Rochester: Friendly or Minnesota "nice"?

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

tindo80: When you speak of "in the west" what area do you mean? California?
Utah? Wyoming? Seattle? Please define.

Presumably not California - while the laid back CA stereotype is just that - a stereotype - people there are overall fairly tactful and nice and don't "go for the throat" any more than they do in MN. Actually, based on my experiences on both the East Coast and in the West Coast (a couple of places in the Mid-Atlantic in the East, and California in the West) I felt California reminded me the most of "home." I think it was easier to meet people in CA (including lots of fellow native Midwesterners) but people were equally "nice" (fake or not).

People on the East Coast were nice, too, but were often more direct. (although I don't think that's a nice or not thing; where it tends to come out is when people are expressing opinions. Minnesotans tend to be more reserved or hesitant to directly express an opposing opinion when discussing things with someone of a different viewpoint, and there's more beating around the bush. I think it is true that Minnesotans as a group tend to be more uncomfortable with anything they see as direct confrontation)

[Curious1234]

I grew up in rochester all my life until I was 27. Loved it. I moved away for a few years and deeply missed the large hometown feel. the convenience of getting from one side of town to the other in 5 minutes. the great economy here the activitys the safety and the public events, great schools friendly people etc......

I just moved back a couple of months ago after being gone for 4 years and I hate it. We are actually moving right back out of here. So much has changed. The minority population has taken over the town. The people are not friendly any more, the schools have gone down hill, thejob market is horrible, most of the small businesses that made this town what it was have closed, people can not drive in this town, the home prices are exaggerated, taxes are higher than they should be, traffic is terrible now, the police are lazy and unresponsive, MAYO Clinic owns the town and controls everything...... I could go ont. I can not wait to move back outof here in a couple of months.

Long story short, look at a better area, Byron, Pine Island, Zumbrota, or if you can go to Minneapolis Metro area for more of a life.

[♠atizar♠]

I get a kick out the paranoia exhibited in these threads, not to mention the audacity of actually voicing such ridiculous, bigoted paranoia as an attack on an entire state.

If I have learned one thing from these threads, it's that if certain people are having trouble finding friends, they may need to stop looking outward for something to blame, and instead examine how they behave in a social setting. I'd bet dollars to donuts account that these people have this type of trouble wherever they go.

Further, on the paranoia, how does one "know" when Minnesotans are supposedly talking behind their backs? You have their houses bugged? Phones wiretapped? LOL.

Anyway, I have lived a considerable portion of my life in TX and NC, travel the US extensively for work, and to be frank, I see no difference between the way Minnesotans treat newcomers and the way way people in those places do. Though these examples are probably going to be lost on people who are hellbent on stereotyping, people are individuals, and the "average" Minnesotan's demeanor varies wildly from one to the next, just as in any other state.

We won't kiss your a**, but if you behave like an adult, and don't engage in The Blame Game, you will make all the friends you ever wanted.