[RogMar]

Originally Posted by arguy1973

the only thing I ever see people from AR get mad about is when ppl from another place try and come here and change things. other than that..people are very friendly

I agree with that, but it's easy to walk away when they're telling you how much better they did this 'n' that "up north".

Westd27, shed your fears.

Folks that have a problem here are the ones that come here and then reject things around them. If you come to AR, you're gonna find ...southerners.

Most all folks will be very open to you, if you're open to them. A lot will not talk like you, dress like you, and will use words that defy interpretation.They're good folks, and please don't make a squishy face and say, "You eat *that*?"

In some areas, most anything that crawls, runs, or flys is what's called, "good eatin'", and sometimes, "Tastes like chikken".

Those who come in like Sherman's March to the Sea don't get on many Christmas lists.

As for kids, well, they're kids. As Art Linkletter so rightly noted, "Kids Say the Darndest Things" (dated myself on that one).

You're coming to a great state, despite what the detractors say.

There truely is something here for everyone.

[evette5635]

I have relocated to Arkansas from MD. My husband and I have been here approximately 2 weeks. I would say that people here are friendly and receptive to newcomers. However, this has been a bit of an adjustment for me ( and I am not technically a northerner). It is a different pace, and different environment. When we are out in the city (for lack of better terms) people immediatley can tell that we are not natives. The kids will be fine, just don't be surprised if they want to go to college in the NORTH!! I would. Good LUCK

[Aporkalypse]

I grew up in West LR and also lived in Dallas for a few years. There are a large number of people here from the Northeast and Midwest in Little Rock and most like it and have no complaints. I grew up in the LR private school scene and most people from rural Arkansas don't think I have the "local" accent. The same is true to a degree of Hot Springs. NWA is about as full of non-natives as natives. The rest of the state might be a bit less receptive.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by RogMar

I agree with that, but it's easy to walk away when they're telling you how much better they did this 'n' that "up north".

Westd27, shed your fears.

Folks that have a problem here are the ones that come here and then reject things around them. If you come to AR, you're gonna find ...southerners.

Most all folks will be very open to you, if you're open to them. A lot will not talk like you, dress like you, and will use words that defy interpretation.They're good folks, and please don't make a squishy face and say, "You eat *that*?"

In some areas, most anything that crawls, runs, or flys is what's called, "good eatin'", and sometimes, "Tastes like chikken".

Those who come in like Sherman's March to the Sea don't get on many Christmas lists.

As for kids, well, they're kids. As Art Linkletter so rightly noted, "Kids Say the Darndest Things" (dated myself on that one).

You're coming to a great state, despite what the detractors say.

There truely is something here for everyone.

Rog, you are so right, I still think those who have problems either are expecting them so get very defensive of any little comment or they want to change the place they have chosen to live and make it like the place they left. We have to learn to adjust and see the wonders of the place we live.

BTW, I wonder what is with so many threads popping up about different people living here: Are there any Germans, is Little Rock racist against Asians and will northernors be accepted? Maybe I am living in a different world, but I think too many people are worrying about too many things.

Nita

[RogMar]

[quote=nmnita;Maybe I am living in a different world, but I think too many people are worrying about too many things.

Nita[/quote]

Naw, I think the problem is, Nita, that there truely are people around us that have very, very narrow views and heavily embedded pre-concieved notions and predjudices that they are unwilling to abandon.

I certainly see them at times when I'm out in a few of the areas that I travel in. I hear them talk, and have even talked with them on occasion.

These people talk to people "back home", who talk to other folks, and the rumors, of course, get embellished.

Fortunately, as such, they happened into this forum, where they ask questions firsthand, and get responses from people who live here.

There have been times, as I have mentioned, that I have seen tourists, and some transplants,walk into an eatery for breakfast during hunting season, and taken a table in the corner so they can keep an eye on, and stare with a disgusted look, at the tables of cammo'd hunters, the lucky ones blood-stained, all laughing and talking about the hunt, or their pickup trucks, or their cattle, or something else that is *real* out of place back in St. Paul, or Milwaukee, or wherever else they call "home".

There are other boards that I read, inhabited by people who live in Arkansas, but have never met a native.

The attitude is completely different, as you can imagine.

A lot of people, them included, read the posts on this board, and never contribute or comment, which is one of the great things about the internet.....you don't *have* too.

I'm just very glad that we have the regs here that we do to put the rumors to rest (hopefully), get that vision of the banjo-playing "deliverance" character out of their head, and hopefully come to realize that the dirty-jeans and workboots guy next to them at the pump, filling diesel containers in the back of an old, beat-up pickup truck, could be that RogMar character they've been reading posts from.

However, I hope they realize that I could also be the polo-shirt and Top-siders guy that's at the next table to them.

There are always going to be people that cannot, or will not, free themselves from the prison of their refusal to open their minds, but as long as we have people like you, and the other regs, who have come from other places and love the diversity of the state, we can show them that we don't "bite".

When I say "home", it's a meager house on a farm at the end of a dirt road.

It's not where I was born.

It's where I learned to be free.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by RogMar

Naw, I think the problem is, Nita, that there truely are people around us that have very, very narrow views and heavily embedded pre-concieved notions and predjudices that they are unwilling to abandon.

I certainly see them at times when I'm out in a few of the areas that I travel in. I hear them talk, and have even talked with them on occasion.

These people talk to people "back home", who talk to other folks, and the rumors, of course, get embellished.

Fortunately, as such, they happened into this forum, where they ask questions firsthand, and get responses from people who live here.

There have been times, as I have mentioned, that I have seen tourists, and some transplants,walk into an eatery for breakfast during hunting season, and taken a table in the corner so they can keep an eye on, and stare with a disgusted look, at the tables of cammo'd hunters, the lucky ones blood-stained, all laughing and talking about the hunt, or their pickup trucks, or their cattle, or something else that is *real* out of place back in St. Paul, or Milwaukee, or wherever else they call "home".

There are other boards that I read, inhabited by people who live in Arkansas, but have never met a native.

The attitude is completely different, as you can imagine.

A lot of people, them included, read the posts on this board, and never contribute or comment, which is one of the great things about the internet.....you don't *have* too.

I'm just very glad that we have the regs here that we do to put the rumors to rest (hopefully), get that vision of the banjo-playing "deliverance" character out of their head, and hopefully come to realize that the dirty-jeans and workboots guy next to them at the pump, filling diesel containers in the back of an old, beat-up pickup truck, could be that RogMar character they've been reading posts from.

However, I hope they realize that I could also be the polo-shirt and Top-siders guy that's at the next table to them.

There are always going to be people that cannot, or will not, free themselves from the prison of their refusal to open their minds, but as long as we have people like you, and the other regs, who have come from other places and love the diversity of the state, we can show them that we don't "bite".

When I say "home", it's a meager house on a farm at the end of a dirt road.

It's not where I was born.

It's where I learned to be free.

I guess I see what you are getting at. As I mentioned on the forum a little while ago, I was with several gals this past weekend, all friends, all very nice and many from California. One gal, who knows nothing about AR was wondering if our friends from Calif are laughing at us for re-locating to AR? She wasn't one of them, but didn't know anything about the state. The fact that NWA was on the MO, OK, Kansas border about blew her mind.

I still think people can be accepted (most of the time) if they let themselves be. Sure, there are some who will have a harder time and there are places in the state where if you are not a native you shouldn't step out your door cause you are different, but NM was much worse that AR about accepting others. If you had not lived in the state for 200 years you were no good for the state...

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I still think people can be accepted (most of the time) if they let themselves be. Sure, there are some who will have a harder time and there are places in the state where if you are not a native you shouldn't step out your door cause you are different, but NM was much worse that AR about accepting others. If you had not lived in the state for 200 years you were no good for the state...

Zactly, Nita.

To me, being a prisoner is not that I'm confined to a physical space, it's that I am voluntarily confined to a narrow state of mind.

Buddhists believe that man creates his own unhappiness.

It's true, if you think about it. We are influenced by the wrong people sometimes, live in cities that has air we can't breathe and water we can't drink, dislike the neighbors because they don't mow the grass the way we would, create commuities with homeowners associations that create rule upon rule and give you a choice of 3 mailboxes and 2 fence styles for you to buy.....

It's no wonder that, universally, wherever you go, there are haters, there are people who are unhappy with themselves and therefore make you the target of it.

How many times have we seen posts run amok with people complaining that they came to AR and saw cammo'd hillbillys & rednecks, big church symbols in town, pickup trucks everywhere....

How are they hurt by that? What effect does that have on anyone?

When you lived in NM, were you surprised and aghast when you found out they had tribal Indians? Of course not.

We are all very diversified here. The contributors on this board, thank goodness, come from every region, occupation, religious background, ethnic background, and financial level. All came together with a common affection for the State of Arkansas.

Everybody's here to *help* people that may want to move to or experience Arkansas more.

If someone has a genuine concern about racism, they should ask, as some have. Hopefully they will be able to shed a fear thay had and replace that with a productive thought stream.

I know that there is a huge difference between looking to move to LR, Bella Vista, Mountain Home, or the back hills, but the common problem with moving to any where here is going to be the person moving. I believe as long as they are willing to adapt and accept, they're going to find that other people will also.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by RogMar

Zactly, Nita.

To me, being a prisoner is not that I'm confined to a physical space, it's that I am voluntarily confined to a narrow state of mind.

Buddhists believe that man creates his own unhappiness.

It's true, if you think about it. We are influenced by the wrong people sometimes, live in cities that has air we can't breathe and water we can't drink, dislike the neighbors because they don't mow the grass the way we would, create commuities with homeowners associations that create rule upon rule and give you a choice of 3 mailboxes and 2 fence styles for you to buy.....

It's no wonder that, universally, wherever you go, there are haters, there are people who are unhappy with themselves and therefore make you the target of it.

How many times have we seen posts run amok with people complaining that they came to AR and saw cammo'd hillbillys & rednecks, big church symbols in town, pickup trucks everywhere....

How are they hurt by that? What effect does that have on anyone?

When you lived in NM, were you surprised and aghast when you found out they had tribal Indians? Of course not.

We are all very diversified here. The contributors on this board, thank goodness, come from every region, occupation, religious background, ethnic background, and financial level. All came together with a common affection for the State of Arkansas.

Everybody's here to *help* people that may want to move to or experience Arkansas more.

If someone has a genuine concern about racism, they should ask, as some have. Hopefully they will be able to shed a fear thay had and replace that with a productive thought stream.

I know that there is a huge difference between looking to move to LR, Bella Vista, Mountain Home, or the back hills, but the common problem with moving to any where here is going to be the person moving. I believe as long as they are willing to adapt and accept, they're going to find that other people will also.

As I've said before, "Mo matter where you go, there you are." Meaning that most people with some dissatisfaction are first and foremost dissatisfied with themselves and no matter how much they run from place to place will always find fault...because it's themselves they really dislike.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

As I've said before, "Mo matter where you go, there you are." Meaning that most people with some dissatisfaction are first and foremost dissatisfied with themselves and no matter how much they run from place to place will always find fault...because it's themselves they really dislike.

Well said. No place is perfect and none is all bad. If we look hard enough we can find fault with almost anything, but for many of us, life is too short to be looking for the negatives.

I have seen rednecks (my granddaughter is about to marry one, btw, he is one of the nicest guys around and a hard worker) we have seen people missing their teeth, or many and seen families that remind me of pictures I remember seeing from the "dust bowl" age, they are all real and kind and loving. They are probably happier than those looking for something better, wanting to come here and make it what it isn't or those worrying too much about being accepted. Maybe it is more important for some to be accepting instead of worrying about being accepted. Now, I shall get off my high horse for today.....

[SwinerBock]

To be honest, the ones that I've ALWAYS noticed having problems fitting in down here in the south-eastern half of the state are not the Asian, the Hispanic(i.e. - Mexican), the German, the Indian, or the African-American. It's always been caucasians from the far north (Minnesota, N. Dakota, Montana, etc) that either were not used to the racial diversity, or the heat, or both.