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I just thought this would be a fun exercise to see how our perceptions of the cultures of different states differ. Warning: this thread may contain regionally-biased content that may not be suitable for some readers. Continue at your own risk .
Now that that's out of the way, I think I should explain how this works. The categories are friendliest,most laid-back, most classy, least friendly, most high-strung, and least classy. Keep in mind those listed are only states I have experience with
For example, I think:
Friendlies: I'll have to go with Texas, though Mississippi is a close second. They just have the whole hospitality thing down to the T.
Least Friendly: Connecticut. It feels wrong to throw my home state under the bus like this, but I gotta say, after years of trips back to visit family and friends, I was shocked at how few people smiled or showed affection to each other, even among close-knit circles.
Most Laid-back: Without a doubt, it's New Mexico. Whether this is due to the sunny climate, the sparse population density, the Hispanic cultural influence or I-dont-know-what-else, people there just live and let live, going through life at the most slow, relaxed pace I've ever seen.
Most high-strung: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK. The epitome of every Yankee stereotype, New Yorkers will do everything in such a way as to ensure maximum "efficiency", no matter how bothersome or stressful it may be to themselves or to others.
Most classy: Maryland. No matter if it's colonial heritage, sailing, the world's largest croquet match, or just plain sense of style, I feel like most of the Marylanders I've gotten to know have class in spades, regardless of where they come from (yes, even Baltimore, sort of).
Least classy: Washington. Home of grunge music and fashion. Also the only state where getting high on meth seems to be the most popular sport. 'Nuff said.
But feel free to take all of the above with a grain of salt.
I think there is a stereotype about New York as a state that needs to be addressed and eliminated.
When people say New York is high strung, 99.9 times out of 100 they're referring to NYC and its boroughs. Upstate NY is a completely different world. At the least, it should be a different state.
I'm married to an upstater. She and her family are the antithesis of high strung. Not to mention I've met a lot of folks in Tampa from around the upstate (Albany, Rochester, Syracuse...). Aloof, reserved, sometimes sullen, yes. Not high strung. That's the alphas in downstate.
I would agree 100% that Connecticut is the least friendly. New Jersey a close second.
Don't sleep on Florida in regard to the laid back attitudes. Every crazy story (that isn't made up) you hear about in the news involves someone who transplanted here from somewhere else. Most of the natives I've met here are chill as hell.
I just thought this would be a fun exercise to see how our perceptions of the cultures of different states differ. Warning: this thread may contain regionally-biased content that may not be suitable for some readers. Continue at your own risk .
Now that that's out of the way, I think I should explain how this works. The categories are friendliest,most laid-back, most classy, least friendly, most high-strung, and least classy. Keep in mind those listed are only states I have experience with
For example, I think:
Friendlies: I'll have to go with Texas, though Mississippi is a close second. They just have the whole hospitality thing down to the T.
Least Friendly: Connecticut. It feels wrong to throw my home state under the bus like this, but I gotta say, after years of trips back to visit family and friends, I was shocked at how few people smiled or showed affection to each other, even among close-knit circles.
Most Laid-back: Without a doubt, it's New Mexico. Whether this is due to the sunny climate, the sparse population density, the Hispanic cultural influence or I-dont-know-what-else, people there just live and let live, going through life at the most slow, relaxed pace I've ever seen.
Most high-strung: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK. The epitome of every Yankee stereotype, New Yorkers will do everything in such a way as to ensure maximum "efficiency", no matter how bothersome or stressful it may be to themselves or to others.
Most classy: Maryland. No matter if it's colonial heritage, sailing, the world's largest croquet match, or just plain sense of style, I feel like most of the Marylanders I've gotten to know have class in spades, regardless of where they come from (yes, even Baltimore, sort of).
Least classy: Washington. Home of grunge music and fashion. Also the only state where getting high on meth seems to be the most popular sport. 'Nuff said.
But feel free to take all of the above with a grain of salt.
What states do y'all think fit the bill?
Classiest (in terms of education and wealth): Connecticut. Maryland, New Jersey
Classiest (in terms of doing the right thing and politeness: Ohio, Wisconsin, the midwest in general
Friendly: Ohio, Wisconsin
Least Friendly/High Strung: New Jersey
Least classy: (In terms of lack of education and poverty) Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico
I just thought this would be a fun exercise to see how our perceptions of the cultures of different states differ. Warning: this thread may contain regionally-biased content that may not be suitable for some readers. Continue at your own risk .
Now that that's out of the way, I think I should explain how this works. The categories are friendliest,most laid-back, most classy, least friendly, most high-strung, and least classy. Keep in mind those listed are only states I have experience with
For example, I think:
Friendlies: I'll have to go with Texas, though Mississippi is a close second. They just have the whole hospitality thing down to the T.
Least Friendly: Connecticut. It feels wrong to throw my home state under the bus like this, but I gotta say, after years of trips back to visit family and friends, I was shocked at how few people smiled or showed affection to each other, even among close-knit circles.
Most Laid-back: Without a doubt, it's New Mexico. Whether this is due to the sunny climate, the sparse population density, the Hispanic cultural influence or I-dont-know-what-else, people there just live and let live, going through life at the most slow, relaxed pace I've ever seen.
Most high-strung: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK. The epitome of every Yankee stereotype, New Yorkers will do everything in such a way as to ensure maximum "efficiency", no matter how bothersome or stressful it may be to themselves or to others.
Most classy: Maryland. No matter if it's colonial heritage, sailing, the world's largest croquet match, or just plain sense of style, I feel like most of the Marylanders I've gotten to know have class in spades, regardless of where they come from (yes, even Baltimore, sort of).
Least classy: Washington. Home of grunge music and fashion. Also the only state where getting high on meth seems to be the most popular sport. 'Nuff said.
But feel free to take all of the above with a grain of salt.
What states do y'all think fit the bill?
From what I've experienced:
Friendlies: I agree with Texas, although I'd also add Alabama, Virginia, and Georgia to that list.
Least Friendly: Agree with Connecticut. Would also add Delaware from my experience.
Laid Back: Arizona, California, Florida (especially the west coast of the state), and NC-GA.
High Strung: Throwing my home state of New York into this one, although only based on the area I lived in (Staten Island/Brooklyn/LI). However, once you get north of Rockland County, the state has a TOTALLY different vibe. Even Eastern Long Island is pretty laid back.
Most Classy: Don't have a specific state for this one, I think all have their classy and trashy areas.
Friendly: A
Classy: R
Laid back: I
Sexy: Z
Smart: O
Resilient: N
Humble: A
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