Iowa Fashion, Lifestyle, Consumer practices (Waterloo, Lincoln: to live, shop, designer)

[todd00]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

I find society to be made up of two kinds of people...one, the shallow & superficial, the other, being the learned & reflective, it's to the latter that I hope my posts appeal to.

Someone wanting to have the right car, house, etc...really isn't a bad thing. Someone not wanting those things, there's nothing wrong with that either, I believe that holds very little bearing on individuals, Iowa, and the midwest in general, is not a free-thinking place. Most people are obsessed with the Hawkeye/Cyclones game (provides fodder for months after the fact), cheap drink specials, the state fair, or you have the irreversibly annoying Des Moines crowd who's been tricked into believing they're in New York City/Los Angeles now. On top of that, most people aren't very friendly unless you went to high school with them. There's a reason why the midwest is seen the way it's seen.

The whole "reverse superficial" ideology can be very snobby in it's own right...well, we don't believe in everything that isn't extraordinarily simple, so we're better than you. I'm not pushing any way someone should think, but a straitjacketed mentality is not a way to evolve.

to want normal material items such as a nice house, car or furnishings isnt whats bad, if kept in check, feet earth bound. its obsession that makes for the superficial and the wanta be better than ones neighbors attitude. living simply isnt a snobbery, its a choice. just as people dont buy green because they think they are better, they do so because of their belief system, often having to pay more items. in my case i buy products that are not tested on animals, that hardly makes me a snob, i do so because i believe testing is wrong. evolving isnt measured by material items, house with the most rooms, or im a better than you are cuz i drive a... kinda of attitude. superficial and selfish go hand in hand, self-centered pple that do nothing for anyone or anything, might make the world a better place if straitjacketed! realizing less is sometimes more can also be termed as evolving, or maybe just growing up.

as far as sports obsessed pple, look at where the pro sports teams hang their hats...big cities. ever watch pro sports fans after winning some big game? the violence that has taken place in name of cheering on the victory. so the most gross sports obsessions happen in the largest of cities. yes, nebraska and iowa have their over the top group of fans, but thats not just a midwest thing. look at texas, florida, oklahoma, ohio, michigan, ucla, georgia, etc. most any college with a huge, inflated, obscene sports team budget has a sizeable number of over the top fans cheering every weekend, praying to the gods on the 50 yard line for a win. its not just a midwest thing..this fan disease you speak of.

soon2bnsurpise, if you are just curious as to pple likes in different places, or doing a paper, try being a bit nicer in your opening post. iowa, many pple have trucks, because, well alot of it is rural and they need them. yuppies in the big city probably like trendy cars...duh. clothes, depends on the income level of the person, and if they are sheeplike or not...duh. cars you wish ya had as a kid, they might not even make anymore, at least so one might recognize them with rehashed badges.

[RonnieJonez]

I think it's stronger here because the majority of people probably went to 1 of the 2 schools, if they went.

[todd00]

ohio state, ohio university, mu, michigan state, fl state, florida university, kansas u, ksu, oregon, osu, etc. most states have 2 major schools, some just one major university system, like nebraska. the fan base in other states certainly rivals or out does iowas. you didnt convince me of iowa being more over the top than any other state in regards to the sports obsession.

the midwest is seen the way it is, by pple on both coasts practicing.. superficial and insecure 101.
whoopie im moving to california, shouts one sad product of the midwest, im now one of the cool pple. a state that is giving IOU's out to their public employees, bask in their recession! so you share the same smog filled air as paris hilton....oh better bring a nose plug along too.

[Chicago60614]

Iowa is certainly not over the top in sports obsession.

There are two main schools (like most states) and there is a lack of a professional team in the state or right on the border.

It's kinda natrual people would gravitate their affiliation with one of the college teams.

[RonnieJonez]

I still think it's more powerful here, most states aren't as split by the "U school vs. State school", combine that with the general cult-like fanaticism that permeates Iowa.

And the professional sports is a huge reason, most larger states have pro teams which takes a great deal of the attention, not the case in Iowa. I remember Drew Tate, the former Iowa QB said something like this a few years back, of course it was a huge deal for awhile like anything is that doesn't praise what the masses want to hear.

Example, I was at a bar Saturday night and people were already talking about the Iowa vs Iowa State game, although it's not for two months.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

I still think it's more powerful here, most states aren't as split by the "U school vs. State school", combine that with the general cult-like fanaticism that permeates Iowa.

And the professional sports is a huge reason, most larger states have pro teams which takes a great deal of the attention, not the case in Iowa. I remember Drew Tate, the former Iowa QB said something like this a few years back, of course it was a huge deal for awhile like anything is that doesn't praise what the masses want to hear.

Example, I was at a bar Saturday night and people were already talking about the Iowa vs Iowa State game, although it's not for two months.

What should people in a bar talk about? Eastern philosophy? The Sotomayor hearings?

[todd00]

college sports draws alot of fans, especially when teams are playing well. why do you think college coaches are paid more that the top medical professors of universities (which i dont feel is right at all), its big money and big business. how about kansas, and oklahoma (a state that usually has good teams), the list could go on. even in states like missouri that have pro teams, college football still has a huge fan base, same for u of texas, u of wisconsin etc. you just think its worse here, thats your opinion, but you dont present anything more than that to back it up. personally i think nebraska football is much more of a religion there than in iowa. they have 1 team ya know. nothing wrong with some state pride either. much better than pple in the bar discussing other less wholesome things. if you dont want to hear football chat, stay away from bars with large screen tv's, wouldnt it be obvious that might be a topic there. im not a sports nut, i liked college ball better when it was really an extra activity, not a multi-million dollar business. maybe hit the art gallery on saturday, and try and develop some friendships there. there are still plenty of pple around that could care less who wins on any given saturday.

[Chicago60614]

I loved the sports talk growing up in Iowa City. I think it really was a good thing that the entire community surrounded and came together for. My parents have had season basketball and football tickets for almost 40 years! They haven't missed a single football game in that period unless something major came up like an illness, appointment, etc.

I still bring my friends back from Chicago who grew up in the city for a football game every year. They all have an absolute blast.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by todd00

soon2bnsurpise, if you are just curious as to pple likes in different places, or doing a paper, try being a bit nicer in your opening post. .

What do you find overly harsh by my original post:

Just wondering,

If you could have the ideal car, truck, or SUV what would it be? Do the ladies need a Coach Handbag or one made from some other mid to upscale company or does the purse at the local Wal-Mart suffice? When you buy clothes does a designer name enter into the purchase decision, or do you shop at Kohl's?

Something that interests me are the ideas held by those around the nation. I love the states of Iowa, California, Arizona, Texas, and New York. Each offer a differant angle on what is important to a consumer. Having lived in Iowa for a two year span back in the mid 1980's I was amazed at the vast differances in what was important to the average consumer back then comparing Southern California Coastal to the Waterloo area.

If you have the time lets talk what is important to the Iowa Consumer.

I didn't know that by asking the question it was hurtfull to anyone.

What is so hard about this question? Do you all believe that it is based on materialism? Did you ever have a dream, idea, thought about what you wanted out of life? Did you get there or are you still working on it?

[RonnieJonez]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

What should people in a bar talk about? Eastern philosophy? The Sotomayor hearings?

Those topics may be more interesting. I mean, a game two months away really shouldn't be such fodder yet.