Are people friendly where you live? (cities, town, interest)

[summer22]

Interesting thread. I grew up in the southwest of side of Chicago (lived in Gage Park, had family in Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge) and the south suburbs (moved from Chicago to Oak Lawn in 1994)... they were the kind of communities where people of all ages still spent time on their front porches talking with their neighbors. If you lived on the block or knew someone who lived on the block, you always were welcome for a chat. Winter usually brought invitations inside for coffee or some kind of home-baked holiday treat. I had the same kind of welcoming experience in the city and the suburbs, even just a few years ago (2000 is when I moved out of Illinois.)

I haven't found that kind of friendliness in Indiana. And in Chicago that culture might not exist anymore, I don't know. People are very nice here in Indiana, but it seems like people only open up to know each other when involved with a common organization, like a church, school, volunteer group, or youth baseball.

I think I've only been invited once to a colleague's house for a party... in Illinois people seem to give invitations much more freely. Or maybe they party more!

I've never had a bad experience with people in Indiana... in fact I think Indianapolis is amazing because you can walk down a downtown street and people you walk by give you a warm hello. The college towns are fun and real friendly, too.

Its just that people don't seem to let you into their lives very easily.

I hear you about VU too. Isn't it strange that the NWI region doesn't have a "typical" state university or college town? I guess SW Michigan doesn't, either.

[goldpolkadots]

Originally Posted by mjcten

Tell me where the most friendly people in Indiana are.Where do people just say hi and wave to one another.Kind and caring people.People on a more personal level.Any place like this around?If so please tell me of it!Thanks to all.

I haven't found a place that is overly friendly yet. But during a trip to Bloomington last year, I encountered some nice people.

[LeaveMeBe]

I've lived all over Indiana. I can tell you that the people in southern indiana are alot friendlier than north. Pretty much all of my family still lives in northern indiana and they will tell you the same.
Jasper is a really nice town but they are german based and some are friendly some are not. They aren't rude they just don't necessarily go out of their way to be friendly. One of the friendliest places i've lived in s. IN..is elnora. It's a really small town but the people are friendly..if you are going to choose Northern indiana..and want a good small town..swayzee..sweetser..converse..they are small towns..another is fairmount..gas city..for southern indiana..stay away from petersburg..winslow..oakland city..rockport..drug towns and schools are bad..i would go more for bloomington..french lick..washington..ireland..need any questions on particular towns let me know..i'll help if i can..

[ChristyDawn]

I live in southern indiana. I have to say most people are friendly here. As for looks I'd have to say that is pretty irrelevant to most of us. I wouldn't base where I lived on it. There are beautiful people here inside and out as well as not so beautiful inside and out. I'd have to say I don't feel there is as much to do in Indiana. It seems everyone I know when they are on vacation they either spend it home doing nothing or they go to another state. We have a couple of really nice amusement parks but other than that there isn't much. Unless you like to eat, I guess we have a few good places to eat.
If I had it my way I would move. I'm not saying Indiana is bad because there are alot of nice places to live. But for entertainment there just isn't much exspecially for families and teens.
The people where I live are really friendly though. I could go to any one of my neighbors and they'd help me in a second. I think southern Indiana is alot more laid back then most places. I never have to worry about locking my door or locking my car up. Where I live it's not that often that you ever hear of someone dying unless it's a car wreck or something of that nature. We don't really have any racial issues either. The school my kids go to all of the kids mix. There really isn't groups. What some kids would call the preps, jocks, gothics ect. There really isn't any of that at their school. There may be clothes wise but all of the kids mingle. Where I live is very safe but there just isn't much to do.

[nebulous1]

Its just that people don't seem to let you into their lives very easily.

Boy, do I ever agree with this. I have met a few friends here, but people here are the most clannish I've ever seen. I can't get used to it. It is like they don't like outsiders. I like to be friendly, but I find some think there has to be some reason to be friendly.
I am going to move in a few years. I don't think I want to spend the rest of my life alone here.

[Irish40]

Until last year, I had lived in Indianapolis most of my life!! It was wonderful! I grew up in Irvington and the northeastside of Indianapolis-just inside 465 (our beltway). (I am not of German descent by the way--mostly Irish.) There were always kids with whom to play and neighbors socialized with one another. While single, I lived on the north end of the city but inside 465. I was in a condo complex with mostly retired people, and it was very nice, too. After I married, I moved to Lebanon which is classic small town Indiana. I was not from there nor was my family. In the three years we lived there, we made no friends from church, the neighborhood, etc. I was happy to leave to move the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/ St. Paul), thinking that moving to an area where there would be more transplants would lead to more friendships. No one told me that the natives never leave Minnesota for any reason and therefore they have no need for additional friends since they all live down the street from their high school friends, anyway.

If we can get it to work financially at some point, I would live to move back to Indianapolis

[nebulous1]

I got called "The Outsider" at work...and I have lived in Indiana for 3 years now. They can tell I'm not from around here. I hope I never get that clannish, that I wouldn't be able to accept someone from another state.

[WildWestDude]

My experience with central and southern would indicate that the people that live in NW Indiana are friendlier. People in Indy tend to be similar to the ones in the "region" (NW)
People that live in the southern part seem to be real and nice, but it is only a front or an act.
They are really kinda closed minded overall and need to catch up with the rest of the state

[Interpol76]

NE Indiana is the rudeness capital of Indiana (Especially Fort Wayne). It's amazing how much friendlier people become once you drive south, out of that region.

[Ronzou]

Originally Posted by Interpol76

NE Indiana is the rudeness capital of Indiana (Especially Fort Wayne). It's amazing how much friendlier people become once you drive south, out of that region.

Hey thank you very much I like being in your basic stereotype.