Does anyone care about Texas? (Houston, Austin: appointed, lease, employment)

[Trainwreck20]

Then if it is soooooooooo awful to assume as such, how do you suggest I collect data? I'm not going to go around asking each person their affiliation.

Collect what data? For what purpose? If they are Hindu, does that mean that they are not native and/or they do not have pride in their (potentially) native state? There is one Indian in our Houston office who is a Houston native (her parents are not). I have no idea if she considers herself Hindu (hell, for all I know she is baptist). But anyway, how does knowing their 'affiliation' have anything to do with their state pride (or lack thereof)?

[catholicdad]

If people want to make an issue of the exact religious identity of people in my apartment complex, then I solicit proposals for how to collect this data and which statistical model to use.

I could have said "Indian", though my experience in other forums suggest that a lot of people assume it means Native American, and leads to a lot of unproductive posts. "East Indian" draws accusations of imperialist anachronisms, while "Asian-Indian" draws accusations of obsessive political correctness.

I have not seen signs of strong Texan identity among residents of the complex: I haven't seen much Texas-themed attire, people hanging Texas flags from their windows, etc. Would it make me "prejudiced" to assume that on average, they don't care about Texas much?

[Trainwreck20]

If people want to make an issue of the exact religious identity of people in my apartment complex, then I solicit proposals for how to collect this data and which statistical model to use.

I don't think anyone wants to make an issue of their identity, it is just funny that you would identify strangers by the presume religion.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Funny, I remember a couple of years ago one of the top, top chefs traveling through the region and proclaiming Blue Bell's Homemade Vanilla the "best ice cream in America."

Different strokes for different folks, ya know?

bluebell is crap.

central market gelato is good though

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by catholicdad

I operate by the principle of evidence to the contrary. Any number of unlikely scenarios are possible, but I'll go by first impressions until there is evidence otherwise. If I walk into a Catholic church, I have no reason to believe most people there are really Muslim. So far, my job and lifestyle has placed me in exactly the same situation as I have experienced elsewhere. From the people around me, I'll hear more about Indian politics or vacations to Majorca than I will about local affairs.

You live in the highest concentration of asians in central texas centered at 183 and spicewood springs.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by catholicdad

Then if it is soooooooooo awful to assume as such, how do you suggest I collect data? I'm not going to go around asking each person their affiliation.

Why does their affiliation matter unless you are a sociologist collecting demographic data, in which case, yes, you would ask them.

I saw Sanjay Gupta on PBS the other night, whose parents were from India, and he talked about growing up in Michigan and the assumptions people make about him based solely on his appearance.

That, in fact, is the basis of all prejudice... that you think you actually know something about somebody else based on some superficial aspect, such as their appearance.

[catholicdad]

Some people on this thread claim that Texans are proud of their home state, though I have seen no empirical evidence of it. So are they thinking they actually know something about somebody else based on some superficial aspect, such as their appearance? I have met plenty of people who grew up in Texas and act nothing like the common perceptions of Texans. Or should that be a question only left to sociologists collecting demographic data?

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Austin97

bluebell is crap.

Arguing matters of taste is futile, as the old saying goes, because it just frustrates you, and irritates the pig.

Originally Posted by Austin97

central market gelato is good though

Tasty, yes, but overpriced, and it makes terrible cones.

[Trainwreck20]

Some people on this thread claim that Texans are proud of their home state, though I have seen no empirical evidence of it.

Fair enough statement, I don't think anyone has an issue with you saying that at all; however, some people have pointed out that it is probably based on a limited observation set and you have even indicated that you are exposed (via work) to a rather narrow cross-section.

So are they thinking they actually know something about somebody else based on some superficial aspect, such as their appearance?

I believe (w/o going back to check) it was based not on their appearance, but on their observation on what people chose (discretionary displays) to display - tattoos, flags, bumper stickers, etc. are all choices that people make, whereas their genetic appearance is not. If someone has a bumper sticker that says 'Vote for Obama', it is not nearly as much of a leap to say that they support Obama than it is to see an African-American and say 'they must support Obama'.

I have met plenty of people who grew up in Texas and act nothing like the common perceptions of Texans.

A good reason not to judge by 'non-discretionary' parameters.

Or should that be a question only left to sociologists collecting demographic data?

What question? The question of common perceptions made on appearance, or the question of how you should act based on your origin or appearance?

[XLadylawX]

I'm back in California now and I still speak up for Texas. I even strive to keep the Texas good manners I picked up during my 2 year period of residence. I do curse the Texas weather though.