Adjusting to Shreveport LA (Bossier City, Haughton: crime, private schools, living in)

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by Jay F

After reading all the posts insulting Shreveport for being too conservative it sounds like a dream city to me. I am in awe that there is still any place left in the U.S that isn't liberal.

I used to be a liberal years ago. Then in 1994 I had a life changing experience. A woman I liked decided out of nowhere that she wanted to have a baby. I told her I would be interested in getting married and raising a family with her. She said that I was "too nice" and wasn't her type. She decided she was going to go to a nightclub, find the best looking guy she could, have sex with him and hopefully get pregnant. That's exactly what she did! She ended up going on welfare and food stamps. Her son is now a teenager and has gone to jail for setting fires. She has since had a second child by some random stud, she calls the fathers of her children "sperm doners".

I have told this story many times to people here in Las Vegas and nobody is shocked, they have all heard similar stories or know women like her. Nobody is judgemental here, they will judge somebody for not being cool but would never judge for lack of moral values.

I would love to live in a city where people would be judgemental when it comes to situations like this. I want to be surrounded by like minded cultural and political conservatives. I want to bond with my fellow right wingers. That sounds like Heaven on Earth to me. I did see that Louisiana was one of the very few states that actually trended more Republican in the Presidential elections from 2004 and 2008, Wow! I am in awe! Louisiana is moving more conservative as the nation as a whole is becoming ultra liberal and morally bankrupt.

Besides Shreveport sounds like the perfect sized city, not too big or small. I love greenery after living in the desert so many years, I like places that get a lot of rain, and I like everyone I have ever met from Louisiana and Southerners in general. I'm pretty happy with my job I have had for many years but if that were to end, Shreveport sounds like an attractive place to relocate. I think I would be very happy there.




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You don't have to be liberal or conservative to enjoy it. Believe me, I know more ultra-liberal people than I really want to, and I know more ultra-conservative people here than I want to. I dropped my party affiliation years ago, so I don't even discuss with people as much as whether I'm conservative or liberal. As I've told SO MANY people, a city truly is what you make of it. That is no lie, and others have even backed me up on that. Some people claim to be open-minded, yet they are the ones talking the most trash. That kind of double-talk makes no sense to me.

You should come for a visit, the area would like to have you. And let me tell you, it's really a good mix. I mean, afterall, Shreveport has a black mayor, and the majority in Shreveport voted for Barack Obama. That doesn't sound like an ultra-conservative city to me, does it you? Bossier is another story, it's highly conservative but it's also growing rather rapidly while Shreveport is stagnating. Coincidence? I think not. So people can say what they want about conservative cities not being progressive, but if that's the case then Bossier City must be the obvious exception.

[hank0604]

Originally Posted by Jay F

After reading all the posts insulting Shreveport for being too conservative it sounds like a dream city to me. I am in awe that there is still any place left in the U.S that isn't liberal.

I used to be a liberal years ago. Then in 1994 I had a life changing experience. A woman I liked decided out of nowhere that she wanted to have a baby. I told her I would be interested in getting married and raising a family with her. She said that I was "too nice" and wasn't her type. She decided she was going to go to a nightclub, find the best looking guy she could, have sex with him and hopefully get pregnant. That's exactly what she did! She ended up going on welfare and food stamps. Her son is now a teenager and has gone to jail for setting fires. She has since had a second child by some random stud, she calls the fathers of her children "sperm doners".

I have told this story many times to people here in Las Vegas and nobody is shocked, they have all heard similar stories or know women like her. Nobody is judgemental here, they will judge somebody for not being cool but would never judge for lack of moral values.

I would love to live in a city where people would be judgemental when it comes to situations like this. I want to be surrounded by like minded cultural and political conservatives. I want to bond with my fellow right wingers. That sounds like Heaven on Earth to me. I did see that Louisiana was one of the very few states that actually trended more Republican in the Presidential elections from 2004 and 2008, Wow! I am in awe! Louisiana is moving more conservative as the nation as a whole is becoming ultra liberal and morally bankrupt.

Besides Shreveport sounds like the perfect sized city, not too big or small. I love greenery after living in the desert so many years, I like places that get a lot of rain, and I like everyone I have ever met from Louisiana and Southerners in general. I'm pretty happy with my job I have had for many years but if that were to end, Shreveport sounds like an attractive place to relocate. I think I would be very happy there.




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Moderator cut: personal attack At 22 years old, I have seen things that would shake-up a war veteran. I've seen too many families working multiple jobs to buy food--not drugs, but food. Kids who have to sleep without blankets on the bed; the blankets are nailed to the window frames because mom had to decide between paying for electricity or heating gas. I have been the landlord in many of these situations, listening to grown, proud adults beg me for an extra week to pay the rent. And you know what, they always had the money when they said they would.

I wasn't born with a silver-spoon in my mouth, and I'm not doing all that well now, but I've never had to make the decision between rent and food, hot water or electricity. And if I have to pay a little more taxes so that I never have to see a child go hungry, then I would deserve to go to the worst level of Hell if I had a problem with that.

Are there people who take advantage of the system? Yes, I've seen it. Is there a far greater majority who are honest, hard-working, proud Americans who just caught a bad break? You damn right.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by hank0604

Moderator cut: personal attack. At 22 years old, I have seen things that would shake-up a war veteran. I've seen too many families working multiple jobs to buy food--not drugs, but food. Kids who have to sleep without blankets on the bed; the blankets are nailed to the window frames because mom had to decide between paying for electricity or heating gas. I have been the landlord in many of these situations, listening to grown, proud adults beg me for an extra week to pay the rent. And you know what, they always had the money when they said they would.

I wasn't born with a silver-spoon in my mouth, and I'm not doing all that well now, but I've never had to make the decision between rent and food, hot water or electricity. And if I have to pay a little more taxes so that I never have to see a child go hungry, then I would deserve to go to the worst level of Hell if I had a problem with that.

Are there people who take advantage of the system? Yes, I've seen it. Is there a far greater majority who are honest, hard-working, proud Americans who just caught a bad break? You damn right.

Wait, what did I miss? I can't keep focus long enough to read his whole post so I skimmed it as I normally do; what did he say wrong?

[Jay F]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

You don't have to be liberal or conservative to enjoy it. Believe me, I know more ultra-liberal people than I really want to, and I know more ultra-conservative people here than I want to. I dropped my party affiliation years ago, so I don't even discuss with people as much as whether I'm conservative or liberal. As I've told SO MANY people, a city truly is what you make of it. That is no lie, and others have even backed me up on that. Some people claim to be open-minded, yet they are the ones talking the most trash. That kind of double-talk makes no sense to me.

You should come for a visit, the area would like to have you. And let me tell you, it's really a good mix. I mean, afterall, Shreveport has a black mayor, and the majority in Shreveport voted for Barack Obama. That doesn't sound like an ultra-conservative city to me, does it you? Bossier is another story, it's highly conservative but it's also growing rather rapidly while Shreveport is stagnating. Coincidence? I think not. So people can say what they want about conservative cities not being progressive, but if that's the case then Bossier City must be the obvious exception.

You make some good points. I have visited liberal cities that I have enjoyed. Politics isn't everything, there is certainly more to life. I just wanted those who bashed the Shreveport area for being too conservative to know that there are some of us who appreciate that quality.

[Jay F]

Originally Posted by hank0604

Moderator cut: personal attack At 22 years old, I have seen things that would shake-up a war veteran. I've seen too many families working multiple jobs to buy food--not drugs, but food. Kids who have to sleep without blankets on the bed; the blankets are nailed to the window frames because mom had to decide between paying for electricity or heating gas. I have been the landlord in many of these situations, listening to grown, proud adults beg me for an extra week to pay the rent. And you know what, they always had the money when they said they would.

I wasn't born with a silver-spoon in my mouth, and I'm not doing all that well now, but I've never had to make the decision between rent and food, hot water or electricity. And if I have to pay a little more taxes so that I never have to see a child go hungry, then I would deserve to go to the worst level of Hell if I had a problem with that.

Are there people who take advantage of the system? Yes, I've seen it. Is there a far greater majority who are honest, hard-working, proud Americans who just caught a bad break? You damn right.

Well I have had my own set of experiences that helped shape my beliefs. Just like you, I don't want people to suffer or go hungry. The difference is that I believe a combination of strong traditional family values and fiscally conservative policies offer the best chance for prosperity, personal happiness, and an all around civilized, orderly society, I believe "the children" would overall be better off in a conservative, religious, family oriented society than the current set up.

Speaking of the economy. I saw that Louisiana was the only state where unemployment went down for the month. Very impressive.

[AndrewMarks]

Originally Posted by Jay F

I believe "the children" would overall be better off in a conservative, religious, family oriented society than the current set up.

This mentality is why I left Shreveport. The idea that "religious" and "family oriented" have to be related, as if non religious cannot be good, family oriented people. Or that all religious people are good.

I am an athiest, and I am a good, honest, moral family man. I tried as best I could to avoid the topic of religion in Shreveport so I didn't offend anybody's sensibilities, but it's not possible as someone alluded to earlier. I was greeted with torches and pitchforks anytime I was pressed for what church I belonged to. I was actually tossed from a job interview once shortly after the business owner casually asked what church I went to. Sure, it's illegal to even ask, but have a good God-fearin' worker is more important to some people. I eventually learned to tell strangers I was non-denominational.

I have no problem with religious people or good moral values. I think morality is seriously lacking in modern society. I DO have a problem with people who assume one requires the other. Intolerance is alive and well in my hometown. Good riddance.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by AndrewMarks

This mentality is why I left Shreveport. The idea that "religious" and "family oriented" have to be related, as if non religious cannot be good, family oriented people. Or that all religious people are good.

I am an athiest, and I am a good, honest, moral family man. I tried as best I could to avoid the topic of religion in Shreveport so I didn't offend anybody's sensibilities, but it's not possible as someone alluded to earlier. I was greeted with torches and pitchforks anytime I was pressed for what church I belonged to. I was actually tossed from a job interview once shortly after the business owner casually asked what church I went to. Sure, it's illegal to even ask, but have a good God-fearin' worker is more important to some people. I eventually learned to tell strangers I was non-denominational.

I have no problem with religious people or good moral values. I think morality is seriously lacking in modern society. I DO have a problem with people who assume one requires the other. Intolerance is alive and well in my hometown.

I'm not ready to call myself atheist just yet, but I have had trouble for most of my life with believing. But that's another story for another time. Hey, if you can't find your place, you simply can't find your place. Moving somewhere where you are more accepted doesn't help you, it actually shelters you more. People think moving to places such as Austin, for example since I've seen that one used so many times, makes them appear more open-minded and accepting and somehow more tolerant than those they bash in Shreveport, but all it does is shelter them further from reality. You are no different than the religious and the hicks in Shreveport who all hang around like-minded people. Learn to be an individual, and not give a crap what others think. Moving away from it certainly doesn't change a thing.

The reality is, the world is made up of tons of different people. If you can't fit in, there is nothing wrong with being an individual and standing out from the crowd. I do not feel at all threatened by the overly-religious or the major hicks here, I simply choose not to mingle with them.

Those "I had to get out of here because everyone is so intolerant" arguments make no sense to me, because I am not some mindless drone who feels he must walk and talk just like everyone else in order to fit in. In fact, I do not walk or talk just like everyone else in this area, almost everything about me from my mindset to my walk is different from the norm. I just know how to not let that bother me, and I still swell with pride for the region where I was born and raised and that I am proud to call home. I do still want to live in Chicago, but it has nothing to do with finding people who are more like me so that I can become their puppet, it simply has to do with my deep love for that enormous city and wanting to lose myself in the amazingly endless urban jungle there.

Good riddance.

If you're going to be this intolerant while trying to convince everyone that you are exactly the opposite, then right back at ya.

[AndrewMarks]

Many of my friends and family members are religious, and one of my best friends is a Presbyterian minister. I don't try to argue faith with them and respect their beliefs. I can assure you that tolerance for religion is not an issue for me, nor do I have a problem with being an individual. But let's not turn a conversation about Shreveport into a conversation about 1 or 2 people. I'm making a point about the culture, one that I think is valid regardless of any personal defects you assert I have.

I stand by my assertion that Shreveport is a place where your religion or lack thereof has serious social and even business ramifications in many circles. As a business man, "standing out" as an athiest (or especially a homosexual) will cost you greatly. I still live in a "red" area where my beliefs would be highly unpopular, but the issue does not cross boundaries as it did frequently in Shreveport.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by AndrewMarks

Many of my friends and family members are religious, and one of my best friends is a Presbyterian minister. I don't try to argue faith with them and respect their beliefs. I can assure you that tolerance for religion is not an issue for me, nor do I have a problem with being an individual. But let's not turn a conversation about Shreveport into a conversation about 1 or 2 people. I'm making a point about the culture, one that I think is valid regardless of any personal defects you assert I have.

I stand by my assertion that Shreveport is a place where your religion or lack thereof has serious social and even business ramifications in many circles. As a business man, "standing out" as an athiest (or especially a homosexual) will cost you greatly. I still live in a "red" area where my beliefs would be highly unpopular, but the issue does not cross boundaries as it did frequently in Shreveport.

I wasn't trying to turn it into a personal thing, let me apologize if it came across that way. With the exception of the last line, I was trying not to make it personal.

I just get so sick of people claiming to be open-minded, when in reality they are acting just as high-and-mighty as the holier-than-thou crowd. I really didn't mean to imply that something was wrong with you, that you are defective. I was just saying that if you don't fit in with a specific demographic that is the majority in a region, moving to a place where the demographic is more like you doesn't change anything. I have just learned to deal with the people in this area and understand that I will not be like them ... and believe me, many of them I wouldn't want to be like (though some I'd have no problem resembling).

I also stick out like a sore thumb as a religion-lacking heterosexual male who just happens to have high-functioning autism. At first I stick out because of my distinct walk and the fact that it's easy to see I live in my own world, but when a person talks to me I really stick out. My conversations about space, time travel, big city life, etc do not appeal to most of those around me. But if a person has a conversation with me, they can expect this. Most people are not willing to have such conversations or think I'm "crazy fer wantin' to live in the big ci-tay" or for believing that one of these days mankind will ditch this crappy, ruined planet for a newer "model" which, as of right now, we've yet to discover.

If you already mentioned this, my apologies; but if not, where do you live now? Being a red state, I'm going to assume you're not in New England but rather somewhere in the south, southeast, or the lower midwest.

[AndrewMarks]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

I wasn't trying to turn it into a personal thing, let me apologize if it came across that way. With the exception of the last line, I was trying not to make it personal.

I just get so sick of people claiming to be open-minded, when in reality they are acting just as high-and-mighty as the holier-than-thou crowd. I really didn't mean to imply that something was wrong with you, that you are defective. I was just saying that if you don't fit in with a specific demographic that is the majority in a region, moving to a place where the demographic is more like you doesn't change anything. I have just learned to deal with the people in this area and understand that I will not be like them ... and believe me, many of them I wouldn't want to be like (though some I'd have no problem resembling).

I also stick out like a sore thumb as a religion-lacking heterosexual male who just happens to have high-functioning autism. At first I stick out because of my distinct walk and the fact that it's easy to see I live in my own world, but when a person talks to me I really stick out. My conversations about space, time travel, big city life, etc do not appeal to most of those around me. But if a person has a conversation with me, they can expect this. Most people are not willing to have such conversations or think I'm "crazy fer wantin' to live in the big ci-tay" or for believing that one of these days mankind will ditch this crappy, ruined planet for a newer "model" which, as of right now, we've yet to discover.

If you already mentioned this, my apologies; but if not, where do you live now? Being a red state, I'm going to assume you're not in New England but rather somewhere in the south, southeast, or the lower midwest.

No worries, man. We both have valid points so long as we keep them generic rather than pointed. :-) I've known people like what you're referring to. Some people leave Shreveport because they're "too good" for all the "rednecks." I'm a redneck, too, thankyouverymuch! A lot of people leave Shreveport thinking it will fix all their problems, which is stupid. But there is most definitely a persecution of the non-religious and homosexuals in Shreveport.

As for me personally, I'm not in a red state, but the area I'm in is very red. I'm in rural Maryland suburbia working with the DOD and about 99% of my coworkers are white, died-in-the-wool Christian conservatives. Most of them are current or former military. Here, even in such a single-faceted circle, we all get along just fine. Nothing like it was in Shreveport. I'm looking forward to moving into DC soon for a more urban and diverse vibe. After living in Highland, I'm used to some color to my surroundings, not just a bunch of white bread! :-)