Most common misconceptions about Alaska? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: environment, trip , work)

[Sweden]

Ok, it's as easy as it seems- it's way to late for me to figure out something really tricky...
What are the most common misconceptions people have had/have about life in Alaska and Alaska in general? What are the most stupid ones you've heard?
How often does one come across them, encountering people who are not from the state?
What people have what misconceptions in general?

I hear people in my area thinking it's all ice and snow (the same thing people from abroad think about Sweden, so I find that quite ironic!) in Alaska. And that more bears than people live there. And everyone owns a gun. (Rance's told me this isn't the case, but... I'll say no more)

Any other examples?

[warptman]

One word, MaCandless.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Perhaps I'm reading something into your post that was not intended, it seems as if you say that "everyone owns a gun" and it is almost like you believe this to be a bad thing. Before we visited Alaska, I asked the outfitters, several of them in different places, if it would be reasonable for me to bring a firearm, a handgun since we would be out and about for most of our time there. They asked exactly what type of firearm was I intending to bring, I told them, they said, each and every one "sounds like a good idea to me" in one form or another. I brought it, never had to use it, for which I am thankful, I did not visit Alaska to do harm to any of the native flora or fauna, neither did I wish any of the fauna to do harm to me. Firearms are a tool, not inherently malicious.

[Xa'at]

Yo, Sweden...
I assure you that not everyone in Alaska has a gun! I would never even touch one- I think they're vile.
How about the misconception that the all the women are manly and hairy and so on and so forth... Not that I have anything against those women. I'm just not one of them, so it annoys me when people assume I am!

[barnacle9]

Originally Posted by ysr_racer

I agree, guns are evil

Umm . . . It does depend on what part of Alaska you are discussing.

In the bush, having a gun can sometimes save your life. In Anchorage, Wasilla, or Juneau, etc. they may not be so important.

But, at any rate, in most areas in AK which are sparsely populated, I would guess that most people do own a gun.

The main reasons for this are hunting and protection against bears or moose (which are not as big a threat as many people would imagine, but can be dangerous given the right conditions).

While it it certainly not necessary to own a gun in AK, there are many reasons to do so.

Misconceptions abound, but we are talking about a vast state, so what does not apply to one area might be a general rule for another.

Alaska is very diverse

[Rance]

When I was a little kid I remember people in Minnesota asking if everyone lived in igloos.



Attention Sports Fans! This thread got way off topic. Let's try to work together and set a good example for the fine visitors of this forum.

[User 2]

One of the most common misperceptions is that Alaska is the place to go for a 'new start' or that it's somehow a 'better place' in some manner or other.

It's an evolution of the old 'Last Frontier' mindset.

Trouble is, the reality of most people coming to Alaska today has very little to do with folks actually going back to the land, or living a frontier existence, or finding themselve in a substantively different condition.

Most of the folks who migrate to Alaska today want nothing like a lifestyle that matches the environment, or their stated desires for something other than where they've come from, but instead they arrive here and wish only to mold their 'new' environment to mirror, just as much as they can, the same image of that place where they came from.

The result is evident. Too much of Alaska is now unmistakably just like anywhere else and peopled with just the same folks.

So for those who think they're going to some 'new' place, you might find you're only farther away and it still looks the same.

[itdincor]

"The right to buy weapons is the right to be free". A. E. van Vogt, The Weapon Shops of Isher.
*********
Well, I can only tell what I know; whether these are common misconceptions, I cannot say.

I've had sales people ask me what language we spoke up here. I told them "Eskimo".

"We can't ship outside the USA".

"I'm sorry, but we only sell in America".

"Guns? Must be a bloodbath up there".

Stuff like that.

As for weapons, most here but not all have firearms. Mine are for protection against a continually more repressive federal government than anything else, although the future cannot be trusted anywhere nor anywise. We do have crime, sometimes violent, on this island.

Mod Cut...keep it on topic

[ysr_racer]

Wow, this got off topic pretty quickly. Most of last night's thread got deleted.

My wife and I visit AK every year. We live in southern California and the biggest misconceptions we hear are:

Going to Alaska is a once in a lifetime trip.
It's too far.
It's too expensive.

I try to tell them that from So Cal the trip up to ANC is no different than flying to the east coast.

Airfare is about $450, rent-a-cars are about $50 a day, and nice B&Bs are $150-$175 a night. It's about the same as going to Philly, NYC or Florida.

I know people that go back east dozens of times a year, but would never think of going to Alaska. But they all say the same thing, "someday".

It's Alaska, not the moon.

[earls]

Sweden: I thought I would mention that my father is from Lulea. From a Alaskans view that is north big time! and yet Lulea has about 75000 population and that would make it the third biggest city in Alaska. Fairbanks is only second if you count the surrounding area. I don't think Juneau is bigger but not sure.
Some misconceptions:
1. what money do you use in Alaska?
2. A lot of folks seem to think you can move up here in February or March and just set up housekeeping. Well you may be surprised at how few roads there are. You should think about what it is like going to the bathroom 'outside' at the ol outhouse at -30F and that you are glad it doesn't have lights because you may not want to see whats looking down at you. Are you really ready for one to two hour of daylight?
3. Owning guns: I am surprised if anyone outside city limits of Anchorage does not own a gun.
In rural areas of Alaska you are much safer to have one handy then not!
4. Permafrost - Most folks from the outside don't have a clue.