV, you wouldn't understand.' And I think that's true.. WV isn't like many other states. If asked, people here don't tell what city or town they are from, rather people say "I'm from Lincoln county." And I never really noticed that until in my WV Gov't class I had this semester in college.. we went around the room and told everyone where we were from. A few out of staters, but every single person from WV, except for 2 people, said they were from "X County."

And what I'm going to say next doesn't necessarily reflect my own opinions of others from diff. areas.. just a general idea of what people in WV think. A lot here think the ones north of us are obnoxious, loud, and rude.. A lot don't understand the fast-paced lifestyle that so many in the larger cities have become used to.

People here don't really have a lot of stereotypes of the South. Many in West Virginia like to say they're from the South and the represent that to the fullest; aka, what you'd call a redneck. But news flash. Rednecks are in every state.

I don't know.. I'm afraid this thread will turn into bashing on others regions. What I think would be better is just to talk about your region how it really is, and maybe put some of those stereotypes to rest. *shrug* It'd be nicer. :jointsmile:

[NextLineIsMine]

Can't we all just get along?

no, in the bay area of California we think everyone is a retard outside of our area. The silicon valley is smarter than all you fools, though we may be nerdier and have the gayness of SF