Minnesota: Unfriendly, with lots of bad drivers. (Minneapolis, Bloomington: school district, taxes)

[whatever]

It's not about trust, it's about progressing beyond the face level courtesy of a Stepford wife. I get the dog joke, but the reference is a little bit of a reach. Anyhow, I've said my piece and now I'm moving on.

[contentedfool]

rcsteiner, I agree.

I went to MN for my undergratuate studies and found that the highway driving in the Twin Cities was definitely the best out of all the other places i've driven in (take your pick, MI, IL, IN, IA, WI, NY, PA, NJ, NH, MA, VT, ME, OH, FL, QC and on).

While I'm only using anectodal evidence (this is not a scientific study by any means), I found that Minnesotans are a close second in terms of "good" drivers, meaning fairly courteous, using signals, actually stopping at stop signs/red lights, waving you through etc... Of course, there have been times when this is not the case, but, I found fewer rude drivers than where I am currently (upstate NY). I always found the WI drivers just slightly above because they would actually move out of the fast lane to let you pass!!!! Unheard of anywhere and especially so for the East Coast where the drivers practice what I call "principled driving" as in "this in my lane and no one else's! Don't you dare try to merge here you M%$&#&F^&$^!!!"

Point in fact, a national survey of road rage found that :
"Minneapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta were rated as the cities with the most courteous drivers, who were less likely to change lanes without signaling or swear at other motorists." By the way, Miami got the top road rage spot!

Is it bull? Is it true? I beleive so. Plus let's not forget that in MN you have to take a driver's ed class in order to be able to take the driver's test, oh and the classes are almost always given during the winter so that new drivers can practice in the ice and snow before going on the roads...

[JenLee]

It's been 2 weeks since I last read this thread and, as I said before, a person is as happy as they make up their minds to be. When I'm out among strangers and am smiling and cheerful, others are more social and courteous too.

But now the thought just occurred to me: where DO all of these people complaining of "MN Rude" live? Are they all in the same town? IS there actually a town or part of the state full of grumpy people? Are all of these grumpy rude people MN natives or are they transplanted from elsewhere?

My current daily commute (which I hate, BTW, because of the distance) is 27 miles across the Cities and the River, through all sorts of road construction. Yes, there are the few tailgaters who think they can ride your bumper and also the lane jumpers who go tearing up to the merge sign to butt in front of all of the other drivers who merged 1/4 mile back when the signs TOLD us to merge, but the vast majority of the other commuters are polite, waving others in and merging in an orderly manner. It is extremely rare that I hear a horn, also very rarely that I see someone "flipping off" another driver or signs of road rage. Occasionally I see someone give a hand signal (palm up, fingers spread) and a confused look at another driver -kind of a "what are you (or "what am I"?) doing" look. I do notice that many MN drivers aren't sure about some crosswalks (are we supposed to wait for someone just entering the crosswalk on the opposite side of the street or not? This seems to be a very debatable question here); and the speed limit in road construction areas: is it always 40 MPH or only when there are workers present? (The drivers ahead and behind me have differing opinions on this, depending on where they are -the guy in back usually thinks it's faster than the guy in front).

Most of the places I shop I can start conversations with anyone there without getting the evil eye or rude replies.

I just would like to know where all these grumpy people live so I can stay away from them!

[roneb]

Originally Posted by whatever

It's not about trust, it's about progressing beyond the face level courtesy of a Stepford wife. I get the dog joke, but the reference is a little bit of a reach. Anyhow, I've said my piece and now I'm moving on.

Actually I thought the reference was dead on when taken in the context of a response to your previous post. It was even funny too!

[cjmuehlb]

I would agree that Minnesota drivers are the worst...but probably not for the same reason. I travel a lot and most drivers KNOW that the left lane is for passing. They don't plant their butt in it blocking traffic flow. Minnesota drivers also don't have a clue how to merge....I attribute that to Minnesota Nice or Minnesotians that like to follow the rules. If a sign says merge, they merge immediately. Consequently there is one lane that has no cars in it even though it may not merge into the other lane for miles. The other lane is jam packed with cars. Stupid. After visiting other states, I can honestly say that the quality of life in Minnesota is outstanding. The only thing I really hate is all the stupid legislation created to protect us from ourselves (ie illegal to use the good fireworks, smoking laws, life jacket laws, no liquor in grocery stores), our law makers are real killjoys, and the high taxes.

[MNNative]

[quote=cjmuehlb;4329584]I would agree that Minnesota drivers are the worst...but probably not for the same reason. I travel a lot and most drivers KNOW that the left lane is for passing. They don't plant their butt in it blocking traffic flow. Minnesota drivers also don't have a clue how to merge....I attribute that to Minnesota Nice or Minnesotians that like to follow the rules. If a sign says merge, they merge immediately. Consequently there is one lane that has no cars in it even though it may not merge into the other lane for miles. The other lane is jam packed with cars. Stupid. After visiting other states, I can honestly say that the quality of life in Minnesota is outstanding. The only thing I really hate is all the stupid legislation created to protect us from ourselves (ie illegal to use the good fireworks, smoking laws, life jacket laws, no liquor in grocery stores), our law makers are real killjoys, and the high taxes.[/quote]

Gosh, I know...how dare any city/state/country try to create laws that provide safety to all its residents. I mean I'm so offended that someone is looking out for me and my family. Lets get rid of police and fire departments while we're at it since they only add to that cause.

I don't mean to pick a fight (for sure that is not my intention, especially on such a gorgeous day as today!) but I can't wrap my mind around that thinking. Yes, I understand it's nice to be able to make all the choices you want in the world, but sometimes people need boundaries. I appreciate the "dumb" laws we have in this state cause I know at least someone has our best interest at heart. When it has become "fun" to tally how many children (and adults) are injured from fireworks over this weekend, I think certain rules are justified. Maybe my family and I have enough common sense (careful with fireworks-or even avoid them, put PFDs on non-swimmers, drink responsibly, wear seat belts when in moving vehicles, etc etc etc) but there are PLENTY of people who don't, so I don't mind strapping on a PFD, being patient for alcohol, etc etc etc. I see these laws as more protection from others than I do protection from ourselves. It's about setting the right example which I think is being shoved behind in our culture. More fun less responsibility. Just because others may like to live on the edge, don't care about their health and/or have a death wish, it certainly doesn't mean everyone else should have to muddle through their drama.

Darn, I sound like a prude. I don't mean to, I certainly know how to have a good time......I just get frustrated about these things I guess.

Anyhoo, I hope everyone is having a lovely 4th. We spent the morning at the parade and now everyone is NAPPING before carnival/fireworks tonight! Can you believe it? (even my husband! ) Hopefully the folks who are so grump about MN will find some fun times today, too!

[BlackOut]

Originally Posted by kayaklin

I've run into nothing but rude people who don't say "thank you" when you hold the door open and don't say "bless you" when you sneeze.

LOL! Shortly after moving to Minneapolis I said “bless you” after someone had sneezed. The individual’s response was “don’t push your religion on me.” I thought he was joking so I laughed and asked him to repeat himself and he said, “you heard me” and walked away. If you want to be blessed every time you sneeze, move to the southeast. You will hear “bless you” plenty as well as “what church do you go to?”

Originally Posted by kayaklin

Driving in Minnesota is terrible. Outside of the cities it seems like every road is two lanes. People here drive like complete jerks, constantly speeding and riding your tail even when you are driving 5-10 mph above the speed limit, and then passing on a shoulder or in the middle of a rural town as a little old lady attempts to cross the street.

This happens EVERYWHERE so stop complaining.

Originally Posted by kayaklin

Spring barely began on June 1st this year and there is still no summer in sight.

You must live in northern Minnesota or Duluth as there can be a huge difference in temperature between parts of northern Minnesota and southern Minnesota. Last summer a friend and I went to Duluth (my first time) and stayed the night. When we left Duluth it was 45 and the high was supposed to be in the mid-50s. By the time we got back to Minneapolis it was in the 80s and the high was supposed to be in the low 90s. I guess you should have looked into that part of the state before moving there.

Originally Posted by kayaklin

Other serious issues with Minnesota... Mosquitos might as well be the state bird...

Mosquitoes are unpleasant, but I’d rather deal with them than huge cockroaches, snakes and other pests.

Originally Posted by kayaklin

There aren't even any mountains here to make the snow fun...

Are you serious? Isn’t this something most learn in grade school?

Originally Posted by kayaklin

And did I mention that practically everyone is unfriendly?

Why do people have to be nice to you and to others? If they are minding their business, leave them alone. Don’t assume they’re unfriendly because they don't want to chat with you.

Originally Posted by kayaklin

And I'd have to say Minnesota is the Wal-Mart capital of all the states I've ever lived in. Once you get out of the Twin Cities area, there is no shopping to be found EXCEPT Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart everywhere.

You are completely wrong and there are numbers to back me on this. Target is headquartered in the Minneapolis area and has more stores in Minnesota than does Wal-Mart. Have you ever visited any southern plains states or the southeast?

[kuan]

Maybe OP is talking about the Minnesota four way stop. You know, where nobody wants to be the first one to go because that'd be rude.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by BlackOut

LOL! Shortly after moving to Minneapolis I said “bless you” after someone had sneezed. The individual’s response was “don’t push your religion on me.” I thought he was joking so I laughed and asked him to repeat himself and he said, “you heard me” and walked away. If you want to be blessed every time you sneeze, move to the southeast. You will hear “bless you” plenty as well as “what church do you go to?”

Wow...some people are touchy! It is so common nature I guess, that I don't really even think of it as BLESS you (if I want to push my religion I'd say "God Bless You" ). I take it and dish it as a casual phrase to acknowledge a sneeze...lol. Guess I'm gonna have to go with "gesundheit" from now on!

That bit about the southeast is funny...

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by kuan

Maybe OP is talking about the Minnesota four way stop. You know, where nobody wants to be the first one to go because that'd be rude.

Hahahaha! Sometimes I wonder if folks paid attention during driver's ed.