[arguy1973]

Originally Posted by 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.

Illinois and wisconsin are the ones ive really noticed having a time getting adjusted.

[Aporkalypse]

Originally Posted by RogMar

Zactly, Nita.


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.

Man, that's well put.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Aporkalypse

Man, that's well put.

'preciate ya

I concur with arguy's evaluation of persons with low tolerance to adaptatation, and I shall give an example that jumped out to me.

In northern Illinois/Iowa, there's an area called"Quad Cities" which encompasses Davenport & Bettedorf Iowa, and Rock Island & Moline Illinois.

There's a decent number of transplants from that region in Arkansas, and I happen to live not far from a town with a high concentration of them.

On a board that has a high presence of them, I noted many referrals to the "Quad City area".

It was quite a surprise to me, that they were referring to Hardy, Highland, Cherokee Village, and Ash Flat. I don't know what happened to the other cities with them, maybe they didn't make the cut. I think that it's like the blanket oe teddy bear that many of us don't want to give up when we're being prodded by the parents to leave it behind.

When one feels that they are "living 600 miles from home", rather than "being home", it would be normal to want to have some sembelence of "home" in one's life.

I don't mean that as a "diss" to anybody that uses that referral, just as an illustration that sometimes the mind, through the mouth, shows people where you're living in your own soul.

Yes, I think arguy was accurate on the difficulty in adaptation, and see more people from IL/WI all moving close to each other and forming IL/WI clubs, socializing pretty much with other persons from their region.

I have mentioned in another thread that my own FIL is a model of rejection. Good man, but 15 years ago he retired and moved to a southern state where he knew some people that had moved there from the Chicago area.

15 years later, he doesn't know a single local, and still refers to the locals as "dem hicks der" (interpretation: "them hicks there").

Anything I do, he refers to as "the hillbilly way of doing things".

Clones of my FIL flourish in some areas of AR, also.

Now, there are definate exceptions.

Down where the paved road starts, about 6 miles from me, somebody bought a little house. Yeah, it's on the hard road, but it's most certainly, "country". An area inhabited only by locals.

I was shocked to hear that this guy, who I'll call "Bob" was from Wisconsin. Nearest northern enclave was 10 miles away.

I figured his chances were about that of a trailer in a tornado.

So.....time goes on, and I'm at a neighbor's house who is the southern version of a non-adaptable. Won't go to any of the towns where northeners live, eat where they eat, etc.

He's not 'down' on northerners, just an ol' southern boy that made a decision they have no place in his life.

We're jaw-jackin' and he mentions that "Bob" came over and helped him with some plumbing.

(That's a shocked RogMar look)

When I regained my wits, and he wasn't saying where he buried the body, I said, "Bob........from Wisconsin??".

He grinned real big and said, "Don't kid yerself, bud, he's as southern as you and me".

That was the acid test.

It's all about the 'attitide', or lack of it.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Aporkalypse

Man, that's well put.

my feeleings exactly: people moving anywhere, regardless have to be willint to adjust and accept thier new enviornment: if they do this, they will be accepted.

Nita

[MittenDweller82]

Just out of curiosity, I have been following the conversation on this thread and have to wonder....is it the mindset of the natives or the people relocating that "want" their old environment, just in a different area? I can see the difference in living, attidutes, values, etc...but (I've never been to Ark, although I have been to about every other southern state) is it really that different?

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

Just out of curiosity, I have been following the conversation on this thread and have to wonder....is it the mindset of the natives or the people relocating that "want" their old environment, just in a different area? I can see the difference in living, attidutes, values, etc...but (I've never been to Ark, although I have been to about every other southern state) is it really that different?

It's not just Arkansas but everywhere, I work with a guy from Alaska, he's always talking about how California sucks, Alaska is way better etc etc. Finally I told him, "The nice thing about California is the freeways don't have gates on them, You can leave any time you want".
The Moral of the story is be happy where ever you go or go elsewhere, but don't **** on my cherrio's

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

Just out of curiosity, I have been following the conversation on this thread and have to wonder....is it the mindset of the natives or the people relocating that "want" their old environment, just in a different area? I can see the difference in living, attidutes, values, etc...but (I've never been to Ark, although I have been to about every other southern state) is it really that different?

It is only very different if you let it be that way. We have lived on both coasts, Texas and NM, now here in AR. Yes, the overall mode is a little slower, probably people are not as educated (generally) as in the larger metro areas, and what is important to them may be a little different. That being said, you can find what you want, make friends, shop, dine out, etc anywhere you go. I have yet to feel anyone pushing their religion down my throat, I haven't seen lots of people that some would call trailer trash (a few, doesn't make them bad) and we haven't met anyone that turns their back on us because we are not natives. (we did see that in NM I will admit) Of course some of the natives want things to stay pretty much the same, but more, I feel, new comers want the conveniences and the familiararity (spelling?) they are accustom to though they may not realize it when they move here. I beleive those that find adjusting to a little different life style are those who re-locate because of employment or some such thing and not because they really want to.

Nita

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

Just out of curiosity, I have been following the conversation on this thread and have to wonder....is it the mindset of the natives or the people relocating that "want" their old environment, just in a different area? I can see the difference in living, attidutes, values, etc...but (I've never been to Ark, although I have been to about every other southern state) is it really that different?

I feel safe that most people come here for the same reasons. The weather, lower cost of living, maybe recreational opportunities.

Throw in a few per dozen that have southern ties, or just like the laid-back southern lifestyle.

I believe that the majority integrate very well, accepting people as people, not as a "southerner, hillblilly or hick".

As you may have read on other threads, people mention to their friends that they're moving to Arkansas, and there's always someone with a negative comment.

Now when those people who make the negative comments find that their friends moved, and that they're living someplace where there's 30 other people from their state living, they say, "Hey...that's for me", and they come too.

Now, everybody's happy because they still get their hometown paper, they have friends from their area that they can relate to, and they don't have to open themselves to the regional flavor.

You know what? If it works it works.

I'm not a sociologist, and I don't play one on the internet, but I've had every soc class i could get, just because I found it interesting.

Well, that....and my old job gave raises for how many hours you had in sociology classes.

I find it fascinating to read newspapers from towns in the area, and compare the news against the demographics. Also the different boards that abound for most any given area.

Somehow the problems that got left behind in Squatspot, WI seem to find their way down here.

Curiouser and curiouser.

[Timtheman]

One thing I notice is that sometimes locals don't understand there's plenty of places with folks just like them in other states -- even in the North! Say for example, you're from New York State, they assume you're from NYC. They don't understand there's a whole huge part of NY State that's way rural and hurting poor in many ways. The USA is much more alike in some parts than folks realize -- even in the North and South there can be huge similarities between areas. I mostly find that rural folks share core values no matter whether they are from the North or South. Even in the same State, there can be real division in attitude depending on whether it's rural or not. It's good not to prejudge base on what you think you know about another place or State. You might be really surprised!

[brajoh81]

If northerners adjust to their new environment here, they will be fine. Some haven't though, which is why Bella Vista has become so popular with yankees.