Why do Wisconsin folks dislike us? (Chicago, Springfield: environment, loan, agriculture)

[MadCityKid9]

My dad is from chicago, and he lives in madison, besides him talking about Illinois, i really dont hear much about it. Nobody i know talks bad about it.

[Sideblinded]

This sums it up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQxEvv4_8Mk

[Dolly]

I just wish that Wisconsin people would stop assuming that Chicago is the entire sum of Illinois. I am so tired of telling people we are from southern Illinois (6 hours from Chicago!) and having them start asking me about Chicago or making some reference to it. There is a whole lot of Illinois besides Chicago!

[Kalysa19]

I have to say that Illinois drivers are a little tempermental, but having lived in DC for a couple of years....it is much worse there. Even driving through Indianapolis I have to be in my "aggressive driver" mode.

And it is true Illinoisans are a target for WI police....that's because they know we won't come back up for a court date, we'll just pay the damn ticket.

Things do move at a slower pace in Wisconsin, I typically pass individuals at a fast rate, even though I'm only going 5 mph over the speed limit. I think Wisconsinites are more laid back than Illinoisans.

As far as the whole Packers vs. Bears controversy, you have to admit that we can all agree we hate the Vikings much more than either team. I also seem to think that the rivalry isn't as bad as it used to be....now it seems to be all in good fun...although some parts of Wisconsin would probably disagree with me on that.

And they probably aren't too happy that on the weekends thousands flock north of the border to invade their territory. But in all reality, what would the economy be like if we didn't?

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

This is just a classic "townie vs. vacation home owner/tourist" divide. Chicagoans go up to places such as Lake Geneva and Door County and buy up the real estate (a similar situation is on the other side of Lake Michigan in southwestern Michigan), which in turn pushes a lot of the locals out. On the other end, Wisconsin's urban areas such as Milwaukee and Green Bay have economies that are stagnant compared to Chicago, so there's a great amount of envy there, as well. So, you've got Illinois people driving up the real estate prices in the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin while the rest of the more northern state isn't keeping up in economic terms with Illinois in general. Even though I'm a Chicagoan, I can understand why Wisconsin natives might be a bit testy toward us.

Great comment Frank,I think that sums up the whole issue-envy!!

[Dolly]

Since moving to Wisconsin, I have been sorely tempted to put a bumper sticker on our car (still have our Illinois plates) that says "there is more to Illinois than Chicago!". I am so tired of telling people we are from southern Illinois (as different from day and night to Chicago) and have them reference questions and comments about Chicago to us. We are 6 hours from Chicago, in southern Illinois, never go there, do not know anyone there and so forth. Yet, it is assumed if we are from Illinois we are from Chicago. We are thinking of telling people we are from Missouri and see if that helps! (Not far from the truth, we did go to college there and lived there for a short time.)

[nanannie]

Yes Dolly,I read your above two posts and in other of your posts as well.I am sorry its such a negative issue with you and it bothers you so that people think you are from Chicago..

[cavewoman]

wow....how sad.
never heard that one and Ilived there a few years.
My son is still there, I will have to clue him in.
The school system in wisconsin (private) is awesome. They ahve been nicer to me than any Illinois insitution.

[cavewoman]

Originally Posted by Dolly

Since moving to Wisconsin, I have been sorely tempted to put a bumper sticker on our car (still have our Illinois plates) that says "there is more to Illinois than Chicago!". I am so tired of telling people we are from southern Illinois (as different from day and night to Chicago) and have them reference questions and comments about Chicago to us. We are 6 hours from Chicago, in southern Illinois, never go there, do not know anyone there and so forth. Yet, it is assumed if we are from Illinois we are from Chicago. We are thinking of telling people we are from Missouri and see if that helps! (Not far from the truth, we did go to college there and lived there for a short time.)

I would buy one on those stickers!!! There is more to ILLINOIs than Chicago.

I agree... I have lived outside of chicago most my life.... yet they nicknamed my kid "chicago" at school in Wisconsin., Not even sure he's been there other than for a few sports events.

I rarely stepped into "Chicago"....once I moved to the burbs. Wisconsin should understand the size of the states.... Not like someone from Milwaukee or Madison is gonna be excepted in Chippewa either.

enjoy your new home., hopfully in 5 or 10 years they will accept you as a resident.

[Manigault]

I had a second home in SW Michigan (my first is in Chicago) and there is the same 'townie v. tourist' divide. The locals found Chicagoans rude and pushy but loved the tourist dollars they provided. Non-locals were referred to as "F.I.P.'s", in the local idiom but there was not real hatred of the outsiders. The MI economy was so bad and Berrien County in MI is a lot closer to Chicago than Door County in WI.