What are peoples views/stereotypes of people from MA? (Boston: to buy, college)

[marissa12233]

Ive lived in Massachusetts all my life (Cape Cod). Im now in college in PA (pretty close to the Ohio border. Im just curious how people view me when I say im from MA. I know a lot of people associate Boston with "rude" but im not from boston.

So basically Im just wondering how others view people from Massachusetts (or New England for that matter).

[LocalType]

Well, from way down here in NW Arkansas, what pops to mind immediately is cold weather and aggressive driving. Cold weather makes me cranky, so I assume it goes triple there.

When I lived in DC, and later in Hampton Roads, one of the first things I noticed is people kind of keep to themselves. I assumed it was just a northeastern thing, or maybe it was me, since I'm from the south and people are quick to talk to you and offer help and ask where you're from, and so on. Even when I lived in Dallas, there was a tendency to be more inviting to strangers, just making conversation, although not too open since it was a big city. So maybe it's just the big city, and the dense northeastern population, that makes people more insular?

[Dannan]

Do not forget to just ask people you meet. You will hear a lot. Many years ago I moved to Indiana after college and heard a lot. Things don't change, they just get diluted with people moving into places and the PC in people make less things get volunteered.

[seeriously]

We moved away from MA in '97 and we were constantly asked about the Kennedys, as if we knew them personally. Also people seemed to associate us with the puritans. They're still hanging onto the 'Banned in Boston' slogan.

[clevedark]

I spent most of my life outside of Mass, and think that most people who live outside of the state (except from NH and ME, who def. have opinions) generally don't stereotype people from Mass (until they get here!). I say this as a person from NJ who has dealt with stereotyping my whole life.

Someone 60plus years old might think of Irish Catholics and Brahmins but that seems outdated.

[shiver]

I'm not originally from MA, but have lived in the Boston area for almost 10 yrs. The stereotypes aren't too bad, but like clevedark mentioned, some people think it's a town full of drunk rowdy Irish-Catholics or full of snobby elitists decked out in their preppy clothes.

I've been asked whether people really "pahk the cah in havahd yahd" (people's lame attempt at humor). Maybe the funniest question is why we're all so obsessed with Dunkin Donuts. This coming from friends of friends in California. The West Coasters always complain that whenever New Englanders move out there, we all bemoan the lack of Dunkins.

[cwaggy]

Dunkins SUCKS and I have been here 31 years. IT SO SUCKS.....now Heavenly Donuts in Methuen or Kanes in Saugus.............NOW thems good Donuts.

[Quendiva26]

Originally Posted by LocalType

Well, from way down here in NW Arkansas, what pops to mind immediately is cold weather and aggressive driving. Cold weather makes me cranky, so I assume it goes triple there.

When I lived in DC, and later in Hampton Roads, one of the first things I noticed is people kind of keep to themselves. I assumed it was just a northeastern thing, or maybe it was me, since I'm from the south and people are quick to talk to you and offer help and ask where you're from, and so on. Even when I lived in Dallas, there was a tendency to be more inviting to strangers, just making conversation, although not too open since it was a big city. So maybe it's just the big city, and the dense northeastern population, that makes people more insular?

Yes, the aggressive driving. One way to find out what people think of Mass residents is to ask someone like me who just moved here from far away (Florida). The Dunkin Donuts do stand out. Why are there so many? But the aggressive driving most of all so far. They don't drive like that in Florida. They drive badly, but not aggressively. lol I get honked at all the time for being cautious and not pulling out into oncoming traffic. And yet, a month here and I have a speeding ticket. But dang it, I'm the cautious one! lol And it just may be here in Worcester, but if not, then it may contribute to the aggressive driving in Mass - the roads suck bigtime!

[ChrisA70]

All I get down here in Floriduh, is "are you really from Mass, you don't have an accent", then I have to explain for 20 minutes about how there is a dividing line in the middle of the state where we from the sticks have NO accent, where the eastern MA people all have the Boston accent. My wife used to buy buttah, and pahk the cah. Since coming to this crappy state her accent is a gonner. And she lived her first 29 years in Stoughton.

So the stereotype I get most is the accent thing. Second is the cold stuff, well it sure beats the death heat down here. October I move back home, after 16 years!!!! Wahooo!!!

[Quendiva26]

Originally Posted by ChrisA70

All I get down here in Floriduh, is "are you really from Mass, you don't have an accent", then I have to explain for 20 minutes about how there is a dividing line in the middle of the state where we from the sticks have NO accent, where the eastern MA people all have the Boston accent. My wife used to buy buttah, and pahk the cah. Since coming to this crappy state her accent is a gonner. And she lived her first 29 years in Stoughton.

So the stereotype I get most is the accent thing. Second is the cold stuff, well it sure beats the death heat down here. October I move back home, after 16 years!!!! Wahooo!!!

Are you in Florida now? The heat. Yes. It was a major deciding factor about moving here.

Apparently the accent is not just a location thing? I asked an ex-co-worker when I found out I was moving to Mass why he doesn't have an accent even though he's from inner city Boston. He asked me if I wanted to know the truth. I was like, "Yes, of course I do!" He told me, "Only the white people in Boston have accents." Perhaps it shows my ignorance, but I never even considered that!