Iowa Nice vs Iowa Blunt (Des Moines: to live, eat, hospitable)

[tollfree]

Yes, I understand. The East coast always seemed unfriendly to me, although I thought people also had a more "aggressive" social demeanor compared to the midwest. Of course, there's people in the midwest who are like that, and reserved people on the East coast.

It mainly has to do with the general impression of an area.

[Dick's Deli]

Iowan Meredith Willson said it best:


Townspeople:
Oh, there's nothing halfway
About the Iowa way to treat you,
When we treat you
Which we may not do at all.
There's an Iowa kind of special
Chip-on-the-shoulder attitude.
We've never been without.
That we recall.
We can be cold
As our falling thermometers in December
If you ask about our weather in July.
And we're so by God stubborn
We could stand touchin' noses
For a week at a time
And never see eye-to-eye.
But what the heck, you're welcome,
Join us at the picnic.
You can eat your fill
Of all the food you bring yourself.
You really ought to give Iowa a try.
Provided you are contrary,
We can be cold
As our falling thermometer in December
If you ask about our weather in July.
And we're so by God stubborn
We can stand touchin' noses
For a week at a time
And never see eye-to-eye.
But we'll give you our shirt
And a back to go with it
If your crops should happen to die.

Farmer:
So, what the heck, you're welcome,
Glad to have you with us.

Farmer and Wife:
Even though we may not ever mention it again.

Townspeople:
You really ought to give Iowa
Hawkeye Iowa
Dubuque, Des
Moines, Davenport, Marshalltown,
Mason City, Keokuk, Ames,
Clear Lake
Ought to give Iowa a try!

[marska]

What makes Iowans the way they are?[/quote]

CORN and HOGS! That must be it! and TRACTORS and pickemup trucks!

(just kidding, from an Iowegean )

[Jerry/Petra]

If you were to spend time in Germany you'd spot exactly what you're talking about. It's fine and not a problem. I think of Iowa as English speaking Germany in terms of values, customs and culture.

[jeffredo]

I worked in Des Moines right out of college (started my job in early September). I made a good friend at work really quickly - also a recent graduate who was born and raised in Des Moines. He still lived with his parents and I went over there a dozen times. His folks were really nice and were very hospitable to me. Thanksgiving was rolling around and I was making plans to fly home. He said "Why knock yourself out with all that travel for four days?" Just come over and eat at my house. I asked if it was O.K. with his family and he said "Of course!". The Monday before Thanksgiving I get a call from his mother. We chit-chatted for a bit and I told her I'd see her that Thursday and thanks for the invite. She said "Well, Thanksgiving is kind of a family only thing for us, I'm sorry". Apparently it wasn't O.K. with them. My friend was mortified his mother would say something like that bluntly, but I was left with the prospect of Thanksgiving alone in a strange city.

I called my uncle and aunt in Oklahoma City and asked if I could drive down there for Thanksgiving (11 hrs!) and of course they said come on down. I had only seen them and my cousins twice in my life, but they fell all over themselves making me welcome. I told them what had happened and they were kind of shocked and said they would have never done that to one of their kids friends. My aunt said in her Oklahoma drawl, "I guess they do things differently up there!".

[sequoias]

In my 2 years living here in Iowa, I've noticed lot of people wave and smile when they pass by even the African Americans, too. They don't really show the signs of disapproval. They sometimes can be blunt on occasions, I think. Altho, there's quite lots of drama going on in the deaf community.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by jeffredo

I worked in Des Moines right out of college (started my job in early September). I made a good friend at work really quickly - also a recent graduate who was born and raised in Des Moines. He still lived with his parents and I went over there a dozen times. His folks were really nice and were very hospitable to me. Thanksgiving was rolling around and I was making plans to fly home. He said "Why knock yourself out with all that travel for four days?" Just come over and eat at my house. I asked if it was O.K. with his family and he said "Of course!". The Monday before Thanksgiving I get a call from his mother. We chit-chatted for a bit and I told her I'd see her that Thursday and thanks for the invite. She said "Well, Thanksgiving is kind of a family only thing for us, I'm sorry". Apparently it wasn't O.K. with them. My friend was mortified his mother would say something like that bluntly, but I was left with the prospect of Thanksgiving alone in a strange city.

I called my uncle and aunt in Oklahoma City and asked if I could drive down there for Thanksgiving (11 hrs!) and of course they said come on down. I had only seen them and my cousins twice in my life, but they fell all over themselves making me welcome. I told them what had happened and they were kind of shocked and said they would have never done that to one of their kids friends. My aunt said in her Oklahoma drawl, "I guess they do things differently up there!".

I'm kind of shocked, too. Those people were RUDE!

[dmccright]

Originally Posted by jeffredo

I worked in Des Moines right out of college (started my job in early September). I made a good friend at work really quickly - also a recent graduate who was born and raised in Des Moines. He still lived with his parents and I went over there a dozen times. His folks were really nice and were very hospitable to me. Thanksgiving was rolling around and I was making plans to fly home. He said "Why knock yourself out with all that travel for four days?" Just come over and eat at my house. I asked if it was O.K. with his family and he said "Of course!". The Monday before Thanksgiving I get a call from his mother. We chit-chatted for a bit and I told her I'd see her that Thursday and thanks for the invite. She said "Well, Thanksgiving is kind of a family only thing for us, I'm sorry". Apparently it wasn't O.K. with them. My friend was mortified his mother would say something like that bluntly, but I was left with the prospect of Thanksgiving alone in a strange city.

I called my uncle and aunt in Oklahoma City and asked if I could drive down there for Thanksgiving (11 hrs!) and of course they said come on down. I had only seen them and my cousins twice in my life, but they fell all over themselves making me welcome. I told them what had happened and they were kind of shocked and said they would have never done that to one of their kids friends. My aunt said in her Oklahoma drawl, "I guess they do things differently up there!".

That makes me sad to hear. I'm sorry you were made to feel that way. I grew up in IA and can see that happening unfortunately. Not because Iowans are rude or nasty but because in IA it is "all family". I moved from there years ago and realized that most ppl move "from" IA. Not many move "to" IA. In other, more transient, areas of the country ppl are more open to celebrating holidays with friends rather than family because that is who they are surrounded by. My parents for instance can't understand how I can be happy surrounding myself with my friends for "important" events in life rather than family. But, they have never lived away from family and relied on or viewed friends as family. That being said, they wouldn't think twice, however, in inviting 1 or 2 friends to "family" holiday celebrations.
That is just my take on it.

[jeffredo]

Yeah, my parents let my friend stay in their house in San Francisco for three days once after he finished attending a convention. I wasn't even there and they had no problem with just giving him a house key so he could come and go. They're very laid back about me and my siblings friends hanging around - always have been.

[Fleur66]

Originally Posted by dmccright

That makes me sad to hear. I'm sorry you were made to feel that way. I grew up in IA and can see that happening unfortunately. Not because Iowans are rude or nasty but because in IA it is "all family". I moved from there years ago and realized that most ppl move "from" IA. Not many move "to" IA. In other, more transient, areas of the country ppl are more open to celebrating holidays with friends rather than family because that is who they are surrounded by. My parents for instance can't understand how I can be happy surrounding myself with my friends for "important" events in life rather than family. But, they have never lived away from family and relied on or viewed friends as family. That being said, they wouldn't think twice, however, in inviting 1 or 2 friends to "family" holiday celebrations.
That is just my take on it.

Where are you getting your figures that no one moves "to" Iowa?

This article would contradict that...

Iowa: Not Just the Elderly Waiting to Die | Newgeography.com