Where did you come from? / how long have you been in Maine? / what do you think? (crime rates, neighborhood)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by starwalker

Gotta ask... what town is Blue Hill Books found in?

Probably Blue Hill! Just a guess.

[msina]

Blue Hill Books

[Seaglass]

Blue Hill Books is in Blue Hill, just off the corner of Main St. and RT 15. I should also mention there are two bookstores in town, but this one solidly gets my vote. It's well worth the trip if you're a hopeless bibliophile like me; some bookstores are far bigger, but I've never found one more comprehensive in a lifetime of happy browsing, and the owners and staff are all tops.

[mainebrokerman]

if there was a poker game and many states were sittin at the table, the mainer would probly be the quiet-poker-faced player,,,,no matter what cards he had in his hand, (it could always be worse) his expression woudnt change,, and if the maine player happened to win, he would brush it off as luck,,,absolutely no arrogance or bragging, no "in your face" schtick.
he could have a million dollars in his pocket, yet still dress the same, doesnt feel any "image" pressure, and wouldnt want anyone else to know about it, and still complain how much a 20 oz pepsi costs.

[y200]

Sorry if I offended anyone - there are a lot of wonderful wonderful people living in Maine - but Maine can be damn frustrating at times. And I'm talking about more in a business and work sense than a home-life socializing way. And i've not tried to alter my house in any way, other than a few repairs, I don't want to stop the lobster men working at 4am, and i don't really want to change it in anyway.

I guess with the history of Maine it is understandable that people 'from away' are often not welcomed - but the very fact that there is a special term for them tells you much about the attitude towards newcomers that exists. On the other hand a large number of people have been fantastic so I'm by no means labeling every Mainer the same way.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by y200

Sorry if I offended anyone - there are a lot of wonderful wonderful people living in Maine - but Maine can be damn frustrating at times. And I'm talking about more in a business and work sense than a home-life socializing way. And i've not tried to alter my house in any way, other than a few repairs, I don't want to stop the lobster men working at 4am, and i don't really want to change it in anyway.

I guess with the history of Maine it is understandable that people 'from away' are often not welcomed - but the very fact that there is a special term for them tells you much about the attitude towards newcomers that exists. On the other hand a large number of people have been fantastic so I'm by no means labeling every Mainer the same way.

No one is offended because believe me we've heard it all before. We (I) don't wish to make you're experience with Mainers any more difficult than it has already been.
We don't dislike new people at all. If you want to be like we are you'll fit in.
If you want to be like the mouthy morons that Seaglas described then you're going to find us hard to deal with. We don't care either way! It's your life. We already know each other and we're quite comfortable in our skin. We know the village idiot ,the professors, the painters, the repairmen, the teachers, housewives, policemen and pretty much everyone else who matters in our respective towns. Your opinion of us won't sway our way of life one iota. On the other hand if you want to embrace Saturday morning at the dump, bean suppers,firemen's musters, crappy winters,beautiful summers, good times and bad then you will probably be accepted.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by y200

I guess with the history of Maine it is understandable that people 'from away' are often not welcomed - but the very fact that there is a special term for them tells you much about the attitude towards newcomers that exists. On the other hand a large number of people have been fantastic so I'm by no means labeling every Mainer the same way.

The history of Maine is quite fascinating to say the least and it does explain the root of a lot of 'attitudes', especially towards those 'from away'.

Now, the word....it's nothing new nor unique to Maine itself. In Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota there are towns where even if you moved there when you were five and lived in that town until you were 90, you would never be recognized as being "from" that town (not to the locals, anyways) unless you had a relative buried in the local grave. Period. No exceptions. Doesn't mean that people will not accept you, quite the opposite, your just.....not one of them. Kind of like marrying into a family I guess; you become a part of a family but you're not related by blood and if you got divorced then no one will miss you when you are gone, but if you stay happily married then you will remain accepted as a part of the family, just don't expect any large inheritances, maybe

In California it is worse because the regionalism goes down to certain neighborhoods and even blocks. And no, it's not just the gangs that think this way.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

The history of Maine is quite fascinating to say the least and it does explain the root of a lot of 'attitudes', especially towards those 'from away'.

Now, the word....it's nothing new nor unique to Maine itself. In Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota there are towns where even if you moved there when you were five and lived in that town until you were 90, you would never be recognized as being "from" that town (not to the locals, anyways) unless you had a relative buried in the local grave. Period. No exceptions. Doesn't mean that people will not accept you, quite the opposite, your just.....not one of them. Kind of like marrying into a family I guess; you become a part of a family but you're not related by blood and if you got divorced then no one will miss you when you are gone, but if you stay happily married then you will remain accepted as a part of the family, just don't expect any large inheritances, maybe

In California it is worse because the regionalism goes down to certain neighborhoods and even blocks. And no, it's not just the gangs that think this way.

That's it in a nutshell....you'll never be "from" here so you'll never be a native. It doesn't mean that we won't grow to like you and respect you it means you'll always be the guy from....fill in the blank.
That said I think I'd rather be that wonderful guy from wherever than that complaining jerk from wherever.

[RMoore007]

Originally Posted by y200

Sorry if I offended anyone - there are a lot of wonderful wonderful people living in Maine - but Maine can be damn frustrating at times. And I'm talking about more in a business and work sense than a home-life socializing way. And i've not tried to alter my house in any way, other than a few repairs, I don't want to stop the lobster men working at 4am, and i don't really want to change it in anyway.

I guess with the history of Maine it is understandable that people 'from away' are often not welcomed - but the very fact that there is a special term for them tells you much about the attitude towards newcomers that exists. On the other hand a large number of people have been fantastic so I'm by no means labeling every Mainer the same way.

I looked for a definition and I guess this one's pretty good. I'll always be considered from away now, even though I was born and raised there. But I don't take it that seriously. Any more than being called a flatlander. I also noticed that the term 'from away' is used in Newfoundland and Austrailia too.

Quoddy Loop Lexicon

[boonelsewhere]

now i know what flatlander is.

Originally Posted by RMoore007

I looked for a definition and I guess this one's pretty good. I'll always be considered from away now, even though I was born and raised there. But I don't take it that seriously. Any more than being called a flatlander. I also noticed that the term 'from away' is used in Newfoundland and Austrailia too.

Quoddy Loop Lexicon