[fitzmcgee]

Just wondering, but why does everyone on the Arkansas forums seem to pick on Fort Smith? What's so horrible about this city? Growing up and currently residing in it, I kinda like it

[GetmeoutofAR]

i guess it's because it is so low...

[bchris02]

Don't worry, Little Rock gets picked on a lot too. Really, the up-and-coming place in the state right now is NWA, so everywhere else pretty much gets treated like the red-headed stepchild. In addition, Ft. Smith being so close to NWA tends to be overshadowed. Its economy is based almost solely on manufacturing which is rapidly declining - not just in Arkansas but nationwide. What is propping Ft. Smith up is many NWA workers choose to live down the the river valley and commute because of much cheaper housing prices.

Also, having lived there for 5 years, the politics there tend to be on the conservative side in every way and it really shows when it comes to economic development. This Target shopping center that is preparing to open is one of the biggest things to happen to Fort Smith since Central Mall in the 1970s.

[nmnita]

I don't know about others but when we visited last year it just seemed to have no personality and just kept going in all directions. Plus, the Bible Belt people (only one) really set me back: I was in line at a very popular buffet type restaurant. A nice lady said to me, good afternoon or something like that, I remarked how good the food was and her answer: when God is present everything is good, don't you agree? Well, I am relatively religious, we do attend church every Sunday, do lots of volunteer work, but I don't think I would every make a comment like that to a stranger. It was one of the things that turned us off to FT Smith.

I don't mean this as an insult to those who live and or love Ft Smith. It was just our observance. I am sure there are many wonderful things Ft Smith has to offer. Oh, we did love the historical area and Laura's hourse.

Nita

[luvarkansas]

I don't understand why anyone would think it is unacceptable for someone to say something about God in a casual conversation. When one has been touched by the love of God and their life is all about loving him back and serving him, it's as natural as breathing. If your life was all about, say, your grandchildren, or motorcycles, or fishing, etc., would you expect people to get offended if you mentioned that in a casual conversation? This kind of negative attitude about "Bible Belt people" is just strange to me.

[DC at the Ridge]

I'm with Nita on this one. God may be an ever-present part of a person's life, but when meeting strangers, people generally tend to stay away from personal topics like religion. And pious comments like the ones Nita described are a bit off-putting.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by luvarkansas

I don't understand why anyone would think it is unacceptable for someone to say something about God in a casual conversation. When one has been touched by the love of God and their life is all about loving him back and serving him, it's as natural as breathing. If your life was all about, say, your grandchildren, or motorcycles, or fishing, etc., would you expect people to get offended if you mentioned that in a casual conversation? This kind of negative attitude about "Bible Belt people" is just strange to me.

To be honest, if I were in a food line or some other casual place, a person started talking to me about their car, grandkids or the personal life, would I be offended? No, but I would think they were a little strange and that is what I was referring to. I never said I was offended, I just think there is a time and place for everything.

Nita

[luvarkansas]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

I'm with Nita on this one. God may be an ever-present part of a person's life, but when meeting strangers, people generally tend to stay away from personal topics like religion. And pious comments like the ones Nita described are a bit off-putting.

I'm assuming you're using the word "pious" with a negative connotation. I see absolutely nothing "pious" about saying "God is good." Even to a complete stranger.

[luvarkansas]

Originally Posted by nmnita

To be honest, if I were in a food line or some other casual place, a person started talking to me about their car, grandkids or the personal life, would I be offended? No, but I would think they were a little strange and that is what I was referring to. I never said I was offended, I just think there is a time and place for everything.

Nita

You must not have grown up in the South. People talk about all kinds of things in lines. Southerners are gregarious and friendly, as a whole. I see no reason for you to be offended about a friendly, outgoing lady saying, "God is good."

But, this is our way of life, and if people don't like it, they can choose not to live here. They can choose to live somewhere where people won't even look you in the eye in a line because they're talking on their cell phone or looking at their Blackberries (what are those things, anyway), or planning how to make their next dollar, or they just don't give a rip about their fellow human beings.

Some of you don't realize it, but the innate friendliness of the South is due, in part, to the BIBLE. Happy people are friendly people.

[fitzmcgee]

True, this city is on the conservative side. But I honestly think it's just in the older generation. I'm 20 and 80% of people my age are completely opposite from their parents, grand-parents, etc. I think give this city a few decades and you'll see casinos and strip joints in no time. Not necessarily positive progression, but progression nonetheless :P