An Outsiders Observations of The Cities (Minneapolis, St. Paul: renting, home, to buy)

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Is having more transplants in the Twin Cities a desirable goal?

I think not.

[BlackOut]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project, only 16 percent of respondents said they would like to live in the Minneapolis / St.Paul metropolitan area. Only Kansas City, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit ranked lower in the study. Here is an article which describes the results of the study:

Twin Cities rank low in preferred places to live - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

What can the Twin Cities do to improve their national reputation and popularity?

Of those 2,260 respondents, 46% would rather live in a different community over the one they live in now. And, "Even though the survey shows that many Americans have a bit of wanderlust, it also finds that most are satisfied with where they live now." I'm taking this "study" with a grain of salt.

As far as what the Twin Cities can do to improve their national reputation and popularity; I think the area already has a descent reputuation. It's constantly ranked in the Top 10 or 5 in numerous rankings so I don't know what more area leaders can do. If it wasn't for the winters, there would probably be 5-6 million people living here, instead of the 3.2 million. There would also be plenty of other problems.

[waltlantz]

The Pew I find to be reputable, but often times these lists are kinda silly.

One question, does any one in Minnesota really speak like they do in the movie Fargo? Palin seemed to have that kinda accent big time

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by waltlantz

One question, does any one in Minnesota really speak like they do in the movie Fargo? Palin seemed to have that kinda accent big time

I've heard a number of people speak that way, but mostly in smaller towns, especially up in da Range.

We Minnesotans must have some sort of accent ... folks down here in Atlanta normally guess I'm from either Minnesota or Wisconsin.

[whoopsie goldburg]

unfortunately the "fargo" accent is real and abundant, even in minneapolis. i wish we could all get together and collectively agree to stop talking this way

[BlackOut]

I haven't really noticed it much since moving to the Twin Cities, but once one heads north and northwest it's crazy how prevalent the "Fargo" accent is.

[MplsTodd]

Originally Posted by whoopsie goldburg

unfortunately the "fargo" accent is real and abundant, even in minneapolis. i wish we could all get together and collectively agree to stop talking this way

I have to disagree that the "fargo" style accent is abundant in the Twin Cities. It does exist in small town Minnesota though. That said, there definitely is a distinct accent for folks from the Twin Cities and upper Midwest (much toned down from the "fargo" accent). People think I'm Canadian sometimes.

[mnduck]

As a transplant having lived here for 4 years now, I find that Twin Cities residents have a weird sort of dual inferiority/superiority complex going on. For example, people will complain endlessly about how things are here (notably the weather, but other things too) but get very defensive when others disparage the Cities (such as in the Pew survey) and cite all the things that make the Twin Cities great.

That might be true of any place, though. I personally think this area is great, though I can't stand the winters which is what will ultimately drive me away from here. So perhaps I'm no better. From talking to people, I think a lot of Twin Cities residents like that Americans elsewhere don't have an incredibly favorable view of the area; it wouldn't be as appealing to many if it were Chicago-sized.

[whoopsie goldburg]

i think the inferiority complex comes from the ignorant assumption that minnesotans are hicks. and there are hicks in every state (for example, anyone who says california isn't full of hicks has obviously never been to bakersfield). i think its partly because minnesota/minneapolis gets the shaft when it comes to positive attention from the national media. if you watched any cable news after the 35W bridge fell down, they hardly mentioned that the bridge was in the middle of the largest city between chicago and seattle; they rarely even used the word "minneapolis." they just said "minnesota bridge collapse"

when the reporters were on the scene, the way they aimed the camera sort of made it look like a sparsely populated area...all they had to do was pan the camera 20 degrees to show everyone our wonderful skyline, but they never did. actually, i remember the camera panning to it ONCE and quickly jolting back to the original position, like someone said "don't show that! they're supposed to be hicks, remember?" its like there was a deliberate effort to downplay everything about minnesota and the twin cities. this happens to us in many different ways but the 35W thing is the best example i can think of.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by whoopsie goldburg

i think the inferiority complex comes from the ignorant assumption that minnesotans are hicks. and there are hicks in every state (for example, anyone who says california isn't full of hicks has obviously never been to bakersfield). i think its partly because minnesota/minneapolis gets the shaft when it comes to positive attention from the national media. if you watched any cable news after the 35W bridge fell down, they hardly mentioned that the bridge was in the middle of the largest city between chicago and seattle; they rarely even used the word "minneapolis." they just said "minnesota bridge collapse"

when the reporters were on the scene, the way they aimed the camera sort of made it look like a sparsely populated area...all they had to do was pan the camera 20 degrees to show everyone our wonderful skyline, but they never did. actually, i remember the camera panning to it ONCE and quickly jolting back to the original position, like someone said "don't show that! they're supposed to be hicks, remember?" its like there was a deliberate effort to downplay everything about minnesota and the twin cities. this happens to us in many different ways but the 35W thing is the best example i can think of.

The stereotype I see is Minnesotans not as southern hillbillies, but as like unsophisticated Eskimos of sorts. When I mention to people here my intentions of moving to Minneapolis, they get the impression that it is a cold frozen tundra, when in fact, Minneapolis has on average warmer summers than we do. I like the fact the Twin Cities gets this kind of attention. It will keep out of towners out and not as many transplants (I realize I may soon become one of these hated transplants)

As a Detroiter, I don't think you have any grounds to say the media gives you a bad rap.