Why the "split" between "old" and "new" Coloradans . . . (for sale, live in)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Scintilla

Hmmm. This thread was quite the eye opener.

Are most of the "native" Coloradoans as xenophobic as the ones who posted here?

It doesn't matter how long you have lived in CO or whether or not you were born there. You are no more or less entitled to live there than anyone else. Even yuppies. Gasp!

No. Do not take this thread as the opinon of "most" native Coloradans.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Scintilla

Hmmm. This thread was quite the eye opener.

Are most of the "native" Coloradoans as xenophobic as the ones who posted here?

That just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in. In the metro areas, where most of the residents are from somewhere else, the attitude is different than in many of the non-resort communities in the rural part of the state. In some of those, unless you are a third generation resident, you are--and always will be--considered an "outsider"--and treated accordingly when it comes to things like employment, etc. This is not unique to Colorado, by any means. If anything, it is stronger in some of the surrounding states--Wyoming and New Mexico being two with which I have a lot of familiarity. In some communities in those states, unless you are related or married to someone in the community, you might just have a rough time living there or getting a job there.

Many people who post on this forum from Colorado metro areas assume that the rest of Colorado is socially and culturally the same as those metro areas and the resort towns--that is absolutely not true in many cases. I know--I've lived in a number of towns and cities (and worked in and done business in many more) in Colorado--metro and rural--there is a difference.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

That just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in. In the metro areas, where most of the residents are from somewhere else, the attitude is different than in many of the non-resort communities in the rural part of the state. In some of those, unless you are a third generation resident, you are--and always will be--considered an "outsider"--and treated accordingly when it comes to things like employment, etc. This is not unique to Colorado, by any means. If anything, it is stronger in some of the surrounding states--Wyoming and New Mexico being two with which I have a lot of familiarity. In some communities in those states, unless you are related or married to someone in the community, you might just have a rough time living there or getting a job there.

Many people who post on this forum from Colorado metro areas assume that the rest of Colorado is socially and culturally the same as those metro areas and the resort towns--that is absolutely not true in many cases. I know--I've lived in a number of towns and cities (and worked in and done business in many more) in Colorado--metro and rural--there is a difference.

Maybe that is one reason the front range of Colorado is growing and not wyoming.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

That just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in.
Many people who post on this forum from Colorado metro areas assume that the rest of Colorado is socially and culturally the same as those metro areas and the resort towns--that is absolutely not true in many cases. I know--I've lived in a number of towns and cities (and worked in and done business in many more) in Colorado--metro and rural--there is a difference.

Yes

Originally Posted by zenkonami

Might I suggest (in the dangerous parlance of geopolitical ideology) that rather than this being a question of natives vs. non-natives, this is more of a debate of "Coloradans" (more of a pervasive attitude toward the state, it's culture, lifestyle, history, geography, etc...) and "Non-Coloradans" (perhaps those who have little vested interest in the place except that it's "pretty", "hip", "convenient" or what have you, regardless of the standing culture, lifestyle, history, geography, laws, etc...)

Or perhaps we could simply say Coloradans are "good" and outsiders are "bad." Nietzsche, however, might have had something to say about this whole debate.

Personally, I understand the sense of community and protectionism that binds a group of people together, but also have to agree that in the grand scheme we have an entire world to look after.

Yes.
The difficult part is defining what a Coloradan is.
I think the ambivalence has been there for awhile.
Back in 1976, Governor Lamm rejected the Olympics.
The state's mood might be different today--but perhaps not.

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover wrote:

That just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in. In the metro areas, where most of the residents are from somewhere else, the attitude is different than in many of the non-resort communities in the rural part of the state. In some of those, unless you are a third generation resident, you are--and always will be--considered an "outsider"--and treated accordingly when it comes to things like employment, etc. This is not unique to Colorado, by any means. If anything, it is stronger in some of the surrounding states--Wyoming and New Mexico being two with which I have a lot of familiarity. In some communities in those states, unless you are related or married to someone in the community, you might just have a rough time living there or getting a job there.

This is absolutely true for EVERY state and province that I've lived in having a large metro area and smaller rural centers. Generally speaking, the metro centers tend toward the liberal end of the spectrum and open mindedness, while the rural centers tend to be more conservative and suspicious of anything outside the box. One thing that is markedly different is that rural Colorado seems to be much more open to outsiders than the rural areas of Pennsylvania where I grew up ( 50 mi NW of Philadelphia ). During 3 years in PA in the late '80s, my wife who grew up in Arizona, frequently commented that the locals ( my relatives included ) related to her like she was from Mars. Neither of us have encountered that kind of attitude anywhere in Colorado travels and day to day expereince. Back in the mid 70's my girlfriend from Saskatchewan was with me in PA, and this girl commented that she felt like she was back in the dark ages from a social perspective. On our travels thru other eastern states she felt much the same, though PA was the worst. On our westward journey, Texas was the first state we travelled thru where she felt she was treated like a human being.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

Maybe that is one reason the front range of Colorado is growing and not wyoming.

Actually, some areas of Wyoming are growing. Wyoming is also in far better fiscal shape than Colorado--and, compared to the Front Range cities, is a much friendlier place to live. It does take a special type of person to live in Wyoming--and that does not suit many people from other places. That is just fine with most Wyomingites. Truth is, people from the rural parts of Colorado have far more in common with people from Wyoming, Montana, etc. that they do with people living on the Front Range. A lot of those rural folks don't think moving a jillion people in from somewhere else leads to economic and social nirvana. Thinking that population growth automatically equates to economic growth will probably be the biggest falsehood of the 21st Century. In fact, the opposite will likely be true.

[bproven]

Before this thread is derailed any further ( ), I think the point to take home here is respect. When you move to a new place respect the area you have moved to. I think this is especially true of CO due to its natural beauty. Learn about your new state (your new home ), try to adapt to it and its culture, and respect it. Easy. I could list all the things NOT to do, but others have already done this.

EDIT: Not to say i did not enjoy the conversation/discussion in this thread. Oh, and I am one of those non-native "invaders" too. I guess I better run and hide...

[Sockeye]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

jazzlover wrote:

That just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in. In the metro areas, where most of the residents are from somewhere else, the attitude is different than in many of the non-resort communities in the rural part of the state. In some of those, unless you are a third generation resident, you are--and always will be--considered an "outsider"--and treated accordingly when it comes to things like employment, etc. This is not unique to Colorado, by any means. If anything, it is stronger in some of the surrounding states--Wyoming and New Mexico being two with which I have a lot of familiarity. In some communities in those states, unless you are related or married to someone in the community, you might just have a rough time living there or getting a job there.

This is absolutely true for EVERY state and province that I've lived in having a large metro area and smaller rural centers. Generally speaking, the metro centers tend toward the liberal end of the spectrum and open mindedness, while the rural centers tend to be more conservative and suspicious of anything outside the box. One thing that is markedly different is that rural Colorado seems to be much more open to outsiders than the rural areas of Pennsylvania where I grew up ( 50 mi NW of Philadelphia ). During 3 years in PA in the late '80s, my wife who grew up in Arizona, frequently commented that the locals ( my relatives included ) related to her like she was from Mars. Neither of us have encountered that kind of attitude anywhere in Colorado travels and day to day expereince. Back in the mid 70's my girlfriend from Saskatchewan was with me in PA, and this girl commented that she felt like she was back in the dark ages from a social perspective. On our travels thru other eastern states she felt much the same, though PA was the worst. On our westward journey, Texas was the first state we travelled thru where she felt she was treated like a human being.

Thats good 'ol "western hospitality!" If you look around hard enough, you'll still find it.

[CosmicWizard]

That good ol western hospitality is especially noticable to me when first coming west after having spent time in the east. After awhile it seems to fade into the background.

[Sockeye]

Originally Posted by Sockeye

Sounds a lot like the Moderator cut: language coming from revisionist textbook writers like Howard Zinn that, sadly, sit on our kid's school desks these days.
I'll stick with Webster, and also Manifest Destiny.

Hmm. I searched "crap" and got thousands of hits on these boards. Guess I'll just use "krap" or "chit" from now on in CO.